Torn between two

Chapter 4

Two sides of a story/Flashback

Daniel’s POV



It was just another regular Saturday in my life, like any other Saturdays I’ve lived. When all of the sudden, everything changed. “MATE”

I was sent to Athens, by my father, for some meetings. He feels that, I need to take more responsibility in life and in our company. As if I wasn’t already busting my ass off, trying to prove myself to him. Luckily, we have relatives here and I could stay with them. To be exact, I was staying with my grandparents. I asked my baby sister Layla to accompany me, since we haven’t really been here for years, but she couldn't come until today.

So, there I was waiting in a café, for her plain to arrive, which was already 2 hours late, when I got a weird feeling. It started with a low hum, then I could feel my fingers twitching. The feeling got my heart racing and I bolted up from my seat on high alert. Suddenly the most amazing scent hit my nose; honey and vanilla. And this wasn’t no ordinary scent, coming from a candle or perfume, this one was a mouth-watering scent, that I wanted to engulf myself with.

All I could think about was, what this amazing scent? I let my emotions take over and followed it to the door, not even caring that everyone could see me sniffing the air. The scent led me to the front door where I froze instantly as I saw the prettiest girl, I’ve ever laid eyes on. “MATE”, my wolf Axel kept yelling in my mind.

She was about 5’4 inches tall, has tan olive skin, curvy as hell, with wild, long and natural curls bouncing on her shoulders and she was walking right towards me. Before I can react, she bumps right into me and I tense up right away. I got goosebumps all over body from her touch and it felt like my heart stopped in that instance.

She opens her beautiful mouth and mumbles something in a language that sounded familiar, but couldn’t quite figure out. She facepalms herself and says with the most angelic voice I’ve ever heard that: “I mean, I’m sorry”. I can’t get a word out of my mouth so; I just stare down at her dumbfounded.

She steps backwards looking up at me, as if I´m a mountain to her, our eyes locking immediately. I get lost in her beautiful big brown orbs. In that moment, I realize brown is my favorite color and her scent is my favorite scent. Nothing else compares to it and nothing ever will.

“MATE” Alex howls in my mind again, his howls irritating me once more. But how could it be? They told me she was nowhere to be found and that there wasn’t anyone destined to be with us. They told me; this was my destiny; I was A lone Alpha.

We kept staring at each other and suddenly, just like that, she walks away from me. What? Doesn’t she know I’m her mate?

Say something you fool! Axel yells, but I still can’t form a single word, I’m still dumbstruck.

I turn around to look at her, breathing in her divine sweet scent filling my lungs, finally “jump starting” my heart. I couldn't smell exactly what she was, definitely part human and part... something, which is weird since wolfs can smell and identify every living creature that exists.

She definitely felt something too, because I could smell her arousal from 10 feet away. The scent of her arousal with her natural scent made my mind hazy, my d**k bouncing right up to attention. I had to walk out of the café to go cool down. Because the last thing I want, is to scare my little mate and give her the impression that I´m some creep. I will go talk to her as soon I’m calmed and thinking straight.

She is our mate. Go claim her! Now!!! Axel snarls out every single word, making me calming down none that easier.

Easier said than done. I’m just as excited to meet her as you are Axel, but we really need to cool it. I want to give her the best impression of us and not some weird perv with a hard-on. I replied rolling my eyes. I really needed to keep in my pants. I can’t go in and introduce myself like this, she would probably call the cops on me.

*bling* goes my phone, as I get a text from Layla. s**t. s**t. s**t. I totally forgot about her!

Layla: Hey. At the airport, where are you?

Me: Kinda busy, take a taxi.

Layla: What’s up? You promised to pick me up.

Me: Something weird happened... I’ll explain later.

Layla: Better be something good for ditching me. *Rolling eyes emoji*

Me: You wouldn't believe me, even if I did.

Layla: Huhh?

