Chapter 57: Chapter 57

“Luna”, I heard someone leaning over slightly and lowering their voice only to realise it's Beth.

Ever since we received the news of the guards and Aiden coming back, it was decided that celebrations were in order. My pack didn’t do these things because our Alpha was a timid, scaredy-cat who didn’t believe in helping others. Despite the neighbouring packs begging him several times, he barely moved.

“Huh?” I asked, finally refocusing my stare on her, ignoring the chatter from around us. The mated omegas and betas were getting dolled up in the middle of the living room for some reason, giggling loudly among themselves. Something tugged inside me, knowing that they were going through these efforts for their Alphas.

Ever since I heard the news, my feet barely moved away, following Beth like a lost puppy and watching the unmated betas and omegas run around to get everything needed for the celebrations tonight.

“I don’t know if you are aware of this, but there is something mated betas and omegas have to do as part of welcoming ritual.” The housekeeper slowly started, her words drawling.

I stared at her with eyebrows raised and wide eyes, toes curling around the cold floor. What could it possibly be?

“Oh, okay.” I breathed. “What is it?”

Sucking a sharp breath, Beth met my eyes, “All the mated omegas and betas hide in the forest, and their mates have to find them. They have to do it before the festivities at night.”

I swallowed, my clammy hands rubbing on the side of the dress, heart thudding loudly in my chest. “Umm…what happens if they fail to find us?”

“They will be punished for the night.”

Beth murmured, her hand tightening the apron around her. “One who fails to find their mate will spend the night all alone.”

A loud, nervous cackle curled past my lips, prompting everyone in the room to turn their heads in our direction. I hid the wince and shook my head. “I-It sounds fun. I am very excited!”

Not. What if the Alpha doesn’t find me? I didn’t want him to get upset because of that. Anger flared in my stomach for a fraction of time, cursing the person who came up with such a tradition. My brain was running in overdrive and terrified of accidentally messing it up.

“The tradition was started in our pack to test the guards who have been away. To see if they can still recognise the scent of their mate while being away. A couple who have been bonded for a while easily recognise their mate.” Beth fondly murmured, a long lost look taking over her features as she stared at the wall behind me. “It's romantic in a sense, don’t you think?”

I let out a sigh, curling in on myself.

***

I turned around and stumbled, hurrying along the pavement until I found a dark and narrow path leading to the forest. Cutting the edge, I managed to find a huge old tree, almost leaning due to the weight, pressing my back to the wet and icy trunk. My heartbeat thundered in my ears, obscenely loud in the surrounding silence while my eyes rolled back.

We were instructed to run as soon as the patrols on the border saw the vehicles of guards and signalled us.

Few minutes passed as I kept staring at the sky, turning hues of blue and purple, wind picking up. My arms came to wrap around my body, and I lolled my head back, eyes rolling back.

Will Aiden be able to find me? The Alpha did have strong abilities, so maybe he will. Lost in my thoughts, I almost dozed off while still pressed against the tree.

“Found you!” A voice whispered in my ears, followed by a blow of hot air, causing me to jump. My head shot up so quickly that I could feel my neck crack, blinking several times before I could see my Alpha standing in front of me—Aiden.

Goosebumps instantly prickled at my skin, the hair on the back of my neck standing up.

I noticed that he was freshly shaved, jaw sharper, hair messily falling over his forehead whilst clad in a soft charcoal jumper, an overcoat and tight jeans complemented by shiny black boots.

My breath hitched in my throat. I was unsure how to feel because this wasn’t a scenario I ever imagined could become a reality—Aiden finding me. My tongue felt heavy in my mouth, my throat going dry.

He held my gaze for a drawn-out moment in which neither of us exchanged a word, and I barely managed to breathe. There was tension in the air that I couldn’t define.

Aiden’s eyes were so bright even in this darkened space, digging into my skin. For a second, I contemplated running away, but also didn’t want to get away from him. I couldn’t tell where these thoughts were coming from all of a sudden but they started gnawing at my insides.

“You did!” I awkwardly chuckled, tucking the loose strands of my hair behind my ear.

I heard a fast intake of air, and the tip of his tongue darting out, licking briefly and unconsciously. “I must confess; I didn’t think I would miss you, but I did.”

As soon as those words sunk in my skin, my throat ran dry, fingers twitching as I held my breath. Did he say those words out loud? It would be a lie if I claimed to have not replicated that feeling. Almost every minute of every cold and dark hour, I thought back to Aiden.

Hearing him share the same sentiment felt surreal and painfully honest at the same time, and I had no idea what I was supposed to do.

“And I missed you too, Alpha,” I said because there was no reason to hold it back. Another moment of silence, not tense this time, but oddly cleared and relieved, settled over us.

“Did you?” He took a step close.

“Y-Yes”

Aiden was so close that I could feel his warm breath on my face. For a moment, I wondered if I could lean closer, wrap my arms around his neck as reunited mates did. Was I allowed that privilege? My omega urged me to bury my face in his neck and inhale his sharp yet earthy scent.

My gaze flickered between his eyes and his lips, silently urging him to make a decision that I could not.

As if he read the thoughts racing through my mind, his hand came to rest on the trunk above my head, crowding my space. His thumb traced the outline of my jaw, softly, trailing, a barely-there touch that sent a wave of heat up my spine. I tried to suppress a shudder, inhaling a sharp breath, a treacherous hitch in my throat, trying to keep my pulse even but failing.

My heart was beating solidly against my chest as his eyes lock with my own; the hint of a smile touched his lips. I licked my bottom lip on instinct, and he blinked rapidly, shaking his head.

“Alpha,” I murmured, and that was all the confirmation he needed to press his lips to the corner of my mouth, so achingly tender. My heart fluttered with certainty, eyes rolling back.

He stroked my mouth with more pressure then tried to ease back, running his tongue across the velvet flesh of my bottom lip. With a soft sigh, I parted my mouth, and the Alphas tongue slipped in, tasting the contours as I let out a breathless mewl.

My tongue met his with a soft flick, almost hesitant, hands gripping at the side of his overcoat.

As the Alpha tried to get even closer, alarms rang in my head, reminding me how desperate an Alpha can get when he has his omega underneath him.

The thought made my knees grow weak, my skin growing too tight and only now did I realise that I have been fantasising about our kiss. Ever since that day night, he saved me. And I had just assumed that it would always remain nothing more than a mere fantasy – something pleasant to think about. But Aiden was so real, pressing against my body that every single nerve stood on edge.

As the kiss grew aggressive and more desperate, I tried to hold on to something, wrapping my around his neck when I heard the Alpha growl.

***