Chapter 1.
The First Meeting
Westd
Before our paths officially crossed, her captivating scent permeated Jazlyn's hotel room, seizing control of my senses as I entered. It danced in the air, a mysterious fragrance that lingered in my nostrils, igniting an insatiable curiosity within me. "Who else has been in here?" I demanded, inhaling deeply as I searched for answers. Jazlyn shot me a bemused look. "Uh, the whole band. Why?" she responded with a hint of sarcasm.
"Mate!" involuntarily slipped from my lips, a revelation that startled not only me but the entire room. Confusion filled their faces as they bombarded me with inquiries. "What??!! Who?" they chorused. Frustration tinged my growl. "I don't know! That's what I'm asking you. Has any other female been in here?" I questioned, struggling to maintain composure. Jazlyn hesitated before admitting, "Just Kira."
"OH s**t, are you saying that Kira is your mate? As in Kira... Kira, Kira," Axel exclaimed, his surprise echoing through the room. "Our lead singer? Kira? No way, she's HUMAN!" he added, a revelation that shocked everyone. "HEY! I'm HUMAN!" Jasper interjected defensively. "I'm sorry, babe, I didn't mean..." Axel began before being swiftly shut down by Jasper's scoff.
"Strawberries and roses, It's all over the room," I remarked, closing my eyes to savor her lingering scent. Faye, munching on a muffin, casually mentioned, "She was here this morning having breakfast." My impatience reached its peak. "Where is she?!" I roared, causing an involuntary flinch from everyone present.
"First, you're going to have to calm down; otherwise, you're going to scare her away. Second, she's human! Remember?!" my dad admonished, raising his voice. "Third, she's here in the hotel, so pull yourself together," he concluded sternly. The tension in the room remained palpable as the phone rang. Jasper's grin widened as she hung up, announcing, "Hey Kira, yeah, they all just got here. Sure, we will meet you at the elevators." Faye interjected, "Okay, here's your chance, lover boy. We need to meet her at the elevators. We are having lunch with her downstairs."
The anticipation surged as we headed toward the elevator. My nerves buzzed with excitement; I was on the brink of meeting my long-awaited mate. Her laughter, resonating in the distance, painted a beautiful melody. As we turned the corner, Axel nudged me, directing my attention to Kira. There she stood—my beautiful mate, with long jet-black hair adorned with hints of purple and pink. Her striking grey eyes captivated me, and despite her petite stature, she exuded strength and curves that sparked a magnetic pull. The moment was finally here, and she looked absolutely breathtaking.
As Jazlyn called out to her, Kira turned with a wide smile, causing my heart to skip a beat. She was my angel, my love, my mate. We reached the elevator just as the doors were opening, and unable to resist, I gently grabbed Kira's arm, swiftly pinning her to the elevator wall before anyone could react. As the doors closed, it left just the two of us in a moment suspended in time. I locked eyes with Kira, and she stared back at me with a mixture of surprise and curiosity.
Leaning into her ear, I inhaled her sweet scent, whispering, "MINE." A light kiss in the crook of her neck elicited a shiver and a small whimper from her. Yet, before I could express anything further, she whispered, "Please don't hurt me," her eyes betraying a flicker of fear. "Damn it, did I make her fear me?" I muttered to myself, Max growling his agreement.
My dad's hand on my shoulder interrupted the intense moment. "Son, let her go," he advised. Looking down into her eyes, I saw the fear, and reluctantly, I released my grip. She swiftly darted into Jazlyn's protective embrace.
Stepping out of the elevator, I apologized, "I'm so sorry. I never meant to hurt you, and I will never hurt you." Attempting to caress her cheek, she recoiled, softly sobbing, "Please don't touch me." Her words cut through me, leaving me grappling with the dilemma of what to do. She was my mate, and I couldn't fathom letting her go.
Axel intervened, suggesting, "C'mon, big dummy, let's grab a table and talk," dragging me toward the hotel restaurant with Faye following closely. He reminded me, "You need to give Kira a little space. This is a lot for her, especially since she doesn't know about us." I shook my head in disbelief. "What! You've never told her about you, any of you?!" I grumbled, wrestling with the consequences of my actions. "What have I done?" I questioned aloud, seeking answers from Axel.
"I wish I had some words of wisdom, but I don't. All I know is that you're going to have to take it slow with her. She's human, and she's fifteen," Axel's voice carried a mix of concern and caution.
His suggestion lingered in the air as he hesitated, "You know, you could always..." The unspoken words hung, tempting me with a choice I wasn't willing to entertain. "I could do what?" I pressed, sensing the direction he was heading. "Rej..." he began, but I cut him off with a firm declaration, "NO!! I would never do that to her! She's the one I want!" My words came out as a whisper-yell, a vehement denial of any compromise.
"Okay, calm down, it was just a thought," Axel said, raising his hands in surrender. The weight of my emotions slammed onto the table as I emphasized, "Get that thought out of your head! It's never going to happen!" The force of my hand hitting the table echoed through the room.
My dad's stern glare prompted me to slouch down in my seat, realizing the gravity of my outburst. Axel's advice followed, "Then don't go around scaring her and acting like a maniac. Let her see you, the real you. Let her get to know the real you."
I sighed, recognizing the truth in his words. "s**t, they're staring at us and laughing," I remarked with a hint of fear in my voice. As much as I yearned to wrap her in my arms, the reality struck me. Axel's reminder echoed, "She's fifteen."