The male stood in the compound, staring towards the female Omega quarters where the group had entered. "I need to find her." He spoke softly to himself. Jószef didn't notice the appreciative looks from the many passing females.
A blond wolf shifted in front of him and leaned over to whisper in his ear. "I'd love to meet with you after the hunt tomorrow night. Come find me after the feast." She walked slowly to her friends, glancing back at him over her shoulder. The females looked at him and giggled as she rejoined the group on their way to the Beta quarters.
Guillame had shifted and watched his young friend. "She's very beautiful, in both her forms."
"Who?" Jószef looked confused. His eyes never left the building in front of him.
Guillame laughed heartily. "No one my boy, no one. So you have found your mate?"
"Yes, now I just have to figure out which she is. I don't suppose I can just enter the building and go room by room?" He couldn't take his eyes off the front door as females entered one after the other. She was in there. He had to find her. "Do you think the Alpha would allow that?"
"He's busy right now with the families of the dead. You'll have to wait until tomorrow Jószef. Be patient, she will still be here. You just have to find her before the feast, because if you find her with a male afterwards I would fear for his safety." He put a hand on the boy's shoulder. He'd have to keep on eye on him. It wouldn't do to have him prowling around the compound. He'd need to let Carr know the first chance he got.
"My father didn't expect me to find a mate in America." He suddenly had a thought and looked pointedly at his mentor. "Very few are finding mates in the pack anymore Guillame." He looked at his elder from the corner of his eye. "Is it the same with the other packs?"
"Yes, more and more are not able to find mates. And many that do, find them late in life, when they don't have enough time to raise more than one or two cubs. Our race is dwindling Jószef. That is one of the reasons we came." Guillame smiled at his protege. "Come, we should go back to our rooms."
Guillame could see the females doing their best to get Jószef's attention. He smiled to himself as they pouted when he didn't look their way. Some of them then gave him an appraising glance and a welcoming smile. He returned the looks and hoped to find a partner himself for tomorrow's festivities.
"Have you ever seen such a gorgeous male?" Cassie was practically jumping up and down she was so excited. "But he only had eyes for you." She grabbed Becky and tackled her to the bed, giggling like a cub. "Are you going to go find him? Did you see him ignore the Betas that were trying to get his attention? Did you?"
Becky tried to act like she hadn't noticed, but her wolf had. She was so excited, she tried to get Becky to go find him now. He was their mate! It was about time. "I didn't notice. I think you're wrong Cassie. He was probably looking at you. You're much prettier than I am." She tried to go about cleaning the room. They'd left it a mess earlier today and it really needed to be cleaned.
"Oh stop that. You act like you don't even want a mate. He looks like a Beta. Do you think he is? I wonder where he's from. I mean I know he's from Europe, but you know what I mean." Cassie was excited and couldn't stop bouncing around the room. "And he's the Archivist's assistant. That's perfect! You're an Archivist. You'll fit like two peas in a pod."
"Cassie, would you just quit? I'm sure he isn't my mate. Would you let it go?" Becky tried to look serious but her wolf was ecstatic. They'd found their mate and would begin a new life. Becky felt sick to her stomach. She didn't want to leave home, her pack, her family. "I'm going to bed, it's a big day tomorrow." She slammed the door and plopped down on the bed. Was he really her mate? If he was, would he expect her to leave her home? And what if he was a Beta? She was just an Omega. Her wolf insisted that didn't matter. A wolf knew who their mate was. Rank didn't matter to them.
Jószef stared out the window towards the Omega quarters. He saw the light go out in the window that faced his. It was her, he was sure of it. Did she feel it? Did she feel him? Would she come to him tomorrow? Or would he have to hunt her down? He heard the rustle of paper and looked behind him at Guillame sitting at the desk. "What are you doing?"
Guillame had papers spread all over the table top. "Looking at my notes of Orsolya's dreams. Seeing if I've missed anything important. I think I have. I think there's more here that I'm meant to see. I just don't know what it is." Orsolya's dreams were never straightforward. They were always full of symbolism and had to be interpreted. It had taken him years before he'd pieced together the clues of when to come to America and who he was to bring with him. He'd never allowed anyone else to see his notes. Maybe it was time to ask for assistance from Rhys.
"I think I need to run. Do you mind?" Jószef was ready to walk out the door.
"Great idea my boy. I'll come with you." He saw the flash of disappointment on Jószef's face. Guillame thought he knew what was on his mind. He wanted to sniff around for his mate. He couldn't allow that to happen here. If he was home at his own pack it would be different. But Guillame wasn't sure what Carr would think about a male from another pack looking through the females. "A long run is just what we need to relax and get some sleep tonight. We'll need it for tomorrow night, yes?" He winked at the younger Were.
They made their way out to the woods and shifted to take a run. Guillame hoped Jószef wouldn't bolt and go looking for his mate. They had been running for a few miles when Guillame stopped. He thought he'd heard something. Jószef halted and turned to join him. Both wolves heard it then. They walked slowly towards the sounds of sobbing. Guillame pushed his nose through a bush until he could see the lone figure sitting on a rock weeping. It was the female who had lost her mate.
The two brown wolves approached slowly. Jószef laid down far from the distraught female. Guillame continued to walk forward tentatively.
The female looked up startled. "I didn't see you there. I'm sorry." She wiped the tears from her cheeks. "Do I know you?" She leapt to her feet, with a frightened look on her face. She didn't know who they were. Were there still rogues loose? Were they part of the group that killed her mate? She looked around for the best route of escape.
Guillame shifted and immediately sat down several feet from her. "I'm sorry my dear. We shouldn't have startled you. We are visitors from the European Council. My young friend there is Jószef." Guillame pointed to the brown wolf waiting yards away. "And my name is Guillame. And you are?"
She was barely able to get her name out. "Andrea. I saw you, earlier tonight." She tried to hold back the sobs but she was so devastated by her loss she couldn't stop.
Guillame stood up and moved quickly to her, wrapping her in his arms and stroking her hair. "Shhh, shhh, I know it's hard to say good-bye Andrea. And it will take a very long time to remember that you are still alive. But someday you will. I promise."
She looked up with tear filled eyes. "Did you lose your mate too?"
He nodded slowly, then pulled her close again. "It's alright to cry my dear. I cried as well, for years." Guillame had a sad look on his face, remembering back to those many years he cried to himself. At the time he couldn't even tell anyone he had a mate.
