Saving His Nymph Mate

Chapter 4 - Berry's Cafe

“You need a break!” Jesse looked at Wyatt while slouched against the doorway. Wyatt only looked up momentarily before lowering his head again to look at the business documents.

“What are you even looking at?” Jesse prodded.

“My father’s accounts. I am looking at the different profit trends each of his buildings make.” Wyatt still didn’t look up.

“Wyatt, you need a break. You look awful.” He knew what Jesse was referring to. He knew he looked tired and his hair tousled. His father had a never ending list of what Wyatt needed to read or do to continue in his efforts to take over. “Let’s go get some breakfast, my treat. You look like you need a break.”

“I don’t know about that, Jesse. I've got too much to do.” Wyatt gruffly said, while sitting behind his mahogany desk.

Jesse walked further into the room decorated with a deep brown wood floor and the walls varying shades of brown and red. The Alpha’s desk was the focus of the room, with wood filing cabinets on one wall. Two chairs sat in front of his desk and a loveseat couch directly by the door, all three built with wood to match the furniture with deep red cushions. Jesse stood directly behind the chair. “Wyatt. Let’s go. As beta, I command you to take some time for yourself and come with me to have a free breakfast.”

Wyatt looked up to see Jesse grinning. The Alpha lifted one eyebrow at Jesse’s use of his beta authority. However, Wyatt couldn’t help but want some time away from the grueling responsibilities his father had placed on his shoulders. He also felt his wolf wanting some air as well.

“Fine.” Wyatt stood up, pushing the chair back.

Jesse smiled as Wyatt got up from his desk and followed him out of the room. Together, they both walked out of the building and piled into Jesse’s blue Ram pickup. Wyatt settled into his seat, glancing at the side mirror, and saw Ryder running up.

“Hold on, my brother is coming over.”

Ryder jumped into the back seat without saying a word and buckled in. Wyatt just watched his younger brother.

“What are you doing?” Wyatt asked, turning around.

“I want to come!”

“You don’t even know where we are going,” Jesse commented.

“You’re going to go eat,” Ryder said nonchalantly.

“You were spying.” Wyatt leaned towards the back seat and hit his brother’s shoulder.

“No, I overheard. There is a difference,” Ryder said, rubbing his shoulder. “Can’t I come too, Wyatt?”

Wyatt thought a moment about it and decided it wasn’t a bad idea, since he had spent little time with Ryder since being home.

“Fine.”

Ryder smiled and sat back in his chair. Jesse pulled out and began driving towards the small suburb town.

Jesse glanced over at Wyatt, who sat quietly. “Where have you been going lately? I have been receiving comments that you have been sneaking away every day into the woods.”

Wyatt looked over at Jesse and then glanced back at Ryder in the rearview mirror. He questioned if he should shrug it off or tell him what he really was doing. Wyatt was about to tell him it was nothing, but something stopped him. He could tell that Jesse was trying to reach out as a friend. They grew up together, but he always considered him an acquaintance. However, when he made him beta, things shifted. As they got to know each other more personally and professionally, he liked Jesse. Wyatt decided to confide in his friend.

“I have been searching for my mate.” Wyatt kept his eyes on Jesse to watch his reaction. Jesse, with wide eyes, glanced at Wyatt, obviously surprised. He could tell that Jesse was not expecting him to say that; however, he was pleased that Jesse kept his facial expression neutral with no signs of teasing.

Ryder, however, jumped forward and poked his head out between the two front seats, eager to join. “What? Why look in the woods for her?”

With this, Wyatt continued, “I saw her on Saturday in the forest just outside our boundaries. She never saw me. Almost against my will, I have kept going back, hoping to see her.” He got irritated that he was confessing such a thing to his companions and that he had been unsuccessful in finding her. “Which was ridiculous and useless.”

“Oh my goodness, Wy—”

“Who do you think she is?” Jesse cut off Ryder’s apparent shock and eagerness.

“I don’t know. I think she's from another pack. No one else would be that deep in the forest.”

“Do you think she's an alpha’s daughter from another pack?” Ryder’s eyes were big, waiting for a response.

“I think so. She had this commanding presence, but someth—” Wyatt got interrupted with a big burst from his younger brother.

“Mom is going to freak!” He threw his hands up. “Imagine what this would mean for the pack.”

Wyatt abruptly turned towards his brother, who was still sticking his head between the seats. “Don’t you dare say anything, Ryder, to anyone. I didn’t share this with you, so you can go blabber to the entire pack. I don’t even know who she is.”

