Chapter 3
Paul's pov
What the heck just happened? What in the heavens did I just feel?!
There was no way this was happening. There was no way my son's best friend was my mate. I looked at her and she was staring directly into my eyes. I knew she could tell from my expression that I felt the connection too.
"Holy shit," she sucked in a breath. "You feel it too?" Her brows knitted together.
She was staring at me with a mixture of panic and curiosity, almost like she could read my mind. She moved a little closer and I took a step backwards.
The air seemed tense all of a sudden and I kept feeling a constant pull towards her. My senses were also heightened and I started noticing her features. Her eyes were a beautiful contrast of golden brown. It glowed brightly in the dim light of the room. Her lips were full and beautiful and they complemented her face perfectly, they looked so plump and kis… No, this was wrong!
But she looked beautiful. Much more beautiful than the last time I had seen her, when she was still a pup.
A fucking pup!
I groaned and snapped out of it, tearing away from her. I raked my hands over my hair, trying to make sense of our situation.
"This is… crazy. I mean you can't be my mate. I have a wife and two kids for heaven's sake!"
I began to pace about the cellar, looking at everything but her.
"I know! Trust me, I know. I'm just as shocked as you. I don't know how to feel or what to say…" She looked disoriented but also amused.
"There's nothing to say. This is unimaginable. You are my son's best friend and you're just a pup."
I saw the frown stretched across her face. She looked offended. She folded her arms and stepped a little closer towards me. I stepped back a few feet.
"I am not the little girl you knew all those years ago." She stated in her defense.
"That's beside the point right now, Pecan." I sighed and cupped my face with my palms.
I heard her chuckle. I gazed up at her, an irritated look on my face. "You think this is funny?"
"I'm just as surprised as you are but I just can't help but find it amusing in a way." She giggled.
"What's amusing about the fact that it took me 15 years to finally find my mate and she just so happens to be young enough to be my daughter?"
I groaned, feeling so frustrated at the situation. She ought to have sensed my frustration because her expression changed and she had this look of wariness on her face.
"Okay I'm sorry about that, but hey, I didn't ask to be your mate." her voice was calm, yet hoarse.
"Trust me, if I had a choice choosing a mate, you'd not be on the list of my options," she added.
Solid point. But what followed next was an excruciating hint of displeasure from my wolf. The strawberry scent of Pecan's wolf had stirred him already so this comment of hers was not soothing at all.
"You think I don't know that?" I intoned, "I fucking do Pecan, but guess who doesn't?"
She lifted a brow.
"My wolf. So try not to make comments like that until we've sorted this out."
Her face contorted into a deep frown. "Oh really? Says the one who belittled me. Do you think my wolf knew that too?" She quipped.
I knew where this was heading. An argument and that was by far the least thing I wanted. So I stayed silent until I heard her take a deep, long breath, her lips pursing.
"Uhm…what do you suggest we do now?"
I contemplated the situation at hand. No one had to know. We were the only two witnesses to this so it was our secret. A secret we would both take to the grave.
Even though I accepted the fact that she was my mate, nothing could ever come out of it.
I lifted my head and looked her straight in the eyes. My heart began to pound at the sight of her face. It was an intense bond I felt with her. I couldn't quite understand so I tried my best to push it aside. For now and in the days or years to come.
"We are going to keep this to ourselves and pretend like nothing ever happened. You tell no one, and I mean no one. Not even Noah. Do you understand?"
She nodded vigorously.
"Yeah." She agreed. "I should know better. Nothing can ever come out of this anyways."
I exhaled. Thank goodness she understood. She seemed to be more composed than I was. I hadn't noticed I'd been holding my breath for a while now. I still felt uneasy and nervous. I took another step back trying to steady myself but instead, I tripped over a box that was on the floor. I lost my step and crashed into one of the shelves. A bottle of wine fell off the rack and smashed against the floor.
"Shit!" I cursed out feeling irritated.
She gasped and rushed towards me. "Oh my God! Are you okay?"
She touched my arm and I sucked in a ragged breath. I turned to face her and our proximity was intoxicating. The air felt electrifying and intense. My heart was pounding so fast I bet she could hear it.
We stared at each other, no one wanting to look away. My eyes moved to the outline of her lips. I felt a desire rile up inside of me. I had never felt anything like it before. Was this really how it felt when you discovered your mate?
Our faces moved closer, slowly closing up the inches between us. She craned her neck and closed her eyes in anticipation of my kiss. An action that we might both regret later but right now, I lacked the will to control the desire to slam my lips on hers and know what they taste like.