Chapter 49: Chapter 49

I was elated at the crushed look on Ria's face, especially when Aiden didn't back her up. Maybe a tiny part of me was hoping he would take my side all along. Schooling my features, I stood up, gripping the upper part of the chair till my knuckles turned white. The betas perfumed scent almost contaminated the room we sat in, and I wanted to stop it.

"I am sure you have something else going on. We won't keep you waiting here." I bluntly said, hoping my voice didn't waver at the stare directed towards me.

This was our cabin. A safe place for me to make my nest in future—a thought that caused my cheeks to redden. Shaking my head, I tried to focus on the task at hand. Ria needed to evacuate as soon as possible. Knowing how traditional the pack rules are, Aiden shouldn't have a problem with my decision.

Her eyes flickered to the Pack Alpha as if secretly hoping he would stand up for her.

"This is ridiculous!" The beta exclaimed, throwing her hands in the air, a dramatic flair in her posture as she turned to Aiden. "Are you not going to say anything? I am your friend."

Aiden exhaled, running a hand over his face. "Ria, you know the rules. Please don't make it difficult than it already is. Yeah?"

My lips parted in a low gasp, almost surprised at the turn of events. Lifting my head, I watched as his friend's face fell, and she scowled.

"You are leaving today, and I just want us to spend some time." Ria huffed, standing up, the legs of the chair scraping against the floor. Her bottom lip was pressed in between her teeth.

"I am sorry, but I have a lot of packing to do. I'll see you later."

My eyes widened as those words sank in. I knew for a fact that his bags were packed and already resting in the corner of bedroom. Aiden stuffed everything he would require in his bag the night before. Why was he lying?

"Fine! I'll go then since no one wants me here." Ria stomped her legs extra hard against the floor before walking to the living hall. I watched as the beta rushed past the doors, slamming them.

I cringed as the sound echoed around, almost visibly shaking me. As soon as she was gone, I heard the sound of Aiden clearing his throat, appearing mortified.

With his jaw clenched tight, the Alpha met my eyes, the forest green colour glimmering. "I am sorry about her. Again. Don't know what's gotten into her these days."

"Uh...it's alright."

As the silence stretched between us, I shifted on my feet. My mind was torn between asking him the question I was itching for or staying quiet.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Um...you've already been asking me lots of things."

I chewed on my lips, pink coating my cheeks at his remark. "This is the last one for a while. I promise."

"Sure. Ask away."

"Why did you lie to Ria?"

I heard his sharp intake of breath before the Alpha answered, voice hesitant and rough. "Oh," There was a pause. "I was hoping to have a meal before I leave. Is that alright?"

"Sure, I can make something for you."

"I meant a meal with you."

My head jerked, a bit taken back as I had not expected him to say those words. Shakily I inhaled, bobbing my head in response, throat going dry all of a sudden. What was happening to me?

***

We were supposed to say inside and sit by the fire to stay warm, but the Pack Alpha opened the back door. Timidly I slipped out once I had put on my coats and boots, the sash seeping the floor.

He gave me a look, eyeing the coat warily before taking a step forward. Of course, it slipped past my shoulder way too many times as it belonged to Cara. Tightening the sash around my waist, I stepped outside with a mini picnic basket.

"Let's sit here." He pointed towards the freshly mowed lawn behind our cabin. Its rarely used and only came with Aiden’s cabin because he’s the Pack Alpha.

Nodding my head, I followed him.

I watched as the Alpha laid the blanket on the green ground, awkwardly sitting against the tree, his legs folded together in an Indian style. With bated breath, I pushed the picnic basket in between us, creating much-needed space.

His scent was heady, almost making me drool as the Alpha did not attempt to stop his pheromones. I tried to ignore him and slice the apples we got from the supermarket the night before.

"Here", I forwarded the sliced pieces.

Aiden just looked at me and then raised the apple to his mouth and bit in. I took a piece as well. The apple was deliciously sweet, ripe and fresh, but I couldn't close my eyes and try to savour it because Aiden was busy staring at me. Wiping the juice that trickled past my lips, I looked away.

"So?" He asked, and I forced myself to chew the fruit in my mouth, swallow it down. My mouth was filled with juice, but my throat felt like sandpaper sitting in front of the Alpha.

"I think...." I murmured, "It's perfect."

He lifted his brows, smiling. "You are right. It's perfect and everything I think I could want."

I blinked at him, tilting my head in confusion. Maybe it's just me trying to read too much into his words. Shaking my head, I focused on unpacking the rest of the contents from the basket.

"Tell me something about your pack."

I twisted the sash of my coat in between my hands, kneading the material to relieve the apparent tension that suddenly settled over us. My gaze flickered down at my fingers for a beat before dropping them to my lap again.

"Like what?"

"How was your Pack Alpha? Your pack culture?"

I bit my tongue and was distracted for a minute by sorting through everything in the basket, getting out some wrapped sandwiches and the biscuits and handing a bottle of water to Aiden. I never really spoke about my home and all the stories and folklore surrounding it with anyone who hadn't also grown up here. It was a bit strange to share all of that with someone who didn't get the significance of it. I wondered absentmindedly if sharing too much could end up backfiring.

"Did you miss it?" His voice pulled me out of my head once again.

"Miss what?"

The Pack Alpha shrugged. "Your old pack.

When you left, did you miss it a lot? I mean, you were not the one who's supposed to—" Aiden trailed off, tilting his head slightly as his eyes focused on me with penetrating curiosity that I was a bit uncomfortable with. Why was he curious all of a sudden?

My heart was throbbing, thumping against my ribcage so hard I felt it reverberating through my chest. I breathed in through my nose, smelling damp grass, soil and doughy bread, and let the air out through my nose again, trying to stay calm.

It's just not fair. It's not fair that my mate was trying to be such open and sincere hours before going away. Why did he not do anything all this time? I wanted exactly what he couldn't give.

"Why? Do you want to send me away?" I joked, internally wincing as it fell flat.

He looked horrified at the thought for a mere second before his expression went blank. “No, I thought you would want to visit since I am not here.” Shaking his head, Aiden retracted something from his jacket pocket. I stared with my mouth open as he handed me a white box with an Apple logo on top.

“If you go take this."

"A phone?" I opened and closed my mouth several times.

"Hmm, I ordered it yesterday. It's yours. You can call me while I am away." Aiden cleared his throat, scratching at his neck. "My number is on the sticky note on the fridge."

Gripping the box tightly, I choked on my breath, dumbly nodding my head. "Thank you."

***