"I heard you just came back from another successful negotiation." His long-time friend, Noah, tapped him on the shoulder before sitting down on the seat next to him. "How was it?"
It had been a while since they last saw each other, so hearing Matteo was back, he decided to see him. He also just learned what happened to him, but just like him, he was away.
Noah failed to be a friend and comfort him in his time of need. But he knew Matteo understood his situation. And just like him, he also had a pack that he had to take care of.
But Aldric informed that Matteo took it well this time, his loss. It was a good thing since not everybody could handle a loss of a loved one that easily. He seemed to be ok, but he might be good at pretending to be.
"Great!" Matteo said to his friend as he ordered him a drink. "I just closed the deal, and we will be expanding at Brightrich Ville City soon."
It was indeed a cause for celebration, but he was not drinking tonight because of the success of his negotiation. He just wanted to forget something that he accidentally stumbled upon on his latest trip.
"That is good news then. I think you are doing a great job with your business and leading the pack." Noah toasted him, raising his drink to his success.
Noah took a sip of his drink and observed his friend. He knew that being an alpha could not be easy. He was an alpha too, but Blackwoode Pack was much more massive if compared to his.
Having a mate did help in handling his responsibilities, not only to himself but to his family and his pack. Now that Matteo was alone again, he knew it would not be easy for him.
"Yeah, it is." Matteo could only agree, but discussing his business was not exactly what he had in mind when he came here. But he did not want to talk about the one in his mind either.
Whether it was accident or fate, he was not interested in keeping her in his thoughts. It was already a sign he should back away when she did not want anything to do with him.
Besides, he could not think of anything he would gain by associating himself with a young girl like her. He was not attracted to her in any way. He was just intrigued, and she explained why.
"Then, what seems to be bothering you. I can sense that you are not particularly happy with the outcome of your trip, or was it something else." Noah sharpened his eyes at his friend, studying his reaction.
Judging from how his friend was acting, something else was bothering him. But it had nothing to do with the success of his deal.
There must be something else that happened that he was not sharing with anyone. He hoped Matteo would not keep bottling up whatever was bothering him. He was there to be a friend.
"Yeah, it is something else." Matteo stared at his drink, contemplating if it was wise to talk about it.
As a part human, he knew that he was also not perfect. Only a fool would believe such notions. He knew his strengths and weaknesses and learned to handle them well.
Raised to be an alpha, he was thought never to show any weakness. He had to hide his vulnerability to his kind, especially his enemies.
"You know you can tell me. I am good at keeping secrets." Noah said as they continued to drink.
They were in a bar frequented by humans. It was a place they felt safe to hang out because there were less likely enemies lurking around. Although, there was not much of a threat these past decades.
"Remember that girl that we saved a bit of a couple of years ago. The one that the rogues almost attack if we did not come in time." Matteo finally confided in his friend.
He heard from somewhere that talking about a problem or a situation would take away its grip on him. So, by telling his friend about it, he could finally let go of the idea of seeing her again.
He could not see the point of befriending her when it was clear that she did not want it. He could not insist on it. Besides, he did not grasp the reason for it. Nothing good would come out of obsessing about her.
"So, what about her?" Noah did remember that incident.
But he vaguely could picture that girl in his mind anymore. Besides, Matteo was the one who took care of her while they chased down the three rogues who escaped their fate in the pack.
"Well, I saw her again. At first, I could not pinpoint why I was interested to know her. But after talking to her, I realized that she was the girl from the incident." Matteo narrated the girl he met.
But talking about her to his friend was still bothering him. There was a nagging feeling that insisted he should have remained in contact with her.
"Ok. Is this girl attractive? Beautiful? Is she your type? How old is she now?" Noah started asking questions, intrigued by his friend's revelation.
Now, he wondered if Matteo had found another of his mate. Well, it was not unlikely to happen. Some cases did happen before where one had more than one mate in a lifetime.
"I know what you are thinking. Gav is not my mate." Matteo could see how his friend's mind worked.
"Then, how do you explain what you are experiencing?" Noah asked since he was also puzzled by his friend's dilemma.
"I am not at all attracted to her. But I am curious about her. My mind is insisting that I should investigate her identity further." Matteo confided as he finished another glass of his drink.
Talking about it did not mean he planned to do it. In truth, it was the last thing he wanted to do. He wished to bury that girl in the deepest part of his mind so that he would never have to think of her ever again.
"Then, I guess stop thinking about her. Find something that would distract you. Date again. I can see several women who are currently looking at you." Noah could not think of anything else to say.
He believed that Matteo must still be mourning his loss and was obsessing on something that would preoccupy his mind. He wanted a distraction, and the girl provided one.
"I guess you are probably right," Matteo answered his friend.
But in his mind, he was not interested in hooking up with a random girl. It was never his style. But he was glad that he was able to talk to a friend.
Matteo went in search of the past that connected him with Gav. Eventually, he learned that she was the girl that he saved from an attack two years ago.
Was there a more elaborate reason why fate kept entwining their paths together? Or was that the only connection that linked them together?