Mated by fate

Tammy's POV

I rejoice internally that my shift has finally ended, and begin packing up my things before I go to change back into my normal day's outfit.

"Tammy," our head nurse, Mrs Roseline calls to me as I walk towards the changing room. Dread spreads through my body on hearing the tone of her voice. I really hope it's not what I'm thinking.

"Yes, Mrs Rose?" I respond, crossing my fingers behind my back, as some form of prayer.

"I know your shift has ended, but I'd need you to stay behind for another shift," she tells me, confirming my suspicions.

Dang. Exactly what I thought and prayed against.

"I don't think I can do that, ma'am. I already had plans for tonight," I say as I move my head slowly from side to side, trying to reason with her. Although, the only plan I have for tonight is sleeping. But it should count, right?

"I'm sorry, Tammy, but your plans would have to be put on hold," she replies, her lips turned downwards and her expression stern.

Fuck. I should have said that my pet dog died or something, maybe she'd have agreed. I don't have a pet, but she doesn't have to know that part.

"Can't any one else stay?" I ask her, hoping she would give a positive answer.

"No, Tammy. I don't trust anyone else but you to do the job," she replies.

I should feel flattered by the confession, but right now it only annoys me because it means I don't get my sleep time. "Thanks, ma'am, but I really don't think I can stay for one more shift," I tell her with a pleading look in my eyes.

"It's not a question, and you don't have a choice either." I open my mouth to protest, but the next words that come out of her mouth makes me stop and rethink my wanting to leave. "If you do this, I'll put in a good word for you to get promoted as my assistant," she offers.

A very tempting offer. I have been working hard to get promoted to assistant head nurse. if just looking after this patient can get me there, maybe it isn't so bad after all. "Fine," I mutter, feeling defeated.

The lady has the impudence to smile. "I knew you'd budge," she says, like it's a huge achievement. "Now, the patient was just admitted tonight and he has been showing strange symptoms. He was diagnosed with a mild case of fever, but his reactions say otherwise. I just need you to keep an eye on him and try noting any significant changes." she pauses and looks intently at me. "Do you understand?"

'I understand that part. What I don't understand is why I have to be the one staying just to look over a patient with just a mild fever that would probably pass soon enough,' I want to say. Instead, I nod.

"Good," she responds. "I don't think I have to explain anything more to you. You know how to do your job well."

"I really wish I didn't," I mumble to myself. luckily, she doesn't hear, or maybe she does and chooses not to answer.

Nurse Roseline hands me a file and pats my arm softly, before proceeding down the hallway.

'Well, there goes my sleep.' I huff.

Working at a hospital can be really draining. I sometimes wish I could resign but this is what I went to school for, and I doubt I would be able to be as good in another job. Plus, being an orphan who lives alone and has bills to pay, there's not much I can do.

Which is why as much as I hate the stress that comes with the job, I love and appreciate the paycheck. Being in a position to help save lives is also an added benefit, I guess.

I locate the room the patient was brought to, room 103, and enter inside. Everything with him seems totally normal, and it looks like he's sound asleep, a huge contradiction to what was described to me. I check his temperature for added precaution. It seems quite alright for someone with a fever.

I look up from the patient and immediately my eyes land on the open window. That's not safe. We've had cases of some weird and disturbed people entering patients' rooms through the window. I wouldn't want that to happen while it's my turn monitoring a patient.

I go to close it and then walk out of the room.

That should be enough inspection for one night.

I begin walking to the hospital's reception when I hear noises coming from the room, mostly sounding like a creaking bed.

Redirecting my steps, I walk back towards the patient's room and let myself in.

The sight that I'm met with leaves me totally confused and wondering if I was just imagining things. It can't be.

The noises sounded like they were coming from in here. But right now, everything looks totally normal. There's no single trace of unusual activity.

The patient looks still. Suspiciously still.

I go closer to the bed to inspect the patient closely. On touching his head, a coldness shoots through my spine, causing me to shiver slightly.

No no no. It can't be.

Placing my hand on his chest, I check for a pulse. I don't feel a beat.

Panic spreads through me, as it is the first time I've had a casualty when I'm on duty.

Taking a deep breath and exhaling, to calm my racing nerves, I pick up my phone and place a call to the reception, informing the person at the desk of the new development.

On looking away from my phone, I'm left questioning my sanity once again.

The window I had closed earlier is now open.

'why do all these weird things have to happen to me?' I swear I had closed them.

I go to close it once again, looking outside for any suspicious movements.

Instead of finding someone I could pin the issue to, I feel a heavy presence on me, like I'm being watched. There's no one outside, or inside either - other than the dead man. Shaking off the feeling, I turn to close the window and walk away, but my movement is stilled and my breath is caught in my throat as my eyes make contact with a pair of piercing gold orbs.

