Chapter 5

"Mate!" Zane muttered under his breath.

Ellie heard her father and was happy. Her theory was correct and her father had found his mate. Hopefully Jasmine would feel the connection and she wouldn't reject her father. Both these adults needed each other and they were perfect for one another. Now she knew why her wolf felt a connection to these individuals.

"Jasmine, I like you to meet my father." Ellie said, moving forward towards where Jasmine stood.

Jasmine looked up from cleaning the counter, across the room was a man standing in the doorway, holding her daughter. Her breath caught, before her stood a fine specimen of man, all tall and muscular, his face seemed to be chiseled from stone, brown hair and his eyes a clear green. A man she wouldn't mind holding her in his arms, just as protectively as he was holding her daughter. She was internally swooning, becoming flustered, her voice seemingly gone...

Zane couldn't tear his eyes away from the beauty before him. Before him stood an older version of the angel in his arms, Jasmine was all woman...just perfect.

But...how? Zane thought to himself, if she had a daughter, did that mean that she had a husband, did he lose his chance of finding happiness? Why was fate punishing him, would he ever get over this?

Ellie seeing the conflicting emotions on her father's face, quickly mind linked him, "Dad...Jasmine is single! There is no man! You can still have a chance in winning her over."

Zane felt instant relief, was what his daughter saying true? Could he really have a chance? "Is it true? Can I still have a chance?" He mind linked back at Ellie, not taking his eyes off Jasmine, hope blooming in his heart.

Ellie smiled, "So...Jasmine, this is my Single father, Zane." Stressing the word single. Moving forward, taking Sofia out of her father's arms, stepping aside towards the lounge area, letting the adults do the talking, while internally she was doing a happy dance and couldn't wait to tell Jason about this outcome.

Zane laughed internally at Ellie's antics, moving forward, extending his hand out towards Jasmine, "Hi, I'm Zane, Ellie's father."

"Hello..." Jasmine stammered, extending her hand out, feeling Zane's large warm hand engulf her, feeling tingles shooting up her arm. A calm, soothing sensation washing over her, as she stared up into his eyes.

Zane could feel the connection working, he and his wolf were pleased. Even though Jasmine was human, she could already feel the connection, now he just had to find a way to strengthen their bond and hopefully when the time came for him to reveal what he was and that she was his soul mate.

Jasmine didn't know what was happening to her, she normally wasn't like this with the opposite sex, and she usually was able to hold a decent conversation with a male. But...for the life of her, all she could think of is about stripping this man and having an all you could eat buffet. Feeling heat rise up her cheeks at her wayward thoughts, she instantly removed her hands from Zane's, instantly feeling the loss and trying to focus her wayward thoughts.

"Sorry, I was taken by surprise. You look quiet young to be the father of twins?" Internally kicking herself for that stupid statement. Hoping Zane wouldn't notice her slip.

Zane smiled, he could see that Jasmine was trying to be discreet and if she was a werewolf, they would both be relieving their animal instincts too complete the bond, but unfortunately she was human, so he had to keep his wolf at bay and try to be as calm as possible, "It's alright, I had them in my teenage years, I don't regret them, just the choices I made at that age."

"Oh..." Jasmine understood, hadn't she made certain choices, some with regret. "And their mother...I mean if you don't mind talking about her."

"A one night stand...she was hoping for more. I was drunk, let's just say that she is a bit of a nuisance." He responded grudgingly, worrying about Jasmine's safety if Clara found out that he has found his mate, Clara was going to be a problem...

'So...don't mind us. But, we got to go Dad. We've got to get ready for tomorrow's barbeque." Ellie interrupted, "Perhaps Jasmine would like to come over, and you should invite her and not be rude in inviting a newbie to the neighborhood."

Zane groaned, his daughter didn't know how to be subtle, "Yes dear...we shouldn't be rude." Rolling his eyes at his daughter's less than subtle antics, turning back to Jasmine, "Would you like to come over tomorrow, it would be a pleasure to have you and your daughter attend."

"Oh...I'm not sure! Wouldn't it be a family thing?" Jasmine asked unsurely.

"Nope, my Dad is quite a big important man in town and this barbeque is his way of connecting with the townsfolk in an informal setting." Ellie replied laughingly, enjoying the hidden meaning behind her words.

"Well then...both Sofia and I would like to attend." Jasmine responded, smiling at Zane and his daughter.