Dusk till Dawn | Paul Lahote ✔️

Chapter 5

I laughed at a joke Paul had made, leaving him beaming at me. This felt like a dream, and if it was I hoped I never woke up. I had never felt this free. Never felt what I felt for him, and it made my heart pump.

"I had a lot of fun today, Paul," I smile at him as he places a strand of hair behind my ears. We were nearing our third date's end, which left me nervous for what was about to come. He had said he had something important to tell me, and it had been on my mind ever since.

Taking a deep breath he gave me a nervous look. "Good. Though our date hasn't ended yet. There's something... something that I need to tell you and I am not sure how you'll take it..." he trails off sheepishly, taking in a huge breath. "Before I ask you to be my girlfriend, I need to ask you to keep an open mind... okay?" He pleaded, giving me a heart-breaking look.

Giving him a fond smile, I placed my hand on his cheek - which he immediately leaned into. "Paul, I told you before. Whatever you have to tell me won't deter me from you, or the others." I promised him, giving him a warm smile.

Paul nods, taking a deep breath as we head down towards the beach. We walked along the shore-line, hand in hand. This had been something we did after every date, just to hang out with each other a little bit more before the date had to end. "Okay. Have you ever been to one of our bonfires before?" He wonders, turning to look at me.

Nodding, I remembered the stories Billy would tell about the Cold Ones and Quiletes ancestors being able to turn into wolves. They protected us from the Cold Ones, who were said to be vampires. "Billy invited me when I was younger, before I had to leave for college. He said that I would need to know about the stories, for my own safety." I remembered him saying, furrowing my eyebrows at that. That had always left me with more questions than answers, but I had never asked the questions I had in my head. I didn't want to seem crazy, and I knew Billy probably wouldn't have answered any of them. "But what does that have to do with anything?" I asked him with a frown.

Taking a deep breath, he steadies himself. "Those legends, Laney... well they're true," he tells me and I blink my eyes in disbelief. "I... I have the gene to turn into a wolf. And, if you need, I can show you proof." He told me nervously, giving me a pleading look to believe him.

"Show me proof, as in you turn into a wolf for me?" I asked him slowly, and he nodded his head - and I could tell that was the last resort he wanted to use. Taking in a deep breath, I shook my head. "No, if you don't want to show me your wolf it's okay. I believe you. No sane person would tell this story." I promised him, and he sighed in relief. "But... why are you telling me this?" I asked him in confusion.

Why would he tell an outsider about his heritage? It didn't make any sense to me.

Taking another deep breath, he pinched the bridge of his nose in agitation. "Okay, this is the hard part." He admits sheepishly, biting his lip. He let out a long breath. "Do you believe in soulmates?"

"That there's one person out there for everyone?" I asked and he nodded his head. "I have to admit, I was a little iffy on that front. Though I met you that day on the beach... and it was like we connected in a way I never did with anyone else." It was a surreal feeling, really. Even though we had only just met, it felt like we had known each other all our lives. I mean, I knew we probably met in passing, but we had never been particularly close until now.

He grins at me at that explanation, before pausing again. "Well, we're shape-shifters. We use the term werewolf lightly, but that's not the point I am trying to make..." he rambles, taking a deep breath. "We have an ability that lets us find our mates. We call it imprinting..." he trails off, watching my reaction to the news. "And... and that day on the beach, I imprinted on you, Laney." He tells me, looking scared, that I wouldn't take the information well.

"Imprinting... like what a duckling does when he or she first lays eyes on they're mother?" I blinked at that, and he nodded to confirm the analogy. Though that would make a lot of sense. Why I always wanted to be around him, to hear his voice and just... have him there. I always felt safe when he was around. "Oh..." I breathed, my eyes wide.

I didn't know what to feel about that. Our fates were aligned from the very beginning, if what he was telling me was true. By the look in his eyes, I knew he was telling the truth. He was scared that I wouldn't believe him, and I did. This must have been why Billy wanted me to hear the stories before I left, though surely he couldn't have known one of the wolves would imprint on me... right?

This was something out of a story book. Though, deep inside, I knew that this was right. It felt right, I concluded, and I knew this information would not deter me from the friends I had made. The family I had made.

"It's okay Paul, I believe you." I assured him when he was starting to get a worried look, making him breath in relief for the second time. "And... and I accept it."

Paul blinked before he beamed. "Really? You accept it?" It was like he couldn't believe what I was saying, and I chuckled a little bit. Honestly I couldn't believe what I was saying myself, but I knew I did.

Besides, I had a very open mind. I was very grateful for that now, after the facts that Paul just laid out for me right then.

"Yes, really, I- Paul!" I squeal as he wraps his arms around me, picking me up off the ground. I laughed as he twirls me around, wrapping my arms around his neck to keep from falling. Though I knew he would never drop me.

He puts me on the ground a moment later, curling a strand of hair behind my ears. "Laney... will you be my girlfriend?" He asks me, and my heart stops for a moment at that question.

"Yes." I breathed, and he leaned down to kiss me - wrapping me in his warmth.