Chapter 39: Chapter 39

Slowly turning my head, I noticed Aiden standing by the door, almost leaning against it as he watched us. Did he hear Fauna's comment about him? I hoped not. Being on the other side and hearing just how much people don't like you is not very encouraging. I have been there several times, and each time, it hurts the same, more if it's a person you like.

Fauna straightened, mouth pulled together as she turned her head away and focused on the open window of the room. I tried not to sigh at that behaviour. Pups easily pick up on things which were why she must be annoyed at Aiden. What if he blamed me for that too?

Aiden cleared his throat, snapping me out of my thoughts. I tore my gaze from Fauna and met his stare. What did he want now? I thought to myself bitterly. He said enough already. Steeling my look, I didn't grace him with a response, only lifting my brow.

The Alpha shifted on his feet, shoulders sagging, a sigh slipping his lips. That was new. He opened and closed his mouth for a second before sucking a sharp breath. "I came back to have lunch."

Oh.

No, I was not going to entertain him anymore. He can have lunch if that's why he came back. I already made that for him, his favourite, which now I regret. The Alpha must think it's another of my trick to risk his life. At this point, I shouldn't care what he thought since he may always think worse of me.

"Okay" I nodded my head and turned my attention back to Fauna. Was he expecting me to do something about that?

"Let's go have lunch then." He added.

My moments stilled as soon as I heard those words, hands going numb by sides. Wait. Did I hear that right? He wanted me to have lunch with him? Aiden, who never leaves the opportunity to insult me, wants us to have lunch together. Interesting.

With my eyes still trained on Fauna, I mumbled, "I already had my lunch. Yours is on the microwave. You can heat it."

I didn't eat anything. Not that he needed to know that.

"I don't like to eat alone" Aiden made a sound in the back of his throat, still trailing by the edge of the door. "You can sit and keep me company while I finish my lunch. And Fauna must be hungry too, right?" His eyes shifted to the pup, who didn't even grace him with a reply.

If this is his way of apologising, then it was shitty and downright pathetic. Why did I think he's capable of apology? I sunk my teeth into the bottom lip, tugging on it before sparing him a look. From the way he reacted to having Fauna in my arms a couple of minutes ago, I thought he didn't want to see her. And he's one of those Alphas who find pups as a nuisance. Most of them back in my home did find the little ones annoying and steered away from them. It was cruel.

"Okay."

His face instantly perked up at that, lips twitching, but the Alpha didn't say anything, curtly nodding his head before disappearing into the living room. Did I imagine a smile on his face? I must be going insane. As soon as the Alpha left, Fauna turned to me.

"Rose, can we go?"

"Go where?"

"To have lunch, silly," She giggled.

"I thought you didn't like him."

Fauna bobbed her head, rolling her lip in between her teeth as she messed with the tassels on the side of her dress. "I do not, but I also am hungry."

A laugh bubbled out of my chest as I took in those words. Of course, the pup must be hungry after the exhausting day she had. I got down from the bed and helped her up, and we walked together to the living room.

***

The Alpha was sitting on one of the dining chairs, legs crossed together, immediately averting his eyes when he saw us walk in. Was he secretly waiting for us all this time? I ignored him to convince Fauna to leave my side and be seated on one of the chairs. The steak and rice needed warming up, and I had an inkling that Aiden wanted me to do.

She wanted to protest, but in the end, Fauna dragged herself to the seat opposite Aiden, placing her hands on the table and mirroring his stance. It's a bit funny. Giving them one last look, I walked to the kitchen.

Once inside, I tuned out everything and focused on heating his food. I had half a mind to take out the leftover lunch from the fridge and doing the same. Then again, I didn't want to sit with them longer than necessary, not after that stupid comment.

I served the snacks I made for the pup on one plate and Aiden's lunch on another.

My brows furrowed as I walked out and saw Aiden chuckling at something Fauna said. Full-blown laughter with his eyes crinkling by the side, full round mouth parted. How long was I gone for? My legs froze in the middle of the room, eyes flickering between both of them. They appeared genuine, the lines on his face and Fauna was also smiling at him.

"Rose!" She squealed upon spotting me in the room, her eyes going cartoonishly wide. "Is that my snack?"

I dumbly nodded my head, still in a trance while striding towards the table. She grabbed onto the hot plate, smacking her lips while she held onto the sandwich. "This looks so yummy!"

"Thank you" I grinned at her, forcing not to stare at Aiden as his eyes kept digging into my side.

Placing the plate in front of him, I stepped aside when the pup patted to the seat in the middle. I hesitated for a second, not wanting to sit in the middle with Aiden my the right side.

"You can sit", Aiden whispered.

I immediately plopped on my ass, almost shocked at his voice echoing so close to me. My legs folded underneath the chair.

"Are you not going to eat anything?"

"No, I'm fine."

Silence settled over the table except for the sound of cutlery scraping against each other and Fauna swinging her legs and hitting the table. I tried to stop her by placing a hand over her knee, but the pup was incessant. From the corner of my eyes, I noticed her whispering something to Aiden, lips parting, but no voice slipped past them. What was going on?

"Rose", The Alpha started, his voice softer than usual, tilting his head to meet my eyes. I tried not to squirm under his gaze, hands folded together on the table, clammy and wet with nerves bunched in my stomach.

"Uhh....Forgive me for earlier today. I should not have said those things."

My mouth fell open as soon as those words slipped past him. Did he apologise to me? I gaped without blinking my eyes because, for a second, it felt surreal. Fauna softly giggled, but when I tried to look at her, she focused on eating her sandwich. Oh. She must have asked him to do that. Seriously how did they talk with each other?

"Rose?" The Alpha called out again.

"Umm....okay. I mean, I forgive you," I lied through my teeth, shifting my eyes away.

Aiden hummed, digging his fork and knife into the steak. An appreciative moan escaped his lips as he took a bite, eyes rolling back. Something crossed his face as he peeked back at me. "You made this?"

I shyly nodded my head. "Beth told me that you like steak, so...I thought...."

"It's delicious!" He cut me off; his fork raised mid-air. "Just the way I like it. Thanks."

Oh. My cheeks reddened, not used to the compliments from him. Folding my lips, I bobbed and ducked my head, staring at the folded fingers resting atop. Alpha Aiden was truly something else.

"Can we watch a movie after this?" Fauna suddenly asked sauce spread all over her upper lip. She was a messy eater. Maybe I should have given her a dipping bowl of sauce instead of putting it between the bread for her.

"Sure, love. I will put on something."

"No, I meant all three of us", She argued, and we both looked at Aiden, waiting for his answer.

***