Chapter 121: Chapter 121

I could see his chest rise and fall even through his jumper and coat, the Alpha appearing pitiful puppy, with strands that's escaped his hairdo sticking to his cheeks and forehead. His eyes were as red as his face from the biting cold.

“Will you at least hear me out?” He said eventually, still standing in front of me, voice as rough as sandpaper and looking the part as well.

My heart raced, eyes trained on the closed door. What was I going to do now? Ellen must be waiting for me to take me to the clinic. There’s no way Aiden was letting me walk out of there without listening to his explanation.

“What could you possibly say now?”

“I am sorry.”

My eyes almost widened at those words washing over me, his earnest eyes boring into mine. The Alpha apologised to me without having to demand one from him. It was almost progress considering he just buried the issues and skirted past them instead of facing them.

“You yelled at me,” I bit out, giving voice to the hurt that has been curling in my chest, thinking back to our encounter. Aiden also punched the wall and almost killed four guards in anger. If I wasn’t so hyper fixated on my pup, I would have worried about him. “And ridiculed my power as a wolf, Aiden. That really hurt me.”

I heard him inhale sharply, head tilting to meet my eyes. His gaze nearly knocked all air out of my lungs as he concentrated on facing me, mouth parting. “I am sorry for that too…Believe me, baby, I lost it the moment I did not find you. That omega was missing, and we imagined worst scenarios so when I couldn’t see you in my sight, I panicked.”

“I wish I had a good explanation, but I don't. I fucked up. I know that.” Aiden winced, trying to give me a watery smile.

The Alpha extended an arm, but I shrank back, wrapping one of my hands around my upper body. I could feel my heart beat erratically and painfully, making it hard to breathe or focus on anything else. My arms and chest were on fire, tingling and itching and although I wanted nothing more than for my mate to hug me close, the desire to sink in his embrace stronger.

“I know you were worried, but you never gave me a chance to explain.” I spit out, throat aching from how hard I was trying not to scream. “Do you know how it feels to be ridiculed by the one person who promised me to change?” Tears burned in my eyes as I glared at him. “I don’t like it when you act so unreasonable and arrogant with me, Aiden. It makes me feel small, weak and reminds me of the time in my old pack.” I drew a ragged breath, hands trembling as they fell to my side.

Before I started bawling my eyes out in front of him, I eyed the door, hoping to make a quick exit. Tilting my head, I croaked, “I-Excuse me….” My voice was barely above a whisper, barely audible over the harsh wind rushing in through the cracks in the window.

“No! I am not letting you leave until you forgive me….”

“Aiden,” I repeated and kept my eyes on the socks so I didn’t have to look the Alpha in the eye. It's not fair. But neither was dragging this out when I knew we would only end up hurting each other again with more guilt and more lies.

“Please.”

A low growl reverberated off the walls, and my eardrums trembled, but a warm hand around my wrist startled me. The Alpha pulled me closer and stared into my eyes, sincerity shining in them.

“I am so sorry for bringing up those memories for you…I get so nervous about you leaving me, and I know it’s something I should work on but please forgive me.”

I chewed on my lips against a whimper at the distinct scent, dark and overpowering; A deep sigh escaped my lips as I slowly nodded my head. Pulling my hand out of his hold, I stroked his jaw.

“I am not going to leave you, Aiden. Trust me on this.”

He meekly nodded his head, shame filling his features. “I know I just…it’s difficult for me to believe. Give me some time. I will come around, I promise.”

My chest tightened at the raw honesty in his voice and the efforts it might have taken him to open up, especially about his past issues and admitting to needing help. The Alpha never acknowledged that, so this might be a new start for both of us.

“Okay. I will give you another chance.”

He beamed, shoulders relaxing, and the previous hesitance replied by a cheerful grin. At that, I felt abruptly hot, the flush crashing over me like a thick wave, a weird feeling coiled in my gut.

“Can I kiss you now?”

I froze in place, shock overtaking my insides as he took a careful step forward, so many emotions layering over his face that I felt dizzy looking at him. Aiden closed the distance between us before slamming our lips together. I clutched the lapel of his jacket and kissed him back slowly; my eyes rolled around.

He pulled back slightly and pressed a few extra kisses to my lips. Opening my eyes and looking up, I could see that the Alpha was just as affected, eyes dark and glassy. Aiden raised one hand in the air before pressing it against my heated cheek, eyes trained on me as I parted my mouth.

Wrapping an arm around my waist, he dipped me slightly, trying to push into my space even further. I wound my hands around his shoulders, holding on tightly as he continued to press our bodies together and kiss as a man starved.

Aiden pulled back and bent down to suck a mark into the sensitive skin of my neck, dragging his lips down the nape, leaving imprints in his wake, little reminders that his mouth was there. I nearly jolted when he curled a hand around my thigh, a warm grounding weight that feels like the only thing keeping me from floating away.

A whimper fell from my lips as the Alpha tugged me forward, slipping quickly into the bed. I held my breath when my shirt was pushed up around my chest, slowly off my arms, leaving me in nothing but a bra. Goosebumps prickled into my skin, the cold air nipping at my skin and making my nipples harden.

The Alpha exhaled noisily, his hands caressing my body, thumbs occasionally rubbing against the buds underneath my bra, making me let out tiny, gasping breaths. Throwing the discarded shirt onto the ground, Aiden rested between my splayed legs on the bed and lowered himself to press his lips to my stomach.

I sucked a sharp breath watching as Aiden’s wild stare flickered down to his belly. The time went still around us in time to catch the Alpha recoiling, tumbling right over the edge of the mattress. Alarmed, I bolted upright in the bed, and crawled to the edge and peered at him nervously.

The Alpha sat motionless, his chest heaving from loud breathing but not facing me with his arms at his sides; legs bent awkwardly.

“Aiden?" My faint whisper rang around the room, leaning forward just a bit, placing a hand on his shoulder. “W-What happened? Are you okay?”

The cold touch made him jolt, the Alpha blinking at me rapidly, choking on his breath. His face went red, mouth opening and closing, while terror settled into my pores. I took a deep breath, ready to speak again when Aiden cut me off, jerking upright to rasp, “Baby, I think you are pregnant." With that, his eyes settled on the swell of my belly, face blank.

How did he find out? I diverted my gaze, snivelling as the cat was out of the bag. I nodded my head, “J-Just a bit.” My heartfelt like it was beating out of my chest, and my hands were clammy with cold sweat; I took hold of my discarded shirt and, in one swift motion, pushed it down my head and let it fall over my body.

There was silence, not that I expected anything else. Just this time, it seemed more oppressive, nearly stifling.

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