Chapter 19: One year

**Nat**

I was in my dorm room at the Kyoto university, which I now share with my friend Yuki. It would have been exactly one year since I had met Mateo. I was hoping to meet him, as he had promised, he would come and collect the debt I owed him.

In fact, I really wanted to see him again. It was hard to forget him. But, working and studying, time ended up passing.

I was now studying English literature and working in a small street bookstore. Haruto, Yuki's brother, was also living in Kyoto and they worked together in a restaurant near the university. Whenever I had the chance, I would do odd jobs as a waitress there. That was how I quickly saved up all the money I owed Mat.

Sometimes, at night, I would look at the moon and talk to him. I asked him to come back to Japan one day. I asked him to be a great ice hockey player. And I even dreamed that he was in a championship and the audience was shouting his name.

But deep down, I knew he might never come back. And then, our short story would become a legend, one of those stories of missed encounters to be told to the grandchildren.

**Mateo**

Since I came back from Japan, a part of me died. It was hard, very hard. I dreamed about her. I saw her dancing in that theater with that golden dress and sometimes I would come in my sleep.

On nights with a full moon it was even worse. I felt a burning sensation in my body, like a fever. I remembered our moments together and went crazy. I needed to transform and run.

The worst part was my mother looking for dozens of alpha daughters for me to meet. And none of them, despite being beautiful, interested me. I had my needs, sometimes I would go to brothels to try to fill the void she left inside me, but that would calm me down for a night.

I focused on hockey, I joined the main team, we won the state championship and were going to the national championship. That made me happy.

My father was pressuring me to join the alpha training, but I still had two more years. That was the deal and I was going to make it count. Game days were my happiest days.

Sometimes I was tempted and wanted to call the hotel where I left her. But I knew it wouldn't do her any good. She shouldn't have any illusions about me. One day my destined partner would show up. And I didn't want to make Nat suffer even more.

Today was a special and difficult day because it's been exactly a year since we met. And I wanted to be there as promised. I even tried to arrange a trip to Japan with Liam. My cousin loved that country. But my father didn't want to know about any more trips, he thought I was running away from my duties as a future alpha.

He was angry with me, but since he had given his word that he would let me play for three years. He didn't back down, but he said no to everything else.

John appeared in my room, as if he had sensed my sadness.

"Hi, how are you, junior alpha?"

"Don't call me that, man, please." — I made a disgusted face.

" Hey, what's wrong with you? I can feel that you're not well."

"One year today, friend. One year since I met her."

" I thought you were forgetting about her."

" It's more or less bearable. Her scent calms me down. But it's getting weak."

"Smell? What's that smell, you never told me about it."

"You've never smelled it? Her perfume? Jasmine and Bamboo."

"Mat, I've never smelled anything different about her scent. Normal, like humans."

" What does that mean?

"I don't know, but I can try to investigate.

"It'll be great, try, please.

"Do you know where she is?

"I know she's at Kyoto College.

"Would you like to see her, Mat? Would that make you happy? Or would just hearing from her solve the problem?"

" What do you have in mind, John?"

" I don't know, but this might be your last chance to get in touch with her. Before you find your mate, or she gets a boyfriend at college... well, when you become an alpha you'll have so much responsibility that you might not be able to do what you could do today..."

"John, you should give me more sensible advice when you're my beta. "— I laughed.

" Yeah, but I'm not yet, so I'm talking to my childhood friend, go get her. What can I do to cover for you?"

" Stall my dad for a week?"

"Shit! Can Liam help too?"

"Yeah."