Falling For My Father's Best Friend

Grayson's POV The scent hit me before the elevator doors even opened. I caught a whiff of vanilla, rainwater and underneath it all, the sweet, intoxicating pheromone of a female wolf coming into her prime heat. My wolf, Silver, slammed against my ribcage letting out a low growl in my chest. “Mine. Our Mate. Find her.” My teeth ached as I clenched my jaw so hard and grabbed the glass of sparkling champagne from the passing waiter. I drowned it in one gulp. “Darn it,” I cursed as the pounding in my heart shattered. The beast in my head grew agitated and I was feeling the best double around me. This had never happened to me before. I was the Alpha of the Silver Fang Pack and a billionaire industrialist. I was a man of discipline and had never been married or in love and never had a mate. But now at the charity gala, I was starting to lose all control. Then I heard a loud voice behind me making me turn around. “Grayson! You made it.” The voice belonged to Senator Luke Hart, the Alpha of the Black-Tie Moon Pack. He was my best friend and business partner. I forced a smile, feeling the pressure of my mate bond making my knees weak. “I wouldn't miss it for the world, Luke.” I glanced around and continued talking. “Let me guess. It's that time for re-election, right? You need deep pockets.” Luke laughed loudly, then scammed the crowd and shrugged. “I need all the help I can get.” His face became serious in an instant. “Speaking of help, have you seen Everly? I can't find her and she's supposed to be here.” Of course, I hadn't seen her. “Nope.” “She just got back from the University today and she has been asking about you,” he finished. “Uh-huh,” I muttered, taking a sip of my drink. I hadn't seen Everly in three years. She was a bubbly, pretty girl. I had missed her eighteenth birthday and her high school graduation, only sending her expensive gifts to make up for it. Luke adjusted his tie. “She's grown up, Gray. I bet you wouldn't recognize her.” Then he turned and a big smile crept on his face. My heart beat faster, pounding like a tornado and the familiar scent hit me again. I froze, the glass barely touching my lips as I looked up and saw…her. She stood at the top of the grand staircase, in a bright red dress that hugged her body. The crowd gasped and I lost my sense of thinking. Every step she took seemed to make her wavy hair bounce. My lips parted, and I felt parched. “What in the world…” I murmured silently as she kept walking down the stairs. “Mate. Our mate,” Silver growled in my head. The world began to spin and I swallowed. Her feet covered in matching red open silhouette heels touched the door and the slit revealed her creamy long legs. Her slim waist, and hips danced in rhythm as she walked forward. I noticed Luke smiling brightly at her. She came closer and hugged her father. She pulled away from him and smiled. “What the hell is happening? Composure, Grayson. You can't lose your wit because of her. God damn it. She's your best friend's daughter and…those creamy legs. Shit.” My mind kept dancing with wild thoughts as my eyes scanned her. Then she looked up, her green eyes locked with mine and the world stopped. My heart thumped and I felt a strong pull at her. It felt heavenly and then like dying. I forgot how to breathe and remained still like a robot. “Say something. Grayson!” I yelled at myself internally but I was failing. “Hello, Grayson,” she called and all my control fell off. I was losing it before I even held myself up. Her voice was sweet and enticing. All it took was one slip and the glass would be falling off my hand. “How are you?” She asked and I knew I had to leave. “Uhm. I'm fine,” I replied, catching my breath. I made up a lie. “I'm sorry. I need some air.” I walked away before her scent could envelope me. It was tempting, overwhelming, drugging me to bite. The second I got to the courtyard balcony I let out my breath. “f**k!” I bit down hard on my hand, trying to suppress the hunger I had for her. I kept murmuring. “God, no. She's my best friend's daughter. I should be a father figure to her. Not wanting to…sleep with her. No. This is…crazy. I can't…” “So, you're here,” her voice came from behind, shocking me. I froze, then regained my composure. I turned calmly to see her blinking those long lashes at me. The feeling hit me again. How the hell was she standing there not acting like she was affected? Did she not feel it too? “It's nice to see you. It's been years. Dad said you would come but I didn't believe him,” she said excitedly, coming towards me for a hug. My eyes widened when she embraced me and I felt the butterflies burst out. My heart leaped and I was certain I was going to die of a heart attack. I pushed her off quickly, her eyes stared at me like I had gone mad. “What's wrong?” She asked. I cleared my throat silently, so she didn't hear and forced my eyes not to look at her skin. It was hard. Damn it, it was incredibly hard. Her eyes were pulling me in and I wanted to run. What was this feeling? I was the most feared Alpha and now I was nervous as hell like a sixteen year old girl. A strand of hair fell on her face and I was tempted to tuck it back. I swallowed, as my eyes went down to her neck. “Grayson,” she called again, reaching for my hand and I moved away. “It's not nice to touch people,” I said coldly. She blinked then scoffed and crossed her arms. “Why are you talking to me like that?” “Like what?” My tone dropped again. “You used to…” she started but I cut her right off. “You've gotten bigger. Unfortunately, your brain is still stuck in your childhood years.” “Hey. That's mean.” I smirked. “Now you understand how it feels. I don't appreciate someone disturbing my peace.” “You're acting like an asshole and it's not nice,” she complained. I took a step forward, biting my lower lips, as the mate bond pulled heavier. “And you acted stupid. Don't tell me you can't tell when someone just isn't in the mood to talk?” “But, I…” “Nothing,” I finished for her. “Find someone else your age to play with. I'm not in the mood.” She gawked as I walked away from her. I was mean and I had no reason to be but it was for the best. “What the f**k did you just do?! Grayson!!” My wolf yelled at me but I didn't respond. The pain in my heart was choking the life out of me. I got into my car, started the engine and drove off.