CHAPTER 2

[Dr Gabriello's POV]

I've been in Oxford for a little over a week. I haven't moved location in over 500 years. When I received a letter from Oxford University to join their new research team at John Radcliffe Hospital, I was hellbent on rejecting it. And yet, I felt like something was pulling me towards the UK, towards England. So, for the first time in 500 years, I moved to another country leaving all my friends behind to start anew. I know almost every werewolf in Italy. After all, I have been the country's elder for over 300 years now. Strangely, in all my many years of life, I have not been given a mate. I thought that it might have been the Goddess's way of punishing me for my past sins. I was ready to believe that I am cursed. Therefore, I left all werewolves matter behind to live like a human. However, little did I know that my choice to come to the UK would turn to be a blessing in disguise. A sister university from Oxford, Oxford Brookes University invited me last minute to cover for their Biological Psychologist lecturer who suddenly had a serious car accident and required medical leave for at least the following 12 months. Luckily, I began learning English over four decades ago and now my skills of the spoken language are like a native speaker. Because I wanted to keep busy, and the project for which I've been invited is still in the early stages of ethical approval I accepted the position. When I stepped into the class, I was surprised by the disorderly group of young people chit-chattering loudly, mostly about the fresher's week. I shook my head in disapproval- how shameless the youngsters are nova day. I made my way to the desk, lazily browsing through the papers I prepared to kill the 5 minutes left before class would begin. When suddenly, the most enticing perfume of the damask rose hit my nostrils without warning. When I raised my eyes, I saw the most beautiful woman I ever met. Not too tall, not too short either. Her blonde hair was beautifully cut into a long bob. And she was wearing a mid-black pencil skirt, a white shirt tucked in, with long black boots and a light navy-black blazer. My wolf, Astrid began to jump up and down. What is it? I asked him. Mate, mate! She is our mate! Astrid replied to me over excitedly. She doesn't seem to have noticed us. How can you say that she is our mate? I scolded Astrid, perhaps loneliness had gotten to him, and it drove him mad. Yes, she did not notice us, not the way I hoped she would if she truly is my faithed mate. However, when I quietly replied to her apology, I could confirm that she indeed had the super hearing, a normal human couldn't have possibly heard me in all that noise. But I was still unsure if she indeed was even a werewolf, let alone my faithed mate. Sensing the undernotes of wolfsbane she was wearing made me question again my sanity. No wolf in their right mind would even go near wolfsbane, let alone wear it like a perfume. I could feel her eyes on me the entire lecture, but she said nothing else. However, surprisingly she stayed over after all the students left the class. I slowly approached her, quite nervously for an ancient being like me.

"Miss," I said, not knowing her name. She looked around, and then at me. I couldn't believe that a living being had such wonderful cyan eyes. She looked even more beautiful from up close.

"Yeah, sorry." She replied, like suddenly awaken from a daydream.

"Do you have any questions?" I asked her, hoping to hear her say the word "mate".

"No, why?" She instead replied, shattering my early hope. But I was not ready to give up that easily. After waiting for over 6 centuries to be given the blessing of finding a mate, I was not going to give up that easily.

"Well, you are the only student left in the class. I assume you have some questions related to the lecture." I continued, trying to hide my disappointment.

"No. I am sorry; I didn't get much sleep last night and therefore I am slower than the other students today. I'll get going." She quickly raised up and gathered her things. Hearing her say "no" to me, two times in a row hurt me. I couldn't even move away. Am I really mistaken, or am I that unworthy? I asked myself. She suddenly bumped into me, my whole body tensed up and Astrid began to shout into my mind Mate, Mate, Mate..., he kept saying. Something is not right Astrid; you must be mistaken! I told Astrid. No, I am not. Listen to me, Gabe! Astrid snapped back at me.

"Oh, I am sorry, professor! I am really sorry!" She apologised, rushing to get to the exit faster. But I grabbed her by her left arm and stopped her.

"Is that wolfsbane you are wearing?" I asked her.

"How did you..."

"I think you know how."

"Are you really like me?" She asked me, strangely I did not feel hope in her question but rather fear.

"A werewolf? Yes, and it seems like I finally found my mate." I told her, hoping to hear what I was waiting for.

"Yeah, sure!" She replied, the feeling of fear intensified. She quickly pulled her arm out of my grip. I could smell fear overwhelming her, but despite that she seemed strangely strong, almost as strong as me, which made me question who exactly she is. I grabbed her closer to me trying to reach her wolf. I fully knew that she is a werewolf, yet I could not reach her wolf, it felt like her wolf was fighting back.

"Should I turn now? To prove to you that I really am a werewolf and your mate? Turning is the only way my shielding will come off." I explained to her, pinning her against the wall.

"If you really are my mate, please don't reject me, at least not today. Today is my birthday." She pleaded with teary eyes. I was taken aback by her reaction, is this why she is afraid, I asked myself.

"Who said I will?" I replied to her. Why would anyone in their right mind reject such a beautiful woman? I asked myself and leaned closer to her. Our faces were inches apart and I could feel her breath on my skin sending tantalising shivers. Now, I understood why my werewolf friends were so excited to find their mates and were so in love when they found them. The moon goddess must have made our souls from the same breath. I suddenly felt hotter and hotter, and an overwhelming desire filled me from within. I was close to kissing her when we got interrupted.

"Professor!?" An overly high-pitched voice interrupted me. Surprised, and suddenly realising that I am within humans I unhanded her and put a safe distance between us.

"Yes," I answered, trying to contain my anger, if he would have been a werewolf I would have most likely jumped at his throat. "What is it?" I asked the middle-aged man, in a calmer manner.

"Vince would like to talk to you about the programme for this semester." The man answered.

"Right now?" I asked, wanting to follow the damask rose woman who took the opportunity to rush out of the class.

"Yes. He has to leave for a board meeting in two hours, and before that, he wants to give you the semester's programme so you can look over it." The man explained.

"After you, then," I told him and succumbed to following him. Planning to track the woman after the meeting. The department leader gave me a pile of papers after he finished his half an hour speech about the other lecturers, how the programme is run and other minute details which almost put me to sleep. By the time I left his office the time was past lunchtime, and it began to rain heavily. I dropped the pile of papers on my desk from the office I share with the other 3 lecturers and rushed back to the Kennedy room to track her down. I tried following her smell which led me out of the JHB building and to the bus station, however, from there a strong whiff of wolfsbane hit me, combined with the rain it made tracking her impossible.