Ashira's POV.
His tight grip hurt my arm, making me flinch along with his dragging. I didn't know where we were headed but we had passed the stairs, walking the hallway of the second floor.
The loud sound of the music from the party didn't offset my heartbeat. Having him this close made every hair on my body stand, giving me such a newfangled feeling. I was relieved that I found my mate but his powerful aura kept making my knees tremble. I was not okay with it but my traitor wolf was already submitting to his.
'Stop being submissive! He hasn't claimed us yet!' I nagged at my wolf but she just shrugged me off.
"I-I can walk!" I tried to make my voice tough but it came out in a whisper. I growled to myself, continuously nagging at my wolf.
Aiden turned his head and looked at me, but he didn't stop walking nor let my arm go. His expression was somewhere in the middle of confusion and anger. I couldn't see his eyes clearly because of the dimmed lights but I was sure they were not red anymore. His wolf had calmed. A bit.
No words came out from him until we'd reached the double doors which I assumed were his office. He kicked the door open and harshly pulled me inside.
His office was dark, only a small light from the desk lamp brightening the room a bit.
My breath was hitched and air left my lungs when he pushed me against the wall, trapping me with his arms placed at my sides.
"How dare you flirt with my Beta in front of my people!" he growled. He was not screaming but his voice raised its tone enough to convey his anger. His hardened expression didn't help to calm me. I started cowering under his glare, wanting to sink myself into the wall behind me.
Wait. What did he just say?
Flirting?!
I'd never flirted my whole life, for him to easily judge me without the slightest hesitation! I felt the rage of fire build inside of me. I started to look at him straight in his soul. My stupid wolf was not even bothered by this guy's words!
Aiden being my mate wouldn’t change the fact that I would never let anyone outsmart me with their petty accusations! I had enough experience with judgment from my former pack. Now that I knew I would belong to his pack, I'd never let anyone judge me again. Not even him!
"I'm not flirting with Nick!" My defiant voice shocked him and caught him off guard for a second before growling at me, opposed to the feisty behavior that I'm sure he was unaccustomed to. I didn't care! He pushed me to feel this irritated.
His stare turned more deadly than it already was. With a dark face, he growled at me trying to scare my resistance away.
"You danced with him in everyone's presence including me." He emphasized the last words, expecting me to see his point.
I denied understanding his reasoning. He couldn’t blame me for something I did not intend to do! And for God's sake, I just danced with Nick without any motive to anger Aiden! Hell, I didn't even know I had a mate earlier!
"If you'd stepped forward to me then I'll know you're my mate! You could've been the one I'm dancing with!"
I regretted how the last sentence sounded when it came out. I seemed needy and wanted to have a dance with him. Or so I thought.
Aiden's face softened. The dim light from the lamp gleamed on his eyes. A shade of golden brown focused on mine, making me quiver. I was drowning in his gaze, fighting my wolf as she tried to take control of the situation.
"You're mine!" he growled and wrapped his arm around my waist, crushing my body closer to him. A wave of electricity ran down my spine. Still, I didn't break the defiant look I was giving him, denying my wolf the ability to give an ounce of submission to him.
"Doesn't mean you can accuse me of being a flirt! If you wanted me, you'll show yourself at the ceremony! If only you did that, you could've avoided making such a scene," I snarled at him.
His eyes squinted, looking at me with disbelief. "You came to my land to find me! Not to dance with anyone else!"
"Well, I'm sorry but you're not there!" I snapped back trying to control my urges to wrap my arms around him.
I wanted to be closer to him even without the space between our bodies. I wanted him! It was harder to control myself with each passing minute that he was this close to me.
"So it's my fault." He was not asking but stating the words. Low growls escaped his chest; he was irritated. I blinked, affected by his dead serious voice. I looked away from him, bothered by his change in tone.
"I'm not saying that but it's not mine either," I said in a whisper. His fingers dug deep into my waist. A low growl escaped his lips but it sounded lusty this time.
I looked at him again and found his eyes fixed on my neck. His jaw clenched as he started trailing his fingers on my neck, where his claim should be placed. My eyes instinctively shut from the tingling sensation his touch brought me.
Damn! I never thought the mate bond could be this strong!
'Claim!' my wolf excitedly cheered to me. I couldn’t focus on her now. My thoughts were clouded and everything seemed to stop around me. Is he gonna claim me now?
I was not against it. I wanted him to claim me. I would feel more secure if he did but I was also nervous about what was gonna happen. I was yet aware of what situation a stealer like me would have if he didn’t claim me now.
My wolf could feel his wolf's lust. Resistance was present on his face. He was trying to fight his desire but his feelings were clear to me.
I could feel him! He wanted to claim me!
'Claim! Claim!' my wolf yelled. My heart beat faster and loud, almost deafening.
Slowly, his head lowered to my neck. My closed eyes shut tight when the tip of his nose touched my skin. Damn it! I was being drowned deep from the agitation we're sharing.
Aiden inhaled my scent and exhaled hard through his mouth, his breath touched my skin once again and I couldn't contain my moans. The arms that wrapped my waist held me even tighter. Another moan-like yelp came out of my throat.
"Your scent is so addicting," he whispered on my neck. I held my moans to myself when I felt the urge to.
I was lost for words. I didn't know how to respond to what he said because his feelings mirrored mine. His scent was exhilarating.
Suddenly, he moved back away from me. He looked me straight into my eyes before turning his head to the side, thinking. He was no longer holding me anymore and my body wanted to jump to him. To put an end to our distance. I wanted to slap my own face from the thoughts I was having but the bond between us was too strong. I couldn't contain it.
Aiden sighed deeply before turning his back on me. My chest flared with pain with what he did.
"You'll stay at my house. I'll have someone escort you there," he started. I heard some glass clinking and noticed that he poured liquor on his glass.
"I..." I wanted to speak something but I didn't know what to say. I wanted him to come with me but I couldn't find my voice to say it. This felt wrong.
"I've called someone to take you there." His voice was cold, emotionless. Very different from what he just showed me a few minutes ago. I couldn't believe it. He was not claiming me when he should have!
"Won't you claim me?" I asked when I recollected my priorities, which were to have my mate finish the mating process. Not the intimate part but at least the start.
"I'm making myself an exception to this tradition."
I paused my breathing. Did he just say that? Did he mean what I think he meant?
"You're not claiming me?!" My voice raised with shock and frustration. Anger started to build inside me. I could not believe him! Just when I needed him to do his part of the mating, he was being exasperating!
He turned his head to the side with his back still on me, not entirely facing me. "I'll never put my claim on you."