Only Human

Noah

    I stood there outside her door for a few minutes after it had closed, not wanting to go. I'd just found my mate after searching for so long and now I had to leave her? This had not gone how I expected at all. She was from a whole other country, only here on vacation. How would that work? Would she leave again? And she was human. How would I ever explain to her what I am? Would she understand? These thoughts all flooded my mind as I starred at the wooden door she'd just walked through.

    I turned and started walking back down the steps. If I didn't leave now I never would. I could heard Caleb walking close behind me. We found our way back to the beach and ran the same path back to the pack house in silence the entire way. My mind was going over and over what had happened and all the questions I had. I couldn't stop thinking about her. She was the most beautiful woman I'd ever seen. Her wild curly hair that fell down to her waist, her smooth pale pink skin dotted with freckles, her deep brown almond eyes. I could lose myself in those eyes. 

    Before I knew it we were back at the pack house. I went straight upstairs, completely ignoring Lucas as he tried to make conversation with me as I passed him. Walking into my bedroom I striped off, walked through to the bathroom and jumped straight in the shower. I needed to cool off. As the water ran over my body I tried to think rationally about how this would work. I needed to have a game plan. I would assume she knew nothing of my kind or our lifestyle, which would mean she knew nothing about mates or their bond. Did she even feel what I felt? Caleb was right, I didn't want to scare her off. I needed to approach this carefully, let her get to know me like humans do when they date before I told her the truth. How would she take it? Would she accept it? Or would she be scared away? And more importantly, would she stay? 

___

    After I was showered and dressed ready for tonight I made my way downstairs. I had some time to kill before I needed to leave to pick up Holly. I made my way into the main seating area where some of the pack would hang out in the evening. I scanned the room for Lucas but he wasn't there. I quickly mind-linked him. 

    "Lucas, where are you? I need to talk to you" 

    "The kitchen. Where else?" 

    "On my way" 

    I walked across the house to the kitchen to find Lucas and his mate Tara sat at the breakfast bar sharing a tub of ice cream, laughing as he fed her a spoonful. I cleared my throat to let them know I'd entered the room, to which they both shot their heads around to greet me. 

    "What's up bro?" Lucas called, his attention back to getting another big spoonful of chocolate ice cream. 

    "I need to talk to about tonight. I'm coming with you" 

    He was about to feed Tara a second helping when he froze, spoon held in mid-air and turned to look at me. His eyes were wide with surprise. He eventually snapped out of it and smiled. Handing the spoon to Tara he jumped down off the stool and made his way over to me. 

    "About time" he said as he slapped a hand on my back. He's lucky he's my brother. "Is there a reason for this sudden change of heart?" 

    I knew this was coming, I'd prepared myself. "Yes, I'm brining someone with me". I was purposefully being vague. 

    "Is this someone a girl?" he asked, another surprised expression on his face. I didn't reply, but I didn't need too. Tara was starring at me, her eyes squinting. She knew, I could tell she did. She smiled a friendly, warm smile at me. 

    "Leave him alone Lucas, he's the Alpha. He can bring whoever he likes" Tara said cheerfully. Lucas looked to Tara and back to me again. He repeated this several times before he realised what was happening. He's my Beta and my brother, but he's not often the smartest guy in the room. I could see his eyes light up as it clicked in his brain.

    "You found your mate?" he asked, raising his eyebrows with a stupid look on his face. 

    "Yes, I saw her today at the..." 

    Before I even had chance to finish my sentence I was grabbed by Lucas into a king of manly hug. It made me uncomfortable. People never touched me, let alone hugged me. I gave him a pat on the back and started to pull away. 

    "Why didn't you tell me?" he asked, still grinning like an i***t. 

    "It's complicated" I replied. The biggest understatement of the century. It was just about as complicated as it could be. I loved my brother but I didn't need him getting involved. At least not until I had figured out how to handle it. 

    "How can it be complicated? She's your mate! Why isn't she here already?" he asked, looking around the room like he expected to find her. 

    "Just leave it" I growled. I didn't need reminding she wasn't here, I could feel it all over my body. Like half of me was missing. Lucas knew not to push me. We may have been brothers but I was still his Alpha, and he knew I had a hell of a temper. At my response he stepped away, nodded and walked about over to Tara, taking the same seat back at the breakfast bar. 

    "OK. So we'll see you there later" he replied and turned his attention back to Tara. 

    I turned around and made my way towards the garage, grabbing the keys to my Mercedes as I went. I unlocked the car, started the engine and opened the garage door. I knew the way back to the resort where Holly was staying, it was a 30 minute drive from here. I turned the radio off, I needed time to think about what I was going to say to her and starting driving. 

