The Secret Pull

Chapter 11 - What's next?

GABBY  -

I had so many questions for Paul. Trying to understand that he no longer hates me wasn't hard. He believes we are mates and my heart wants to believe it too. The way he kissed me makes me believe it. But, discovering that our parents knew about this and used magic to keep us apart was harder to understand. And now that I know he has been working with my father and brother for years, I feel....Lost. My whole family has been keeping secrets from me. I feel so cynical. Everyone around me was lying to me. I didn't want to go back to my brother's house yet.

Did JJ know I was Paul's mate? If he knew, would he ever tell me?

From the look on Jessica's face, I could tell that she was in the dark about a few things as well and was NOT happy. By the look on her face, I don't envy the conversation JJ is going to have on the car ride back home. It felt good to know that at least she wasn't keeping anything from me.

After they left I went back to Paul's room to get dressed. I rummaged through the duffel bag of clothes that was left for me. I pulled out some underwear and grabbed my toothbrush before getting in the shower. Ten minutes later, I felt like I had taken one of the best showers of my life. The bathroom's sunroof, pebble floor, and the rain-showerhead made me feel like I was showering outdoors. I guess that is something a werewolf would like. I stepped out and wrapped myself in a large fluffy white towel. I couldn't stop myself from going through the cabinets, searching for anything that might have been left by a current or ex-girlfriend. But I found nothing. I pulled out an expensive-looking cologne bottle and held it up to my nose and inhaled the scent that remind me so much of the man I craved.

Everything in Paul's home was luxurious and rustic. I walked up to the double vanity and tried to imagine myself brushing my teeth alongside Paul in the mornings. "Ugh!" I groaned as I examined myself in the mirror. My mom brought a lot of my clothes to the house, but not my makeup. I muttered a quick illusion spell to give my face a little help. Now my hair was shiny and wavy, my dark circles were hidden, my lashes were long, and my cheeks were rosy.

I walked out of the bathroom to find Paul walking out of his closet pulling a gray t-shirt over his head. I stopped right there as I caught a glimpse of his massive chest and six-pack abs before his shirt fell to his waist. He had more bulk and muscle now than he did in high school. I should probably put my hand to my mouth just to make sure I wasn't drooling. He looked up and I just froze. He had this adorable look of a little boy caught with his hand in the cookie jar.

"I'm sorry, I just wanted to grab some clothes while you were still in the shower," he explained. I just stood there looking at him and his perfect body. He looked unreal and even better than any fantasy I could come up with. I'm so glad I decided to fix my face and hair before I walked out of the bathroom. His eyes slowly scanned me from head to toe before I realized I was only wrapped in a towel. "I'll let you finish dressing" he whispered as he went for the door.

As he turned his back and walked away I snapped my fingers and called out to him, "Wait! I'm ready!" Paul spun back around to face me. His eyes widened momentarily as he saw me standing there fully dressed in jeans, a t-shirt, and my black chucks. "I'm a Witch, remember!" I smirked. In an instant, he was in front of me again using that weird werewolf speed. Before I could say anything, I was wrapped in his arms with his face buried in my neck.

"You're amazing, you know that?" he breathed into my shoulder. I wanted to say yes in a cute and confident way but all I could do was lay my head on his shoulder. I was too wrapped up in the smell of his hair, the warmth of his arms, and the way his soft lips and stubble grazed my shoulder. I wanted to be calm and poised but whenever he touched me, my legs felt ready to slip out from under me. I felt as if the more he touched me the more I wanted him to touch me. My heart was going to explode right out of my chest. I felt out of control. He then raised his head and looked deep into my eyes questioningly, "What else can you do?".

"I..I can heal living things, I can move objects or change them into something else" I recited. I looked to see his reaction. Although I admitted that I was a witch to Paul years ago. I never really talked about what I could do. He was trying to deal with my secret while I was trying to deal with his. Besides, I couldn't do even half of the magic that I can do today. "I can put myself in other places."

"Like my study," He interrupted with a smirk.

"Like your study," I repeated with a smile.

"But what about creating that force field when those werewolves were attacking you?" he questioned.

"Force field?" I giggled. I wasn't sure how to answer his question. "I've never done that before. It..it just happened," I confessed truthfully.

Then I started to think. "How did you know I was in the room with you and my brother?" I asked quietly.

"I could smell you, you give off this... scent" Paul stated. "I can recognize you anywhere." I crinkled my nose at his answer. I don't smell. Do I?

"What do I smell like?" I asked, genuinely curious as to his answer.

"You... smell like a combination of peppermint and fresh pine needles in the first winter's snow," was his response. I frowned. I was hoping for something pretty like vanilla, rose petals, or lavender. Paul smiled at my obvious disappointment as he continued. "Your scent reminds me of the winter when I first shifted into my wolf. When I am near you, it reminds me of the pain, the fear, the freedom, and the joy I felt that day. It reminds me of the pride on my parent's faces when they first saw my wolf. You smell like everything important in my life rolled into one perfect person."

I was flustered and lowered my head. I didn't know what to say. "You didn't seem to like it in high school," I countered.

"Oh your scent drove me nuts back then too, but in a different way," he said sadly. Before I could respond he leaned in and gave me a slow peck on the lips. It was so gentle. I wrapped my arms around him and my fingers dug into his upper back. He then pulled away from me and said, "Come with me. I want you to meet the pack!".