The Perfect Mate by C. E. Black Read Free Book Online Page B

away from her. I opened my eyes and found myself staring into Paul's knowing gaze. I turned my head away without answering.
    "And the dreams? Didn't you wonder about the dreams?"
    I snapped my head up and narrowed my eyes. "How did you know about those?" I demanded.
    He smiled gently, but it didn't quite meet his amber gaze. "Susan, didn't anyone ever tell you what happens when we find our mates?"
    "Yes," I said sharply. "My mother told me I would just know. That there would be no denying it."
    He nodded. "That's right and all the signs have been there for you to see. The attraction between us, our restless wolves, and the dreams, all lead us to our mate." When I started to shake my head he continued. "Those dreams were real, Susan. I was there too." He reached out and ran his hands through my hair tugging lightly on the ends. "That's why we never got to finish in the dreams. That's how it works until we're fully mated.
    I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Paul was my mate. I couldn't deny it anymore. My life was over as I knew it. My freedom was gone. From now on I would only be known as Paul's mate and the mother of his children. I felt wetness on my cheek and was surprised to find that I was crying.
    "Susan," Paul whispered like he was in pain. I look up at him through blurry eyes. He looked confused and hurt. "Sweetheart, I don't understand why you're crying. As wolves we look for our mate our whole lives. Only the blessed find them. Why aren't you happy? I'm not that bad a guy," He said smirking a little, but it died quickly. "I promise to do anything and everything to make you happy," He declared seriously.
    I looked away from his pleading eyes. I knew what he meant. We were lucky in some ways to find each other early in life. Sometimes a werewolf didn't find their mate until they were older or not at all. But he just didn't understand. He said he would do anything and everything to make me happy, but I would never be completely happy as his mate, not with my freedom gone.
    "I'm not ready," I whispered to myself. I looked at him and said louder. "I'm not ready to be a mate."
    "You mean my mate," He growled. I shook my head to deny what I knew he was thinking, but he cut me off. "You don't want me. I should have seen this coming with the way you were avoiding me. What, am I too much of a redneck, southern boy for you? Maybe you were holding out for someone with a little more class?"
    "What? No! That is not what I said. I don't care that you're from the south and what do you mean someone with more class? Look at me? Do I look or act like I have class?" Paul started to speak and I waved his response away with my hand. "Never mind, don't answer that. What I'm trying to say, is I'm not cut out to be anyone's mate."
    "That doesn't make any sense. Of course you're cut out to be a mate. It's as natural as breathing." He scooted closer to me, wrapping his arms around my waist pulling me against him. Even though I didn't want to be his mate, my body still responded to him. I laid my head on his shoulder and sighed. I just didn't know what to say to make him understand.
    "I've waited so long for you, Susan. I thought I'd never find you. These last four months have been hell knowing you were near me, but not being able to do anything about it. I wanted you to have space, but if I had known that you hadn't even considered that I was your mate, I would have stepped up sooner," He said, hugging me closer.
    I lifted my head surprised. "How long have you been waiting for a mate? How old are you?" I asked.
    He smiled gently, his eyes still filled with wariness. "I'm fifty-five years old Susan."
    I looked over him appreciatively. I knew werewolves aged slowly, but Paul looked damn good at fifty-five. "You don't look a day over thirty-five," I said.
    He smiled brighter. "And you look too young to be a mate, but I know better. How old are you?"
    "I'm thirty and I am too young to be a mate. There so much I want to do," I said