Chosen by the Fates

Coffee Shop

Aisling~

As I drive away, my heart sinks. I don't know what got in to me. Have you ever had one of those moments in your life that seems to undeniably prove that the universe is vast and that somehow you might be an integral part of that vastness? My dad always said I had an active imagination.

I shake my head a few times, keeping a watchful eye out in case of any more wildlife mishaps. Every muscle in my body is trembling now. It must have just been the surprise of it all. I mean a golden wolf?  I laugh to myself, as if it's a joke. But the gesture seems hollow. I pull out onto the highway toward the city and take a sip of my coffee when my phone rings. I switch on the speaker phone. 

"Oh good! I was so worried when you said you were stuck on the road with wolves!" Tiffa's voice is excited and relieved. "What the hell happened?! I can't even remember the last time anyone saw any wolves this close to the city!"

Hearing her voice brings me back to reality and calms my nerves. "Right?? It was so nuts, be careful about going outside. At least for a little bit. I think there were five or six of them? And they were after this big bull moose. I almost hit the moose, it scared the crap out of me, Tiffa." 

"Ohhhhhh, I'm so sorry, that's terrifying. Hey, are you going to the usual coffee spot? I could join you later if you'd like?"

I am about to tell her no, when I realize I'm still trembling a little. "Actually, that would be really awesome. But be careful leaving the house, ok?"

"Absolutely. Save me a seat!"

"Sure thing." I smile and hang up. 

Over the next half hour of my drive, I can't shake the feeling left by looking into that wolf's eyes. Or the dream from this morning. Tiffa had been right, that was some dream. The returning memories of it remind me a lot of my dreams when I was younger.

When I finally arrive at the coffee shop I get a new cup of coffee, and a snack. I settle down into a comfy chair by the fireplace and plug in my laptop. It was still close to the edge of the city with more park forest surrounding the shop’s large floor to ceiling front windows. That's what I liked most about living here. I grew up in a small town, and I never could feel totally at home in the bigger, busier cities without nature close by. 

I sip my coffee and begin working on a drawing. However, every so often my mind circles back to those golden wolf eyes and my dream. My heart squeezes each time. I bite at my lower lip and shift in my seat several times, but the feeling washes over me in relentless, periodic waves.

Just as I am about to give up on drawing and get up, I hear a low voice that somehow calms my mind all at once. "Is this seat taken?"

I look up to the darkest blue eyes I have ever seen. I shake my head. A smile lights the man’s face, and my heart skips a beat. What in the heck is up with my heart today? I clench a fist and rub at my chest, reminding myself to breathe. I quickly glance around as he sits, remembering Tiffa is on her way soon. Oh good, there's still a seat for her. 

The man is tall, well dressed, and lean. However, he is watching me closely. His gaze makes me self-conscious. I wonder if I have something on my face or if he's gauging whether to ask me something? I sip my coffee and instead decide to ignore his gaze. I hate awkward conversation, and I'm obviously still on edge from my drive here. I take another sip of my coffee. 

He crosses one foot across his knee, relaxing into his chair.

Despite his interest in me, my mind is at least finally quiet enough to draw. So I stay, settling back into the strange calm that has finally found me. I take the opportunity to go back to drawing.

***

Sol~

Unlike our wild kindred, our kind run exceptionally fast, and our ability to track a smell can extend for miles. While I cannot quite keep up with her vehicle on the highway, I am able to keep up enough to follow the scent of her vehicle from the woods at the edge of the highway. 

When I find her vehicle at a local coffee shop, I realize it's not far from the park clearing my family meets at. Gods, so this is what it means when the fates align? I wait at the forest edge, watching her through the coffee shop windows to be sure she isn't leaving again. 

When she settles into a recliner and plugs in her laptop, I take off for the clearing. I shift, and dig out my clothing as quickly as possible. The whole while my wolf is pacing anxiously within me. It takes me nearly 20 minutes to get dressed, get to my car, and then get back to the coffee shop. The whole drive I can feel my wolf pressing urgently forward. What if we lose her?

As I pull up, I see her still sitting where I left her. 

A sigh of relief escapes me. 

My wolf grows calm and I take the moment to watch her from my car. I take in every detail of her features in wonder. I remind myself that by human standards this would all be considered stalking. Hell even by my standards it is. However, there's a critical difference between our kind and humans. When we find our mate, it's undeniable, irrevocable, and for life. All of our heightened wolf senses make us aware of it. The bond is forged by the fates, matched perfectly to our wolf's soul. Our wolves recognize it immediately.

Some wolves spend centuries on the earth alone, as I have. But we all know of the bond. In my pack, Skoll and Hati paired that way. 

I take a few deep breathes, and with centuries of practice, embrace a calm center within my mind. 

I enter and approach her cautiously. Her scent is intoxicating. My wolf longs to press against her, touch every part of her, and bury our face in her neck to breathe in her scent. Among so many other things my mind also wants to conjure up. I grip to my calm center with iron-clad resilience. Finding the words to speak, "Is this seat taken?" I can hear her heart rate change with my voice, even before she looks up. I can't help but feel a sense of satisfaction at that, and my wolf eagerly pushes me forward. When her eyes lift to mine, my breath catches in my throat. Everything about her feels familiar to my body and being.

She nods and I sit, still unable to pry my eyes away from her. The way she bites at her lower lip, fidgets with her pencil, or tilts her head as she draws. I don't wish to invade her privacy, and so I am careful not to attempt looking over her shoulder as she works, but I marvel at each skillful stroke of her pencil. 

