Melanie pov

Glancing at the man sprawled on the seat beside mine, I still don't understand why I feel so lured to him. I turn to face him and can't help but stare. Why does he look so good?

He is so attractive and no matter how much I ignore him, my heart keeps yearning for him. He is like a magnet and I only want to eliminate the space between us and stay close to him.

Isn't it strange?

I don't know the cologne he used but I want it. God! I think something is wrong with me.

When I saw him in the living room, something in me moved. My heartbeat became rapid and I had to will myself not to stare at him.

The man is lazily sitting on the sofa with his legs spread in a perfect pose. It's like nothing worries him at all.

It's remarkable, a man can be this beautiful. He has deep green eyes that appear to hold numerous untold mysteries, which I am eager to figure out one after the other. It is as if they can see through your soul.

So unreal. His dark bed hair looks so soft to the touch, and perfectly naturally molded dark eyebrows with long lashes. Fuck, I am ashamed to say that my boyfriend is nothing near this man.

His strong jaw is covered with a slight stubble, he has high cheekbones and red full lips. He's amazingly handsome.

I can't believe I am staring. I am not always like this, God! My eyes against my will, lower to his big veiny, and strong arms which are beautifully adorned by ink.

I find men with tattoos so sexy, I think I will convince Jake to go for some. An expensive watch rests on his right wrist and two silver rings on three fingers. So classy, I like it.

" You wanted to talk?" I remind him before my shameless mind can take me any further. To my amazement, the man is openly checking me out and I quickly look away with a slight blush.

Goodness! This is awkward as fuck. I never allow anyone in my room except for my nanny, and that is only because she helps me clean it. I have severe cases of OCD which don't allow me to do some things freely, most of them.

I prefer my space tidy and everything organized neatly and to perfection. Not even Jake has been here. Yet, this total stranger whom I strangely feel comfortable and safe around, is sitting on my couch in my room, and I can't even explain why.

" Yes, there are things you need to understand about werewolves" he starts and I nod in relief and motion for him to proceed. I don't know why I'm not freaking out though.

" We are born and grow up human till we reach the age of 16, that's when we transition to our wolves" I nod following with furrowed eyebrows. Who knew such things happened out there? It is as if I am reborn into a whole new world.

"Our creator, the Moon goddess, grants each one of us a soulmate when we shift, they are the other half of us hence completing us" he continues, as he keenly stares at me. The Moon goddess? So wolves believe in divine beings? What about God?

"As alpha, my mate is the Luna. She is my equal, and together we run our pack" Aiden leans back in his seat and expectantly stares at me. So he has a soulmate? Of course, he does. Someone this beautiful can't be single. What was I even daydreaming about?

"Why are you telling me this?" I whisper, disappointment lacing in my voice which I pray he doesn't notice. Was I expecting something from him?

He sighs looking at me intently. His eyes are so soft and hold something that I can't decipher. "Because you are my soulmate" The man gazes at me as if I mean so much to him.

His eyes hold so much admiration and gratitude and I can't help but wonder. It's like I'm a gem he's been looking for and he finally found it.

"What?" I mumble, my heart thumping loudly in my chest. I'm his soulmate? But how?

"You are my mate, Melanie. The minute I looked into your eyes I just knew, and the attraction I feel towards you is so immense. Your scent drives me crazy and when I held you in my arms, it hurt to let you go" Fuck, I feel the same way.

This is crazy but deep down, I want him to be mine. Goodness, what about my boyfriend? Why are my emotions all over?

"But I'm human" I don't understand how I will be paired with a wolf, or do I have a wolf inside me?

"We'll figure that out, there are a lot of aspects you are still required to know, but for now we will just cover the basics"

" Okay, so are you like my boyfriend or something?".I can't believe how relieved I am feeling right now. Maybe I am still dreaming because this is not me at all.

Aiden chuckles, amusement dancing in his eyes. Even his laugh is adorable "If you see it that way then yes, but mates are more than that, we are forever. Though I understand you are human and we will do things your way, so boyfriend it is" He smiles so charmingly and it takes my breath away.

The butterflies in my stomach intensify and I wonder why I didn't feel like this with Jake. But what about Jake? I can't bear hurting him just like that. And certainly, I can't have two boyfriends at the same time.

"What if I have a boyfriend?" I carefully ask, and Aiden growls out loudly. His eyes instantly turn black and it causes me to flinch away fearfully. Honestly, how will I just wake up and be like 'Jake, we need to break up because I have a mate and he is a wolf'.

I have to think about his feelings too. Aiden shuts his eyes and inhales deeply as if to calm himself down.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you like that" he softly apologizes and his eyes shift back to the enchanting green. "You have a boyfriend?" He gently asks, but I can tell he's trying hard not to get mad about it.

