Elijah's POV

"Hello I'd like to extend my reservation." I tell the women at the front desk.

"No problem sir, how long would you like to stay with us?" She smiles at me. I guess I hadn't thought about how long I would stay.

I met my mate. I felt the way her hand touched mine- those sparks which consumed me in everything I've ever been missing. For a second, I was whole. And when I looked into her eyes, she seemed to feel something too, despite her obviously being human.

"Um, well, how long could I stay for?" I question. "Business trip has been extended for a while."

She nods her head, not asking any more questions. "Well, we had a booking for your room for next week but, it looks like it was canceled earlier this morning. The next is in-" Her eyes search down the page. "Oh, not until next month actually."

I open my mouth, ready to tell her to book the room but, then I remembered that yesterday, I spent the night with another woman. Yesterday I was at one of the most important events I could attend as an alpha. I had people to depend on me, I had responsibilities.

Today was the last day of the Spark. My pack would be getting on a bus soon and leave back to Graceful and somehow I forgot.

"We can't leave." My wolf says and I know he's right. I just need to stay here for a bit to- to figure everything out.

"Book it for the month." I tell her, pulling out my card and sliding it over. She smiles and slides it through. She gives me a new room key since my old one had expired. She wishes me a great day and I leave her a tip.

Before I can think of what to tell my pack, I get a call from Alpha Aaron.

"Dude, where did you go last night?" He doesn't say hello.

I rub my hand over my face. "Aaron, I need some help."

"You okay?" His voice grows concerned.

"Yeah, yeah- just met me at the Marquis." I tell him and he says he'll be on his way. I tell him to inform my pack that they'd be going home as I dealt with business in the city and I would be back to the pack to sign any moving papers within the next week. I'd have to make a trip home before coming back. Goddess, this was already becoming a mess.

I ask a random employee for the best place for coffee in this place. He directs me to a large area filled with people. The buzz that the city brings is something I could never get used to. It was far too overwhelming. People laughing, car horns going off and the flash of cameras and neon lights. In the hotel, it was still crazy. By the time I felt somewhat sober, it was past noon and I was still trying to get rid of this damn headache. This noise definitely didn't help.

I ordered a shot of espresso and a latte. My espresso came first and I shot it down, trying to wake my body up. I took my latte to a table and texted Aaron where I was. When he did get here, he was dressed casually, like any other New Yorker.

"Hey man, what's up?" He asks me, sitting down across from me.

"I found her." I tell him and his eyes widen.

"Oh congrat-!"

"She's human Aaron." I sigh and he shuts his mouth. "I'm supposed to leave tonight but she works here. I can't."

"Elijah, I don't know what to tell you." He says. "I mean, you live what? Four hours away or something?"

I shake my head, "I know. I just didn't know who else to call."

He rubs his hands over his face, "Man, I'm gonna give it to your straight- if I found my mate, I wouldn't even dare to leave without getting to know her first. Look at Ellison and Talia and how fúcked up they got. "

I nod. "I know but-"

"It's hard." He finishes for me.

"Yeah."

A waiter comes up and asks if he can get me another coffee but I've barely touched it. He goes onto Aaron who gets a black coffee with sugar. Once he leaves, Aaron asks me how we met.

"Can I trust you with something?" I ask and he nods. "So, after the Spark I was pretty upset. I was thirty years old and had never found my mate. I went there, came to the bar, got drunk and met a girl. We slept together and when I woke up she was gone- which I didn't care about but then a knock was at my door and when I went to reach for it, I knew my mate was there. And when I opened the door, she was."

"Damn," He sits back in his chair. The waiter brings his coffee and Aaron thanks him.

"Yeah."

"I mean, I'll be honest too. I've never slept with a woman but I've done other things sexaully. I saved myself but, as days pass, I feel myself growing tired of it. I think about going to the Elders to ask if I could marry an unmated woman just so I can have a Luna- fall in love. I couldn't imagine where I'd be in five years from now." He tells me. His confession makes me feel a bit better but not a lot.

"I just feel guilty you know? But, she's human so maybe she's slept with another man?" I ask myself a question I hadn't before. I get slightly jealous and my wolf presence within me grows. I remind myself that I've done the same thing though but, it doesn't help. I just become guilty instead.

"Maybe." He says. "So, what is she like?"