He turned around, facing the road. Ryder leaned back in his seat and snickered behind him. Impatience seeped through him as well as an annoyance towards his fourteen-year-old brother. His wolf inside him got upset, not wanting to be mocked even by his kid brother. A low growl escaped his mouth, putting the entire car at unease. Ryder laughed. Jesse suppressed a grin and kept his eyes on the road.

Wyatt turned. “What Ryder?”

Ryder looked at his older brother, unafraid of his annoyance. Sometimes, Wyatt wished his brother were more submissive to his alpha presence, but Ryder was born an alpha as well. He knew his kid brother would never challenge him for the rights, but it meant he wasn’t as susceptible of his dominance as other pack members. A smile grew from Ryder’s lips.

“I never thought I would see the fearsome alpha be such a lovesick pup.”

Wyatt’s eyes narrowed. “Regardless of what you think, I am not a lovesick pup. Whomever my luna is, is critical for the future of this pack. This is not a decision of fate I take lightly.”

Ryder held his smile and narrowed his eyes slightly. “Of course, which I am sure is exactly why you go searching for her every day.”

Wyatt’s face reddened, and Jesse burst out laughing. Ryder’s grin grew as he looked at Jesse in triumph. At that moment, he looked at his brother, knowing he had been beaten at the game of wits. He was impressed by how quick-thinking Ryder was. Yet, his wolf inside had a minor blow to his pride, which made him feel annoyed. Unable to let it go, he caught Ryder’s eyes.

“Careful of what you say, I am your trainer and Alpha.” Wyatt said coldly, putting emphasis on the word alpha.

Ryder’s smile faded just a bit, enough for Wyatt to feel satisfied. Yet, not wanting to ruin his brother’s fun, once they met eyes again, Wyatt winked at Ryder, making his smile full again.

The rest of the car ride was in silence. They pulled up to Berry’s cafe on the corner of Hillberry Street.

They walked into the cafe. The cafe had red and white checkered wallpaper. There were red booths placed throughout the cafe. It was relatively small but had a home feel to it with pictures of the town’s high school victory pictures. There was a sign at the front saying, seat yourselves and we will serve you momentarily. The group chose a table near the front door and a checkout counter. Wyatt picked up the menu and began looking at the different breakfast options, while his companions did the same. His eyes went to browse the omelet section.

Jesse asked, “Ryder, what are you getting?”

Ryder looked up and then glanced down at the menu. “I’m thinking about getting the All You Can Eat Pancakes.”

Wyatt smiled, “ You think it’s a good idea? Training today is a five-mile run up the mountain?”

Ryder looked undeterred. “I always think eating all the pancakes I want is a good idea.”

Wyatt and Jesse exchanged amused and knowing glances at one another. The waitress walked up. She was a lady in her late thirties who looked like she had the early morning shift. Her black hair was tousled and falling out of its bun. She had dark lines under her eyes. Yet, the waitress greeted them with a smile.

“What can I get you folks?” She stuck her hip out to one side.

Wyatt asked the lady for a Colorado Omelet, while Ryder, true to his word, got the All You Can Eat Pancakes.

“I would like the Four Crepe Plate, with…”

Wyatt stopped listening; his wolf's senses heightened. He heard the footsteps of running shoes on the gray pavement, the smell of wet grass and sunshine. A bell rung as the door opened, and she enveloped his senses. He could hear her breathing, smell the laundry detergent on her clothes, feel her presence wrap around him. Wyatt felt a desire as his wolf stirred and begged to be with her. He could feel his wolf clawing its way to the surface. He looked down in concentration, trying to temper down his wolf as to why he was feeling this way. The realization hit him like ice water. His wolf made it clear- mate.

An object hitting the floor captured everyone’s attention, even Wyatt’s. He looked down to see a pink smoothie splattered on the ground, with some of it landing on his shoe.

He looked up, and that’s when he locked eyes with her. She was a brown-haired girl with flawless tan skin that came from being in the sun. He couldn’t take his eyes off of her and he drank her in. She was staring at him as if in a trance.

She looked away, and began walking backwards towards the door and said, “I’m… I’m sorry,” while looking at the splattered smoothie.

Once her back hit the door, she turned and ran. Wyatt abruptly stood up, hitting his hip against the table. Not caring, he ran after her out the door. He stopped right outside and couldn’t tell where she had gone. He called out to his wolf to sniff the air. Wet grass and sunshine. He smelled a trace of it in the air. He followed his gaze up the road and saw her form running towards the woods.

He sprinted in her direction. Being part wolf enhanced his athletic abilities. He was gaining on her fast. Her hair bounced to her step. She was quick, but he was quicker.