Chapter 22-Hello, Selene Selene's POV: "Wow! We have a visitor!" Mrs. Dawson exclaimed the moment she spotted Aaron. He stood by Gran's bedside, flashing me a wicked grin. I didn't need to see the cruel glint in his eyes to know he'd already figured everything out. So, what the hell was he doing here? To punish me for lying to him? To toy with me, like a cat with a cornered mouse? Judging by the look on Gran's face, she was blissfully unaware of the chaotic drama I'd been swept into over the past forty-eight hours. So far, so good, I thought. But my feet felt glued to the floor. I stole a glance at the door, weighing my chances of bolting. There was no time to plan, though-Aaron didn't give me a chance. In a few swift strides, he closed the distance between us and pulled me to his side. "Hey, I'm Selene's mate. You can call me Aaron." Mate, my ass. With a smile that could charm birds from trees, he added, "I'm guessing you're Mrs. Dawson. Selene's told me all about your infectious enthusiasm." He extended his hand. Mrs. Dawson, caught off guard, shook it limply. "Rosa, just call me Rosa," she managed, her ears turning a faint shade of crimson. As his words sank in, her eyes widened. "Mate? Sweetheart, you found your mate? And this handsome guy? That's one heck of a secret!" "They only met two days ago, Rosa," Gran interjected from her bed, propped up with a chuckle. She tried to stifle her laughter, her shoulders shaking with delight. "Aaron told me they met in the back of a taxi. Can you believe it? Two strangers, brought together by fate. One look, and they knew they were mates. Isn't that just romantic?" No, no, no. Don't believe him! I screamed internally. Aaron nodded. "My mate didn't want to rush things, so we haven't introduced ourselves to family yet. But when she mentioned Gran was heading to Switzerland soon, I figured I should pay a visit." I craned my neck to shoot him a glare, mouthing silently: She's *my* Gran, not yours! He smirked, sliding his large hand slowly to the small of my back. My body betrayed me, warmth. spreading through me at his touch. I wanted to yell at him, shove him away, but in front of Gran, I plastered on what I hoped was a natural, polite smile. "I've hired two caregivers to accompany Gran to Switzerland," Aaron said. "They're professionally trained, so you can stay here without worrying." He gestured to two middle-aged women standing in 15.15 59.46% < Chapter 22 Hello, Selene the corner. "What?" My voice finally broke free. "I'm not letting Gran go alone. I'm going with her." PASTRIES With a gentle smile, he tightened his grip on my waist. Leaning close, he whispered in my ear, "You're not going anywhere without me." His tone, though soft, left no room for argument. My hand found his side, pinching him hard with satisfying force. His body tensed briefly, but he didn't budge. "Sweetheart." Gran said, pushing back her blanket to sit up. One of the caregivers adjusted her pillow for comfort. "Don't worry about me. I'm fine. No one's happier than me that you've finally found your mate. Remember, mates need to stay together, or they'll weaken. I'm sure Aaron will help you find your wolf. Stay with him, dear." The other caregiver handed her a glass of water. I took a deep breath, forcing myself to stay calm, and turned to Aaron. "We need to talk." "Of course." He followed me into the hallway. The second the door clicked shut, my face fell. Aaron leaned against the wall, hands in his pockets, a smug grin on his face. "Hello, Selene." The way he said my name sent a shiver through me, as if his fingers were trailing across my skin, stirring emotions I'd rather keep buried. I hated it. If my willpower faltered even slightly, I might surrender to him. I cleared my throat, crossing my arms. "Do you have no shame? My Gran is seventy-two! She can't travel abroad alone, especially for treatment. She needs care and company. And you? How dare you keep me here for your own selfish reasons?" "She's not alone," he said, frowning. "Those caregivers are trained professionals. They're better equipped to handle her needs than you are. And we're mates, angel. We need to stay together. When my work allows, we can visit Gran." His entitled tone set my blood boiling. Was this the confidence money gave him? My mind raced, but words failed me. "You... you're unbelievable!" "And you're stubborn. You want me to be yours. Don't deny it." He reached out, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear with infuriating ease. "Don't flatter yourself," I hissed, swatting his hand away. "Fine. I wouldn't say it if I didn't have proof." The corner of his mouth twitched upward. I watched in horror as he pulled a phone from his pocket. My phone. "Give it back!" I lunged, trying to snatch it. 15:15 58.75% my grasp. "Kiss me, and it's yours," he teased, shameless. Heat surged through me, and I cursed myself inwardly. "No!" He shrugged. "Suit yourself. I just wanted to prove you want me." I stared, incredulous, as he unlocked my phone and opened my journal app. "October 18th, 2 p.m. Sunny," he read, shooting me a mischievous glance. "The guy who saved me from the wedding yesterday is a jerk. But I can't resist him. Every time he's around, every time he's near me, my mind spirals to places it shouldn't. I'm practically soaked..." "Stop, stop!" God, hearing my journal read aloud was mortifying. Worse, that jerk now knew exactly how I felt about him. "Deal?" he pressed. "Just a peck on the cheek. Nothing more," I snapped. He grinned, slipping the phone back into his pocket. Leaning down, he offered his cheek. I swallowed hard, rising on my tiptoes, ready to brush my lips against it. But as I did, he turned his head, and our lips crashed together. His hand cupped my chin, trapping me. I gasped in shock, but he swallowed the sound, his tongue slipping into my mouth. My legs buckled. As he bent me backward, his arm around my waist, I clung to his shirt. His kiss was rough, deep, ravenous. My panties were soaked. I moaned, squirming against him. We kissed like the world outside had vanished. When my lungs screamed for air, I pushed against his chest. He steadied me, pulling back. We stood there, panting, eyes locked. His gaze was dark, predatory, fixed on my lips. Then, without warning, his mouth was on mine again. 16.35 Leave a comment 50.465