Chapter 50

Aelin P.O.V

We enterred Arsen's room, my hand was still in hers. My shock and sudden fright began washing off and I was able to see everything that had occurred in a much clearer light. I walked slowly to the bed and threw myself on it, my head on the pillow and my legs outstretched in front of me. Darya sat on the corner of the bed, leaning her back on the headboard.

I breathed out all the air in my lungs, "I don't know what took over me," I began, but as soon as I said it, I knew I was wrong. I knew precisely what took over me, "I-i didn't have the perfect life before coming here," Darya moved closer, I placed my head on her thighs and her hand started massaging my scalp. A small smile made it to her face, encouraging for me to continue, "Arsen knows either because I've told him or bya whatever means he's found, quite a lot. He helps me out and I'm better now, but somethings are very deep and well," I swallow, finding it hard to even say the words, "his Alpha voice brought some memories. I- it terrifies me- to know that he-, he wouldn't," I mutter to myself, stopping my head from going down that very wrong route. "It sent this image into my head of history repeating itself, I-I-"

Darya shushed me, rightfully so, I was going nowhere with that sentence. She comforted me with her presence as much as she could, "but, you understand that Arsen would never do that, right?" I nodded, "especially to you."

"I know," i answered, slightly embarrased by my own thoughts and fears.

"He hates the Alpha voice too, but I think we both understand why he used it in this context," she continues, I nod my head once again. "He only wants the best for you, so don't doubt that he would do everything in this world to make you happy," she finishes.

"I know," I take a deep breath, loosening up my entire body, "I just need some time to rationalise everything." I laid in silence for about a minute until I realsied what type of torture this must be for Darya. "You can leave, I'm okay to be alone. I would hate to separate you from Ulises after not seeing each other for weeks," I say, getting up from her legs.

"Don't be that way! Ulises will get plenty of me later," she laughed.

"We could talk about something if you want, it'll probably do me some good to not think about it for a while," I propose.

"Sure, what do you want to talk about?" She appeared eager, in her usual calm state.

"Hmm, what do you do for a living? Do you work?" I asked.

"I do actually, I'm a teacher," she responded, "I teach history and Al- well, various different Northern languages to teenagers. I really enjoy it except when I get all the boys at once in the afternoon. They are fresh out from their technique-classes and they never shower but they smell so bad! I've had to make many complaints about it," she laughed, I accompanied her.

"Oh, Goddess me! I bet it even smells hours after those classes!"

"You bet!" We laughed, "I'm opening doors and windows left and right, and it's cold you know? Well, nothing. It stinks in there."

For a moment, the only thing you can hear are our laughs, "I'm picturing the chairs being corrosed away from their sweats! Ew! That's disgusting," I laugh even more.

"You know what's even worse? Their conversations, they're so loud and proud about such things. Like the other day, Asher and Rivers began talking about where they were beginning to grow hair, just out in the open! They were high-fiving each other too, it was so ridiculous!" We giggled.

"Do you get to hear about gossip as well? Who likes who and stuff?" I wondered, awfully curious.

"Oh, yes!" She cheered, "one day, you come for lunch at the school and I'll show you all the couples and semi-couples, if you know what I mean..." She winked, making me chuckle.

We continued to converse between laughs for a decent amount of time, until we decided we should go down again. Darya had lifted my spirits up and had definitely taken my head out of that whole previous situation. Now, the only thing I wanted to do was cuddle Arsen and reassure him that everything was okay; I'd thank him too, because I know Darya's decision to bring me to our room wasn't one she did on her own. Regardless, Darya and I had unexpectedly become great friends. I was unsure why or how, but we just understand each other. Our quietness and shyness almost cancel each other's out and make our interaction very bright and fun.

I told Darya to go down first, and to please tell Arsen that I was okay and to come up to our room. She offered me a smile and a hug and went downstairs. I took a deep breath and put cold water on my face, I was most likely going to experience some type of dejavu as soon as I see him. His Alpha voice would resonate in my head, because at this stage in life, I know how my head works. I wanted to be prepared and be able to fight it and give him the biggest hug that I could.

I walked out of the room, simultaneously, he got to the top of the stairs. I was expecting to go back to that stage of shock, even for just a second, but I didn't because this time I had my wolf, who knew exactly what would make me feel better. I ran to his arms, I even jumped, wrapping my legs around his torse, my arms around his neck and pushed my face into his collarbone, absorbing his snow-and-pine smell.

He was taken aback, but he didn't take long to engulf me and pull me even closer to him with his long, strong arms, "I'm sorry," he whispered into my hair.

"I'm sorry too," I answered.

"I'm sorry," he repeated, "I didn't- I was trying to protect you," he explained, but I already understood the entire interaction. Marks aren't to be messed with, especially males and even more especially an unmated male like Forrest was, it posed a direct threat to not only the mate bond but in this case, me.

Alphas were guilty of being outstandingly protective and many times even possessive of their mates. It was a natural reaction which was I was sorry as well, I didn't want him to feel guilt for doing something that was in his DNA, "you shouldn't be sorry. You're allowed to use your Alpha voice especially when it is necessary like it was now."

"I should know better than to use my Alpha voice when you are around. That's the least I could do."

"What you're failing to realise is that you should use your Alpha voice whenever you want to, because I know you're using a fair use of it. I just need some time, you know? Like with my guilt, a slow process, but I promise some day you won't have to watch yourself every time you're with me," I reply with a loving smile.

"I don't care about a thing as long as I'm with your corny self," his comment made me giggle.

"I care though. I don't want you to worry about me," I explained.

"My job is to worry about you," he argued.

"Your job is to love me and to make me laugh," I corrected him, "oh! And well, other things too, we'll get to them at another time." I implied cheekily making him chuckle. "And, oh wait! What am I receiving? Breaking news! Arsen owes Aelin tons of cuddles and kisses," I report, I turn my gaze to meet his eyes and I smile mischievously, "interesting."

"Oh, men! Good luck to that Arsen guy if he owes *you* kisses," he replied, "unlucky bastard..." He muttered making me chuckle.

I pushed his chest away, gasping. I shake my head in disapproval, "better get on your knees and start praying to the Goddess because I'm not kissing you anymore. I have a duty to fulfill and I'm not holding back with that Arsen guy."

I flick my hair to the back with my hand trying to look as fierce as I can, but that fire soon dies as the tips of my fingers touch my neck. I noticed in that instance that my mark has been burning slowly all this time. It ached silently, but still, it ached. I knew that if it hadn't been for the shock, I would've gone directly to Arsen to make it stop. Arsen picked up instantaneously on this, bringing the back of his hand to gently touch it, testing how hot it is.

"It's very red," he informed me. Already his direct touch on my skin did wonders. "Does it hurt?" He asked, I hummed in response. He didn't waste a second as he moved his hand away, leading my head to a position that offered him better access and he started to lay kisses on my burning mark.

I could tell that only if he had placed his hands over that patch of sensitive skin, the pain would've gone away, but he went with his lips instead. After the third kiss, my pain had left my body and it was being substituted by bliss. I pushed my head back as my spine arched.

"Were you planning on going down again?" He asked me and I could already tell what his mind was planning.

"Only if you wanted me to," I replied sincerely.

"I want to go down on someone," he asserts, "that's what I want to do."