Chapter 7 Seven
A lady in her thirties entered Aiden's office but I couldn't take my eyes off his back. I was not able to speak back to what he had said. I was left dumbfounded by the words I just heard.
I'll never put my claim in you.
Those words kept echoing in my ears while I felt numerous needles stabbed into my chest. I felt like I was poisoned by a venomous snake. My body's numb, my head feels hazy, and my breath is hitched as I stare at Aiden's back. My wolf was in pain as well, but it's me who's taking most of the blow.
I wanted to curse the bond between us. Not feeling its significance at the moment.
"My Luna," the lady greeted me with a low bow. She just acknowledged me as this pack's Luna, yet my mate thinks otherwise.
Is he gonna reject me? He doesn't want me?
Questions flood my mind and I feel I'm going insane.
"Go with Aurea, she will assist you with everything you'll need. I don't want any male near you. Take that as a warning." Aiden's deep voice came out chilly again.
I was not paying attention to his threat. My mind was focused on why he had someone to assist me or bring me to his home when, in fact, he could!
"I'll take you home, my Luna," Aurea said humbly, her eyes still on the ground.
I nodded at her. I don't think Aiden was open to argument right now. And not in the slightest, begging anything of him.
My pride rises. My chin rose proudly as my ego continuously charged, fully ignoring my wolf's pain. I'm not the type who kisses any wolf's feet. Not my mate. Not even the Alpha.
"Let's go," I said to Aurea and started to walk outside the office.
The car ride was slow, letting me replay what had happened over and over again.
Maybe he doesn't want me. First, he didn't show up in the traditional way at the ceremony. The scene he must have caused with Nick and me was because of his wolf being possessive of me. But not because he'd want a mate. Nor does he want me.
And then his words that don't spear my wolf straight into her heart come second, but fatal. How could he bluntly tell me he doesn't want to claim me? I have never done anything to him for him to be upset. We just met! And yet the thought of having me as his mate disturbs him?
"We've reached your home, Luna." Aurea interrupted my thoughts.
"Please. Call me Ashira." I don't want any claim or acknowledgment of something I have yet to deserve.
"I'm sorry but you're our Luna now-" she hesitated.
"I know you can't smell Aiden's claim on me." I cut her words. Bitterness touched the tip of my tongue.
"But that doesn't change the fact that you're our Alpha's mate, Luna." She even bowed lightly to me. I just sighed and let her call me Luna in the end. These wolves hugged the tradition righteously; their Alpha should be ashamed.
I hopped out of the car and saw a Western-style house in front of me. Painted in white, two-story, and surrounded by trees everywhere. This was Aiden's house.
There were no neighboring houses and far from the center, which explained the long car ride.
"Alpha Aiden asked me to assist you. He'd given me instructions, but I'll do first what you wanted to." Aurea said. We're inside the house now. Aurea was holding my luggage that she might have picked up at the guesthouse earlier.
"What's his instruction?"
"First is to show you your room, Luna."
I'll probably hear the rest of his order, but I badly need to get off this dress.
"Let's do that."
She walked ahead of me to the stairs. There are five doors on the second floor that I've noticed. We turned left and stopped at the second door there.
Aurea opened the door, and I was welcomed by a large circular bed in the center of the room. The theme was brown and white. Classic. The outside of the house screamed modernization, while the inside was most vintage.
I eyed the room for a bit, not taking more steps inside. I turned to Aurea, who immediately bowed her head.
"Oh, please. Take it easy." I whined. Her utmost respect for me felt like multiple slaps that I don't deserve. Making me remember that her Alpha indirectly rejected me.
She just smiled in response. I sighed. Realizing whatever I'll say would be worthless because she had made up her mind.
"Where's Aiden's room?" I asked curiously.
"The first door we passed is his room, Luna."
I nodded. So we're next to each other.
"What's the rest of his instructions?"
"I'll need to take you shopping for your clothes."
