THE MEET

THIRD PERSON.

Kharyah had been stuck in bed since stirring awake at 5.0 am. The jet lag had gotten to her. She started her day by lighting a gordito. Taking a long drag every three minutes and letting the smoke overwhelm her senses. She found this calming.

After a while, she put out her cigar and got off her arse-high out of her mind.

She staggered to the bathroom, nearly knocking the door down with her sturdy frame.

"derr'mo!"

She cursed, after realising she had squeezed the toothpaste onto the wrong side of the toothbrush. Standing straight was difficult enough.

"Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!"

Everything was becoming unbearable.

Ah, the nerve of the toothbrush and paste to conspire against her! Snapping the brush in two and squeezing out all the toothpaste into the sink, then throwing both items in the bin. She began to yell obscenities at no one in particular, walking around in circles in the bathroom in a bra and boxers. She would occasionally stop and admire her belly button piercing and proceed to look into her bra-slightly lifting each breast and looking at the jewellery in her nipples. She carried on like this for hours until Dusha had grown tired of listening to her stupidity.

He walked into the bathroom, holding a pasted toothbrush, a towel and a jar of her favourite scented bath salt and not forgetting a shower cap.

She flipped him a bird the moment she saw him.

Typical. He thought. The white-haired man proceeded regardless. He was going to chew off her ears after she had sobered down.

By some miracle, he was able to get her to wear the shower cap and brush her teeth-during which he ran her bath.

While she was taking her bath, he went to order some room service specifically unnaturally large amounts of lemon juice, two servings of Olivier salad and spicy well done steak.

The things he did for her. Tsk!

A few moments later, she staggered out of the bathroom dripping wet and naked. Load dangling between her legs and firm sacs hanging from her chest.

Dusha facepalmed. He felt as though his blood pressure was rising every second.

"My God! You stoooopid stooooopid idiot!"

He threw a towel at her and went to pick out her clothes.

*******

They sat at a round table in silence. Dusha watched as Kharyah picked at her salad.

"Young woman, you will eat that salad or nothing else."

Kharyah looked at him, eyes tired and mentally foggy. It had been about thirty minutes since she had gotten off her high and the after-effects had kicked in. She couldn't talk back because Dusha had her cards. She had no choice but to sit and eat because she knew for a fact that Dusha was not bluffing. That demon of a man could starve her if he said so and she wasn't about to get starved by her beta.

She simply sat at the table with her fork and knife and stuffed herself with her serving of food.

They finished their food and cleared the table, Kharyah dove headfirst into the nearest settee.

"Ms Morozov, you have a meeting with the testing division in-" he stopped to check his watch.

"Twenty minutes. If you run there in wolf form, we'll get there in five, if we take a mobile mode of transport we would make it in thirteen minutes and that's me being bold enough to assume there's no traffic."

She wanted to bitch at him but he still had her bank cards. Fuck.

"Inform them that we'll be fifteen minutes late."

Kharyah got off the settee and tidied herself up.

Dusha just stared at his Alpha and smirked. She had finally put her work shoes on.

They got off their ride at the venue, ten minutes earlier than planned. Kharyah carried a distinct presence every time she walked into a room. She often inspired fear and awe and at times, reverence. The testing division was quite hardworking and meticulous, unlike some tardy bastards in the sales department.

Kharyah had simply gone to observe, watching for any irregularities in behaviour and work patterns, looking at status reports of the automobiles being developed, she also looked at the statistics reports for injuries; both minor and fatal.

She left with Dusha a couple of minutes later.

They got to the main office by noon.

Most of the employees had gone on their lunch breaks.

Kharyah strode into the building, wicked heels clicking hard and fast against the coffee-brown polished floors, Dusha following a few steps behind her.

As she got closer to the reception she couldn't help but notice her wolf getting super excited yet on edge. Was everything alright?

She made her way into the reception room, one step in and she was hit with a strong yet gentle scent. Was she still high? No, it couldn't be that. This scent was intoxicating yet sweet and gentle. She quickened her steps looking around the room to find a petite olive skinned with blue eyes, a button nose. Her soft facial features were in sharp contrast to her stoic expression.

Jean howled at the back of Kharyah's mind. 'Mate!' And well, Shit! So much for tucking, she was getting very hard very quickly.

She paused, took in a deep breath and walked up to the mystery woman whom she swore she had seen before.

"Hello."

Kharyah said with the most natural smile she could conjure at that moment.

The woman froze as if daring herself not to look, but looked at her anyway

"Hello."

"Is there anything you need? Miss?"

"Mrs Mojéleno."

Those words were like a stab to her heart. She flinched internally, anger rising in concentrated waves. She had finally pieced it all together. Her mate was the same 'Queen' that had been 'outdoored' like a fucking trophy and beaten by her 'Alpha'. Her mate was tired of someone else. What a sick joke!

