Beyond Instinct.

~05. Emotions.

Tyler's POV.

"You're so whipped, man." Trevor tossed his head back in laughter, unable to contain his amusement for much longer, laughing so hard that I wished he choked on it. I threw him a glare but that made him c***k up more than he had heads turning.



"You're one to talk." I scoffed. "Like you were not like that when you first met Mia, you couldn't stop ogling at her." I spat out, slightly offended he found my predicament funny.



"Yeah, man," he chuckled. "Mates will do that to you, she couldn't take her eyes off you. I'm happy for you, bro." He said with a s**t-eating grin on his face.



At long last, I let loose a smile on my face, happy that I've found my other half and she's a few feet away from me. "Yeah, me too, man." 



He grabbed a bite out of his self-obsessed chocolate chip muffin as I gave him a disgusted look. "Lay off junks, would you? You eat too much sugar."



"I burned down these calories at the gym; you make me train like a madman." He frowned, pouting his lips before grinning. "You should try them sometimes, you'd become obsessed like I am."



"So I'd be prone to diabetes? No, thank you, I'll have to pass on that." I said with a derisive tone.



"Suit yourself, health freak." He relaxed into his seat, spreading his legs slightly before continuing with an upcoming grin. Knowing that look on his face, he's out to get me. "Besides, I'm sure your mate enjoys them. She, after all, works at a cafe." And I was right. 



I took a sip of my coffee, sighing in ecstasy as it went down my throat, warming me up. All this while, passing a message to Trev that clearly said, I am not entertained.



My gaze left Trevor's and roamed around the room, searching for a young lady with cocoa skin and charcoal black short hair. My eyes landed on her as she stood at the front of a table that older couples–maybe–were occupying. She seemed to be in a conversation with the elder woman before she stood up. My eyes trailed after her as she entered a room with the woman.



I cleared my throat, shifting my gaze to Trev who had already finished his pastry and chocolate iced tea. "Do you think she'd come with us to the werewolf realm?" I could not help but ask, terribly worried that she'd say no to me. I don't know what I'd do if she said no.



"I think she will, she wouldn't be able to survive if she resisted the mate pull." He said with a serious look on his face which surprised me because Trev is never the serious type but I'm not about to get into that. I kind of appreciate it.



"What if she has family here?" I continued, "Or boyfriend?" My wolf growled when the word left my lips. And I frowned.



He gasped. "Who are you and what have you done to my friend?" He dramatically said before chuckling.



Okay, I take that back. 



"Relax, brother. We can convince her when it comes to that. For now, enjoy the thrill of finding your mate." He let out a ladylike squeal.



I shook my head, I don't know how Mia stands for his absurd behavior.



Sighing, I relaxed in my seat before stiffening. She's close by. Turning my head to look behind me, I saw her walking up to us with a red handbag and she was wearing a denim black jacket. 



Trevor whistled, "Look who's coming." 



We both waited for her to get to us and when she did, she only muttered two words without looking at us.



"Let's go." 



~~~



Hazel's pov.



As I stood at the front of my bed, my heart overflowed with bittersweet emotions. Each item I carefully placed into my box, held a cherished memory. The worn-out teddy bear, a childhood gift from my father on my 6th birthday, and a companion ever since he died, that way, I could feel closer to him. The photo album is filled with snapshots of my dad and me when we went to a fun carnival when I was 10 years old. I giggled at the goofy pictures we took together as my eyes began to water. Sniffing, I placed them in the box before moving to the next. I picked up my favorite novel as I skimmed through the worn pages of the book, dusting away the must that lounged the book cover. I remember when my dad bought it for me. We were going home after a lunch date and I told him about my crappy first day at this new school. I saw the book as we walked by a bookshop and I wanted it.



With each item I placed in my box, I couldn't help but reminisce about those loving moments with my dad that had taken place in the walls of my childhood home. The days when I'd stay up late, waiting for my dad to get home from work, the late-night movie marathons, our weekend together talking and sharing about everything that occurred that week. Sometimes, Mrs. Beth would join us on barbecue Sundays.



As I zipped up the final box, I stood idle at the center of my room, soaking up the familiar surroundings that I wouldn't be seeing for a while. With a deep sigh, I picked up my two travel boxes, pulled out the handles, and dragged them with me as I began to pave the way downstairs.



I could hear the muffled voices of my mate and his partner who sat in the kitchen talking. I wondered what they were talking about. Straining my ears, I was able to pick up on some words they were saying as I stood on top of the stairway. 



"She hadn't said a word to me, do you think she'd reject me?" The sweet, velvety, melodic voice of my mate rang out. My heart strung painfully at the fact that my precious mate thought I'd reject him. I may have not wanted a mate, but now that I have found mine, I'll try to embrace him–us.



"Do not jump to conclusions, Tyler. You don't know anything about her yet, give her time. And, don't give up." His friend said. "Besides, if she wanted to reject you, she'd have done that the moment she saw you, but she didn't."



Tyler. The name flew past my lips, creating a warm tingling feeling in my heart as butterflies loaded themselves at the pit of my stomach. The name sounded so much better coming out of my mouth, unbeknownst to me, my lips pulled up in a smile. 



My eyes snapped up when I felt the presence of my mate close to me. There he stood, at the bottom of the stairs, gazing lovingly at me with his friend beside him. The smile fell off my lips as I cleared my throat in awkwardness, I brought my hand up to put away the rogue strands of hair behind my mastoid bone. Shifting my gaze away from them both, I moved to pull my bags down with me, but my mate's husky voice stopped me.



"Here," he climbed up the stairs, gazing softly at me. "Let me help with that." He motioned forth his hand to the oak wooden carved handle of my travel bags and as I was about to pull mine away, our hands connected. I gasped in shock as an overwhelming electric burst of energy flooded through my hand, traveling up my skin. My eyes widened as our eyes linked together. Emerald stared into Hazel. His hypnotic orbs captured me, tearing into my soul, and making me feel whole as I embraced the new foreign feelings.



We both snapped out of our reverie when his friend cleared his throat. I drew my hand from my mate's, blushing slightly as my cheeks picked up a shade of pink. 



"We have a flight to catch up to, and you both make me wish I had my mate here with me." He rubbed his palms together, using his head to point at the front door. "C'mon, let's get going." 



Quietly, we all piled out of the house. I locked the door of my childhood home as my mate and his friend helped with putting my bags in the boot of the car. After they were done, we entered the car and the driver drove past my home.



My eyes remained on the one-story building, the place that held so many cherished memories of my home, this town was where I grew up, I never left anywhere beyond the town. I did college at the town university to be close to my dad and now, he's gone. I silently wiped the drop of tears that fell from my eyes.



With a sigh, I turned on my seat and gazed outside the window.