Soulsearch (Teen Paranormal Romance Series) (The Soulmate Series: Teen Paranormal Romance Book 2) by Kellie McAllen Page A

  My parents tried, but they couldn’t ever have another.   I guess it worked out good for my dad that he got me, even if I’m not really his.   I try hard to be a good son.”
    “I’m sure he loves you like you were his own,” Paige assured him, moving in closer so she could feel the heat of his breath on her face.   His muscular arms wrapped tighter around her waist.   “Do you know anything about your biological father?”
    “No,” Zach tensed in her arms, “and if I did know anything about him, I’d kill him.   He was a stranger.   He attacked my mom and left her, alone and hurting in the street.   If I knew who he was, I’d rip his throat out,” Zach snarled, but one look at Paige’s frightened face was all it took to soften his countenance.   “Sorry. I just can’t stand to think of anyone hurting my mom, you know?”
    “I understand, Zach, I just hope I’m not with you if you ever do meet him!” Paige tried to lighten the mood.   “Did the police ever have any leads?”
    “My mom never told the police,” Zach explained, with disappointment.   “She was too mortified.   She told her parents and my dad and that was it.   Later, when I was old enough to start asking questions, she told me, but it’s not something we talk about.”
    Just then, Rachel and Rider passed by, too wrapped up in each others’ embrace to notice Zach and Paige.   Rider’s face was buried in Rachel’s hair and his hands were holding her impossibly close as they ignored everyone around them, too caught up in their own romantic moment.
    “Your friends seem really in love, don’t they?” Zach noticed.
    “Yeah, they are.   They were meant to be together, always have been,” Paige sighed, feeling the familiar ache of jealousy over their happy ending.
    “I thought they just started going out not that long ago?”
    “Well, technically, yeah, but they’ve known each other forever.   It’s….complicated.”
    “It seems like the most important relationships usually are.”
    “Ain’t that the truth,” Paige agreed.
    Zach pulled Paige closer and sniffed delicately at her hair.   “You smell like jasmine,” he murmured.   “That’s one of my favorite scents.”
    “I do?   I didn’t know what the scent was, I just liked it.   Did you learn about that from your mom?”
    “Yeah, she loves everything about flowers.   I guess some of it rubbed off on me,” Zach shrugged, self-consciously.
    “Don’t be embarrassed!   It’s romantic.” Paige smiled and laid her head on his shoulder, a feat only possible because of her extremely high heels.   She could feel his heart rate speed up as their bodies melted together inch by inch with each beat of the song, till she could no longer tell where her body ended and his began.
    The spell was broken when the music faded and the principal came to the stage to introduce the prom court.   Unconcerned with the crowning of royalty, Paige took the opportunity to excuse herself and headed for the ladies’ room.   “I’ll get us something to drink,” Zach offered, reluctantly letting go of her hand.   His eyes followed her as she strode across the room, a stunning violet blossom in a snow-covered field.
    When Paige had disappeared in the sea of students, Zach made his way towards the refreshment table.   His mind was on the way Paige had looked as she gazed into his eyes, her face soft with empathy as she listened to his story.   He couldn’t believe the random turn of events that had led him here, on a date with this amazing girl.   All his life, he had been misunderstood by the people around him; it was easier just to stay distant from them than to try to make connections.   He was fine on his own.   But Paige — he felt she might actually be someone who could understand him, who could know his secrets and accept him anyway.
    Cups of fruit punch carefully balanced in each hand, Zach made his way towards the bathrooms to wait for Paige.   He leaned