KHARYAH'S POV.

I had noticed my change in expression and tried to save it.

"Did I say anything unpleasant?"

The young woman asked

"No, no. I'm simply shocked that you've humbled yourself so much to come all the way here."

"Ah, I take this partnership quite seriously as I was the one who proposed it."

I had just baited her into telling me the one thing I did want to know. So she was the lady I spoke to on that day.

"May I know your given name?"

She didn't answer immediately, she simply looked up at me, with a hint of curiosity. Then answered, her stoic expression making its way back to her face. What was going on?

"Gaia."

"Mmm, Gaia. Lovely name. You can hand over the documents to the man over there at the counter."

I pointed in Dusha's direction. I don't know when he got there or how my wallet was in my pocket but for the first time in my life, I couldn't be more grateful to him.

"Ah, excuse me."

She scurried over to him, giving him a set of instructions while I also made some non-verbal threats at him for the sake of keeping my identity hidden from my mate.

She finished handing him the envelope and came back to address me.

"Thank you. I'll be-"

"No, you won't be taking your leave Mrs You owe me something as sweet as yourself."

I teased, tapping my gloved finger against my temple.

She looked at me completely clueless

"And what might that be? If anyone is sweet, well it isn't me. You smell sweeter and yet more masculine than anyone in this room."

She spelt out.

I was taken aback. No one had ever been so upfront with me, it was usually the other way round. My heart skipped a beat but I stepped closer to her nonetheless, my figure towering over hers. She looked up at me as well, with what seemed to me like longing. No sooner she wore that emotionless look once more. So many mixed signals. Fuck it!

I could understand her wanting to draw the line, but she was doing a considerably poor job at it.

I cocked my hair to the side, peering at her curiously.

"Have lunch with me and we're even."

She looked away, hesitant.

"If you don't -"

"I'll go!"

Her gaze snapped back to mine with a fierce determination.

I giggled.

"You're like a little kid."

"Would that make you the bully?"

She deadpanned.

Dusha cleared his throat, clearly stifling a laugh. Ah, fuck him.

"Let's go then.".

I ushered her out of the building and into my ride.

" Where would you like to go?"

I asked looking to her.

"Aside from Italian food, I eat everything else."

She said.

"Darling. I'm asking what you want. Tell me, honestly."

She looked at me, expression becoming stony and distant. I raised a brow.

She laughed, laughter that stung more than anything.

"In all honesty, I want swiss chocolates, a hot cup of cocoa and to curl up in a cosy blanket in a room with 15° Celsius temperature."

I laughed as well.

"Well, you could have just said so. But I doubt anyone would tell a stranger that."

She looked at me confused.

"You're serious? You'd do that for a woman you're simply flirting with?"

"Ah, you caught me."

"It was quite obvious."

She said plainly.

"You into women?"

I inquired.

"Never had the luxury to explore emotions and my sexual side."

"Your wants, coming right up!"

*****"*****

"This is ridiculous."

My mate lay there sprawled atop the King-sized bed in my hotel suite in an oversized morning coat with a pack of marshmallows, and chocolates spread on the sheets.

I sat with my legs crossed and an amused expression.

"Says the one who watched me do it."

"Mm. This is wrong."

She had a blank expression on her face.

"Then why are you here?"

I asked simply curious.

"Just looking at you made my knees weak and my stomach felt funny. I felt a lightness I'd never felt before."

I giggled.

"You were smitten. Is that it?"

"There's no such thing. At least I'm allowed to think so. Am I not?"

"Well, you are. But factually speaking, you're not."

I now lay beside her, taking in her calming scent. It was nothing like I'd smelled before; it made me excited, joyous, proud and put me on a high that was unimaginable. This entire thing was so surreal. I'd have to talk to my parents about it. The whole situation felt so wrong yet so right.

"Are you not having sex with me?"

I jerked from the bed at her question. The fuck was she talking about? Sex?

"Hold on. What?!"

"That's why you brought me to your hotel room right? Isn't that what people pick up girls and or women for?"

It surprised me how she said all this with a straight face lying in the same spot while stuffing her face with marshmallows and chocolate.

"I didn't bring you here to fuck you?! Why would you think that?"

I asked with an incredulous expression plastered onto my features.

"Why would I not? You were hitting on a married woman so shamelessly. Also, you brought me to a hotel room you seemed all too familiar with. Lastly, no one ever does anything for free. Plus with your level of boldness and easing going attitude from the head office to the hotel, I'm thinking you have a high position at Morozov. So, how did I score?

I nodded at the now sitting Gaia with a somewhat perplexed and somewhat impressed look. Yeah, right. After all the non-verbal death threats I'd made at Dusha. Didn't think I'd be found out this easily this fast.

