Mate?

GISELLE

The next day, I meet Giselle at the agreed spot. I can't help but smile wider at him. He gives me a flirtatious smile, his eyes lustfully skimming all over my body. There is a glint of hope of getting laid in his eyes, but little does he know about the terror I am planning for him.

"What do you plan to do today?" I ask, giving him a flirtatious look.

We are at a small cafe near the coast. The beautiful blue sea is visible from there, making the ambience of this place just perfect. "We can go diving today. The weather is great, too," I offer, testing how he'll respond.

"I have something in my mind," He offers, downing his bear, "I planned it last night with a buddy," I can't help but laugh at that. I can easily guess who his buddy is, but I won't let him know, of course.

"Oh really," I act to be surprised and intrigued.

"Yes, you might not have heard of it," He teases. I laugh at his face. I know this city like the back of my hand. He doesn't know who he is talking to.

"Then pray, tell me about it. Where is it?" I ask.

"It's a private club. My buddy is a member. He's throwing a party tonight. I want you to come with me," He tells me. I cock an eyebrow at him. Sure, I look like an unsuspecting girl, but I am far from that.

I have already dug enough on him to know what he is thinking about. I know why he wants to take me to that private party and what he wants to get out of me. It is either more free information for him, or he hopes to get laid. The latter is never going to happen. I have standards, after all. Sure, I'd have considered it if he weren't working for the Alpha brother!

"Oh, that sounds cool. Where is the place tho?" I ask, pinning him with my eyes.

"It's at the Pearl Hotel. I'm staying there." He responds.

"Of course you are," I smile innocently to stroke his ego. "But tell me, what is this party all about? Will you be introducing me to your friends?" I ask playfully, twirling my hair and giving him a suggestive look. He stares at me for a second longer, pondering in his head. I can almost see the wheels spinning behind his ears.

He is wondering if he wants me to keep to himself. He doesn't want any competition. Even though I am not active in the dating marketplace after getting my heart broken, I know that I am quite the catch. At least at first glance and, he wants to keep the score to himself.

But this gives me more ideas. What if he takes me to the party, and I happen to meet one of the brothers? I can easily catch their eyes and do whatever I wish to do. The idea almost makes me want to giggle out loud. The wheels in my head are turning as well.

Of course, meeting the brothers directly could be risky. Even if I weren't the hacker they are hunting for, hanging out with the brothers is never a good idea. They are dangerous, mateless and probably crazy. I am sure about this. One has to be a certain level of crazy to stay on the top and maintain fear among everyone!

It is one thing to play with them harmlessly and another thing to take the whole business to the sheets. That would be too much of a commitment for reckless maniacs like them. Even if those two were the last men alive on this planet and I was in heat, I'd choose to die than fuck them!

"It's a small celebration for a huge deal we closed yesterday night. Sure, my friends would be there," He answers after a few seconds. He tilts his head to the side, studying me. I give him a disarming smile.

"That sounds wonderful. I cannot wait to meet others," I tell him suggestively and instantly, something dark flickers in his eyes. I see a hint of possessiveness. Not the kind that'd have flattered me. No. It is the kind of reckless possessiveness that kids have with their toys.

"I'll see about that," He tells me darkly, his nostrils flaring.

"What's wrong, Gabriel?" I ask, reaching across the table and brushing my fingertips on his arm. I don't miss how he sucks in a sharp breath. I know the effect that I have on him. He puts his beer down and is about to hold my hand, but I pull back just in time and give him an innocent smile.

"I'll pick you up at six," He tells me. "Dress your best,"

"I can't wait to see your reaction when you see me in my little black dress," I tell him suggestively and immediately, his eyes darken. His breaths become shallow, and I can imagine him pitching a tent in his pants. I giggle evilly.

"I will look forward to seeing you," He speaks as I gather my things and get up.

"See you, Gabriel," I blow him a kiss before walking out of the cafe. It is around ten in the morning. I have a few hours in my hand to prepare for tonight.

I don't know why, but suddenly, I am too excited to go to the party. Especially my wolf. She has started pacing frantically, scattering my thoughts for the moment. I decide to go home and do some more digging.

It is always a good idea to be well-prepared if you are planning to go into your enemy's den. I don't want to mess up the opportunity. This could be the first time I might meet one of the brothers. I need to make an excellent first impression on my enemies even though they don't know about me yet.

