Mother of Alpha - Burgov Series III

4. Vanya

"You're sorry?! YOU'RE f*****g SORRY?!" - Octavia shrieked like a banshee looking at Ilia as if she was about to throttle him. - "Would it matter to you if I couldn't shift? You would just walk and forget about me because of something that wasn't even in my power?!" - she added in a low hiss, so that no other patron could hear her.

"No, no, babe, that's not what I meant. It's just… she's a human, she doesn't know anything about our world. It's more than just not having a wolf." - my brother started explaining himself and somehow my sister-in-law's emotional outburst made me think. Did it really matter?

Yes, it's unheard of. But I know what I felt. She was created for me, just for me. Then that one small detail shouldn't matter.

Sure, it would demand many compromises from my side and going about it all in a proper way. But my life has always been about compromises, at least this one would be for my own sake.

"You're such a bad liar, Ilia." - Ottie said with a scowl and turned to me. - "Vanya, don't listen to him. You're smarter than that. You know it was meant to be, and just like in a fairytale, when your time was about to end, she came into your life. That's destiny! You can't ignore that!" - she said boring those big blue eyes in me.

"Destiny or a meddling sister-in-law?" - I arched one brow, but surprisingly I was in a better mood than before. Just one look. Well, one look and making a complete fool out of myself, but let's hope that whatever damage my first impression did, wasn't anything unamendable.

"I like to think I was your fairy Godmother." - she said with a smirk brushing her hair to the back like a proud peacock.

"Fairytale?! Fairy Godmother?! Ottie, I think you should tone it down with Disney." - I commented, trying to distract her before she starts picking wedding rings, and frankly speaking I was not necessarily in need to discuss my next steps with them.

But behind the soft jab my mind was going into overdrive. What should I do now? How should I approach this woman? This woman… my Mate… Diana… even her name is divine and tastes like honey on my lips… but that's something to dwell on later.

Okay, I already made a fool of myself and she probably thinks that I'm either drunk, or not entirely normal and judging by a fairly early hour of the afternoon, neither puts me in a good position.

I have to make a damage control and show her I can actually use my words and be charming. Werewolf or not, this woman is my other half, so even without feeling the pull as strongly as I do, I should be at least able to pick up her interest if I'm doing my best.

However, being charming to gain women's attention is my brother's, not mine, strong suit. He could weasel his way into Queen's of the Hell panties and I'm not going to rely on his seduction talents.

Diana is mine by the Goddess's rights, so simply being myself should be enough. That's right, winking and making inappropriate comments might have worked on Octavia, but Diana seemed like the type of woman who wouldn't be impressed by such crude seduction. And after all, I don't want to get into her pants but gain her trust and with time love. That's right, it sounds like a solid plan. I think.

"O-oh, our Alpha is thinking." - Ottie joked and I grinned at her. She's the best of cheerleaders I could've asked for. I'm sure she would have gone above and beyond, agreeing to every crazy stunt just to help me out.

"So he better hurry up, because she's coming back." - Ilia said, looking behind my back, although, his voice was much less cheerful than his Mate's. And I knew he was concerned. Over what, I wasn't sure, but there was plenty to choose from. For starters human Luna could be a potential weakness. I don't think that from this union could ever be born the next Alpha, if any werewolf at all. Then there's a big question of how my people will react. And probably a few more I haven't thought of in a span of two minutes since I saw her.

Diana stopped by our table with mastered to perfection, polite smile she probably has for every customer.

"Have you decided yet?" - she asked in that sweet voice and once again my mouth went dry and I had trouble forming any coherent sentence. What the hell is going on with me? I successfully lead a community of over thousand wolves, I always know what to do, and how to make hard decisions under pressure. Yet, here in front of Her, with her amazing green eyes looking down on me, I feel like a green boy, who met his high school crush.

I nervously cleared my throat, trying to not look like a psycho.

"What do you recommend?" - I asked.

"As I said before, the Chef has been really proud of his Minotaur T-bone today." - she said with exasperation.

"Yes, but what is your personal favorite on the menu?" - I pressured her further. It may not go as I planned it, but the idea is really simple. I take whatever she says she likes best and after she comes back I compliment on her impeccable taste. That fool-proof plan.

"I'm a big fan of kale salad."

Fuck. Maybe not do fool-proofed after all.

I did not expect THAT. There's no way I'm gonna eat that and be able to first keep it down, and then say anything nice with a straight face. Miss Diana is not making this any easier.