The reason girls from the mapping like me came with light baggage was because we'll be under the responsibility of our mates when we find ours.
That summed up the shelter, clothes, and food we'll need. Most likely, our main role here was to give them a pup. To multiply the pack and produce more of their bloodline.
"I'll also cook for your everyday meal-"
"I cook my meal," I stated. That's the least skill I have, but I don't want to be treated like a princess. Now I regret not participating in Ophelia's cooking lessons.
She nodded, agreeing to my words. We talked for a little more, and I found out that she was Aiden’s servant. She took care of his house and his food.
"Where's your mate?" I managed to ask while settling my clothes in the closet.
"He's dead." I can feel the sadness in her voice.
I can't believe she was mateless and still coping with life. Most can't. I was just glad Aurea was a woman because if she were not, then she would be able to smell my abnormality, which was being a stealer.
"How'd you survive it?" I asked, playing with my fingers.
"Alpha Aiden made me a servant. You know the Alpha's effect on the pack. I survived the pain for the responsibility I needed to uphold."
I understand her. Though the fact that she was coping because of the Alpha's power saddened me. I bet she wanted herself dead when her mate died. What's a good thing that I can see is, she found something to focus on rather than to mourn and cry every day.
We finished our talk when I called it a day. I let her go home to where she was staying. She lived not too far away in the woods.
Once alone, I felt the surging feeling of being with Aiden. Missing him. This was normal because I got to know who my mate was, but I'm not used to it.
I tried waiving the thought of having him near me. There's a lump in my throat that's too hard to swallow. My body's aching for his presence!
A picture of Aiden's golden brown eyes staring at me with lust popped into my mind. I still can feel his touch on my skin. His fingers left invisible marks on my waist, making me feel the sensation of it only. I felt the heat rush in between my thighs. Damn! I never felt this horny before!
I decided to take a shower, trying to fight Aiden's effect on me.
Aiden's POV
I never intended to show myself at the ball. The least I wanted was to find my mate and get drunk from that incredible smell again. I locked myself in my office, letting Nick do my role of hosting the ball.
But when the ceremony started, I could only smell her! That sweet heavenly scent lingers on my nose that every fucking time it hits my nostrils, I'll put my hand on my nose. Trying to block her scent but eventually failing.
Male wolves ' attraction toward their mate was stronger. I may be able to smell her clearly but she won't know I'm around unless she lays her eyes on me.
My wolf keeps nagging at me for my resistance. He badly wants her and I hate him for being so. I don't want to have a mate! I don't want a messed-up Luna at my side!
I can feel everything that's happening below. The party was held on the ground floor. The ceremony was finished and everyone was enjoying the rest of the night.
I regret not staying in my house when my feet seem to have a mind of their own. The scent still lingers everywhere and I can't stop the mate bond's pull any longer. My eyes were closed tight as I went out of my office. I stopped in the hall where I could see the party below.
Her smell was there, everywhere. As soon as I looked down, my eyes fixed on the most beautiful girl I'd ever seen. She was wearing an olive dress that hugged her body; the slit on the dress helped me take a peek at her perfect, round legs.
I growled to myself, just with her sight and my abnormal thirst for sex seemed to cease. I saw her as she talked with my Beta, Nick. My hearing enhanced on its own to overhear what they were talking about.
"Come, dance with me." Nick even offered his hand to her. I growled to myself as I heard him say that. How dare he ask my mate to dance with him!
"You're not my type." My anger subsides as my mate said that. Her face was serious and she didn't reach for my dog Beta's hand. My wolf cheered, proud of her already.
She must have felt devastated when no one walked forward for her. I thought I'd see her crying and in pain, like the usual reaction I've seen in the past years, but she seemed stronger inside.
My thoughts ate me that I did not hear what Nick replied. The next thing I saw was him snatching my precious mate's hand for the dance he had been hell-bent on.
I growled inwardly. Can't this dog wait for his mate? I was itching to jump from where I stood to where they were but I stopped myself when I saw her letting him have that dance.
