Chapter 41: Chapter 41

Aiden cleared his throat beside me, his hands folded behind his back. I turned around, eyes cast downwards at his shiny black shoes. My breathing was erratic, the sound of blood rushing echoing in my ears, lips parted. Why was I so nervous?

"Rose!" He exhaled loudly.

At the sound of my name escaping his lips, my toes curled around the carpet, eyes fluttering shut. There was almost a few inches gap between us; I realised as his voice echoed in my ears. What could he possibly want now?

"Uhh...I noticed that you don't have a lot of warm clothes. The weather here gets worse in upcoming months, so you need to go shopping."

My eyes slightly widened, taken back by his suggestion. I tilted my head; brows pulled together. "Huh?"

"Did you not hear me the first time?" Aiden pursed his lips, that familiar scowl replacing the blank look, hands coming forward to cross against his chest. That's what I was talking about. Unpredictable.

"I did, Alpha."

"What's so confusing then?"

"Umm...I am sorry, I assumed you didn't want to get out of here."

He rolled his eyes. "This is not a jail. You are not a prisoner. I didn't want you to wander away, but you can go to places after informing me."

Oh. I bobbed my head. I meant to explore around a bit, maybe not beyond the borders, though. Also, if he found out about my little adventure with Fauna, Aiden may lock me up. Fortunately for me, no one would be telling him about it.

"Is Liam going to accompany me then?" I asked, breaking the silence that settled between us.

He arched his brow. "For what?"

"Shopping. Umm....this place is new for me still, and I don't know how to get around...."

"I will be the one taking you." The Alpha swiftly interrupted my nervous blabbering, his eyes trained on me. My skin prickled with goosebumps at the thought of Aiden accompanying me. Shouldn't he be getting back to his duties?

"T-That's very kind of you, Alpha. Thank you." I tried to muster a smile.

He didn't buy it. Of course. Aiden breathed through his mouth, "Be ready after lunch tomorrow, omega. We will go to town in my car so put on something decent. I will inform Liam to take over in the meantime."

My stomach fluttered as I thought of spending an entire evening with him in town. Back in my old pack, shopping was a luxury only a few of them could afford. And even though we could afford it, my mother never let me go anywhere. I had to wear the hand me downs of my sister, but my father took Cara and me to the mall once. That memory always puts a smile on my face because we all lied to our mother as she's attending one of her parties with her group. She did find out the next day after seeing my new earrings and punished me for two weeks straight.

"Rose?" He waved his arm in front of me, which snapped me back to the present. "Are you listening?"

"Mhm, yes, I will be ready for lunch."

Aiden's lips twitched, and the Alpha appeared as if he wanted to laugh, but the look was gone too soon. "I meant after lunch. You will be eating alone because I promised Ria to have lunch together."

A lump lodged in my throat at the mention of that woman. My fingers curled into the fabric of my dress, teeth sinking onto my bottom lip. She's infuriating, always finding a way to get under my skin.

"No problem. I'll see you after lunch then."

***

The next day I did all my chores, watched a movie while having a coleslaw sandwich and then started getting ready.

After a long hot shower, I emerged from the bathroom clean and fresh and ready to go, already dressed with my hair styled.

I didn't have many clothes, unfortunately, and the ones I did looked old and worn. Still, I managed to find a decent looking full-sleeved sky blue dress reaching my mid-thigh because it belonged to Cara. Over the dress, I wore a long beige overcoat with giant buttons, which I cherished a lot. Brushing my hair, I let them fall over my frame.

As soon as I heard the car honk, my legs wobbled to get the keys from the table. Aiden clearly instructed me that he would sign with a sound after he's done with his training. Taking one last look in the mirror, I locked the cabin behind me.

My mouth slacked when I saw a sleek black car standing in front of the door. Through the tinted glass, I could easily spot Aiden, but as I looked closer, my eyes fell on someone next to him. Ria. My heart dropped to my stomach, feet halting in the middle. What was she doing in the car? Did Aiden ask her too?

I couldn't see anything clearly, but his best friend next to him whispered something in his ears. My face crumbled upon the sight, but I tried to hold my ground.

The Pack Alpha rolled his windows down, his eyes dark and undetectable. "Will you hurry up?! I don't have all day."

His voice was enough to make me jump and jolt from the current position, rushing towards the car in four quick steps. My eyes kept boring into Ria as I slid in the back seat, legs pulled together.

Ria turned over her shoulder, a sheepish smile on her face, her fingers playing along with the seat belt. "I hope you don't mind me tagging along, Rose. Aiden told me that he's going into town, and I wanted to get some coats as well."

The Alpha turned on the ignition, barely focusing on our conversation and looking ahead. I pulled my lips together, shrugging indifferently even though my blood boiled underneath. Why could she not let us go alone? Also, the Pack Alpha should have told her off instead, but then again, they were best of friends.

"It's okay," I muttered through my teeth.

***

We reached the shopping complex in one and half hour. Ria kept on trying to engage Aiden but when when the Pack Alpha merely hummed and bobbed along, she have gave up.

My jaw slacked open at the lineup of the luxurious stores, eyes glittering with people around us. It was crowded so I slid closer to the Alpha, my stomach in knots.

"We will get coats in here…." Aiden pointed to the nearest shop, his nostrils flaring when he realised my arm pressing into his side.

When we entered in through the glass doors, an employee greeted Aiden, bowing down to him, while another one swooped in to ask for our refreshment orders, disappearing towards the back after that.

One of the beta employees led us to private fitting room, carrying a steaming pot of tea and a platter of assorted biscuits.

“Congratulations on your bond, Pack Alpha.” She whispered setting the plate before her eyes flickered to Ria and Aiden. “Is this your mate?”

“No!” I sharply said, almost high pitched before lowering my tone. “She’s just a friend.”

“Oh I apologise, Luna.” The employee proceeded to bow in front of me.

“Umm…you can call me Rose.”

Her eyes shifted towards Aiden who shook his head, a frustrated sigh escaping him. The Alpha pointedly turned to me. “No can do. This mall belongs to our family business. You are Luna of the Pack and they will refer you as such.”

“Let’s shop already” Ria chirped in, looping an arm around his biceps and adjusting her position, so she's sitting more comfortably. My nose scrunched up at the intimacy between both of them.

"Alright.”

***

The Pack Alpha excused himself as he got a call while Ria and I browsed across the collections from the rack. As Aiden was not around us, I didn't choose anything, waiting for him.

Ria, on the other, picked a few of the coats and asked them to be packed and bill to be sent later. Her phone chimed beside me, to which she politely excused herself.

I stood in the middle of the room, my eyes roaming around when I heard her boots click behind me.

"Aiden texted me and said that he's waiting for us outside the mall. Let's go."

"But we have not shopped yet."

Ria scoffed. "You didn't pick anything?"

"No...I mean, I was waiting for my Alpha."

"Well, he's not coming back here. Let's go."

Disappointment curled in my belly as I thought about the Alpha abruptly cancelling our plan. My head hung low as we exited the shop, dragging my feet along and ignoring the chatter. Lost in my thoughts, I didn’t even realise that Ria was not by my side anymore.

Fear gripped my insides as I slowly inched towards the unfamiliar alley. Where was Aiden? Suddenly my nose flared, inhaling multiple scents at the same time. Ignoring that nagging feeling in my chest, I continued to walk when I heard a low growl behind me; my legs froze.

"Are you lost, little omega?"

***