But then again, she didn't know exactly who I was. That information wasn't known to the public. Even the Werewolf community didn't know my father had a child, talk less of an heir.

I was gonna stretch this for as long as I could. I didn't learn how to evade my mother's slippers for nothing.

" You're pretty smart. But I wasn't testing you. And oh, gracious Luna. Why the fuck, are you really here in bed with me? Was it really just out of curiosity?"

"Yes, it was."

"You're shitting me right now."

I got off the bed and walked over to the trolley, picked up a glass and poured myself some wine.

She sat up as well. Fully attentive.

"I know, it sounds unheard of. But people do silly things all the time."

She said. I watched her intently while taking a long sip of my drink. Her beautiful blue eyes never left mine, she looked like she wasn't lying but for all I knew, it was all that bastard's idea. I put the glass aside and crossed my arms.

"Oh, for god's sake Gaia. You speak like you're straight out of literature class. You're bolder than a fucking ox, smart as Einstein. How on earth am I to believe that you, decided to leave your duties and follow me around town with no plan in mind? Please give me something better to work with."

She looked at me, still the same plane and blank look. Good lord, how could a person be this difficult to rile up.

"I understand your suspicions. They are to some extent valid. But don't forget, you, walked up to me."

She was relaxed and civil in her mannerism. For fucks sake be pissed!

"Right, right. There's that as well. You could have come at any time aside noon. You know that right?"

I shot back.

"A valid assertion. But believe me, your suspicions are unfounded."

That had me seeing red.

"Unfounded?! For fucks sake woman! How would you FEEL IF YOU REALISED YOUR MATE WAS MARRIED TO A MYSOGYNISTIC ASSHOLE WHO HAD NO QUALMS ABOUT BEATING HER UP AND USING HER AS A MEANS FOR HIS GAIN?!"

At this point, I was throwing hands at everything I could see. The wine bottle came crashing down on the floor. Fuck! I wasn't supposed to lose it like this. I stopped and leaned against the wall, hands in my head when I heard her voice.

"You know, you're really like him."

Her voice was silent and almost breaking. I turned to see her break into tears and felt my heart sink. Nothing ever hurt this much. So why?! Why was everything in me screaming at me for a woman I had just laid eyes on just a few hours ago.

I heard Jean whimper, like a wounded dog.

'Go console her. This isn't the time to be selfish. Please. Don't you feel it? That piercing pain that has befallen us?'

I was silent. Yeah true. I felt like absolute shit. It was hard enough looking at her sob silently, it was as though she was afraid to let her tears show.

I slowly made my way to her, one movement after the other. And when I was finally close enough and tried touching her she slapped my hand away.

"Don't come closer! Every one of you is the same! Tell me! Is it nice to talk shit and treat me as you please?! I'm trying! I'm trying really hard to be good! To be good wife, a good person! To be understanding! I'm trying for everybody but me?! WELL, NO ONE GIVES A FLYING FUCK ABOUT ME."

It felt like I was being pricked with needles at all parts of my body at once.

My heart felt as though it would burst from sadness any moment.

"I'm...I'm sorry. Please."

I didn't know what to say. I didn't even know how to say what I wanted to say.

I was so confused.

She got off the bed and sprinted to the area where the shards of broken glass were.

"Gaia...please. Please, I'm begging you. Calm down."

I tried to reason with her, but before I could even move from my spot she had picked up some shards and started stabbing her arm and thighs.

"No!"

"DON'T COME ANY CLOSER YOU! I WANT YOU... T-TO K-KNOW THAT THIS IS ALL BECAUSE OF YOU! YOU STUPID MATE. YOU JUST HAD TO APPEAR OUT OF NOWHERE AND MAKE ME FEEL STUPID EMOTIONS I DONT UNDERSTAND."

I had to do something before shit went sideways. I leapt off the bed, crashing into her. Upon making contact I took hold off her hands and pinned them atop her head on the floor. Stopping her from further hurting herself.

"DUSHA...PLEASE! I know you're there. I'm begging you. I need your help. I'LL DO ANYTHING JUST COME OUT NOW."

I screamed in agony, my lips quivering and thighs trembling.

Dusha swooped in like a ghost, a few pack members behind him. Everything else was blurred by my tears as they carried a now limp Gaia off the ground.

Dusha then ushered me out of the room. A few minutes later, a pack doctor came rushing in with nurses wheeling in an array of equipment and materials. I stood right beside the door, Dusha stood right next to me.

"So you finally found someone that makes you miserable. Does it feel good?"

I kept silent. I didn't care anymore. Yes, I was a dick. But I wanted one thing right now and that was for that woman named Gaia to be alright.