The Captain's Mate

3- Introductions

3- Introductions

ARIADNA

"Hi Ariadna, excited for your first day?" Hazel greets me cheerfully. "Let me just show you around a bit, introduce you to everyone, and we'll take it from there, all right?"

"Hi, yeah, a bit nervous but also excited"

Hazel took me in the office and I met the rest of my team, Lynn, Bradley and Carol. God, it's like a modelling agency here.

Bradley is basically a blonde, blue eyed version of Russel but he seems really nice and grounded.

"Hey doll, glad to have you on our team." Bradley chimes making my gay-dar beep like crazy. "I love, love, loooove your outfit! Look at that booty, dang! You'll kill in the uniform" and gives me a knowing smile filled by a wink. "You better be careful around Russell, he might finally move on from pouncing on Kelly all the time." Kelly is in Accounts, I know because I had to give her my bank details for the salary to be paid in.

"Brad, what the f**k? You're scaring her." Lynn jumps in giving Bradley a quick and cold stare. "He's just messing with you, hun. Russell is great, don't worry, you'll be just fine"

"It's really nice to meet you guys. I hope I won't mess up too much at the beginning'

"You can mess up. We will happily cover for your sweet ass, doll! Then you will owe me and can make it up by covering my evening shift. I just hate being one, it's soooo boring" he says followed by everyone else' eyes rolling.

Bradley is delicious. I already like him a lot.

Both Lynn and Carol are in their 20s, with tall slim figures, although I can tell Lynn is more physically blessed, while Carol looks like she had quite extensive work done, from her face and big lips to her large breasts.

I am not against plastic surgery, but I am happy I never felt the need for it. I have quite plump lips, my C cup breasts are thankfully perky and in perfect balance with my butt.

I do like my kickboxing training, and it shows on my figure. I thank my genes for being all and my training for being fit and I am proud of myself for not feeling intimidated by these guys. Okay, I feel just a tiny bit intimidated, but I am doing all right. Alas, looks aren't forever, so I might just ask Carol for her doctor's number. I wonder if we have any discounts for being an employee of Synerty.

Carol and Lynn are wearing the uniform Bradley mentioned. It compliments the suits the boys are wearing. A dark grey and tight fitted pencil dress that accentuates the curves in all the right places, with cap sleeves that give the look a more office appropriated vibe. We also have the option of wearing a fitted blazer on top, for when it's colder.

Then Hazel took me on the boatestaurant and I met the rest of the staff and finally to the captain's lounge where I met the crew. I was already a tight ball of nerves when I realised I will be seeing that hottie again. Jeez, pull it together, woman!

I step inside the control room and I finally see that this is an actual boat, a vessel fitted with all that is necessary to navigate through the Thames. It's hard to imagine it from the outside, because the boatestaurant literally looks like a floating glass building.

Hazel introduces me to everyone, and I meet Mick who is a charming man well in his 50s, two well built lads, Jake and Nick who were the captain's helpers.

Mick quickly excuses himself and takes Jake outside to deal with something they heard over the radio. Nick hangs around and takes my hand to his mouth to kiss it as we were just introduced, and he's trying to be cheeky.

I laugh casually and then I hear a low... growl?! What the f**k? Did I just imagine that?

Nick also looks confused and Hazel quickly moves on to the next person she wants me to meet.

"And this is Dean, he is also a captain, just like Mick, and he is also my baby brother" she punches him in the shoulder playfully.. or not?

It looked like she punched him quite hard but he didn't even flinch. Is this what it's like to have siblings? I am an only child, and I kind of always like being the apple of my parents eye, but also wondered what it would be like to have a brother or a sister.

I felt weird and like my stomach was full of restless butterflies, and I am pretty sure my cheeks were bright red, because of Dean.

"Oh yeah. We met briefly when I came in. Nice to officially meet you." I say and hold my hand out with a big stupid smile plastered on my face.

"Likewise" he said, taking my hand in his. As soon as our hands touched I felt a jolt of energy and a spark that made me quickly pull my hand back.

"Mate.." I hear a voice saying, and I ignore it. It's probably Mick shouting for one of the boys or something.

DEAN

"Man, are you sure that's our mate? She is f*****g beautiful and her scent is the best thing I have ever smelled in my life, but she seems to be human." I tell Zain in a failed attempt to calm him down.

He has been screaming and begging me to go back and accept our mate.