"Oh, that sounds great. I'll take one." - Suddenly Ottie came to my rescue and I wanted to kiss her for it. - "You see, my brother-in-law is always taking good care of me and my little one." - she said, lovingly rubbing her belly. Another point closer to the title of my favorite sister.

"Oh, that's nice." - Diana said, giving me a small approving smile. - "And congratulations, how far along are you?"

"Half…" - Ottie started, but she abruptly stopped and thank the Goddess she did. If she would say she's halfway there, Diana might get suspicious, since Octavia isn't really showing. - "The beginning of the second trimester." - she corrected herself.

"Oh, that's wonderful." - Diana said with an honest and mesmerizing smile, I could watch for hours. - "If you're interested we also have a wide range of smoothies. The blueberry one is to die for."

"Then I'll take it too." - said Octavia eagerly And a big slice of your chocolate cake. I have no idea who put the pictures on the menu, but that bastard had been smiling at me since I opened it."

"Of course." - giggled Diana, scribing Ottie's order down. - "And you gentlemen?"

"I'll have a burger." - said Ilia.

"And I'll take the Chef's special." - I said hoping she would glance my way, but her attention was only on her small binder.

"Anything to drink?"

"Just two waters." - said Ilia.

"Coming right up." - she said still not paying me any attention and she walked away, or rather flew away, because her gracious moves and long dress made her look like she was flowing a few inches above the ground.

"Stop staring like you're ready to lick her feet." - my brother's voice made me look back at them. - "Seriously, man, play cool and for the love of God, stop with those hearts in your eyes. You'll creep her out, like a guy wearing a raincoat in the dark alley."

"Give him a break, babe, don't you know how long he's been waiting for this moment?!" - Octavia scolded him, swatting him lightly on his arm. - "Don't mind him, Vanya. You can't mess it up, she's your Mate, she must be into guys like you."

"Guys like me? What's that supposed to mean?"

"You know, handsome but not too obvious about their agenda, like this one." - she pointed her thumb at Ilia.

"Hey!" - my brother protested.

"Oh please, that girl looks like she has some standards."

"And you don't?" - Ilia asked in a low voice, nuzzling her neck.

Octavia started giggling and I wanted to swallow my own tongue and die from suffocation just to not witness it.

Seriously, can't they focus on a task for more than five minutes?!

Diana came back with our drinks and I tried to get her attention, even just a single smile, or even a glance, but I got nothing. It was like I wasn't even there. I really hoped she would feel even the slightest attraction or would at least make more eye contact. But it was like I was invisible.

The same thing happened when she brought our food. Nothing, nada, nit. I suddenly lost my appetite, which turned out to be a good thing, because Ottie inhaled her salad and then most of my steak.

"You have to pick up her interest." - Ottie said, munching on an extremely generous slice of cake.

"I know that, but how? Obviously my idea with her favorite food didn't work." - I said, exhaling exasperated breath.

"It did, that salad was delicious." - she said, shoving another fork into her mouth. - "Ask for her number."

"I wouldn't do that, if I were you." - said my brother.

"Why not?" - Ottie asked for a frown.

"She's a waitress. She's probably asked out or for her number on a regular basis. That would only put you in a 'creeps I should avoid' folder. And I assume you don't want to end up there."

Is it humiliating to be schooled by my baby brother on how to ask out a woman?

Yes, yes it is.

But then again, I don't know any guy with a better experience and more extensive track record to back his knowledge. Who would have know, Ilia's promiscuous life finally paid off.

"So what should I do?"

"Wait here." - Ikia said, standing up from the table and walking somewhere, as if we weren't in the middle of an extremely important conversation. I watched him go, until he disappeared around the corner.

"Okay, since my Mate hasn't given you a single good advice, I have an alternative idea." - said Octavia, scrolling through her phone. - "Tell her we're staying in town for the night and we have an extra ticket to a concert. Or better yet, I can ask her. It's less likely she would say no to the girl she was having a friendly conversation with."

"That's actually not bad…"

"Here." - said Ilia appearing by my side and sliding a piece of paper in front of me.

Diana Eccleston

971 357 13 94

24/15 Lincoln Ave.

Mon-Fr 9-4

Sat 4 till closing

"What the hell is this?" - I asked my brother.

"Isn't it obvious?" - he arched his brow. - "Her full name, number, address and shift schedule for the next week." - he said matter-of-factly. Which I obviously figured out without his support.

