Beyond Instinct.

~04. Coffee.

Hazel's POV.

When I was a kid, Papa always told me bedtime stories about mates. He told me how he found mom and how he could not stop thinking of her, since she was a human, the attraction wasn't really felt on both sides. He'd always told me how tantalizing it is to have your mate near you, how devastating it is to have them far away from you for long, and it's a miracle how he hasn't lost his mind yet. Every night before he passed away, I'd hear him cry out for his dead mate, my mom, and I'd feel horrible for him. Ever since, I have prayed not to meet my mate. If it gave my dad so much heartache, I wouldn't want it. So, imagine my surprise when I saw him standing a few feet from me.

A gasp left my lips, unintentionally. Mate? What? It started to sink in that my mate is really here, in the human realm. My eyes were still on him as I joined two and two together. I find his scent intoxicatingly attractive, his allure beauty drawing me in. I can't seem to look elsewhere. This has never happened to me before.

'He's our mate.' Glen said again, this time, more confidently.

Mate. I found my mate. For some reason, I can't seem to grasp that knowledge. I mean, if there was a chance that I'd find my mate, was it not supposed to be in the werewolf realm? What is he doing here? With those questions and what was running through my mind, I didn't realize it when he got in front of me.

"Hi, mate." His velvety husky voice said.

"Hi." I breathlessly whispered, stockishly bewitched by his beauty.

Someone cleared his throat, I turned my gaze away from him to the voice. And that was when I noticed someone standing beside him, grinning at me. I blushed crimson as I gazed downwards. No one said anything for a while, my mate's eyes still on me, the stranger beside him grinning and there was me, who suddenly found the glassy counter-top interesting.

Like cold water pouring on me, I came out of my reverie when I realized the number of people waiting to order was getting quite high. I shook my thoughts off as I cleared my throat, seemed to get my mate –whose name I don't know– attention.

"What can I get for you?" I asked both of them, but my gaze adamantly connected to my mate's, wanting to hear him speak again.

Snap out of it, Hazel. I tell myself.

The male beside him, who I guess is his friend since they both look hulky, spoke and I looked at them.

"I'd like a chocolate chip muffin with a chocolate ice tea, and he'll have a cup of coffee." He paused, before adding, "black." I gave him a nod as I got to work.

I brewed a strong black tea, and as I waited for it to cool off, I moved to the grounded coffee powder, poured some into a cup and added a cup full of steaming hot water, gently mixing it with a teaspoon before handing it over to my mate. Once the tea cooled down, I added some chocolate syrup, stirred it well and poured it over ice. I took a chocolate chip muffin from its glass and handed it over to the stranger. All this while, my mate's eyes didn't stray from me, which made me nervous, but I made sure to seem unaffected.

When I was done with their order, I looked up and my eyes instantly collided with my mate's. "Head over to booth 5, I'll come join you once my shift is over." I said, before glancing at the black wall clock opposite me, "in 30 minutes."

"Okay," his velvety voice rang out as I mushed inwardly. I watched him and the other guy walk over to booth 5.

Turning back to the work at hand, I smiled at the woman in her 30s who stood at the front of the counter, ready to order. "What would you like?" I asked.

~~~

And 30 minutes was up before I knew it. Washing my hands by the sink, I called on Kimberly, a co-worker. "Hey, Kim," I started as I dried my hand with a paper towel.

"Yes, Haz?" She answered back, passing a cup of some fluid to an old man sitting by the window. Aside from Mrs. Beth and Kimberly were the only one I got along with here. I won't say we are friends, but we can at least tolerate each other.

"It's your time to play barista," I said while waiting for her to get there. When she took my place behind the counter, I walked into the worker's room, walking to my locker. I unlocked it as I took out my red handbag I came with this morning. Untying my apron, I let it come loose before folding it and placing it on the hanger in the locker. Once I was done, I closed the locker and walked out of the room, heading over to the parlor.

My eyes moved round the room, looking for Mrs. Beth. I found her sitting with the old man Kimberly served earlier. They were both laughing about something. Walking up to her, she looked at me while I connected my gaze with the older man.

"Hey, Mr. Wells." I greeted her before turning to look at her. "Mrs. Beth, can I talk to you for a second?"

"Sure, dear." She said, giving me one of her kind smiles as she turned to Mr. Wells, "I'll be back." She stood up and told me to come with her.

Once we were both in her office, she turned to me, placing both her hands on my shoulders. "Everything okay with you dear? I know today is your parents' death remembrance and I want you to know that I'm here for you, sweetie."

My eyes watered just thinking about them. I cleared my throat before speaking. "I'm okay. I just want to talk to you about me quitting."

"What?" Her hands fell from my shoulders as she gave me a look of shock.

"I can't stay here anymore, Mrs. Beth. I want to– I need to go back to my world. I don't belong here nor do I have anyone here."

"Bu-but dear, you belong here, and you have me." She said with a sad face.

"You know what I mean by that, Mrs Beth." I chuckled awkwardly as she nodded with a gloomy look in her eyes. Sighing, I took her hands in mine, looking her in the eyes. "Please, let me go back to my world. The werewolf realm. I promise to call."

I didn't tell her about my mate and his friend that sat a few rooms away in her café. If I did, she'd want to meet them, know more, and I can't risk that. The fewer people she knows, the better.

"Alright." She said, cracked a sad smile at me as she pulled me in for a hug. "Take care of yourself, pumpkin."

"I will," I said, pulling away from the hug. Giving her a sad, sincere smile and a kiss on her cheek. I said, "thank you for everything, Mrs. Beth, really. Bye, Mrs. Beth. I'll stop by sometimes." I assured her.

With a deep breath, I walked out of her office.