Forever Is A Long Time

Chapter 3

    We stared at each other for what seemed forever, my sword still aimed at him. 

“What’s going on here?” Nathan asked suddenly, taking us out of our trance. I hadn’t even noticed when he had made it up the stairs. My sword disappeared, as if it had never been there. I folded my arms across my chest.

“Just getting acquainted,” I said nonchalantly, looking in Brandon’s direction as he started to get up. 

“By trying to kill him?” Nathan asked me, with a confused look on his face. “I know we’ve had our differences in the past, Athena, but don’t take it out on Brandon. If you’re angry, be angry at me.”

“You two know I’m right here, right?” Brandon chimed in, slightly irritated.

“Nathan, for once this is not about you,” I exclaimed, ignoring Brandon’s remark.

“What happened 30 years ago doesn’t matter anymore,” I said camly, my voice still laced with irritation, “besides, you found your mate. End of discussion.” I stated, as I turned around to head to my room.

“You two used to be a thing?” Brandon exclaimed. I suddenly felt a wave of pain flow over me, stopping me in my tracks. I knew it came from my mate. I couldn’t help but feel what he was feeling. Damn, mate bond. I muttered in my head. I did feel like I owed Brandon an explanation with him being my mate and all. I just didn’t feel like I deserved having a mate. I didn’t deserve him. 

I slowly turned around to face them both. “Nathan, I need to talk to my mate...in private,” I said, turning my attention to Brandon. His facial expression, now slightly cold. 

“You’re right,” Nathan said, starting to turn around. “I’ll leave you two alone.”

“Dad, we will talk tomorrow...you owe me an explanation as well,” Brandon said in a matter of fact tone, his eyes never leaving mine.

    We stood there in the hallway for what seemed an eternity which just became awkward after a few seconds. 

“Look,” I said, breaking the silence, “it’s been a very long time since I’ve even seen your dad and yes, we might have dated in the past but it wasn’t meant to be. He met your mom and I was no longer important in his life. It’s just how it is for our kind.” 

He looked at me for a second, his expression surprisingly composed for someone who had just found out that their mate used to bang their dad. 

“I get it,” he finally said, his voice calm. “I guess the fact that you're my mate and I want to literally rip apart anyone who even looks at you, is getting to me. Let’s just add my dad into the mix.” 

I let out a light chuckle at his remark, which to be honest caught me by surprise.

You like him. Admit it. My wolf teased. I chose to ignore her.

“That is completely understandable,” I said with a slight smirk on my lips. Realizing I was dropping my guard, I cleared my throat. “I should really go to my room now,” I said with a light tone and started to walk towards it. Brandon started to do the same. 

“Where are you headed exactly?” I asked stopping to look at him. 

“To my room...” he said with a confused look on his face. 

“No way we have the same room,” I said, getting defensive.

“Who said it was the same room?” he added with a smirk. “So happens my room is next  to yours,” he added with a smug smile. I could tell he was trying not to laugh.

“Uhu.” I glared at him for a second before I continued to walk towards my room. Without any hesitation I opened the door to my room and swiftly entered, closing the door behind me telepathically so I wouldn’t have to see him staring at me from his doorway. I heard him chuckle from the other side of the door.

    I sighed out loud, finally realizing I was alone. Looking around the room, the furniture, wall décor and lighting was different, yet there was something that made it still the same, aside from the fact that it was the same exact room. I went over to the right side of the bed and sat down. Reaching down to undo one of my doc martens, I caught my reflection in the full length mirror across the room, that apparently was now one of the sliding doors to the closet. I stared back at myself, observing my appearance. My hair is long now, almost to my elbows. It’s a deep burgundy red, layered with short bangs that frame my heart shaped face. My skin, pale with an olive undertone. Light freckles scattered across my face. My full lips, a dark rosy color. Dark full eyebrows with a dark set of irises to match. My eyelashes, thick and long. The bright side of being a vampire and werewolf is that your features are always enhanced. Still, I couldn’t help but hate my appearance. Mostly, I hated myself. 

    My height, although average for a woman, being 5’6, made my body frame more on the fuller side. Toned but curved in the right places. I turned my gaze away from the mirror and back to my doc’s. Once removed, I dramatically fell back on the bed, arms spread out. 

“Ughhhhhhh,” I groaned out loud as I started to realize how much I hated the fact that I had found my mate, here of all places. Why did he have to look exactly like the man who had broken my heart into a gazillion pieces? I asked myself.

Probably because the moon goddess loves us so much. My wolf chimed in.

Shut it, Alexa. I retorted back, rolling my eyes. 

I’m just sayin’. Besides, it’s not like you don’t find him attractive and not to mention his personality is nothing like Nathan’s. 

She was right. I am attracted to Brandon, not only for his looks but the way he carries himself and the fact that he seemed to be completely different from his father. I hated it when Alexa was right.

Why don’t you give him a chance? Alexa, pressed on. Worst case scenario it doesn’t work out and you reject him but please give him a chance, she pleaded. 

I sighed. I knew it wasn’t fair to my wolf to keep her from her destined love. It would be utterly selfish of me. 

Fine. I said. Under one condition.

Anything.

You don’t take matters into your own hands at any given point.

Damn it. 

That’s the condition.

But it can be so much fun!  I could hear the pout in her voice.

Promise me.

Fine.