"How the f**k did you get it?"

"I bribed the manager." - he said with a shrug. - "You can pay me five-hundred bucks later."

There was something very unsettling that all of her personal data could be so easily bought, but at the same time I was glad it was me who got them, and not how Ilia put it, a guy in a raincoat. Once I find a way to make her notice me, I'm gonna have a word with her boss, that's for sure.

Diana returned with our check, and even though I was cramping in my hand the paper from Ilia, I nodded at Ottie to let her follow with her plan.

"You know, you were so nice to share with me all the inside secrets, and we so happen to have an extra concert ticket for tonight. Would you want to come with us?" - Octavia asked in a sweetest voice, that was hard to say no to. I know, she used it a few times on me in the past.

Diana looked around the table, first at Octavia and Ilia, who's hand was wrapped around his Mate, and then, very briefly, at me.

"It's very kind of you to ask, but I have someone waiting for me at home."

That statement almost brought me to my knees. No, no, no, that can't be happening. She can't be committed to another, she's mine!

Ottie nodded with a disappointed face and Diana walked away without another word.

That can't be it, can it? I wasn't waiting all this time just to be too late? Although, that would be a cherry on top my f****d up luck.

I stood up from the table and walked out of the restaurant thinking what to do.

The situation is complicated as it is, but to have another man to fight with… What if she's in love with him? What if I would be breaking up a happy family? However, she didn't have a wedding ring, but that could have been a trick to get better tips. The truth is, I don't know anything about this woman.

"I know what you're thinking." - said Ilia stepped next to me. - "But if it helps you, she didn't have s*x in at least forty-eight hours, so even if she's in a relationship it can't be a satisfying one."

Once again I had no idea if I should thank him, or scold him for breaching her privacy.

So I just nodded.

"Ottie, could you call Grace's Mother, and tell her we're not coming." - I asked.

"S-sure. But what are you going to do?" - she asked.

"I'm not sure yet."

We drove to the nearest available hotel and I left Ottie and Ilia there. I didn't know what I was about to do, my first instinct was to drive around town and clear my head.

So much happened in such a short time, it's hard to wrap my head around it really.

I found my Mate.

She's a human, and doesn't feel s**t towards me. For her I'm just another guy in the crowd.

And if all that wasn't discouraging enough, she may have someone.

I punched the steering wheel a few times, gaining quite a bit of attention from the driver standing on the red light next to me. But who cares, I have real problems here.

I know that tomorrow, when we get to the Stonewall, Alpha Walter would want to know my answer about Cynthia. And it's not that I want to go through with it now, but realistically looking at things, if Diana is taken, I won't lower myself to breaking her relationship and risking her heartbreak. That's not me. I never felt as special and entitled like Dmitry, who would most likely just kidnap her, finding himself in my position. For me it would be a sign that doors are closed. I found her too late. And there's no one else to blame but me.

But to be sure, I need to know.

I took the crumpled piece of paper from my pocket and followed my navigation to her home.

If it's like she said, and someone was waiting for her, I want to see it with my own eyes.

The building was old, and it didn't look like the safest street in town. Another, after an irresponsible manager, signaled that her life could use some improvement.

I checked my watch impatiently every five minutes as if it was supposed to make time fly by faster, but it didn't. I sat there for an hour having a perfect view of the entrance. With a little bit of luck, she lives in one of the apartments up front and I wouldn't even have to follow her.

Half past four I spotted her. She was walking, probably from the bus stop, in a yellow, floral dress. It was nothing fancy, just a normal summer dress, most likely not even too pricey, yet she made that piece of clothing look gorgeous, almost regal. Her red hair was now loosely, cascading her back in a wave of untamed locks. And I couldn't stop staring.

Mate or not, she is a perfect woman, and she would pick my eye even without the pull.

I watched her entering the building and I was glad it was one of those compounds where you entered apartments from the narrow balconies outside. At least I would know which door is hers.

She disappeared for a second on the staircase, before she reappeared on the second storey and went to the third door on the left.

Yes! So I wouldn't have to sneak around her windows like an even bigger stalker than I am now.

That's a relief, although I'm not sure how much lower I can fall.

She knocked on the door and it was immediately opened by a blonde woman, more or less Diana's age.

Was she into girls?

But that question was left lingering in the back of my mind, when a dark-haired boy ran into her waiting arms.

"Mommy!" - I could hear his voice even from across the street.

Fuck. She has a kid.