Not having the time, patience or interest right now to answer her, I put my phone away. There’s no way I’m going anywhere till I find out who this goddess is. I try to listen to their conversation, realizing they’re speaking Finnish. Mentally scolding myself, for not learning the language when I was the for a while on business, I settle to just sniffing the air again. That turned out to be a BIG MISTAKE. Damn it. Creepy guy lurking in the corner it is.

***

They’re starting to leave and I decide to follow them, maybe if I knew where she lives, I could “accidently” bump into her later. I heard one of them asking locals about nightclubs and I notice Moonlight is mentioned often. So, they’re about to go clubbing? This could be my shot; I can easily get over myself and go talk to her there.

This would be a lot easier, if you’d just go and talk to her NOW. Axel says frustrated.

Do you want her to think I’m a creep that followed her around town?

Then don’t be a creep, who’s following her around town! You should’ve just talked to our mate from the start.

I put a block on him, since he’s not helping at all stating the obvious. He’s been on my ass from the moment we saw her and I was nervous enough, without someone yelling inside my damn mind.

Suddenly my phone began ringing, it’s Layla.

“What do you want, Layla?? I told you I’m busy.”

“Wow, calm down. What’s with the attitude?”

“What don’t you understand about being busy?” I ask sarcastically, while still following the girls.

“Still? Can you just tell me what’s going on??”

“No time for this right now, call you later” I’m about to hang up the call, when I hear her almost yelling from the other side.

“Daniel Lucas Jones, you tell me right now! You’re being rude and you totally ditched me earlier.”

“Listen, I found her. I finally found her and I’m not going to waste my time going back and forth on this subject! I’m busy and I will tell you later!”

“Found who?” she says after a bit of silence.

“Get ready for clubbing, I’ll come to change and we’ll be leaving right away.” I continue and end the call without letting her continue further questioning.

I come to an abrupt stop, when they finally stop in front of an apartment building. Once they go inside, I follow her scent from outside and locate her apartment and balcony. Once I’m sure no-one sees me, I start climbing up the wall to the third floor. Thank the goddess for these old Greek buildings and their unique exterior embossing.

I reach her balcony and I hide around the corner so she can’t see me. My mouth starts to water as her divine scent hits my nose again and I have the urge to just walk inside and claim her us mine. But luckily; I still have a little sense in me to stop myself. Axel has come to the surface again, and I have to cool it down.

After taking few deep breaths, I pinch the bridge of my nose in frustration. What is wrong with me all of the sudden? I’m being a total creep and a pervert, hiding on someone’s balcony. I know where she lives and that’s enough for now, I can always come back later.

Axel stop this right now! This is not who we are! Even though she is our mate, we’re going to respect her privacy!

I just want be with my mate! He whimpers.

I know buddy, me too. Me too...

I climb back down and head back towards the café where I left my car. Time to go to our grandparents' house to change and face Layla´s wrath, she´s probably going to skin me alive.

Layla’s POV

After Danny rudely hangs up on me, I start to think about what he was talking about, found who? His mate? No, it’s not possible. I shrug my shoulders and get ready for a night out. It’s been a while since I’ve been out clubbing.

“Layla! Are you ready??” Daniel shouts impatiently from downstairs. I walk outside of my room and to the stairs. He’s pacing front and back impatiently with his arms crossed.

“It’s been literally just 30mins, so calm your pants. A girl needs time getting ready.” I say and look at him amused.

“We can’t waste any more time! We have to go!” He states staring at me angrily.

“Calm down bro, what's up with you?”

“I told you already, I found her!” he answers me impatiently.

“Danny, I do not like this tone you’ve taken lately! You do not speak to me like that, even though you are an alpha. Now in a calm voice, tell me who have you found?” I ask with a raised brow.

“My mate” he whispers under his breath, but luckily, I manage to hear it. After I realize what he said, I get sad for him and walk down to comfort him by putting my arm on his shoulder, gently squeezing it.

