Bruce was happy with the assistance that Lyle had given him before he left for England. Mishka was happy to come back to his home and do business with his company again, but in a casual manner this time.
"And hopefully she won't have a team or any music entourage with her," he said to himself as he walked out of his gate and into the woods.
"It would be pure magic if I could hear her sing out of the blue now, just like before," he thought as he looked up into the sky.
"It's about the same kind of day like on the day that I met her. But, right now I have to make sure that Jean and her friend Theresa get out of my life permanently," he said out loud as he walked.
Bruce was going to meet Graham Jones, one of his models who was coming from another part of town to meet with him in secret. He was the model on whom Bruce and Lyle had decided as an ideal candidate to entice Jean.
Graham was handsome, with shoulder length blonde hair and piercing blue eyes. Secretly, he was waiting for his mate as a wolf. He had been patient for a number of years now, in spite of pressure from his parents. Graham's father owned a fashion accessories business. He shared it with his ex-wife and a cousin of hers.
So, Graham looked pretty well-sorted out financially. He was the son of very wealthy parents, even though their business rested on the strength of a family partnership.
"Oh, Jean is a madcap and yet you say that she believes that she's your true mate?" Graham had first responded when Bruce had asked him to help him win over Jean and get her attention away from him.
"Yes, to be honest, I prefer to be drawn to the person who is my mate, otherwise, I will let it pass," Bruce had responded to Graham's comment.
"So, you want me to do this at the wolves' ball on Saturday?" Graham had asked Bruce.
"Yes, she's bond to be there. A few humans are also invited, just so that it's not an exclusively wolf party. We don't want to be targeted by any hate groups who hunt down wolves," Bruce had elaborated because Graham was even less acquainted with the city. He had only recently arrived from Japan.
"I am surely looking forward to my first ball in this country," Graham had responded with an excited twinkle in his eyes.
"It's not gonna be very formal. It will be rather laid-back, but it's an introduction to the Spring Ball which will have all the frills and thrills. By then you and I will know how they do socials for this country's wider wolf community," Bruce had explained.
"It will be interesting, but difficult to discern the wolves from the humans at Saturday's event," Graham had responded with a concerned frown on his brow.
"But, that's what usually makes such events very exciting," Bruce had responded with an excited glint in his eyes.
"It's bound to be adventurous for those who are looking for a mate or just a new friend, I will say," Graham had commented in response.
"And you will have an assignment for Saturday, so that should keep you from being too overwhelmed by the new company," Bruce had remarked with a bright smile.
"Well, it's gonna be the challenge that I love. Trying to discover someone's motives, while teaching them a lesson at the end of it, for the greater good. That's really inspiring to me," Graham had remarked with a pensive look in his eyes.
Now they were going to discuss Jean's character, her loves and her hates, so that Graham could do his homework and be totally prepared to take her on and divert her attention from Bruce from Saturday onwards.
Bruce was near the river stream when he heard a noise a distance away. He turned his head in that direction and he was just in time to see two wolves run off deeper into the woods.
"What's that? Can those be ordinary wolves? There are no werewolf meetings or outings planned for the forest as far as I'm concerned," Bruce commented to himself as he stood still, staring in the direction that the wolves had disappeared into.
"Maybe they're friends or mates," he remarked after a while. He continued his walk without looking back.
"Oh, there you are!" Bruce heard from the bridge area.
He looked in that direction to see Graham standing at the beginning of the bridge, waiting for him.
"Oh, good! You're on time," Bruce responded with a delighted grin on his face.
"Yes, I reckoned that we might have a lot to talk about because one has to plan very carefully and view all kinds of perspectives when embarking on a plan to trick someone effectively," Graham remarked in response.
"Yes, I hope we can be objective enough," Bruce responded as he scratched his head.
"I wonder if we need a third opinion. I thought that Lyle on the side, coaching us on the phone would be enough, but now I wonder if we don't need someone else during these meetings as well," Bruce commented.
"I got the feeling that I might have been followed," Graham remarked, looking over his shoulder.
"Why do you think so?" Bruce asked with a concerned frown between his brows.
"I think someone must have noticed us talking in private and they might have suspected us of planning something interesting," Graham replied as he continued to study the woods around them.
But, what makes you feel that you could have been followed?" Bruce asked as he studied Graham's facial expression. He inwardly hoped that Graham had not decided to change his mind out of fear.
"Well, I saw two wolves nearby and when they realized that I saw them, they sped away," Graham responded.
"Then it could be the two that I saw," Bruce responded, frowning at the ground in front of him.
"Well, if that's the case, then do you think that's it's safe to have the discussion here?" Graham asked with a concerned look in his eyes as he kept staring into the distance.
"It's perfectly safe because they can't exactly hear what we're saying," Bruce responded.
"Very well, you're right there," Graham responded with a sigh as he turned back to Bruce.
"So, you're going to introduce yourself as the son of a fashion accessory manufacturer and model," Bruce continued as he began to walk towards the bridge.
"Yes, because she likes wealth, looks and power," Graham agreed as he rubbed his chin while he listened to Bruce carefully.
"So, show interest, but be slightly aloof to make it a challenge to Jean," Bruce agreed.
"What if her friend Theresa suspects something?" Graham asked with a frown.
"We will just have to find someone to distract her as well, then," Bruce responded in a cool tone of voice.
"This can become really complex because wolves have keen senses of perception," Graham responded, frowning in concern as he studied the grass at his feet.
They both heard sounds of movement behind them again and they turned around towards the sounds.
"Oh, I can see a wolf over there, staring at me. Can it be models who followed you out of curiosity?" Graham asked.
"You mean they could be wolves who are reporting back to someone else?" Bruce asked in concern as he glared at the wolf which was standing still.
"It very well could be the case," Graham responded with a worried look in his eyes. He had not expected any interference in their plans at this early stage.
"Then, if that's the case, let them come out and tell us what they want," Bruce remarked in an angry tone.