Her Sketchbook

Leon’s POV

“Her scent is getting stronger..” I mutter following it further into the small forest, a giddy feeling blossoming in my chest.

*’She smells so.. delicious.’* Jasper speaks, making a low growl grow deep in my chest.

I take another deep breath as I crunch deeper into the woods through the grass and fallen leaves, my senses completely flooded with her scent. “She is close.” I whisper to myself, picking up my pace.

My heartbeat seemed to copy the pounding of my feet on the ground, as I now ran towards my mates scent. A strong desire planted itself in the pit of my mind, making me feel hot and foggy.

That's when I saw it, a large willow tree swaying in the wind just next to a shining river. The sun danced off the water, matching the feeling that was still growing in my chest.

I stop abruptly and look at the base of the tree, where a dark red backpack is slumped over.

*’Someone is here.’*

My eyes trail along the trunk of the tree, and land on a pair of feet. I observe quietly, trying to listen for any alerting sounds in my proximity.

*’Is it her?’* I think to Jas, curiously perking my head up and taking another whiff of the air. *’Why is she all the way out here?’*

I hear the trickle of the river, and music playing somewhere near the tree. The sweet smell of lillies and rain hit my nose, sending a pleasant shiver down my spine. *’She smells like Mate! It has to be her!!’* Jasper screeches at me like a child.

I stay still, trying to listen harder when I hear her faint breaths. *’She must be asleep.’* I sigh, relaxing my tight posture and stepping towards her slowly.

*’Why do I feel so… nervous?’* I ask myself, looking down at my shaking hands. Taking each of my steps lightly, trying not to disturb her.

When I move around to the side of the tree facing the river, I am surprised to see a small frail girl wearing black leggings and a grey hoodie.

Her hood is cradling her head, while her long mousy brown hair hangs out of the hood spreading itself across her face. The wind around her swirling little bits of it in different directions.

I stand still for a moment, hesitating, taking in the sight of her peace. Brief glimpses of her face under her hair and hood, revealing her sleeping expression more and more. Her chest rises and falls slowly, while her hands are interlocked and resting on her stomach.

Her body is leaned back against the tree in an almost upright position, her legs awkwardly crossed with a sketchbook resting on one of her knees. *’What a strange place to fall asleep..’* I chuckle at my own thoughts, shaking my head.

My eyes fall on her sketchbook, I reach to pull it away gently. I hold it up, flipping through its pages lightly. *’Wow… shes talented.’* I think to myself, when I come across a sketch that makes me stop.

Its a pair of eyes… *that look like mine.* Beside it are multiple scribbles. I pull the book a little closer to my face, reading her mangled notes. *’His… Emerald Eyes.’*

*’I knew it! That's her. That's Mate!!’* Jasper's voice rings in my head, slightly calmer than before as I place the book back in its spot on her knee. *’Go to her, wake her, **kiss her**!’*

I ignore my wolf and bend down, attempting to get a closer look, leaning my elbows on my knees. I glance towards her lips, yearning to grab her and kiss her as passionately as I can.

*’She's beautiful…’* I stare at her dreamily, trying not to breathe in case I accidentally wake her.

I quietly reach forward, using my fingers to push the hair away from her closed eyes. As my fingertips slightly touch her, hot sparks begin to tangle with my skin. They travel up my arms bringing me a new and *strange satisfaction* I have never felt before.

*’What.. is this?’* I ask Jasper, who has grown oddly quiet.

He doesn’t answer, but I can still feel his excited consciousness present for this moment. When my eyes land on her face, my heart stops and I hold my breath.

She is the most *beautiful* person I have ever laid my eyes on. *How did I not notice how beautiful she was when I saw her before?* I close my eyes, and rub my face in disbelief. I can’t believing this is really happening to me, I can’t believe I found my *mate*.

Given, it was hard to see her face with how fast things moved in the hallway. I only really got a good look into her eyes, before I was washed away in the crowd.

Her delicate features make her look soft and innocent… so pure.

My thumb traces her lips, making me shiver and smile.

Her eyes flutter for a second, like she's dreaming. Her soft, long eyelashes move slowly, revealing her two differently colored eyes for a brief moment. *These are the eyes that were burned into my soul the second I first saw them.*

A strong urge grows in the pit of my stomach… making me want to make her mine, to kiss her, take her. *Right here and right **now**.*

She shuffles slightly, readjusting herself in her spot under the tree, before relaxing and drifting away again. Without realizing I am here.

*’Now that we have found her, we must make her **ours!**’* Jasper speaks with a deep musky tone, threatening to leap forward and take control of my body. *’Once we have mated her completely, and imprinted her… **nobody else will be able to touch her.**’*

His actions surprise and confuse me, *what does he mean?*

Then realization hits me like a truck, the color drains from my face.

A moment of sheer *terror* washes over my being, at the thought of what my wolf might make me do to this beautiful, unconscious girl sleeping peacefully in front of me.

*’No.’* I straighten up, and snap at him with a clenched jaw.

I stand and back away from her quickly, tightening my lips together to form a line. *’Jasper, you asshole.. we **are not** going to touch her right now. Its **wrong**.’* I tense my arms and shoulders up, angrily growling.

*’She is our mate! She is ours! She will understand.’* He argues, obviously growing impatient and being irrational.

He suddenly begins speaking to me with a darker, more aroused tone, *’She must be mated with! I can smell her pure scent, and her arousal… **It’s time**.’*

I feel him trying to force his way forward, trying to force out our wolf.

Without responding to him I take one last look at her, before I start running away from her and out of the forest. A deep sharp pain takes over my chest, but I keep running.

*’WHAT ARE YOU DOING! Go back and get our mate!’* He roars in my head, bringing deep growls out of the pit of my throat and trying to rip control away from me. But I stay firm, maintaining consciousness as I run through the forest and towards the school.

*’Jasper, what you are insinuating we do to her is **wrong**. Even if she is our mate, she still has a choice! Doing something like that will make her **reject us**!’* I state firmly, as I approach the school courtyard slowing my feet down to a regular pace.

He continues his angry frenzy as I walk past the front of campus, and into the parking lot towards my car.

*’I won’t hurt her.’* I sigh, unlocking my car and sliding into the driver's seat. I turn the engine over, and look into my own eyes in the mirror, with furrowed brows and determination. *’ I won’t let you hurt her either.’*