I smile, ""Beautiful- the most perfect woman I've ever laid my eyes on. She's got this almond skin that seems to glow and I know that sounds dumb or whatever but, she looked like she was glowing. And her hair was all tied up in a ponytail but I could see her face better that way. When she reached for her tip, our hands touched and for a second, I felt everything I've ever dreamed of feeling. That spark which flooded through my body even from the slightest brush. Then I looked at her and her big brown eyes looked up at me and I knew she felt something."

"I've heard humans get this shock of sorts." He says and I nod, knowing the stories. "But, you've got to be careful about contact, remember the frost."

"Fúck." I swear. I completely forgot that humans don't get warm aftermath like wolves do. Instead of heat, they get cold chills after them and their mates touch. The only way to stop it is to feel their mates' company. Just another game the Goddess plays to get mates to stay with one another.

"You forgot didn't you?"

"Yeah," I sigh. I wonder how much she's felt already.

As if he could read my mind, "If it was just a brush, it wouldn't be bad. Don't worry about it too much. Just, be careful."

"I know." I tell him. "Well this sucks even more now."

At first, I was worried about my mate being human. How would she deal with the fact I wasn't? What about her becoming Luna? Then, I thought about my pack- what would they do? What would I do? Now, I had to worry about my mate possibly shivering herself throughout the day just because we touched. I knew that the cold wouldn't disappear- not completely. The only way to stop it, is for her to be close to me. Not even after we mate does it go away. It will always be there.

"Listen, the coffee was great and this talk was good but, I've got a pack to get back to." Aaron tells me and I can't help but laugh.

"Me too."

He grabs his coat, shaking my hand. "I'll tell you're pack you won't be coming home. Good luck Elijah and remember I'm only a phone call away."

I thank him and he leaves. I go back up to my room to change and realize, I have no clothes. If I was going to stay here for a month, I'd need more than just the stuff I've packed for the Spark. I end up calling my old hotel to please leave my things so I can go pick them up. They tell me I have until 4:00pm tonight before the next guest arrives. I had a little over an hour so I quickly got in the shower, re-dressed in my same suit and went downstairs to call a cab.

One of the doormen calls me over a yellow car with a sign for the M&M store on the roof. When the window is rolled down, I realize it is the same guy.

"Hey! I know you man!" He laughs, his accent thick as he speaks. I get in the cab and he asks me where. I tell him the address and he turns to give me an odd look. "You know that's a hotel right? A different one?"

"Yes, I do. I was staying there before and left one of my bags." I give him some sort of explanation.

He nods, driving off. "So, you liked Marriott better huh?"

"Yeah," I nod off. "How did you even recognize me? You must get a hundred people a day."

He shrugs, "I've got a good memory I guess. Plus, you looked really down man- something only a few men feel."

I don't reply to that. Looking back, I probably looked like a mess. The rest of the ride was silent. When we arrived, I asked him to stay outside while I grabbed my things so I didn't have to wait for another cab. He nodded, telling me he'd park around the corner.

I rode the elevator up, hoping to see none of my pack members. I didn't want to lie to them but, I couldn't tell them the real reason I wouldn't be coming home. Luckly, I make it to my room unseen. I quickly grab my things, throw them in the bag and walk back out. I make it to the elevator when I hear someone yelling to hold it.

I use my hand to alert the sensors and they open back up. There stands Oliver Cooke.

"Oh, Alpha Elijah." His eyes widen. "Aren't you supposed to be in the city?"

"Yeah, just grabbing my things. Got a new hotel- much closer." I tell him and he buys it. He leans against the wall, holding his suitcase close. He was probably getting ready to leave too.

"You had fun?" I ask and he smiles. I've never seen him so bashful and although I never would have thought it at first, I know it's his mate.

"Yeah." He looks down, remembering last night. "I think that we'll be okay."

My eyes squint and I see a purple mark on his neck. I drop my bag and take a closer look. "Goddess is this a bruise?"

"What?" He asks and I take out my phone, taking a picture. Showing it to him, his eyes widen. "No, no."

"Then where did it come from?" I confront him. "Did Liam hurt you?"

His cheeks go red. "Goddess, no, no! It's from him but not like that."

Now I am the one who is embarrassed. "Oh." The elevator goes quiet. "Well, congrats?"

He laughs- an actual laugh.

"I'm sorry I just feel bad now for assuming." I tell him, chuckling myself.

"It's alright. I think everyone knows Liam and I have two different thoughts on what's going on between us." His brown eyes look up at me. "I'm confused but, that bond between us is just-"

"It's indescribable." I finish for him. "Or so I've heard."

He nods and the elevator doors open. I tell him good luck and he waves goodbye. I get back into the cab and tell the driver to go back to Marriott.