Chapter 169 169

Chapter 169 169
Aeson's POV

I crouched beside her and checked her breathing, then her pulse. Still there. My fingers moved carefully over her arms and shoulders, searching for anything broken. Then I saw them—finger marks, bruised and angry, and a wound on her shoulder that looked like it had been made by claws.

I pulled my hands back, my breathing heavy. My fingers curled into fists at my sides, and I felt the heat of my wolf surging beneath my skin.

Who had dared to do this to my mate?

I rose to my feet, pacing the small cabin. The anger burned in my chest, a fire that threatened to consume me. The wounds on her shoulders, the finger marks on her arms, they were a message. It was a reminder that she was vulnerable, that she could be hurt. Above all, they were a message, a violation.

Damn it.

I regretted not staying back at the college after closing time like I usually did. I reprimanded myself for letting my anger take over, for letting my pride push me away when I should have been paying attention. If I had stayed, if I had just listened to Mandy, maybe I could have stopped this before it happened.

I stopped pacing and looked down at her pale face. The dim light of the cabin cast shadows across her features, making her look fragile, broken. My fists clenched at my sides, the anger burning hot in my chest.

Mandy's words echoed in my head. Logan. The brat had done this. He was as rotten as his father, Caiden. And he was going to pay. Terribly. I would make sure he understood that touching her meant signing his own death warrant. I would hunt him down myself if I had to.

I looked at Arielle, my gaze tracing the injuries on her body. She had a wolf. I had felt it stirring, felt the shift in her during the confrontation. How could she let herself get hurt like this? What was wrong with her? Why hadn't she fought back harder?

Don't you dare scold her, Tyson's voice cut through my thoughts, sharp and disapproving. Not now. She's been through enough.

I said nothing, trying to shut him out. Can't you be quiet?

No. You were scolding her with your eyes. I could feel it.

Well, I wish she was awake so I could scold her verbally. She should have been more careful.

Tyson grunted in disapproval, his frustration mirroring my own. She's our mate. She's hurting. Stop being an ass.

But I couldn't take back what I was thinking. She should have been more careful. She should have—

A soft groan pulled me from my thoughts. I turned to see her eyes fluttering open, her gaze lifting to meet mine.

I looked away, scanning the small cabin. My eyes landed on an old, broken fridge in the corner. I walked over, yanked it open, and found a single bottle of water tucked inside. I uncapped it and walked back to her, handing it over.

She took it, her fingers brushing against mine, and drank slowly. When she lowered the bottle, she looked at me, her eyes wary.

"What am I doing here?" Her voice was hoarse, trembling. "Did you bring me here unwillingly to—"

Her eyes widened, a sudden terror flooding them, and it pissed me off. I crouched before her, my glare sharp. "Did I bring you here unwillingly? Are you sick or what?" I gestured at the cabin, at the state of her clothes. "This morning you woke up in my bed and accused me of taking advantage of you while you ended up there yourself. And now—I saved you. I brought you to this safe place instead of letting you get wrecked while unconscious. And you're thinking I did something vile?"

She looked at me, her lips parting. "Y-you saved me?"

"Again," I blurted out, the word slipping before I could stop it. I cursed myself inwardly, the admission hanging in the air like a confession.

She blinked. "Again?"

I opened my mouth to deflect, to brush it off, but she shook her head. "No, again? Wait..." She swallowed, her eyes searching mine. "You... were you the one who saved me that day in the woods?"

I knew exactly what she was referring to. The day she had been attacked in the woods, the day I had intercepted and sent Logan running. But I played dumb, my voice flat. "I don't know what you're talking about."

“No, I'm right, yeah?”

"You're crazy," I said, straightening up, hoping she would let it go.

She rose too, her hand shooting out to grab my arm. "It was you." Her voice was certain, and unwavering. "It was the same day I came to check the apartment. You saved me from Logan in the woods and somehow managed to get to your pack before I did."

"Hey—"

"Hold on." She looked at me, her eyes narrowing. "Was it since then? I mean... have you been keeping a close eye on me all this while?"

I scoffed, pulling my arm free. "You think I'm jobless?"

"You've been saving me," she pressed, stepping closer.

"So what? It seems you're a walking danger."

"And you just show up to save me all the time. Why? Is it a coincidence?"

She looked at me, and something inside me snapped. I couldn't keep it in any longer. I took a step closer, and she backed up, her eyes narrowing.

"It was never a coincidence," I said, my voice low.

She blinked. "Then it was—"

"I was pulled." I walked closer, stopping only an inch away as she backed into the wall. I could see the rapid rise and fall of her chest, the confusion warring with something else in her eyes. "From the moment I saw you, I was pulled. Every time you were in danger, I felt it. I couldn't stay away."

She stared at me, her breath catching. "Why?"

I didn't answer. I just looked at her, the words hanging in the air between us, heavy and undeniable. My heart was pounding, my hands trembling at my sides. She was so close, close enough that I could see the flecks of gold in her eyes, the way her lips parted as she searched for an answer.

But I hated the expression she wore. She still seemed confused than ever, her brow furrowed, her eyes searching mine like she was trying to solve a puzzle that made no sense.

"Answer me. Why did you feel pulled? What are you talking about?"

I shut my eyes, trying to keep my cool, but the frustration boiled over. I slammed my hand against the wall beside her face, the impact echoing through the small cabin. "That's enough. You can quit playing dumb now."

Her eyes widened. "What?"

I grabbed her arm, my grip firm but not bruising. "What do you take me for? A fool? You think I don't know you know what's actually there between us?"

"No... I don't understand what you're talking about. Let go."

"Yes, you do!" I looked at her, my chest heaving, my heart pounding against my ribs. The emotions were engulfing me, raw and uncontrollable. I wanted to hug her. I wanted to pull her close and never let go. I wanted to bury my face in her hair and breathe her in.

Yes, Tyson urged, his voice a low growl in my mind. Let your feelings out. We've been bonded for years. She needs to know.

I shut my eyes, forcing myself to let go of her arm. I stepped back, my fists clenched at my sides, my breath ragged.

"You really want to lie in my face now, Arielle?" My voice was low, strained.

"What are you talking about?" Her voice was trembling, confused.

I let out a bitter chuckle. "You knew about our bond. Was that why you kissed me back then at the bar?"

She blinked. "Huh?"

"Yes, I can figure that out now." I stepped closer, my eyes boring into hers. "You felt the connection, and you just couldn't help yourself. You wanted to test it. To see if I felt it too. Right?"