Secrets of the woods

Katerina...

Unknown POV

Okay so i thought she was looking at me but as it turned out she was smiling at the guy who i think must have been waiting for her.

Who the hell is this guy? Is he her boyfriend? They both look all dressed up so this must be a date. Oh goddess i hope not. Please, please, please let there be some kind of miracle that makes the slightest chance of them not being together possible.

My wolf was howling loudly in my head, he was feeling pissed and heartbroken at the same time. I was worse. I wanted to walk towards that guy and beat the s**t out of him just for even looking at her but i tried to control myself and my wolf who was already on the verge of resurfacing. My mother raised me better than to jump someone who doesn't have an idea about why I'm seething angry at him the first time we meet.

Amidst all the bad things I'm feeling right now, I understood that my mate was human, and i reminded myself that it's normal for her to be in a relationship with someone because she doesn't have any idea about all this mate bond. The thought of her being a human also calmed my wolf a little, he found comfort knowing that she did not deliberately caused us pain. However, that also made it clear how all the more difficult it was going to be for us to approach her.

"Hey babe, you look gorgeous!" this guy started,

i was just a few meters from them, enough for my sensitive ears to listen in on their conversation. I needed to know what exactly their relationship is so i can plan for whatever appropriate steps i should take when i finally introduce myself to her because one way or another, I. AM. GOING. TO GET. TO. KNOW. HER. The moon goddess bound her to me, we belong together.

"Hey yourself darling, you look extra posh today!" She replied while slightly hitting his arm.

Great, now they're flirting out in the open. I wanted to carve my eyes out as it was threatening to roll back around its sockets and i do not do eye-rolls.

They made their way in and as if on cue, my beta appeared beside me.

"Dude, why are you still standing here?"

"Well, i have news. Great and worst." I said, not giving away any bit of emotion in my voice.

"What is it then?"

"She's here."

My beta's eyes were popping out in disbelief. "WHAT?! then why do you look so glum? Where is she?!"

"Inside the same restaurant where we have our lunch reservation... with a guy who i can only hope isn't her boyfriend, yet."

I figured they might still be just going out on dates and getting to know each other as there was something amiss between them. There was a certain boundary between their body language. I didn't see them hold hands when they went in, and the guy didn't even bother putting his hand behind her back to guide her inside. I mean if I was her boyfriend I would make damn sure every guy in the area knows she's taken. There was also something odd about the way this guy moved, i just couldn't quite put my finger on it.

I was too lost in thought that i hadn't noticed my beta anxiously pacing back and forth rubbing his forehead.

"Okay so here's the plan, just tell me what she looks like and what she's wearing and I'll be the one to find a way to befriend her so you can go back up to your suite." He said to me while still looking on the floor, probably looking for some other option of how we were gonna do this.

"and why would i do that?" I asked him, amused with how frustrated he is about this entire situation.

"dude, i want to have a proper lunch without you ripping a guy's head off in front of a whole crowd just for going out with your mate who doesn't have the slightest bit of idea about who you are!" He said looking at me like he couldn't believe he had to explain all that to me. I laughed and hit his arm.

"Don't worry, it's fine. And nobody is ripping anybody's head off today. I have it under control. I just need to see for myself what kind of relationship they really have. I also want to stare at her face some more."

"Dude, you sound like a stalker! Cut it out!", he made his face look like he was disgusted and about to throw up just so he can make fun of how lovesick i sound right now.

I had to close my eyes for a moment so this i***t doesn't get to me.

_____________

As luck would have it, we were seated only a few tables away from her. I made sure to sit where i was able to get a direct view of her face. Goddess, she looks stunning! I can't even seem to find any evidence of make-up on her except maybe for that lipstick she has on. Oh Goddess i love her eyes! Even her eyelashes look great! It's thick and long but didn't seem overboard like those fake eyelashes women are so fond of wearing.

I have no problem with women wearing makeup, in fact, i, myself am well versed with make-up terminologies. My mother loved the idea of make-up, she thinks it's some sort of art and she loved putting it on other people. She even made me assist her on some occasions and made me buy all these different brushes once.

