Chapter 29 Caged Desire
Aileen's POV
I let out a loud groan, slapping my hand over my face. “Who am I deceiving?" I thought, my mind going back to the conversation with the girls, who called my bullshit with Tristan at one glance. And here I thought I hid it well.
My wolf, Raela rolled her eyes, “they can smell the sexual tension from a mile away."
“You're supposed to be on my side." I grumbled but she just shrugged before retreating to the back of my mind.
I’ve had a crush on Tristan for as long as I could remember. I wasn't sure when it began, maybe it was when he tried to include me in whatever my brother was doing so I didn't feel left out or when he was teaching me how to defend myself after overhearing some pack members bully me…I was still young then.
He was always there, even though he was my brother's best friend and was older than me by about four years. I knew the chance of us getting together was slim…he didn't see me as anything other than his Alpha's baby sister but that didn't stop me from having a crush on him.
When I finally learnt the concept of mates, it was like an answered prayer for me. My birthday wish remained the same every year…let him be my mate.
To me, there was no one more perfect than he was, even my wolf agreed with me. His scent always found a way to comfort and his smile made my chest ache in ways I didn't expect…it wasn't just me who noticed this. Several times, I've heard other girls in the Pack talking about him. But he paid no attention to them, it was no secret that he was waiting for his mate.
On my eighteenth birthday and he still hadn't found his mate, I was certain that he was mine but my excitement didn’t last long.
I had gone in search of him, but the moment our eyes met, I waited, waited for that spark, that pull everyone talked about. The one that pulled mates together . But nothing happened. No tingling in my chest, no whisper from my wolf. Just silence.
He offered me a smile, the same warm smile he’d given me since I was a kid, and it shattered something inside me. I tried to convince myself that maybe it would come later, that sometimes the bond took time. But deep down, I knew the truth.
I remember running away from the Pack house, disappointed. Everyone thought it was because I didn't find my mate but it was far from that.
Tristan found me by the lake that had become my safe space.
The day was still fresh in my memory, the way his hand caressed my face assuring me that I was still young and would find my mate soon…I wasn't sure who moved first, but one thing led to another and we made love. It was the best day of my life until I woke up the next morning and he was nowhere to be found.
Although it was the best day of my life, him not being there when I woke up means he regretted it. I had been so angry, which was the main reason our back and forth started. I thought that would end whatever feelings I had for him, but who was I deceiving?
Pushing myself up from the bed, I made my way to the bathroom, taking a shower in record time. I chose a simple trouser and crop top, not bothering to do any makeup as I left the room.
The moon goddess had a twisted sense of humour because the first person I ran into was Tristan, who looked like he hadn't slept in days. Ignoring the tug in my chest to ask him if he was okay, I scoffed.
“I hope you feel as terrible as you look." I said.
Instead of his sharp response, he sighed, "hey princess."
I frowned, “don't call me that." I snapped, the words coming out more harsh than I intended.
He raised his hands in surrender, “whatever you say, princess."
I swear, he had one job and it was to annoy the heck out of me. “You mean turn you on?" Raela asked.
"Maybe, but that's not the point.” I argued.
"But that's the only point that's important…the man is fine and he knows it.”
I agreed, but with the way he looked now, even him would beg to differ. We continued, him working beside me, but not saying anything. I felt the repeated urge to ask what was going on with him but the words felt stuck in my throat.
When I couldn't bring myself to ask, I hastened my footsteps, going towards the tree that Nyra, Zayne's first mate had planted. She was the one who pushed me to study medicine and it was sad that she wasn't here to see it happen…but I love Alyssa too.
Standing under the tree, I took a deep breath, unable to shift my attention from Tristan.
“I miss her too." Tristan's familiar voice said behind me, he was standing a few feet from me, his closeness sent shivers down my spine before I could stop it.
“Why are you here?" I asked, turning to face him, my arms crossed in front of me.
He looked away, “I just want to talk." He said, moving closer, his smell filling my nostrils.
“There's nothing to talk about.” I told him. The last thing I wanted was for him to tell me that the night we spent together was a mistake and that we both needed to move on. I would probably lose it.
Do I want a mate? Maybe. The person I wanted was standing in front of me, not feeling the same way about me.
“Come on, princess.”
That darn nickname again, the one that made me feel something for him, despite my attempt to act like I was long over him.
“I just want to talk…nothing more.” He said, more like pleaded.
"Just listen to him," Raela said, “It's not like it would get any worse from here."
I sighed, running a hand through my hair. Easy for you to say, I muttered to Raela. She wasn’t the one standing in front of the man she could never have.
Tristan’s gaze softened. “Please,” he said, quiet but insistent.
I hesitated, then nodded. “Fine. Talk.” I told him, trying to act like I wasn't dying to hear what he had to say…like curiosity wasn't getting the best part of me.
His eyes searched mine, and for a second, I saw something there…regret, maybe even pain. But I couldn’t let myself hope.
Silence stretched between us, heavy and fragile.
Whatever words he was holding back, I wasn’t sure I was ready to hear them.
Because deep down, I knew… once he said them, I wasn't sure I was going to like whatever he was going to say.