What the fuck.
I felt my chest tighten from the view. I was just proud of her for a minute and now she was letting him do as he wished! Nick's not her mate! How can she let him touch her?
When Nick hugged his arms around my mate's waist, I almost lost it. My growls are getting louder each minute that I'm watching the scene.
My body started to shake as they continued dancing and talking. I wasn't able to focus on their talk; my eyes were glued to Nick's arm around my mate. I'll break that arm for sure.
"Ashira." said my mate. Even her name sounds beautiful. It suits her, though that arm that wrapped around her needs to be taken care of.
My wolf growls loud enough for everyone to hear. My wolf's upset with what's happening, but most at me.
And there, I lost it. My eyes turned red, my Alpha blood taking me over.
I jumped from the second floor and landed a few steps away from them. I'm breathing heavily, trying to calm myself, when I was welcomed by a pair of beautiful, deep green eyes and a perfect face. Damn, she was so perfect.
I was starting to compose myself, stilled by my mate's sole presence, when Nick pulled her a step away from me with his fucking arm still around what's mine! My eyes sharpened to Nick's and his arm, and that's enough for my anger to rise again!
I growled and snatched Ashira's arm, feeling the best sensation I've ever encountered just from touching her. I stiffened when her body smashed into me, and bolts of electrifying sensation shot through me. Her scent while this close was suffocating my lungs in a good way. I, with disbelief, liked having her around.
I looked at Nick again, using my Alpha on him. Making him submit to me. Letting him know his damned place.
"How dare you!" I growled loudly. I can feel the powerful aura surging around me, affecting everyone in the hall but Nick takes most of the blow. I intend for him to.
I felt my mate's hand clutched my shirt, so I looked down at her, meeting her beautiful eyes. I can't see any emotion in her aside from affection and fear. I must've scared her.
She then turned her eyes on those around us and back to me, giving me a message. I must have ruined the evening. Everyone was plastered with fear.
I growled, looking back at Nick.
"I'll deal with you later," I said through gritted teeth.
'I'll break that fucking arm of yours.' I mind-linked Nick privately, making him pale more than he already is. He just bowed at me slightly. I was not threatening him. I will break his arm later.
When Ashira and I reached my office, all I wanted to do when I place her on the wall, to crush my lips into hers, to taste her inviting lips. But I took over control and stopped myself from doing so.
"How dare you flirt with my beta in front of my people!" I yelled. Those are not the words I wished to project, but I can't take them back anymore.
I watched how she bowed her head when she felt the anger I was trying to portray. I regret yelling at her for a moment before her eyes squinted and her head held high again. Meeting my eyes with hers.
"I'm not flirting with Nick!" she fought back. I was caught off guard for a second because no one ever yelled at me before. I growled and thought that my mate was stubborn, not liking the idea of it.
Our argument went on. I knew I shouldn't have said what I said, especially how my words implied to her, but I can't take it back now.
I'm so close to her that my mouth was watering. I can see her face, her lips continuously inviting me, her body's warmth was making mine flare with heat.
My jealousy subsides as my thought was clouded by her effects on me. I want to kiss her, devour her, claim her. Make her mine.
I want to taste every part of her body, make her quiver from my touch, I want to be inside of her! The mate bond was too strong; I couldn't control my anger to be replaced by lust or want.
"So it's my fault." I intend to end this argument, accepting defeat and taking responsibility for my dreadful actions. I can't admit it to her, but I know my fault; she has none of it.
"I'm not saying that but it's not mine either," she whispered, which makes every hair on my body rise. Damn, why did that sound sexy?
I held her firmly, not giving any space between us. A soft growl escaped my lips and I knew she could feel the same thing I was feeling. Lust.
She turned her head to the side, avoiding my eyes. Her hair fell back and I took sight of her beautiful neck. I gulped when the urge to claim my mate hit me.