___

    The roads were clear and it was a smooth drive to the resort. I was a little early, but I couldn't wait any longer. I needed to see her again. I parked the car by the Welcome Centre and made my way towards her cabin. I stopped at the bottom of the steps, I could smell her scent faintly already. As I walked up the steps I could hear her singing to herself. She sounded happy and I hoped it was because she was excited about tonight, about seeing me again. 

    I knocked on the door lightly, not wanting to startle her. I knew I was early and she might not be ready yet. 

    "Come in!" she shouted. Did she know it was me? She didn't even check. I pushed down on the handle slowly and made my way into the room. The bathroom door was closed and I could hear her moving around inside. 

    "I'll be out in 2 minutes. Make yourself comfortable" she called from inside. 

    I made my way over to the couch at the far side of the room and took a seat. I looked around the room she was staying in. It was mostly tidy, except for the clothes laying across the bed where she must have been deciding what to wear. I smiled to myself. That meant she wanted to look good and I hoped it was because of me. Her scent was everywhere in the room. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I never wanted to smell anything other than her for the rest of my life. 

    The bathroom door opened and out she walked. She was wearing a short black halter neck dress with red heels. Her hair had been straightened and now flowed right down her to her hips. Her lips were painted with red lipstick and black eyeliner swept over her eyelid. My mouth dropped open as she walked into the room, smiling when she saw me. 

    "How do I look?" she asked, twirling around on the spot so I could see the entire outfit. I swallowed the lump in my throat and closed my mouth. She was absolutely breathtaking. Did she realise what she was doing to me? I couldn't take my eyes off her. Her long legs were on show and the dress was hugging all her curves. I couldn't think about anything other than how much I wanted to take it off her, to touch every inch of her body. My eyes made their way up to her breasts. The dress framed them, pushing them up and showing off her cleavage. My mouth was dry. I realised I still hadn't said a word when she broke the silence. 

    "I'll take that as a yes" she giggled. The best sound I'd ever heard. Her voice broke my gaze from her body and my eyes met hers. I cleared my throat, stood up and walked over to her. The closer I got the stronger her scent became. I wanted to bury my face in her neck and breathe her in forever. My wolf was now fighting with me to come out. I needed to keep him at bay for as long as I could. I wouldn't let him care her off. I couldn't lose her. 

    "Let's go" I said quietly, now standing right in front of her. I heard her breath catch in her throat. I do have an effect on her. I smiled down at her re-assuringly. She was tall, even without the heels on but at 6'4 I still towered over her. She leant forward, her body almost touching mine, reached her arm around behind me and grabbed her purse from the bed. Her eyes stayed on mine the entire time. It took every bit of strength I had not to grab her and kiss her right then. I couldn't, I knew I'd never be able to stop. I quickly shook the thought from my head as she turned and walked towards the door. I followed closely behind her as she made her way down the steps, closing the door behind him. 

    "You look very handsome" she said as I made my way down the steps towards her. I smiled at her in response and I could see her cheeks blush. Did I make her nervous? We walked side by side to the car as I suddenly felt my stomach rumble. 

    "Have you eaten already?" I asked. My question seemed to take her by surprise. She smiled up at me, her eyes beaming.

    "Not much. I'm starving actually" she replied. Although this was something that would usually make me angry, the thought of her not taking care of herself, I realised this could be an opportunity for me to spend more time with her alone. 

    "Let's grab something eat first before we meet up with the others"

    "OK, sure. I'd like that" she replied as we reached the car. I opened the passenger door for her as she climbed inside. Once she was seated and belted in I closed the door, made my way to the drivers side and jumped in. I'd take her to my favourite steak house, it wasn't far from here and within walking distance of the bar. I started the car and drove out of the resort. 

    I could see she was watching out of the window, taking in all the scenery as I stole quick glances at her  while keeping one eye on the road. 

    "It's so beautiful here. Have you always lived here?" she asked, her gaze still fixed on the blur of trees. 

    "Yes, my family have always lived on this land. Most of them still do" I answered as she turned in her seat to look at me, studying my face. 

    "Wow, it must have been amazing, growing up here?" 

    I nodded. "Where in England are you from?"

    "Cambridge. It's about an hour away from London" she said smiling. I'd heard of it but never been. Whenever I'd travelled to England it was always to London on business. I wondered if she knew there was my kind back home? Not many were left now, that's for sure but there were a few wolves still living there. I wanted to know everything about her but talking about her home made me think about her leaving again and I couldn't face that I would eventually have to say goodbye.