When I met her, I just froze as I got close to her, and there was no indication that she is a werewolf, but I could still feel something pulling me towards her. Instinctively I wanted nothing but to have her for myself, take care of her and give her everything.

But her scent is not as overpowering as I had heard it should be. She didn't gesture anything that would suggest she recognized me as her mate, although I could see the interest I sparked in her. I Could read it in her big beautiful eyes. I am very confused, and Zain's whining is not helping at all. I need to see Hazel and ask her about the new girl. I don't even know her name.

"She is mate, mark her, I want mate only for ourselves"

"But you said you couldn't even sense her wolf. A wolf, any wolf" I growl at him.

"I know" he lets out an ear piercing howl and goes away in some corner of our mind, leaving me with a headache. Useless love struck mutt!

"Hey, Hazel. Who is she?" I mind link my sister and she is quick to reply.

"New starter in Reception. She's nice, right?"

"Zain said she's our mate, but i am not sure"

"What? That's amazing, congrats, but why are you not sure? You either are mates or you're not. Did she reject you? Or... f**k it Dean, did YOU reject her?

"What? No, calm down. I just have a weird feeling. I don't know. I think she is human"

It's not unheard of for werewolves to have human mates, but it is quite uncommon. What is unheard of though, is for an Alpha to have a Luna that is human.

"I'm going to bring her to the control room later to introduce her to Mick and the guys on board. Second chance, baby brother?"

"I'll be there"

The scent, HER scent is getting stronger and stronger. Hazel has her in the restaurant now and soon she will bring her to our captain's lounge. I am nervously trying to make myself look busy. I can hear Mick trying to get my attention and I try to focus on him and not her anymore.

They come in, and I am instantly overwhelmed by her. She is tall and slim, and her hair is neatly up in a classy ponytail. Her make-up is discreet, but she looks so beautiful. And her body is just screaming for my arms to be wrapped tightly around her.

I see her being introduced to Mick and the guys, and then..

"What is that asshole doing?" Zain said, trying to fight me for control.

That little fucker, Nick, kissed her hand. I see her nervous smile, the whole thing caught me off guard, and Zain briefly takes control making me let out an angry growl.

"MINE!" He roars as I quickly take back control and Hazel tries to jump in and introduces me to her.

"Keep it together, you i***t!" Her mind links me.

"Sorry, Zain went crazy for a moment"

"Well, put a f*****g leash on him!"

She might be smaller and physically not as powerful as me, but she sure as hell scares me.

I see her looking at me, she sticks her hand out, and her name dances in my ears. Ariadna! f**k, even her name is so f*****g sexy.

She is smiling, and I take her hand in mine, immediately feeling parks as our skin touches. She pulls her hand back a bit confused, and I hold back a chuckle.

ARIADNA

The remainder of my first day at work flew by as my brain was so confused and generally overwhelmed after meeting Dean. I was almost floating, not really paying attention to the safety training that Hazel was doing.

She was saying something about where to walk when you are on deck, what to hold on to, blah, blah. We were on the narrow walkway that surrounded the all glass restaurant, and that was off-limits for guests. But staff needed to use that walkway sometimes if they wanted to get in and out without disturbing the guests.

We also had to use this walkway apparently if we wanted to get any office supplies from the storage room. I just nod politely at everything and respond with an "Ohh, I see" every now and then.

All I can think about is Dean and I run through my head all the different scenarios that could have happened earlier.

I think I came across as rude because I pulled my band back from his handshake, but those sparks just took me by surprise. I am actually happy I have something to look forward to when coming to work.

But let's face it, he is way too hot to be single. I could never get him to like me, can I? Pff, I hate it that I am underestimating myself because of a guy. A hot, muscular, steamy, God-like man that in just a couple of minutes managed to turn my world upside down. What is happening to me?

FLASHBACK- ARTEMISA

We have been running for a few hours now, and baby Ariadna is getting restless. I think she is hungry. Luckily we reached Lugana with Lola giving me back control.

I quickly shift back to my human form hiding behind a large tree in the lush forest at the town edge, and put my clothes on, then I start walking through the town's market with Ariadna in my arms, trying to compose myself and look just like any other mother holding her baby.

"We need to be careful, Art, if we come across a witch. Not all are friendly to werewolves, and if they figure out you have Alpha Luca's daughter, they would hand her oven to Simon themselves, out of fear." Lola whines. "They wouldn't want him coming to Lugana and destroying the whole city."

"I know, Lola, I know"