I try to think of something to say, anything, but then I worry about interrupting her drawing. You can't just stare at her, I remind myself. Although my wolf disagrees. I lean forward, "I'm sorry, I can't help but notice you drawing... would it be alright if I see what you are working on?"

Her cheeks flush when her eyes meet mine, and I am filled with a deep sense of pleasure that I am the cause. My wolf purrs out a low happy growl within me.

***       

Aisling~

The man’s voice is soft, and the gentle baritone eases my nerves. I lift my eyes to his, and once more my breath catches. "I-... yes of course." I nod, a blush creeping into my cheeks.

His dark eyes feel familiar, but I know I've never met him before. I turn my drawing around to show him and he seems to grow very still. His voice is even softer and a small smile tugs at his lips, "A wolf...?" 

I nod, "I had an inspiring morning." I laugh nervously.

"It's an excellent drawing." He flashes a smile at me, which I return.

"Thanks."

"How long have you been drawing?" He sits back and I begin working on my drawing again as I answer. "Since I was little, really."

He nods. He seems about to say something more when I hear the door bells followed by a familiar voice. "Heyoooo ROooomie." I look up to see that Tiffa's smile is as bright as her clothing. 

"You made it!" 

She nods, "Of course! Traumatic mornings require chit chat over coffee...oh Hello!" She interrupts herself noticing the company. "Wow, I mean, are you going to introduce me to your friend?" She smirks.

My face flushes entirely, and I glance at the man and then back at her. "We actually haven't exchanged names..." I pause for a second, "yet?" I glance at him. He smirks, "It's true, I was actually about to ask. Now appears to be the opportune moment." 

 Tiffa raises an eyebrow, flashing a mischievous grin. She interjects before I can, "Well I am Tiffany, just call me Tiffa. And this is Aisling."

He bows his head in greeting, "A pleasure to meet you both, my name is Sol."

"Sol, cool name." Tiffa flashes another of her smiles, "I'm going to go grab a coffee. I'll be right back." She winks at me as she walks away, and I pull at my scarf trying to cover another blush. I find my eyes drawn to Sol. Every movement he makes appears languid, but intentional.

"Aisling, it means something like, a vision? If I recall?" His voice purrs my name, sending a shiver down my spine. For a wild half-second, my mind imagines him whispering my name like that in my ear and I have to blink a few times as my chest tightens. 

My voice breaks for a second as I answer, "Ye-Yes. That’s what my dad used to say, anyway."

Something stirs behind his gaze and a smirk tugs at his lips. His confidence just makes me even more self-conscious about how his voice and attention seems to be affecting me. I've had my share of boyfriends, and dated men, but never felt anything like this before. He is making me feel like an insecure high schooler. Snap out of it Aisling I try telling myself. I take a deep breath in and breathe it out as slowly as possible. 

"I don't want to interrupt your drawing, or time with your friend. Thank you so much for letting me see your work." His thoughtful words catch me off guard. I am used to people unapologetically interrupting me, or looking over my shoulder fairly regularly. My heart sinks at the thought of him leaving. I find myself flustered, trying to find the words I need to ask for a way to contact him again without sounding totally weird.

"Before I go though, I would like to see you again if that would be alright with you?" His request makes my heart leap. This day is, without a doubt, going to give me a heart attack at this rate. I feel my cheeks heat, and if my blush wasn't visible before, I am sure it is now. Which of course just makes me blush more. I nod, "I'd like that."

"We could meet here again, if you'd like?" He offers.

"Yes, sure. I mean, but also I could give you my number if you'd like it?" I am not sure if there is a reason he didn't ask for mine, but that way we could coordinate better. His smile for me is warm, and we exchange numbers. I watch him as he leaves. His walk is fluid, with a measure of grace that is uncommon in most people. I wonder if he is a dancer. When he turns to step through the door into the afternoon light, he glances back to smile and wave. 

For the briefest moment, his eyes almost seem golden instead of dark blue.

***

Sol~

My wolf howls at me as I tear myself away from her. It is not within our nature to let go of that which is meant to be ours. However, she is not a wolf. She cannot be expected to understand the implications of what is happening right now. I force my breathing to remain slow and hold my calm center even as my wolf thrashes against my decision. 

Perhaps it is fortunate for us both that I have had centuries of practice in handling my inner beast. Though never have I experienced my wolf in this state before. It's made particularly difficult by the fact that her presence both calmed me, while leaving me completely hungry for more of her.

My wolf instincts may recognize my soul mate, but my wolf was not built for navigating the complexities of human emotion and consent. She is deserving of the respect and space needed to come to understand and choose this bond for herself. I can feel my beast growling impatiently, but quieting as I breathe and think through it all.

My heart sinks as I drive away, and I heave a sigh. After centuries, it seems the fates have finally spoken. When I arrive at my penthouse in the city, I am glad to finally get out of my clothes and into a shower. The shower helps cool my tensed muscles and relax me as much as possible after being stripped of both a complete hunt, and my mate’s presence all in one day.

My phone chimes, and a smile pulls at the corners of my mouth when I see her text. My wolf eagerly shifts within my mind. 

"Hey, I work tomorrow until 5pm. How about after that? The coffee shop is open late, so it can be any time you're free." 

I tap out a quick reply. "Does 6pm work for you? If you're interested, I can take you to dinner from there whenever you get hungry?"  

"Great, I'll see you then?"

"I look forward to it." 

I set my phone down on my night stand and stretch out on the silk sheets of my king sized bed. My mind conjures thoughts of her warm body pulled tightly against mine. When sleep eventually comes, I dream I am racing through the woods on a hunt with her.