Chapter 2 --- Roman
My eyes kept going to the ticking clock that stood on my mahogany desk. I tried focusing on the words in front of me but my wolf was restless tonight.
The clock echoed in my temples driving me to insanity. Finally I shoved my chair back with force and stormed out not caring about the stares I was getting as I exited my office. Something was calling to my wolf. I could feel him looking through my eyes. I tried to push him down. My teeth ached and my heart pounded in my head.
Find her.
The words echoed clearly as I barged out the front door of the three-story brick building on the edge where downtown meets the ghetto.
Once outside I caught the faintest hint of the most tantalizing scent. While I was desperately trying to control my wolf, I couldn't ignore the mouthwatering fragrance. I gave up trying to control him and simply tried not to be too obvious in my suit pants, dress shirt and tie.
I lost the aroma outside a door I almost missed if I wasn't looking for it. So I backtracked and found myself in front of a battered wooden plank door that offered no hint at what lay beyond.
With one more deep sniff that confirmed the edible owner of this scent was indeed behind this door, along with sweat, alcohol and the low murmur of voices. I looked around the deserted street as evening approached. Stuffing my wolf down, I opened the door to what I could only assume had at one point been intended to be a sports bar but had ended up sorely lacking.
I took two steps into the cloud of smoke that seemed to hang about the bar. A fresh waft of leggy brunette caught my attention as I watched the object of my desire disappear behind a door that was probably supposed to be green at some point.
I perused my surroundings from the mismatched tables on the right next to the one pool table that had seen better days, over to the sagging and scarred wood bar.
I followed her scent trail from the door and stopped where it culminated in an empty seat next to an empty shot glass. I took the seat next to it and waved the middle aged bartender over before I had a chance to think. I was running purely on instinct as he handed me a beer. I nodded my thanks and turned to watch the door for the leggy brunette I saw disappear.
I cycle through my head as I figure out how I'm going to play this. I don't ever find myself in this situation but for the first time I'm actually rehearsing not just what I'll say but what I'm sure she'll say back.
Finally, she emerges and as she looks at her corner of the bar, she stops as her eyes take me in. I watch as she licks her lips but it's when my eyes slide to hers and lock onto the deep chocolate brown irises that it all makes sense to me.
Mate.
The word echoes through my bones and strikes me dumb like lightning.
She's my mate.
I breathe deep of her essence and stop cold... she's also human.