4. Mate Madness

James.

The shower soothed me for a quick descent into sleep but my sleep was fit full and I kept waking with a feeling I had lost something or forgetting something. I forced the anxiety aside as I attempted to go back into sleep. I was going to need to be rested to have full patience to not kill the damn Don boss and his unsavoury followers. I gave up around three am for some reason I felt like my own scent was tickling my nose which was madness. It must have been something to do with the unease I felt in this damn house. I slowly got out of bed and pulled on a pair of shorts and a t-shirt. I had seen some trees along the premimeter of the house compondy. It wasn't huge but it was enough to let my wolf shift and maybe burn off some of this strange anxiety trickling through my veins. I made my way through the dark halls pausing briefly outside a door the had a little train name plate that read Lucas. I sniffed the air it smelt so familiar and I went to reach for the door handle when movement within the room startled me and I darted down the long corridor away glancing back to see a small figure pad across the hallway and vanish into one of the doors along the corridor. I shook my head what the hell was going on with me and had it something to do with this damn house.

I made my way outside and instantly felt better under the rays of the moon light. I was getting older was I possibly descending into Mate madness? Was this why I was so stuck on that mystery girl from the night of the masquerade? I ran my hand down my face in frustration I barely did romance and here I was acting like the prince in cinderella if I had one of her damn shoes I would of been trying it on every eligible girl I came across. I needed to get a grip.

I shifted and let my wolf run till the sun came up. I heard muffled voices that drew me back to my senses and I quickly dressed. I stayed in the tree line as I watched a young girl toss a football to a little boy. He was impressive at throwing and catching for his toddle like appearance. She stopped and looked at the trees with a gaze of longing that I could tell flickered to sadness as she was deep in thought. I saw the moment the little boy pulled her mind from where it had been and her attention snapped back to her. I moved to the edge of the trees intrigued by the happy duo. Something was pulling me toward them.

The little boys cries stopped my momentum as she ran to him and it was then I saw Samantha the girl from the night before run forward. They cleaned up the crying child and moved towards the house but not before the dark haired girl glanced my way. She held my gaze for seconds but it felt like an eternity. I felt a tingle jolt my heart but then she was gone striding towards the house.

I took out my phone and rang Ash.

"I am fucking losing it here man?" I said when he answered. I knew Ash was awake because he did early morning warrior training.

"What's going down?" he asked.

"Im in the damn Angelito family home but i think I'm finally losing it over the mystery girl. I feel like a piece of me has been lost. It is so strange here." I admitted.

"Do you think it could be a spell on the house?" He asked.

"No I think it's mate madness." I mumbled.

" It's not mate madness James." he sighed. " When's the last time you were with someone?" he added.

"It's been awhile." I grumbled.

"Then there's your problem man only way to get out from under this mystery girl is to get under another girl. I think it's blue ball madness" he said I could hear the smirk in his tone.

"Yeah maybe." I relented. "How's Eoin, Kayda and the baby?" I changing the subject, I really wasnt in the mood for the relentless teasing my group loved to dish out. It's not like it wouldn't be deserved because I did my far share of dishing the teasing and stirring the shit but it just made me miss home more.

"Good, sleep deprived but good." he laughed. "You any where near wrapping that shit up or what?" he added.

"No, but the rogues are getting reckless now as they have no supply left I suspect. So hopefully the supplier appears soon." it had been a long road to here, I had been in the pack that was crushing the wolfsbane before coming here. So it had been a few months since I had been home and it felt like forever. I had been away in my grandfathers pack for a time but that had been easier. Wolves were social creatres and in my grandfather's pack I had social ties, family ties and other wolves. Here I was alone and I was not built to be a lone wolf that was becoming clear now. That was what was making me feel like something was near and I was missing it.

"You know where I am if you need me dude." he said as I thanked him and rang off.

I wandered inside to shower and then trailed the despicable Don to his office block.

I sat outside his office playing mindlessly on my phone, doomscrolling completely bored. When suddenly my senses sparked and there it was again the citrus smell and the smell of the pages of a well read book. A scent so distinctive to me, my mother Casey always read and she used to cuddle me up at night and read me book after book. The scent was so warm and welcoming. I stood slowly and wandered in a trance trying not to be a complete weirdo. I didn't want to look like a police sniffer dog rushing after a scent, most of the people in the office were blissfully unaware that werewolf shifters existed so a grown man moving around the space with his nose to the ground was going to be extremely strange.

I paused at a specific spot and inhaled deeply. The scent was strongest right here wafting out from under one particular office door. The owner or origin of the wonderful scent was on the other side of this thick officer door. I stood frozen as my senses went wild.

Suddenly without warning the door swung open and I was face to face with a young women. Here scent hit me like a train.

"Mate." my wolf screached physically knocking me backwards at the revelation.

The young woman looked startled and almost bewildered but she didn't move. We both stood frozen staring at each other. I towered over but that wasn't hard I towered over most people. Her long black hair fell over her shoulders in loose long curls. Her eyes looked up at me from under long black lashes. I felt an unusual hint of recognition and deja vu, I had seen those eyes before. I just knew it those were the eyes of the girl who haunted my dreams and fantasies all in one. I was impossible yet I was almost certain those were the eyes of the girl I was looking for. I gulped as my body instantly reacted to the acknowledgement of the memories of this beauty who stood before me now. The deep blue eyes stared back at me in startled fashion.

She recovered faster than me. Swallowing slowly I saw her compose herself.

"Sorry." she said as she stood back from the door frame putting space between us. "Can I help you with something?" she asked.

I must of looked like a goldfish my mouth opening and closing but nothing leaving it.

"Giovanna." A voice boomed as we both jumped. She looked around me.

"Yes Papa." she replied instantly with an air of professionalism that disguised how shook she must of been in that moment or maybe she didn't recognise me.

"Papa." I muttered but she didn't hear me her gaze was lazer focused on her father.

"Where are the damn files I asked for?" Don Carlos snarled.

"Here." she responded darting around me with the arm full of files I only noticed now were clutched to her chest.

"No, fuck no" my wolf grumbled in our mind link. As Giovanna rushed towards the Don with what he wanted.

"Oh yes." I responded to the link. " Our mate is the damn Mafia Princess." I added as he sulked off into the depts of my mind.