I want to dig my teeth into her neck, to mark her that she was mine. It's normal for a wolf to be possessive of what was theirs but I never thought I would ever be one.
Her eyes looked at me again and caught me eyeing her neck. I trailed my fingers on the part of her skin that I was itching to bite on. Her eyes closed slowly as she felt my finger.
I groaned inwardly at the sight. Suddenly, no arguments were needed. All I wanted was to touch her.
'I can feel her lust! She wants us!' My wolf was overjoyed. I can smell her arousal every time I move my finger, loving the sensation I also ought to.
'Claim her now!' my wolf once again said. As if bewitched, I bent down and pressed my lips on her skin. Kissing it gently. This is where I'm gonna claim her. I said to myself as my lips touched that part of her neck.
I smelt her arousal rise with what I did. The bulge in my pants just proved how aroused I am, too. I sniffed her neck, loving the sensation we were sending each other. Loving how I affect her.
"You're scent is so addicting..." I whispered, my lips not leaving her skin. I pressed her closer to me when she moaned softly.
My canines came out, ready to bite her, and I put my claim on her when an image of my parents' faces snapped on me.
NO!
I hastily moved away from her, letting her go. I turned my back on her and tried to contain my feelings. I felt the frustration when distance ate us, I want her near, yet I can't forget where I stand.
I'm an Alpha. I shouldn't give in to the bond.
I groaned to myself as I shut my eyes tight.
"You'll stay at my house. I'll have someone escort you there." It's my responsibility as her mate. She was my responsibility now.
I decided to mind-link Aurea, my servant. Asking her to come to take my mate home.
I poured alcohol into my glass. I needed it.
"I..." My hand stopped when she was about to speak. Moving again when she didn't utter a word.
"I've called someone to take you there." I drank the alcohol straight, feeling it burn my throat but not enough to overcome the heat Ashira has given me.
"Won't you claim me?" she asked. I paused for a moment. I wanted to. But my past was haunting me. Yes, I am scared of claiming her. I might not be the mate she was expecting to be. I can't bend my knees for her.
"I'm making myself an exception to this tradition." I simply said. Giving her the message I meant to say.
"You're not claiming me?!" Her voice rose and I felt her pain. I'm hurting her and damn these mate bonds for letting me know!
I want to look at her, to see how she reacts right now but I stopped myself and ended up looking at my side.
"I'll never put my claim on you."
Every word that left my mouth was half-meant. I regretted it the second I said it, not liking the feeling of hurting my just-had-known mate.
Aurea came afterward; no more words came from her to me. My servant took her to my house, and I had given her orders on what to do to her. I can't be around her now. I'm not sure how far my control can go.
When she had left, I wanted to run to her, to follow her fading scent. I can't have her far. Damn it.
I decided to call Nick. I am not forgetting his flirtatious act toward my mate.
When Nick entered my office, I went to him with inhuman speed just as he stepped inside; the door hadn't even closed.
"Aiden--"
I did not say a word and snatched his arms. My eyes turned red, letting my Alpha blood take over, giving me full power.
I gripped his wrist tightly, feeling his pulse rapidly beating, before I turned his arm on his back, making him cry from the pain.
"You've messed with what is mine," I said through gritted teeth.
"I didn't know, Alpha--Ughhh ahh!" I broke his arm before he could finish his words. I don't care what he knows, I've seen what I saw, and I don't like it a bit.
I let go of his arms when I heard enough bone-cracking and screams of pain from him. He fell with his knees on the ground and clutched his arms, holding the screams to come out of his throat.
He was huffing for breath, feeling another pain as the damage was starting to heal.
I licked my lips, slightly satisfied with the sight before walking back behind my table.
"You're dismissed," I said with finality. He weakly stood and bowed lightly before heading to the door, his hand clutching his healing arm.
I closed my eyes and sighed when I felt another wave of desire to be near Ashira. I shouldn't go home tonight, or else I will lose it again.