“Daniel... You know that’s not true...” I manage to say with furrowed brows, but he slaps my arm off.

“I’m telling you, I found her! Axel recognized her and I smelt her!” He blurts out and my jaw almost drops to the floor. “I don’t know how, I don’t know why after ten years, but I found her!” He says while staring directly in my eyes, and I can see he’s sincere. He really found her! I hug him tightly with joy and he hugs me back. I can barely keep my tears from coming out.

“I’m so happy for you Danny!” I manage to mumble to him. “Where is she? What’s her name??” I ask jumping up and down, clapping my hands.

“I was so shocked that I couldn’t get a single word to form in my mouth.” he says with the biggest grin. “I think she’s human, because she didn’t seem to feel the bond. Well, she definitely felt something.” He chuckles to himself.

“What do you mean, you think she’s human? She’s either human, or supernatural.” I ask confused.

“I couldn’t really tell, I mean she didn’t smell like a werewolf, but also not human...” He says also confused as he scratches the back of his head. “But I followed her and her friends' home and they were talking about going clubbing tonight, so go get ready now, because we’re going to!”

“You followed her?” I screech way too loudly. “What is wrong with you? You probably scared the poor girl off”

“Well, I couldn’t just let her go... I mean I just stared at her without being able to speak... So, I had to...” He says and scratches the back of his head again awkwardly.

“I’m just teasing you!” I playfully hit his arm. “I’ll go get ready, and you should too! I can’t wait to meet her!” I say and clap my hands excitedly.

I hurried upstairs to get ready, and I just couldn’t concentrate as I was so happy for my big brother. Daniel is the future Alpha of our pack, and as an Alpha he should’ve met his mate years ago, or so they say. He’s searched everywhere and we’ve sought help from elders, witches and even oracles and still nothing. How is it possible, that now, after 10 years, he finds her out of nowhere? They all said that Danny’s mate doesn’t exist and that he’s destined to be the lone alpha.

Everyone was expecting him to just to choose a mate and move on, but my brother has always been stubborn. He wanted what everyone else had; a true mate. A chance at truest love.

***

Daniel’s POV

After what seemed like a year, Layla was finally ready and we were about to head straight to the Moonlight club, but our grandma, or we called her: γιαγιά stopped us right there in our tracks.

“Agabi mou, Layla. Ti kaneis Agapiménos?” (My love, Layla. How are you sweetheart?) She says with her sweet voice as she engulfs Layla in a big hug.

“I’m doing great γιαγιά, how are you?”

“You’ve spent half of your life here in Greece, the least you can do is please your old γιαγιά and speak a little bit of the language” She scolds her.

“Sygnomi.” She says batting her eyelashes at her.

“I can’t be mad at my darling little Layla. Where are you two heading? I made your favorite: dolmadakia. Come on, let’s eat.” γιαγιά says not waiting for an answer as she holds both of our hands and drags us behind her.

There’s no saying no to this sweet old lady, when she says something it’s the law. I sigh deeply and follow her quietly to the kitchen.

After successfully stuffing our faces with γιαγιά’s mouthwatering dolmadakia, we finally manage to leave and head to the club. Luckily the club is owned by a family member, so we get in easily even though it’s pretty packed. As soon as we set a foot in the establishment, Layla is dragging me to the V.I.P section.

“This section has the best view of the whole club; we should look for her from here.” she says excitedly. She has a point, the V.I.P. sections balcony has an overview of the whole club, so we will surely spot her right away. Even though I don’t need my eyes to spot my little mate; I could smell her miles away. I sit down on one of the lavish couches and immediately start to scan around the room.

Before my eyes can see it, I get hit by the amazing scent again; honey and vanilla. She was here, my mate was really here. My head snaps to the bar where the scent is originating from and notice two beautiful brown orbs staring right back at me. I feel Layla sitting down right next to me and say something, but everything is a hum. All I notice is her and all I hear is her rapid heartbeat.