Yet.

Hmmm..... I wonder if I should leave some hints for them. That'd be fun!

*****

PATRICK

I glare at my watch, irked at Gabriel for not arriving at the private party soon. My brother Waylon is out again, and his absence considerably worsens my mood. Since yesterday, it has been getting harder and harder for me to keep in control, especially after I snapped at Gabriel and attacked him.

That has never happened before. I have never lost my control in that manner.

Sure, I have bashed Gabriel in the past more than a dozen times because he fucked up something important, but that had always been deliberate on my part. In all those situations, I was always in control. I always knew what I was doing, but last night's event had planted some worry in my mind.

It is true that I haven't been in my right mind for a while now, especially with my wolf pacing inside me and keeping me awake at night. I can't help but watch the people around me in disdain. They are enjoying it tonight, but me? I am miserable.

Partying isn't my thing. Waylon is more into such things, but me? I love working hard, kicking ass and always ensuring I am ten steps ahead of everyone. That is where I derive most of my fun, and while I try to remind myself that this is all a work thing, especially this party, I still feel irked by everything around me.

Tonight, I drink more than I usually do at parties. That is the only thing helping me calm my senses to some extent so I can sit there without trying to kill anyone. I keep looking for Gabriel again and again, wondering where the fuck he is.

Is he fucking the girl he is supposed to bring tonight? If so, then I'll need to give him more shit for wasting my time. Instead of sitting there and waiting, I could've productively used my time to go out and do some independent investigation because, given how my men are treating this as a vacation, I know I have to be the serious one to get things done.

I am already considering leaving the party and meeting some local contacts when I am informed of Gabriel's arrival. Immediately, my wolf is alert and pacing as if something important is supposed to happen, which worsens my mood. My wolf needs to be the last thing to trouble me in that situation, but I guess I could never catch a break.

I leave the private booth where I have been sulking most of the evening. I have been drinking alone while watching people through the one-way glass. Although it is a good vantage point for observing people, I feel the need to step out and take matters into my own hands.

"He's getting her loosened up. Give him a couple of minutes," Paul tells me, nodding towards the main bar. I am tempted to return to my private booth, but I go to the bar instead and order a strong drink.

Even though I have been drinking for most of the evening, I am still annoyingly sober. I might as well have been drinking water all this time because my wolf's sudden over-activeness is making it harder for me to get drunk.

As soon as I sit at the bar, I look around for Gabriel. I don't have to search for long; I find him instantly, occupying a table in a less-crowded corner of the room. But it isn't Gabriel who catches my attention.

No. It is the woman with him. As soon as I see her, all my senses amplify. It feels like I am slowly stirring awake from an eternal slumber, like I am surfacing after being underwater for my whole life, like all my senses have suddenly unlocked all the new sensations.

I watch the woman from afar, laughing with Gabriel. I am too far from the table for her to notice me, but I can't find the strength or willpower to look away after seeing her.

She is breathtaking, life-altering, and wolf-stirring. I can hear my heart pounding in my chest irrationally as I stare at her. The more I look at her, the more I become perpetually aware of the emptiness inside me that has lingered under the surface for years, yet I have always ignored it.

She makes me feel like I have been a corpse all this time, but the sight of her has just breathed a new form of life force inside me. But I don't like that she is with Gabriel.

No, she should be with me. Her whole attention should be on me. She should be with me. She is mine. That is decided in that instant. My chest vibrates with a growl as my wolf agrees with me.

She is ours. She is my mate. I have finally found the woman I want to mate, mark, knot, and breed. She is meant for me!

I straighten up and head for Gabriel's place without much thought. I need to be by her side, to talk to her, to know her name, to know everything about her, and having any space between us already feels like torture.

I feel drawn to her, like an invisible rope pulling me toward her. My legs move faster. She straightens and snaps her head toward me when I am close enough for her to feel my presence. By then, I am already at their table.

Her beautiful doe eyes widen as soon as she sees me. When our eyes lock, I feel all the tension and annoyance drain out of my body until the only thing left is the aching need for her. I didn't know I have been craving her until I saw her.

I hear the chair scraping and footsteps hurrying away, but I can't care less. At that moment, all that matters to me is her.

"Hello, mate." I greet.