Second Chance Mates

-07- 🌹 Like Honey

^ Another picture of Ryland because his eyes give me LIFE

"You moved like honey in my dream last night. Yeah, some old fires were burning. You came near to me and you endeared to me, but you couldn't quite discern me."
~Fiona Apple, 'Slow Like Honey'

~~~

*Landon's POV*

Honey.

Suddenly my new favorite thing in the world.

The scent of honey and vanilla fills the air, intoxicating me. That delicious aroma matches the color of those beautiful almond-shaped eyes that are staring at me, holding me in my place.

It's enough to make Leo purr, which is a huge change from the fright that was in his voice only a few moments ago.

His voice? Leo fucking spoke! Whoever this guy is, his presence alone brought Leo out of hiding!

Who is this man? I know he's a wolf, but you would think he was a fucking honeybee or something with how much he reminds me of that sweet, golden liquid.

Every wolf has a unique scent that is recognized by other wolves. It makes it easier for us to track one another. But we also have another scent — one that is only detected by our mates. It's sweeter and stronger, and meant to draw us in. The scent of my mate just so happens to be more tantalizing than anything I've experience in my life, and I feel like I'm floating on air.

My.... my mate?

The feeling of his hands on my arms sends shock waves through my body, making me tremble. His bright honey eyes are shining with tears as he searches my face, as if memorizing every aspect of me. I do the same, taking in everything from his deep brown hair that looks almost silken, to his plump pink lips.

The honeybee dips his down to the crook of my neck, deeply inhaling my scent. I shiver, every single one of my instincts wanting to melt into his embrace.

Until he opens his mouth, and it's like someone threw a bucket of cold water on me.

"You're marked," he blurts. I inhale sharply and shove him away from me. Leo whines, and I have to clench my fists to keep myself from pulling him back to me.

"I already have a mate," I growl. The man stumbles backwards, eyes wide and body shaking. The look of confusion and pain in his stunning honey eyes sends a laceration of pain through my chest.

I want to comfort him, to erase that look of utter devastation from his face. But that's insane, right? I don't know this guy. This man... he's a stranger to me.

And then there's the fact that I already had a mate.
I know with every fiber of my being that Easton was my mate.

So why do I feel an undeniable tie to the gorgeous stranger before me?

"Ry!" A panicked voice snaps me out of my brief daze. A young man — probably around the same age as Xander — runs over to the strange beauty. The two share similar features, although the younger boy is shorter with softer features. "Are you okay? What's going on?"

The honeybee doesn't respond, just stares at the ground as tears slip down his round cheeks. The sight makes my entire body ache. Leo scratches at my mind, begging me to comfort him.

Please... don't cry...

The younger boy turns his attention towards me, his eyes glowing gold as he glares at me menacingly. "What did you do to my brother?"