"Yes," I carefully nod as I gauge his reaction.

" You'll have to break up," Aiden says and quickly avoids my gaze.

"Excuse me!" I raise my brow at him questioningly. That's playing with someone's emotions. I know I have not been fair to Jake, but I think it's too soon. I would hurt him if I did that.

Aiden stressfully sighs and joins me in my seat. Taking my hands in his, he rubs his thumb on the back of my hand soothingly, and I almost jerk at the electrical feeling.

Shivers run through every inch of my body when our skin touches and I marvel at that. It's a feeling I have never felt before, and he's only touching my hand. Damn, Is it a mate thing?

"Listen, baby, we only have one mate in a lifetime. We get only one chance to be happy and to my kind, only mates bring us that. It's the only thing that makes sense to us, you have to understand that I can't let you go. I need you, please"

There is so much sincerity in his voice, and as much as I want to say no to him, I can't bring myself to. Something in me hates to see him hurt or vulnerable like he is looking at me right now.

"Look, if I lose you, I don't even know what will happen to me. I have waited for ten years and when I saw you, I couldn't explain how I felt. Please give me a chance, I will be anything you want me to be, as long as I have you with me, please" he desperately begs and I sigh avoiding his deep gaze.

Strangely, I want to hold and assure him it's okay. I feel a deep need to comfort him. What if Jake finds someone else who will love him back the way he deserves? What about me? What do I want? Do mates have a choice or does everything happen naturally? Guess I will have to find out.

The man before me, It's like I can feel his pain and vulnerability. His emotions are raw and it's as if he wants me to see them. Something inside me wants to see him happy.

I lift my hand and gently stroke his cheek. Instantly, Aiden leans towards my touch and sighs contentedly, and I stare at him in amazement. I don't know anything about mates but I think they have a big effect on each other.

"Will you give me a little time to figure everything out, or at least break up with Jake first? " I ask, softly running my finger along his sharp jaw as if I am in a trance.

Heaven knows I don't want this moment to end. Being this close to him, touching him like this, I want him always beside me because it feels right.

"Just make it quick, okay?" he impatiently pleads and I chuckle but nod anyway.

"Thank you for understanding, it means so much to me," Aiden grabs my other hand and places it on his cheek, and holds both of them there. They are so warm and the slight facial hairs tickles my palms.

This is amazing.

"How old are you?," I whisper, staring into the beautiful green depths of his eyes. We are so close. If I just move a little...

"I am 26, you?" he whispers, and gently bites on his lower lip. Is he thinking about inappropriate stuff too? Damn Mel, hold yourself together.

"18," I say back in a whisper. He is perfect. Just for me.

"Okay, you go to school with Liam and Lily, right?" he asks and I remember Jake. Instantly, I untangle from his hold leaving him confused. At least I should break up with him first before indulging in another relationship.

Jake deserves at least that. "Yes, I also work," I say just in case he needs to know.

"You don't have to work anymore, I can take care of you" Aiden quickly interjects and I slightly smile. I don't remember the last time someone took care of me.

" No, no it's okay, I love what I do and I can't just stop. I hope it won't be a problem" I don't want to depend on anybody for anything, and I hope he's not one of those men who dictates what their women should or shouldn't do.

"No, I have no problem with that" he quickly defends and I nod. Good. I wouldn't have stopped either way. Speaking of which, I need to be at work an hour from now and I need to prepare for that. I love my job not only because it pays my bills, but also the feeling it gives me.

I always feel beautiful whenever and it boosts my self-confidence.

"Okay, can I have your number," he expectantly stares at me, and I nod handing him my phone.

"Do me a favor and drag everyone downstairs out, I don't wanna see them at least for today, please?" I don't wait for his reply and head to the shower. As the cold water drizzles down my body soothingly, I can't help but wonder how my life turned out in a day.

Those people in my living room, I can't even start to explain how they made me feel. It's so sad to be surrounded by everyone you can't trust. How can they comfortably lie and act as if they care? I don't understand why they did that. I just hope I'll get through this, still can't believe she's not even my mother.

Now that I think about It, I don't think she knows anything about being a mother. That woman didn't even try. And her brother, who is also my dad, how was it so easy for him to just toss me away for eighteen years to his sister? How come even once, he never made an effort to let me know he exists? It hurts so much.

I wish my mother was here, maybe things would have been different. I hope I won't turn out to be one of them. I want to continue living and die human no matter what my genes are.

If that's how they act, giving no shit about people's emotions. Maybe it's how they are. It's in their nature. They are wolves after all. Wild beasts. Except for the one on my wall, of course.