They are as captivating as the hue that envelops the sky in the sunset, burning bright as a flame captured in a glass. I will myself to look away, but am unable to, the beauty of this creature's eyes rooting me in place.

I stand transfixed, my gaze locked with the creature's - or person's - until finally, it moves away, enveloping itself in a shadow of the darkness. Only then, am I able to come out of the enchantment that it seemed to have cast around me.

Tammy's POV

"No, sir."

"You say you didn't notice anything suspicious about the patient's behavior last night?"

"No, sir," I repeat to the officer for the umpteenth time in an hour, starting to regret reporting the opened window of last night.

He sighs. "Ma'am, I know you must be tired from last night and you most likely want to get some rest, but I'll need you to be more cooperative if you want that to happen. Your two worded replies won't suffice."

He seems stuck on the opinion that I'm hiding something from him. Even if I am, it isn't something that would help him out.

Putting on the most innocent act I can muster, I tell him, "I promise I'm not keeping anything from you. I've told you all that there is to know.

He squints his eyes at me slightly, a disbelieving look playing on his face. "If you say so, ma'am," he replies and walks away. He glances over his shoulder at me, and I smile at him with a shrug.

I should have been sleeping at home by now. But since I was the only one around at the time the man died, and I'm also responsible for reporting everything, I've been bombarded with a lot of questions.

I couldn't even get some sleep even after the man's death. The gold eyed creature had been on my mind since then. The feeling I got when I set my eyes on him, or it, I'm unable to shake off. I didn't tell the police about that part. I want it to be our own secret - me and whatever creature it was.

I didn't even try to get a look at other parts of the creature, although I doubt I'd have identified anything, due to the darkness.

It might have been a werewolf, judging from the eyes. I've heard stories about werewolf sightings in this part of the city, but I didn't believe them. I still don't, I'm just considering the possibility.

"I'm a family member of the deceased," I hear a deep baritone voice say, pulling me out of my thoughts.

I turn to face the owner of the the voice. On looking at him, I feel the same feelings from yesterday, when my eyes was locked in a gaze with the Gold-eyed creature, begin to resurface. This time, the feeling is even stronger. My being is completely enthralled by the man in front of me. I feel attracted to the stranger in such a deep way that I can not pinpoint exactly where the attraction stems from.

One thing I'm sure of, is that whatever I'm feeling right now goes deeper than his incredible good looks.

Recognition flickers in my mind, but I am unable to recall where I know this man from. his hazel eyes and perfectly laid back dark brown hair, his chiseled features, the wide and muscular physique, including his brimwood scent, all spark familiarity in me - especially the eyes. when he looked at me, it felt like I have had those eyes staring at me before.

'where could I possibly know him from?'

I rack my brain, looking for a marker to where or when we must have met.

"I was told you were the nurse watching over him last night," the voice speaks up, bringing me back to the present, and away from my wondering thoughts.

A hand grazes my arm lightly and I feel a sensation course through me like I had been shocked by electricity, causing me to pull away instantly.

Wide eyed from the shock, I look up to see the strange man staring at me, his hand frozen mid air.

'why have I been feeling strange since he came around? first I feel like I know him, and now this?'

If he felt the same way I did when we came in contact, he doesn't show, as his expression remains stoic.

"You were the nurse watching over my brother last night," he states this time.

I shake my head, attempting to clear my thoughts, before answering. "Yes." my voice comes out softer than I'd like it to. I clear my throat and reply again, willing my voice not to embarrass me this time.

"Did he show any strange signs before he passed?" the stranger asks.

'why's he asking me this?' I wonder. He shouldn't even be permitted to be here right now.

"I'm sorry," I begin to say. "You can't ask me that. I've already told the police and my superior all that happened. So feel free to go ask them instead," I tell him and start walking away, without giving him a chance to speak to me or ask any more questions.

I have to get away from him immediately. I don't understand the way I feel around him. The attraction doesn't feel normal, and I feel like if I stay close to him any longer, I might lose control of myself. And I like being in control of myself.

Down the hallway, I see Mrs Roseline talking to an officer and I approach them.

"Ma'am, sir," I greet, interrupting their discussion, causing them to turn their attention to me. I direct my next words at the head nurse. "I'll be heading home now," I let her know, just in case they might need me for anything else. Hopefully they don't.

"Okay, dear. You've done a lot, thank you. I would not forget to put in a word for you," she responds, immediately turning back to her conversation.

I take that as a dismissal and slip away immediately. Finally I can go home and get my well deserved sleep.

My belongings already in hand, I head straight to the exit door, very eager to leave this place for the day.

Merrily, I walk away and to the parking lot, swinging my hips as I go.

Something strange hits me in my chest and I pause to catch a breath, hoping it would go away. I regret doing so as my eyes set on the handsome stranger, who I notice is walking towards me.

In a bid to avoid him and the strange feelings he stirs in me, I resume walking and hasten my steps to reach my car before he gets any closer.