Our order finally arrived and we decided to dig in while making sure to listen in on their conversation. My heart almost jumped out of my chest, feeling like a victor when i learned that this guy was her bestfriend and that he was gay! Moon Goddess, thank you! Thank you for hearing my desperate prayer. This was the miracle I asked for earlier! My beta looked at me with a big smile plastered on his face already knowing how i was feeling at the moment.

We both felt relieved knowing that this guy was just a friend. He was dating the owner of this restaurant, the reason why they decided to have their lunch here! I should really give this place a 5-star!

A few moments later, her friend, whose name i found out was Ryan, left her and went in the direction of the kitchen. She was left alone eating away the last of her dessert. Oh how i love the way she looks when she's eating. She wasn't one of those girls who eat like birds when they're out in public and that says something about her personality.

I must've been staring too much because i was sure she felt self-conscious. She must've sensed someone was staring at her. I looked away for a moment and when i looked back at her, her eyes were focused on the guy beside our table. This guy had some heavily-tinted shades on. She must have thought this guy was the one staring at her. I chuckled. Little did she know the guy she's suspecting is not only innocent but also, is asleep. Since i was seated next to this guy, i could see his eyes from behind his shades, and this guy had his eyes closed. He must've fallen asleep while waiting for his date to come out of the ladies' room. Poor fellow, he must have been sleepless the past few nights too because the bags under his eyes were similar to mine and my beta's.

"So what's the plan when they leave?" my beta asked me.

"We follow her and try to at least get her address. We also need to find out which school she goes to or which establishment she's working if she has a job." he nodded.

"Our Luna is gorgeous Alpha, and from what I've heard so far, she also sounds like a wonderful person. But what about the—" he stopped and decided against what he was about to say.

I know exactly where the conversation was going so i told him "I don't want to think about that just yet. I found my mate and that's the only thing that matters." he agreed.

A few minutes more and her friend came back to their table with someone and introduced him to her. I had to control my wolf as it did not sit well with him when someone touches our mate, not even if he's gay.

By the time my mate and her friend left the restaurant, we've already settled our bill too. We continued to follow them closely, just enough to be able to see and hear them. They went around for a little before settling down in a coffee shop. Her friend talked about what seems to be workplace-related issues, Ah, so she's working at a hospital. I know, we look like complete stalkers right now but i didn't have a choice. Also, we were in a public place, us listening in on their conversation is just like someone near their table also hearing what they had to talk about. That was my excuse.

I was looking at my mate while listening in on what her friend had to say, she was too pure, her friend mostly did all the talking and she only listened.

"Katerina..." Her name was just as beautiful as her.

My beta was right, she was indeed a wonderful person, she was also too kind. She didn't like it so much when she hears something negative about a person. She would try to make a point by mentioning the good in that someone. How is she so perfect?!

It was already dark when they decided to head home. Thankfully these days, everything is available to rent. Me and my beta decided to rent a car so we could follow my mate home. We found ourselves stopping a couple of meters away from where my mate got off.

"check the gps and take note of the address," i instructed my beta. Now all i had to do was devise a plan to meet her... Just as my mate made it safely inside, my phone rang. It was from my father, s**t.

-Hi dad

-I'm sorry, our flight got delayed and we've just arrived.

-Uh-uh, yes. I'll make sure to call him.

My father ended the call. "F*ck. i completely forgot about the Alpha Meeting. We were expected to arrive at the Red Moon Pack earlier." I didn't tell my father that I had found my mate yet simply because everything is still a blur and I didn't want to talk about the conversation my beta and I already dodged during lunch. "We have to leave early tomorrow morning for the Red Moon Pack."

"And the Luna?" my beta asked,

"I will need a lot of time if i decide to start pursuing her. A time that I just don't have right now. I also don't want to let my parents know about this until I know more about her, and she knows more about me." I wanted to form a bond with her first, one that she is aware of before i announce to everyone that I found my mate. With a heavy heart, we went back to our hotel and prepared for our trip early in the morning. This was going to be the last one. Just a couple more days and i will find you again, my dear Katerina...