The Iridescent Halo of the Moon.

Zane’s POV From the time I got out of our rental car my wolf Kawari was in a heightened alert state. There was a delightful but very faint scent in the air. I chalked it up to some type of tropical flower, after all we were now in Barbados and everything here was new to us. After Chaz, my best friend, locked the rental car, we crossed the crowded carpark and made our way up the steps to the sports bar. The clerk at the car rental had recommended it to us as a great place to get something to eat that was close to our hotel. Chaz reached the door first and pulled it. That delightful smell was stronger now, floating above the smell of alcoholic drinks and food. Kawari was now pacing and growling. “Our mate is here!! Hurry up human. I’ve been waiting too long for this moment.”, he growled. “I know Kawari. so have I, remember?” He simply growled at me and finally stopped pacing and growling, standing at alert. What were the chances? Nine years of balls and social gatherings arranged by my mother in the hopes that I would find my mate with no success, only to find her on a hastily scheduled vacation to Caribbean island to avoid the 10th and final matchmaking event. This was the last thing on my mind, but I was glad I wouldn’t have to be paired with one of those annoying she-wolves my mother thought were suitable. Wolf packs on a Caribbean island? I certainly wasn’t expecting that. I hope that she wasn’t here with another male or that would be a whole other problem. The sports bar was filled with people in every direction. s**t! this was shaping up to be one hell of a night . Chaz, chatted with a waitress who turned and motioned for us to follow her to a table. She deftly cut through the crowd and we followed, until Kawari shouted “STOP!” in my head. I stopped in the middle of the crowd, while Chaz and the waitress continued through the crowd. “ Her scent is coming from your left.” Kawari growled. “We can eat later”. I inhaled deeply, might as well get this over with. That terrific scent was coming from a set of semi-circular booths designed to seat large groups. Chaz returned and found me standing trying to peer through the sea of people. He grabbed my arm inquiring “what’s wrong Zane?” I growled “Mate!” and he immediately released me, with a shocked expression on his face. I barrelled through the crowd of people watching a British league football game on one of the big screens, to make my way to the restaurant section. And then I saw her, warm brown skin in a white camisole, curly black hair braided in the front and open in the back, tapered to her nape. Finally seeing her made me stop dead in my tracks, causing Chaz to bump into me. She is absolutely ...“MAGNIFICENT!!!” Kawari and I said at the same time. Her neck and shoulders were bare showing that she had never been marked. She was ignoring the giggling and chatting girls at her table and searching around the room. When our eyes met Kawari howled with delight “she sees US!!!”. His jubilation was cut short when she frowned, shook her head from side to side and looked away. He stopped mid howl and, in what was rare for him, went completely quiet. I stopped dead in my tracks and clenched my fists. Was she ignoring me? Or worse, rejecting me? I stayed put, watching her in disbelief. She seemed intent on what ever they were talking about, then she leaned over and said something to the girl sitting across the table from her. I watched her type on her phone then pick up her glass and took a long sip of her drink, all the while avoiding my gaze. Finally, she looked at me again. I had not moved from where I was standing, and yes I was still glaring at her. A slight smirk dawned on her face, which irritated me even more. She gave a slight nod to my right and looked over in that direction, then back at me. I looked over and noticed a balcony through double French doors and I immediately understood. I walked over to them and stepped onto the balcony, grateful that it was empty. Chaz was right behind me. While he walked over to look around the corner of the balcony,I turned and looked through the glass and saw that she was still seated and talking to her friends. What the hell? I contemplated going back inside and over to her, but thought better of it. “We are alone out here. What’s going on?” Chaz askedm. “Haven’t a clue.” I replied calmly but inside I was more than a bit pissed. “I’m going to sit just inside and see what transpires. Calm down, Zane. Give her a few mins.” Chaz said and then re-entered the room and sat at one of the bistro styled tables near the doors. I turned and walked to the far end of the Balcony and half sat with one thigh up on the bannister and my back against the wall, praying to the Goddess that she wasn’t a manipulative she-wolf and willing those doors to open. Who would have thought that I would leave Redwood Pack in the north of Canada and travel thousands of miles to the Caribbean, and find my mate. The thing was I wasn’t even entertaining the thought that I might find her on this trip. But now here we were. It seemed like an eternity before those doors finally opened, but no one stepped through. Was she contemplating leaving? Her the scent invaded my sense signalling that the toned arm holding the door open was indeed her. I looked away, but her proximity was sending Kawari into overdrive. I inhaled deeply and closed my eyes, resting my head on the wall and resisting the urge to go over there and drag her out. She was talking to someone, I couldn’t hear what she said as I didn’t push my abilities to intrude on her conversation. Chaz answered…. She is Talking to Chaz??? What on earth could she have to say to him? Why is she talking to him and I am right here?? I finally heard the door close softly and opened my eyes. I slowly lowered my head so that my gaze left the ceiling and looked over to the doors. HOLY…MOTHER…OF THE…GODDESS. My mate took my breath away. She was gorgeous, shapely and … tall. I’m 6’ 5” and she was a comfortable 6 ft by the looks of it and she wasn’t wearing heels. “MINE!! Kawari growled. “OURS!!” I answered. You’d better not f**k this up!” He growled again. She paused briefly staring at me just as I was staring at her, before she started to walk over. Her thick thighs hugged by black jeans the white camisole tucked neatly inside revealing just enough of the cleavage of her ample, well rounded breasts. A single gold chain adorned her neck, the pendant of which skimmed her cleavage playfully as she walked over to me, her hazel eyes captured mine and seemed to searching my soul as she approached. This was no girl, this was a woman … and my goddess, what a woman. She stopped an arms length away from me, and extended her hand. “Hi I’m Zamani” her voice was rich not annoyingly high pitched and nasal ( thank Goddess) but no where near as deep as a male. “ SHAKE HER HAND AND INTRODUCE YOURSELF, i***t!” Kawari was shouting at me bringing me out of my trance. “ I’m Zane.” I said as I took her hand in mine without standing. Immediately sparks of electricity ignited from the contact with her hand. She released my hand abruptly, and stepped closer. Her nose was mere millimetres away from mine, but she was not touching me in any way. Her beautiful hazel eyes searched mine, flitting from one eye to the next. She closed her eyes finally and inhaled deeply. By now Kawari was going beserk. “KISS HER MAN! WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU WAITING FOR. WAKE UP MAN! STOP DAYDREAMING AND K…” Before he could finish her eyes flew open. she tilted her head with a slight furrow of her brow, softly said “mate” , bent her head, and kissed me.