My attempts at escaping are proven futile when a hand envelops mine on my door handle, just as I'm about to open the door.

Tammy's POV

How did he manage to close the distance so quickly? I could have sworn he was at least six feet away when I reached my car, but now he's right beside me.

This just adds to the weirdness of everything about this man.

I look at his hand on mine, and then at his face. The unfamiliar feeling from earlier comes back to me, causing me to immediately pull my hand away from his and turn my body to face him. Only after turning, do I notice the close proximity of our bodies.

Instinctively, I move backwards to create some distance between us. My body makes contact with the cold metal of my car, the space between us still not sufficient enough.

Ignoring that, I choose to focus on the fact that he has been observing me without saying anything. It fills me with discomfort and I pull a strand of hair behind my ear and look at him, breaking the silence. "What?" I ask, a brow raised in question.

"I want to speak with you," he responds.

'what could he possibly want to speak to me about?'

I let out a light, tired breath slip from my mouth. Everything happening since yesterday has just seemed to be against me getting some rest. I'm low on sleep, and when that happens, I start getting cranky.

"Okay. But could you just," I motion to both of us, "shift back a bit? I don't think you need to be in my face before having a conversation with me, and you seriously didn't have to corner me like this because you wanted to speak to me," I tell him.

The corners of his mouth lift upwards slightly, then he takes a step back. "I wouldn't have cornered you like this," he mirrors my gesture and words, evoking an eye roll from me, "if you hadn't run off like that. If I were a good judge of character, I'd have said you were trying to escape me," he says, one side of his lips curled.

Heat rises to my face at the accuracy of his observation. I instantly chide myself for not being sleek enough.

I fold my arms across my chest and give him a defiant look. "I was not trying to escape you. Why would I do that?"

This time, a grin stretches across his face, that doesn't reach his eyes. He looks at me intently, his gaze pinning me in place. Heat rises in me at the intensity of his stare, one of the things this stranger is able to do to me so easily.

He leans in a bit. My eyes follow the movement of his lips as he speaks, "I don't know why you would. You tell me." If I were looking at the smile on his face from a farther distance, I would take his words lightly. But the look in his eyes tells me he knows something.

'could he have felt the same way I did?'

"I wasn't avoiding you," I state stubbornly. "If you don't have anything relevant to say to me, I'll take my leave now. I've got somewhere to be." I turn back to open my car, not wanting to give him a chance to say anymore. Hopefully he'll take the hint and leave me be.

His voice stops me, just as I am about to pull the handle. "I need your help."

The desperation in his voice stands out to me and I turn around to face him again. "What?"

His face takes a serious expression. "I need your help," he reiterates.

I fold my arms again, with a brow cocked up. "You don't even know me, so what could you possibly need my help with?" I ask him.

"If know your name, would that count as a reason to ask for your help?" he asks in return, a smirk plastered on his face, a contrast to the look he had mere seconds ago.

How this man is able to change expressions in a short amount of time, surpasses me. 'oh what I would give to wipe that cocky smirk off his beautiful face'

"It would. But you don't know it, so you don't get to need my help," I retort with a shrug, smiling to myself as I feel a sense of accomplishment.

"So tell me then."

"Tell you what?" I question, the smile wiping off my face.

"Your name. Tell me what your name is," the man urges.

He's funny, if he thinks I'd be willing to tell him my name just like that.

I lean in, my face inches away from his. In satisfaction, I observe the way his eyes darken as he watches me, and I try to stifle a smile. Good. Now I know he at least feels some sort of attraction towards me.

Putting a saccharine sweet smile on my face, I tell him, "no," and then move backwards to lean on my car.

He snaps out of his daze, looking taken aback by my refusal. "What do you mean no?" he probes.

I shrug, my expression nonchalant. "I'd rather not share my name. If what you need my help for is really that important, you'd find out my name yourself," I challenge him.

He takes a long, assessing look at me, then let's out a sigh. "Fine then. I'll find out your name, and you will hear me out," the man states, his tone resolute.

"I will," I affirm. I open my car door and sit inside, before turning to him. "Till then, I don't have to listen to you."

I know I should probably hear him out, as whatever he needs me for might be important. But like I said, if he is solely dependent on me for help, he would have found out my name first. And giving him time to do so means that this isn't going to be the last time we see each other, which is exactly what I want.

Meeting him again would give me a chance to understand the way I feel around him, and confirm if these feelings are real, not just as a result of my exhaustion.

I move to close the door but he swiftly inserts his leg, stopping me from going any further. I look at the leg and then at him, raising a brow in question.

"How am I supposed to see you again?" he inquires, moving his leg away from the door.

I could probably drive away from here without giving him an answer, now that his leg isn't stopping me. But I decide to toy with him instead. I smirk at him. "You'd have to find that out yourself too, honey." I say blowing him a playful kiss. I close the door, turning on the ignition and driving away before he gets the chance to respond.