The Shifter in me

Chapter 2

Sarah

I woke up to a fluffy king size bed in my hotel room. This room is more spacious than my own. Even the chandeliers in the middle of the room are big. The room is inspired by minimalism with it's white walls and light blue ceiling. There is a study table to my right and a small kitchen bar to my left. There is a coffee maker, a small sink, and a large refrigerator. I wish there was an oven oven though so I can bake something on my stay here. Where should I go later? I looked at the small magazine about Santa Fe on the bar.Hmm famous forests and hiking trails? Sounds interesting. Maybe I should go for a run and  go sightseeing after all, it's  not everyday that I get to see nature in its purest form.

I grabbed my dryshirt, leggings, and undergarments then went to shower. Even the soap and shampoo that the hotel provides are unique. Rose and honey? Maybe I'll take some with me to New York. After my shower, I went downstairs to get breakfast. They offer a variety of foods in their restaurant so I picked a few that I don't get to eat a lot.

While I was munching on my garlic bread, a guy approached my table, "Hi! I'm Dylan, is it okay to sit here? There are no other vacant chairs," he told me. He's a tall guy with broad shoulders, large arms.He seems confident though, wearing that wide smile. Quite charming if you ask me although I wouldn't want to be his enemy on the ring. I looked around me to see if there really were vacant chairs.

"Sure, you can sit there," pointing to the chair in front of me.

"Thanks," he eagerly sat, "I never really eat breakfast but my client meeting will be held here so I decided to eat."

"Okay, no problem," I replied. He seems friendly.

"How about you? You're not from around here, are you? Business trip?" he asked as he gobbled a large slice of sausage.

"Not really, I'm here to attend a wedding," I told him as I tasted my potato salad. Wow this potato salad is good. I should get some more of it.

"Oh? The wedding of the year? Wow! You're a friend of the bride?" he asked me curiously. Whoa what? The wedding of the year? I don't understand. He must've noticed my confusion so he explained further.

"Ollie Newman and Shana Hawkins I mean. Ollie's a friend of mine, a wealthy businessman. He owns a building and several establishments here," he continued, "They're childhood friends, fated lovers, the groom and the bride."

"Oh I didn't know that Shana's marrying her childhood friend," I replied quietly. I didn't know if Dylan heard me. I know Shana is secretive about her family and I tried not to ask her since she seems uncomfortable telling me when I do ask. But talking to this stranger who seems to know her more than I do, I can't help but feel jealous. I really hope that Shana will share with me more about her background. I really won't mind if he has a deep dark secret or a part of a cult. Oh I would be disturb though but I would still be her friend. She's a good person and she helped me a lot in my studies and when I didn't anybody else in the university.

"Are you okay?" Dylan asked. He's staring at me intently and I can’t help but look into his eyes like I'm being hypnotized.

"Yeah, I'm done eating," I said as I swallow a bite of the remaining potato."I have to go. I want to go sightseeing."

"Really? Maybe I can help you with that? Where do you want to go?" he asked.

"Just here and there," I lied to him. I really don't like telling strangers much about myself especially when I'm in a different place."Enjoy your meeting," I told him as I stood up and walked away.

I stepped out of the hotel and was greeted by the warm breeze. It's such nice weather to take a stroll around. Maybe a cup of tea before going to the mountains.

***

Levi

It's almost lunch and I am so hungry. Making sure those humans won't cause any trouble to the pack and the thought of allowing them into our territory is stressful but with the help of my betas, the necessary arrangements for the humans are almost complete.Where is Dylan though? Oh yeah, gathering information. When he found out that Ollie's having a wedding, he became excited about it. He looked for shops that sell suits for the groom and the best man and I think he is currently arranging his gifts for them. I think he's very into the wedding but what else can we do, they're childhood friends, he's happy for them.

I decided to go into town to grab some lunch. There are wonderful cafes and restaurants by the lake besides, I'm craving for some seafood. Man, I didn't know having a wedding is this tiring. I park my car in front of a famous restaurant that sells freshly caught crabs. I opened the door to the restaurant and smelled butter. They usually use it in frying the crabs and vegetables. 

Hazel, a waitress, approached me, “Hey Levi, what's up? Want a private room?" She asked, happily eyeing me. She's been like that ever since our private session in one of the private rooms. She was a temptation, still is and when she sat on my lap and started kissing me on the neck, I lost control. That was after my pack mission in another pack. A few days on the field would leave a werewolf frustrated so I needed to let off some steam. But our little rendezvous didn't happen again,

"No, I want a table beside the lake," I replied. She only serves customers in private rooms so I chose a table outside. Moreover, nature could really help me relax.

"Oh come on," she pouted.

"A table beside the lake," I said sternly, almost using my power as an alpha. Not entertaining any argument, I walked to the glass door that would lead me to the row of tables beside the lake. It really is relaxing here. No other noises except the splash of the water made by the fishermen and the sounds of the birds. There are umbrellas over the tables so we are protected from the sun.

