MATEO’S P. O. V.
That felt amazing, up until she ripped herself out of my arms and ran away. Her lips felt like perfection against mine. That little moan she let out sent my body into overdrive. Now it just feels empty without her here. I can hear her crying upstairs. That sound tears me apart. I want to hold her and comfort her. Pull her into my arms and let her know that it is all going to be ok. That it is fine. We feel this way for a reason. She is my other half. But I can’t, it will just make it worse.
I bunch up my fist and punch one of the few blank spaces on the wall. Now there is a crater the size of my fist. She’s going to reject me. I just know it.
Ash runs into the room. He sees me with my fist in the wall, just trying to breathe. “What the hell happened?”
“I kissed her.” It is barely a whisper, but it is enough for him to hear it.
He pats me on the back. “Well, isn’t that a good thing? I don’t see that as a reason to redecorate the place with your fist.”
I glare at him. “She is upstairs crying. Does that sound like a good thing? She ran from me, Ash. She fucking pulled away from me and ran.”
He gives me a sympathetic look. “Look, maybe just dial it back a little bit. You still have what five days after today. There is the Friday celebration tomorrow, that might loosen her up a little. She’s just scared, this is all new to her. She just met you yesterday. I can tell she is starting to see the real you, just don’t push her. Let her see. She will come back to you. I just have this feeling that she isn’t going to reject you. She may be confused and a little angry at the moment. But she knows you are a good guy underneath all the gruff shit.”
I shake my head. “I just don’t know what to do. What if she does reject me? Her mother rejected her father. She doesn’t seem to see the problem with it.”
Ash shakes his head back. “That is a completely different situation and you know it. Her father cheated on her mother. That isn’t this.”
“But what if she does?”
He pulls me out of the wall and makes sure I am looking at him directly. “That is not going to happen. She is your mate. I can tell, without Callum’s little drawings of the two of you. Or you know he told me too. I can see the way that you look at her. I can see the way she fights you, that kind of passion doesn’t just happen between two strangers. Just slow down. Give her time to get used to the idea.”
“It’s really hard to control myself. I want her, so fucking bad.”
“I know, just try to refrain.” He smiles and slaps my back. “Maybe we should get some dinner done. Tomorrow is the festivities, you know she has to like that.”
“Her mom is sending a search party onto the land to look for her. I told her they can’t enter the compound. I just pray they don’t scent her. If they take her away before her birthday, there is no way she is going to recognize the bond.”
“Then increase the patrols around the compound, that will swallow her scent. We will make sure they don’t get her scent too soon. I know this is important.”
“Ash, I can’t lose her.”
“I know buddy. I don’t think you will have to. Callum saw you two together, it is going to happen. Just let it, don’t force it.” I want to believe him, I really do, but it’s so hard.
“Well, I guess we better get dinner done then.” I sigh and head out of the office. Ash follows close behind.
“Who doesn’t like dinner?” He chuckles, slapping me on the back.