Chapter 263

Chapter 19 – Walter POV I had a whole life before coming on this island, and for a reason my parents could barely explain; it was all taken from me. I had friends, my mate, family with me as well. Andrew – my cousin – and I had only been in London for three weeks before I found my mate, the most amazing person I’d ever met. I stared at the ceiling, listening to my family and the Hellmanns downstairs; tuning them out I replayed the first few weeks after meeting her. (Three years ago) It was a short ride to Westminster campus, barely five minutes but it felt further as we drove away from my mate on Ferdinand Street, the only good side was her scent was inside the cab, lightly. I gazed blankly outside the window, trying absentmindedly to find my mates brown hair in others, but I couldn’t. it was all the wrong shade of brown, not enough highlights, or too dark, too light, not enough shine or too much… that’s because she’s special,  Zed chimed in pleasantly calm, despite wanting to me to go back, but we had to stay away. Approach her carefully since she was human; still I wasn’t sure, was she my mate? Was it possible to have one that was human? She is ours, Zed answered not even thinking for one minute that he didn’t want her, because we want her, it won’t be easy but isn’t she lovely? I rolled my eyes, lovely? We don’t know who she is on the inside, for all we know she’s shallow, a criminal… she – she could be a kleptomaniac, did you see the three violins? Why does she need three? In case one breaks? I didn’t even bother thinking of other reasons, not when my wolf was convinced and in a way so was I. But there was something there, in her eyes, she appeared sad and tired, but I had to say that she hid it well, deep behind the shyness. And that’s how it went until I entered the lecture hall, sitting in the back where Andrew and I always sat. Thinking of my mate, wondering what her name is? Does she come from a big family? Was she an only child? She was beautiful, breathtakingly so, but was there substance there? Was she intelligent? She had the instrument cases but did that mean she played or were they filled with random objects? I saw the world in colors… how did she? I felt a nudge to my side and turned, Andrew was sitting next to me, I blinked a few times, looking around the room, and then back to him, his eyes went to my leg that was bouncing rapidly, like I was tense and filled with anxiety, “What’s wrong with you?” Andrew asked in a hushed whisper, so low no human would be able to hear it, “Did you already let it slip?” he asked joking, it was the one thing our parents crammed into our heads, keep the secret, don’t tell anyone we were wolves. I shook my head, I found my mate. I told him over the link, we had separated from the family and could only link between ourselves. Eyes wide, where is she? He started scoping, inhaling deeply – behind his hand but still not inconspicuously enough – sniffing out the room, I don’t smell another shifter, he commented, then sniffed me like the weirdo he is. Elbowing him to make him stop cut that out! I snapped, noting that a few people were staring at us. Well give me details then, I shook my head, she looks young, I showed him, and he could see the question I had, when I sent him the picture of her with the violins, maybe she’s a teacher, hmm. I hadn’t thought of that at all, but it didn’t matter, she’s human, I told him. Are you sure? I nodded, she doesn’t have any trace of shifter,I replied, even if she was just young, and hadn’t shifted, there would be a hint of something, there was none, don’t tell my parents, or anyone in your family, I ordered, I just want some time to get to know her. For all I know maybe she lives with a shifter and was wearing that ones clothes… Andrew turned to face me, his face blank… right, that’s a pretty far stretch… after that he said nothing else and the subject was dropped, but that day nothing, absolutely nothing that was said in class was heard by me. My entire focus was on my mate and thinking of a way to even start a conversation with her, everything I came up with was seemed stalkerish, and I wanted to talk to her, not frighten her. Another nudge, “Class is over,” Andrew said chuckling, “so it begins,” he joked but I wasn’t laughing when I couldn’t think of how to get closer to her. Walking back to our little flat I was abnormally quiet, “Spit it out?” I just stopped walking all together looking around us, “She isn’t like us, she doesn’t feel what I’m feeling,” I shrugged. “So you’re already giving in? If you had to do this the old fashioned way, you know by actually putting forth effort, you wouldn’t do that? You just happen to have an advantage, you know she’s your one, but that doesn’t mean she’s just going to be yours without you trying,” he laughed pulling me along. “I mean lets say she was… like us…” he whispered the words, “She’d want you to work for it… she isn’t just going to invite you up to her flat and bone,” he laughed when I growled. Don’t think of my mate boning… Zed  and I thought. “Well what was around her flat? The shops?” I paused, trying to think, “Oh this is good… you didn’t even pay attention to what was around you did you?” Andrew said in a teasing tone. Shut up, when this happens to you I’d like to see if you remember anything but your mate! “Whatever – what street does she live on?” he brushed me off. I smiled, proud, “Ferdinand Street, six minutes away by cabbie-” “Then lets go there, check out the area, you know we both need to find some work, maybe apply in a few shops…” he offered and in that moment, I’m happy that he had decided to come to Westminster as well. I’d eventually find my place here, but not having to do it alone was a relief I didn’t realize I’d feel from the get go.