I sit on a chair on the far right corner since there aren't any people. Another waitress took my order and I waited for the food quietly. I closed my eyes for a moment to listen to my surroundings when I caught a unique scent. It smelled like roses in full bloom. I didn't know why but I can't resist it. I opened my eyes when I heard a noise from a boat in the lake.

"This is so beautiful. The lake is beautiful. You can even see the mountains from here," said the woman on a boat. She is wearing a dryshirt, leggings,  and a baseball cap. She's facing the man who's rowing the boat so I can't see her face. All I can see is her beautiful hair cascaded to her waist. I can tell that she is in awe of the mountains. Is she a tourist?

I almost jumped into the water when the boat shook slightly. She needs to sit on the boat. What if she fell into the water?

"Miss Sarah, be careful, you need to sit so the boat won't shake," reminded the boatman.

"Oh okay, sorry about that," she sat and took out her camera to take pictures of the mountain.

I want to see her face. Just a look. The scent of roses are so strong that it makes me want to swim to her and embrace her. Wait, why am I like this? Is she, Is she my mate? No, it can't be. She's a human. Alphas don't have humans as mates. But why is her scent so intoxicating to me? I gotta know this woman. I was about the stand when my order came. The smell of their special is very aromatic but I want to go to the boat station and wait for this woman.

"Can you please put this in a bag? I'll come back for it. This is my payment. I forgot something in the car," I told the waitress. And by that, I stood up and run fast outside. I went into the direction of the boat station.  When I reached it, the woman's boat just arrived so I went to her and pretended to bump into her.

"Oh, I'm sorry," she said. "Are you okay?"

"It's no problem. Is the boat ride good?" I asked her. Wait, what? Is the boat ride good?

"Uhm yeah," she said as she started walking fast towards the parking lot.

I jog up to her and attempt a conversation. Okay, I can do this. I needed to know about the rose scent and I want to know her.

"Are you a tourist?" I asked her.

"Yeah, I just got here. I want to go and tour the area," she said. We reached the side of the road and it looks like she's waiting for someone. Does she have a date? A boyfriend? Wait, what? No, I just want to know about the rose scent.

"Where do you want to go next? You know there's a really nice camping area in the mountain. Do you want to go see it?" I asked her hoping she would say yes.

A car parked in front of us. She was about to open the door when I offered her.

"I can take you there. I am a business owner in this town. I'm Levi," I said.

"No thanks, I called an Uber. I want to go to a cafe. But I appreciate your offer," she politely replied.

"But, I can tour," I replied but my phone rang so the woman quickly hopped in the car. I was about to knock at the door when the car suddenly moved and got away. Damn it! I answered my phone irritably.

"What do you want?" I said.

"Whoa, why the tone? Are you lady hunting?" Fletcher, my other beta, said.

"Why did you call Fletcher?" I asked him, not wanting to discuss the woman I saw.

"Doesn't want to talk huh?" the bastard, he really won't quit until he doesn't get any information. He is more persistent than Dylan.

"Shut it Fletcher," I told him sternly.

"Come on man, if it's because of a lady, I should apologize to you. Is it about the waitress?" he teased. Wait, what does he mean about the waitress?

"Waitress? What the heck man?" I want to punch the guy.

"Is it Hazel? Or another waitress?" he laughed loudly. What a bastard.

"And may I ask how did you know about the waitress?" I asked curiously.

"She practically told the patrons of a bar about what happened with you after she learned that you're a billionaire. I assume she's flirting with you. Man I didn't know you're into redheads. Well, I admit she's sexy," he told me. So, the waitress basically told the whole town. Ugh and I thought I would be relaxed coming here. I should go back to the pack.

"I'll go back there. I'll just pick up my food," I replied.

"Yeah, I forgot to tell you. There are rogue activities reported in the mountain. Though I'd tell you. It can be a rogue or the other pack. We need to investigate them," my beta reported. The rogues are really disturbing my territory. The other pack beside my territory is not helping either. Their alpha doesn't want to talk  about it.

"We really should do something about the rogues. I'll try to talk to the alphas of the other packs. Tell Grayson to go to the meeting room," I ordered him.

"Grayson? So you really want to talk to the alphas, Are you sending Grayson?" he asked. Grayson is my other beta. He is known for his aloof and stubborn personality. Other wolves look up to him for his loyalty to the pack. He is a great warrior and most alphas don't really say no to him.

"Grayson can help me talk to those stubborn alphas," I said.

"Okay, I'll tell him to go to the meeting room," Fletcher replied.

After the call, I went back to the restaurant, picked up my food then went back to the pack. All the pack officers are in the lobby of my building. Guess they want to know what I'm going to do about the rogues. Going back to the lake, I'm hoping that I'll meet the woman with the rose scent again.