Chapter 107: Chapter 107

I watched as the Alpha sliced into the water and resurfaced a good dozen feet away, blinking against the water sticking to his lashes. Tiny waves rippled the water, sunlight glittering on our bodies, the shadows of little fishes darting around our feet. A relieved sigh escaped my mouth, turning onto my back, face into the sun, and closing my eyes, floating.

When Aiden said he had planned the whole day for us, I was taken back. The stress of telling him the news hovered and paired that with the constant anxiety of Aiden finding out on his own. So when my husband suggested a swim, I readily agreed, my body begging for a distraction.

“Hi,” I heard a hushed whisper, almost startling me. Turning around, I spotted his familiar grin having melted into something smaller, more private, a smile around his eyes.

“Aiden!” I gasped, consciously shifting closer to him, my hands falling by my side.

For a few seconds, we were both silent while seagulls shrieked high above our heads, the sea an ever-present melody in the background. The water was calm, so I was unsure why I felt this unsteady when he wound an arm around my waist. After the shortest moments, the Alpha leaned into my side, and my heart gave a slow, sickening lurch.

I opened my mouth to fill in the space between us, but Aiden pressed his lips against mine. There’s a short beat when my eyes widened, caught off guard but slowly, my mouth slacked under his. It’s oddly thrilling that Aiden had to lean down for a better angle, sending a spark of heat down my spine, and I slid closer, tangling my fingers in his hair to hold him in place.

Aiden could not stop kissing and licking the corners of my mouth, releasing pheromones all around. He tasted of salt and peppermint from the toothpaste.

The water around felt cold against my back, and the loose hair wound tightly at the base of my neck. Placing a hand on his chest, I pulled away for air, a blossoming smile on my lips. Aiden leaned in, still not ready to break our kiss for a second, and pecked my lips again.

“Let me catch my breath.” I wheezed, face turning red as I tried to move away. He ran a thumb against the swollen lips, feeling how kissed raw and slippery they’d become. Aiden appeared almost proud at that. Silly Alpha.

***

After we swam for a while, I paused in a small meadow filled with flowers that allowed the sunlight to shine through the usually thick trees. I knew I couldn’t lay out long in human form if I wanted to avoid sunburn, but air drying in the heat sounded like an excellent idea. Laying down over the cool grass, I scooted over and fluttered my eyes shut, hoping not to crush the flowers. That was a waste of time when a large wolf strode into the meadow and flopped down at my side, crushing a vast area with his body.

Aiden playfully licked at my face, his paws coming to rest on my side. He sighed out, and I moved on, my fingertips exploring his muzzle and his cold, moist nose.  It made the Alpha snuffle and flip his tongue out, and I grinned at the reaction.

“You are like just an oversized dog,” I teased him, scratching at his fur and enjoying the soft warmth of it, even leaning to rest my head against his ribs. The wolf eventually turned to lay down, with his huge body draped over me from behind, head resting on my shoulder.

Mates enjoyed their time in wolves forms more often than unmated ones. We did not have the chance to do that back in the packhouse. It was always one thing or other, almost making me wince. There have been only a handful of times I have seen Aiden in his wolf form.

“We should get something to eat. I am hungry.”

He lowly growled in agreement. Last nights dinner was our last meal, the Alpha insisting on swimming first thing in the morning. Hurriedly I had slipped on a pair of swimming shorts and a tank top.

Aiden padded his way around, his wolf looking more majestic with his silky fur that had grown thicker around his neck.  His features were enhancing as a Pack Alpha, appearing broader and taller than just a member of the pack.

“Lead the way, Alpha.”

***

The sound of a live jazz band became louder the farther down the street we progressed. Aiden thankfully shifted back, and we decided to stop by someplace lovely to have brunch. By the time we came to a stop, we had reached what looked like a diner, queue originating at the entrance, leading down the pavement.

“This looks crowded.”

“Let’s use another way then.” Aiden grinned, keeping a firm grip on my hand, never letting me venture farther than a step away. When we reached the back door, he slid his arm snugly around my waist. The Alpha spoke something in the guard's ear, and he easily let us go.

“How did you do that?”

“Do what?” He smirked.

“Get us in.”

“Oh, I know the owner of this place.”

“You have been to this place before?”

Something flickered across his face, but the look was gone too quickly. Aiden hummed under his breath, “Once or twice. That’s not important.”

The moment we crossed the threshold, it was like entering a different world. From outside, the place may have presented itself as a standard diner, but I had never seen anything like it. The music was loud, saxophone and drums blaring through amplifiers. Somehow through the chaos, we managed to find a table in the discreet corner with a view of the afternoon sun.

The Alpha rested his hands atop the table and met my eyes as he lifted our entwined fingers, placing a gentle kiss against my knuckles. “Can I pick your drink?” He asked, gaining back my attention.

“Only if I can choose yours.”

“Sounds fair,” The Alpha agreed, still cradling my hand against his chest, and it didn’t seem like he intended to let go anytime soon.

When the server came to take our orders, Aiden almost asked for a glass of wine, but I immediately stopped him. The Alpha gave me a weird look, but I made a lame excuse and got away.

“How do you like it?”

“It’s nice,” I admitted, taking a sip of the berry mix drink he ordered for me, the sweet and sourness hitting me at once.“What about yours?”

“You got me coconut water refresher. What could go wrong?” The Alpha amicably retorted.

“That’s because you are always drinking whiskey, and I want you to try something else.”

He made a face.

“Give me a sip,” I murmured, turning to face him, and waited for the Alpha to hand me the tall glass. He carefully slid it across the counter, our cold fingers rubbing as I received it. I took a slow sip, the coconut water cool and refreshing against the back of my throat. “I love it.”

“You can have it. I will get some whiskey.”

“No, Alpha!” I whined as he playfully slid his chair back only to crash against the person behind him.

He stiffened, wincing whilst spinning around to face the victim of his complete sloppiness. An ominous feeling seeped down my spine as I saw the stranger glaring at us. The man was as tall as Aiden, but his eyes were aflame with something intimidating.

“Well, if it isn’t the great Aiden!”

“Ricky”, I heard the Alpha sneer, his hand curling into a fist.

“Have you truly lost it, Aiden, that you cannot see others besides yourself? Is that how much Sylvie hurt you?”

“Shut up”

“Who’s this chick with you?” Ricky turned to my side, a hand arrogantly sliding through his curls. “You have a type, huh! Not bad.”

Aiden’s jaw ticked. “Watch your mouth.”

“Why don’t you give me a call after you are done with him, sweetheart? No one lasts with this guy more than a few days. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a back up?!” The stranger blinked at me, suggestively licking his lips.

The Alphas nose flared, and he almost turned on his feet. It all happened so fast that I could barely register it. His fist flew up without any inclination, nailing into Ricky’s face with a repulsive sort of crack that drilled into my core. I heard the shocked yells erupt around us, but most of all, I couldn’t avert my eyes from the blood that flooded down the bloke’s shirt, his nose broken and crying rivers.

“Aiden!” I whispered, hand flying up to cover my mouth in shock, eyes alighting on the man’s quivering fist. “What did you do?”

***