"Oh, no, no no no..."

He shook his head as his heart race, knocking against his ribs. Then he placed her on the sofa finally stopping to take a good look at her. How was it he did not know she was a werewolf? This girl didn't have any amulets, poultices or a weapon and she most certainly believes she's human. Nothing about this made sense.
"No, this isn't happening, this can't be real."
He wrung his hands before punching a hole in the wall. All his carefully laid plans were forfeit. The situation felt smothering; he needed air. He needed to think and get away from her. She was making his judgment cloudy and his resolve weak.

If he left her out in the open she may run away. The closet, it was the only place that came to mind. Viktor opened the door and shoved her in before going outside. The welcoming brisk night washed over his face as he stood in the moonlight. What was stirring up inside him howled as he gasped and waited for a moment of clarity.

Viktor did not hear Johnathan approach him. He placed his hand on his shoulder. "Vik, what happened in there? You're white as a sheet."
"It's the girl," He managed to get out.
"What did she do? You look awful."
"Her....". He shook his head again trying to muster out a single sentence. "She's my mate."
"Her, Mary Sonja Mendoza, is your mate? As in the one whose life is bound to yours till death, that kind of mate?"
Viktor said nothing, the look in his eyes only confirmed his answer. The accusation was too serious to disbelieve. His mentor all-knowing eyes stared at the castle as he opined aloud.
"A werewolf, even a half breed in that family is unbelievable. That's probably why she was sent to live in the United States."
"But how's it possible?" Viktor finally spoke up.
Marv came walking over to them carrying the other unconscious girl on his back. "What? It's over so soon? Vik, you had plans man, big plans. I knew she was a lightweight, but..."
Jonathan waved his hand dismissively quieting him. "Where is the girl now?"
"The closet."

"Really!" Marv's eyes opened wide and he laughed. "Don't tell me she's a black belt in Shaolin kung fu. This one knocked herself out trying to take a picture inside a suit of armor."

"Marv put her on the bus and Vik if she is what you claim she is then this is a unique opportunity. Don't waste it no matter how conflicted you are feeling."

Walking up to the castle, brought him closer to her, he could feel her influence. A bond between them was forming whether he wanted it or not. When he returned to the room, the closet door sat open and Mary was gone. Her scent lingered freshly in the air.

Viktor peered into the next room, the thick layer of dust was undisturbed in there. He wondered if he would want to protect her. She had the capacity to be a ruthless murderer with ice water in her veins. The girl was still young and could follow in her family's footsteps.

Next, he checked behind the curtains, the tables, and the adjacent room. He sat down to clear his head. Finding someone when you're too preoccupied to look, wasn't working out.

From the corner of his eye, he saw her running towards him. He caught her by the wrist, with her free hand she punched him a couple of times while shouting incoherently. It wasn't the welcome he wanted but he did deserve it for knocking her out.

"Let me go or I'm going to call 9-1-1!" She kicked and wiggled. "Let me go! Hey! You! What did you do with Mikey! Where is she?"

Her eyes plead with him as she struggled futilely. The smell of alcohol on her was strong. Being this close to her he found it difficult to put two words together. A pang of pity made him let her go. She rubbed her wrist and continued to shout inquiries about her friend.

"Calm down.." He couldn't remain quiet so he dug his heels in and fought with himself until words form into sentences his head again. "I'm not going to hurt you. Your friend tripped trying to take a picture inside a suit of armor."

Their eyes met, causing a slight smile to form on his lips. She was pretty and even though he had a million reasons to hate her, he couldn't think of one right now.

"Your teeth, are you a vampire!" Mary jumped back and held the crucifix on her rosary in front of her.

"Lady, I'm no vampire and I'm certainly not Dracula."

"But?"

"My parents didn't invest in braces when I was a kid."

"I'm sorry; one minute I'm looking at a painting the next old clothes in a closet." Mary rubbed her wrist then looked away. "What did you expect me to do?"

"When you fainted, I panicked and I didn't want you to hurt yourself so I...."

"So you put me in a closet?"

"It wasn't my best idea. But you were unconscious and I couldn't leave you there when I went for help."

"Strange, I never fainted before."

Vik took her hand. She looked at him, but he avoided her stare. He wanted answers to his questions and not turn into mush.

"Next time when you throw a punch, tuck your fingers into your palm, then wrap your thumb around it on the outside." He held up her hand, forming a proper fist. "Keep your wrist straight or else you may break it."

Mary was so close, he smelled her brown hair, which hung loosely past shoulders. Upon a closer examination, there were little traces here and there that she may be a werewolf. Her dark brown eyes held secrets, one was a repressed wolf.

"So where's the help?" She raised an eyebrow.

"How about I make it up to you tomorrow? I have the key so we can come back and stay for as long as you like."

"Doesn't Marvin have off Saturdays?"

"We don't need him. I own the tour bus company and I can act as your guide."

"Really, that's too kind? I'm so sorry I punched you and made fun of your teeth."

"I've been hit harder and I do have pretty big canines don't I?"

"What is your name? You're being so nice to me."

"Viktor," he replied. "We can stop formalities here. I know who you are since you booked with my company. It was a pleasure meeting the last Cardezza. Here, I will take you to your friend. She is on the bus resting."

"Thank you."

He had only spent an hour with her and he craved more. The bond they had was taking hold and he knew he had to remedy the situation before she returned to the United States. There was no way of knowing if she felt the same.

Viktor sat next to Johnathan and watched her reflection. She waved to him when the bus reached her stop so he waved back. He had to let her go.

This was unfamiliar territory. She was not reciprocating his emotions, because she was unaware she met her mate. Whatever bound her wolf, rendered her almost human. Johnathan touched his shoulder. The bus was parked back at the lot.

"When I saw her on the bus, her aura was a little different from her human friend, but I just figured it was because she's a Cardezza and the other girl wasn't. But now she is becoming less and less human to me."

"Perhaps magic is suppressing her wolf, preventing her from shifting? That would explain why we could not detect her and now that she met her mate, her wolf is waking up."

"Perhaps..."

"Vik, I'm going to lock up. Want to go for a run to clear your head. That was a lot that happened tonight."

"No, I am going to turn in early since I'm meeting her tomorrow."

***
Author's Notes

Still editing....

Update every Wednesday's!