“Danny, is that her?” she speaks louder this time, but all I can manage is a nod and a smile.

“She’s gorgeous Danny! I’m really happy for you!” She squeals in her seat.

She’s the most beautiful creature I’ve ever laid eyes on, and so tiny. I can’t hide my amusement, when my little mate hops on the railing to boost herself up to the bar.

“Stop staring, and go talk to her already! She obviously noticed you, hence the staring.” Layla says annoyed. I playfully stick my tongue out at her just as we were kids and she smacks my head.

“I will, I will” I say and turn back to my goddess, to only see, that someone’s flirting with her. I feel a possessive growl come from deep within; it’s a f*****g leech. I’m about to bolt towards them and claim what is mine, when Layla notices the same thing as me and holds me down.

“Calm down, you can’t go wreck mayhem. Nothing's happened; they’re just talking.” She says and squeezes my arm. He’s touching her, but luckily, she seems annoyed. That’s my queen, just walk away. When she doesn’t walk away, but instead turns around; it takes the very last nerve on my body to calm myself down. Axel is screaming bloody murder in my head and I have to squeeze the couch so I won’t shift right then and there.

“I will go and talk to her, just calm yourself. You don’t want her to think you’re a maniac.” She says and I nod. No, I don’t, she has to see the real me. Not the stalker, possessive one. When she looks at our direction again, I manage to calm down a bit, loosing myself in her gaze.

“Close your eyes, and take a deep breath. Everything will be alright.” Layla says and I do exactly that. I close my eyes, only focusing on her scent and heartbeat. Images of her beautiful face comes to my mind, and I calm down instantly.

They’re just talking, nothing else. She is my mate and she will come to me; I just have to be patient. Goddess knows I’ve been so far. I just have to introduce myself properly, and she’ll see what we are to one another, she’ll see she belongs to me, that we belong together. I’ve waited far too long, to screw this up over some petty jealousy and a damn leech.

I open my eyes, and she’s nowhere to be found. I bolt up and try to find her, only realizing she’s dancing with the leech, with her hands around him. Deep growl emerges from within, as Axel tires to take the charge.

Layla jumps up next to me. “I will handle this, sit your ass back down!” She practically shoves me back to the couches. She hurriedly goes after her, following her to the bathrooms while I dig my fingers deeper in to the couch. I really need to reimburse for these couches.

“Her name is Dunya” Layla mind links me. Dunya, me and Axel say at the same time. Her name is as beautiful as she is. I snap out of my thoughts, when Layla comes to my side and tells me abound their conversation. She then mentions that she recognized the guy my beautiful Dunya was talking to; he’s from the royal family, Elijah something. What the hell is he doing here.

Suddenly, I feel a burning sensation in my heart; It aches so much, that it feels like it’s breaking apart. When I look for her again, I see the leech is going for a kiss and she doesn’t stop him. NO! The loudest growl escapes from my mouth making them stop for a moment. Layla tries to hold me back, but she’s not as strong as I am. I head straight to the dance floor, angry as f**k, seeing only read. I’m going to kill this motherfucker royalty or not.

I get a sharp pain again and see they’re actually kissing this time! I pull him off of her and shove him away. He walks towards me, but I punch him right in the jaw. I manage to snap out of it for a while, when I see Dunya trying to pull him away. Next thing I know, he punches my nose. Layla tries to pull me back with no luck. Only when I hear Dunya calling Elijah’s name, I managed to calm my wolf and myself down long enough for Layla to pull me back.

My beautiful little mate is on his side, calling his name. If only I had talked to her earlier, if only I’d manned up and said even a word to her. I run outside of the bar, ditching Layla then and there and run to the nearest woods I can find. Taking my clothes off, I immediately shift and howl at the moon.

Rest of the night goes in a blur; Axel and I were so angry, that we couldn’t think straight, so we just kept running. After all we’ve been thru, seeing my mate kissing another, and a leech at that, almost made us insane.

End of a flashback