Chapter 62: Chapter 62

/Aiden’s POV/

I never realised that the mate pull could be so intense as to let go of all my inhibitions and control. The talk with my father lasted for barely five minutes, in which he hugged me for solid two minutes. He can be an emotional guy when he wants to be. As I walked out of the packhouse, my eyes fell on two familiar faces, and I froze.

The sight of Rose with someone else, calling his name and laughing like they are long lost friends stirred something in me. My back stiffened, and I couldn’t control the words slipping past my throat.

She gawked at me as I said those words out aloud, her lips parting.

“O-Oh, we are just friends.”

Before I could form a coherent reply to that, someone slapped an arm on my shoulder, tugging on my shoulder. Looking around, I noticed Liam grinning at me, showing his pearly whites. As soon as my friend saw Rose standing in front of me, the beta bowed down.

See? That wasn’t hard. Why couldn’t Caden do the same thing? The Alpha trainer was strangely getting on my nerves.

“Good evening, Luna.”

Rose returned his smile, her eyes glimmering. “Liam! So nice to see you. Are you okay? How is your mate doing?”

My best friends lips twitched at that, straightening his back. “She is healthy as ever and always talks about you. You and Alpha Aiden should visit us soon. We will be happy to host you.”

Her head automatically tilted to me; her brow arched as if waiting for me to answer. Of course, I would want to visit my beta and his mate. They were expecting a pup soon, so that’s the reason I didn’t go there often.

“We would love to!”

“Great. I cannot wait.” Liam beamed.

Just then, Beth, our housekeeper, waved at us from the door, motioning towards Rose. The omega blinked in confusion before excusing herself politely. My mouth twisted at that. It felt as if everyone was hell-bent on interrupting us tonight. Her hips swayed under that jacket, and I couldn’t take my eyes off the omega as she slipped inside the door.

A sigh escaped my lips.

“Nice hair, Alpha Aiden,” Liam teased, wriggling his brows, not having caught up with the situation just yet. His eyes focused on the single strand that escaped the gel and fell over my forehead.

“I dragged myself out of bed against my will, so you do not get to mock the hair.”

The guards soon gathered around us, glasses clanking, and a few short, gurgling noises reached my ears. My eyes were solely focused on Caden making two drinks with a smile on his face. What was the Alpha trainer so happy about?

Suddenly I couldn’t think and focus on anything else, barely able to sense my body as Liam guided me to a chair and pushed me down. It took several long minutes for me to beat the ugly feeling in my chest down and breathe in deeply.

“Alpha Aiden, we won because of you!” Someone mumbled from the group, their voice slurred and noisy.

“Yes! All toast to our future Pack Alpha.”

I tuned them out because Rose was right there, now walking strangely close to Caden. They appeared to be talking, chunks of words echoing back, but I could barely comprehend them. He also handed her a drink, smiling brightly as she accepted with an eye roll. Annoyingly, it made my hackles rise and skin tingling with the same unfounded jealousy that had overcome me when I discovered them calling each other by name not even a few minutes ago.

“You will burn a hole in that poor Alphas skull,” Liam murmured, plopping on the empty seat next to me.

I pretended to look away and focus on the liquid in my hand, tightening the grip. A flush spread down my neck at being caught, jaw clenching tight. “I don’t know what you are talking about.”

“Please! Let’s not play this game, Aiden. We are way past that.”

I grumbled, swivelling my chair to meet his eyes. “Fine! What do you want me to say? Admit that I am jealous of some unmated trainer punk who is friends with my mate.”

“That’s a start.” Liam chuckled, taking a sip of his drink. He sympathetically patted at my side before nudging me. “You don’t need to worry. From what I heard, some omega is already behind him.”

Hope blossomed in my chest at those words, and I set the drink on the nearest table, eyes twinkling. That means he won’t be available and can back off my mate. I raised my brow. “Does he like her back?”

Liam sheepishly smiled. “I don’t think so.”

“How is this helping my situation?” I scowled at my friend, a groan slipping past my throat as I slumped in my chair.

“Aiden!” The beta suddenly got serious. “You don’t need to worry about them. I know Rose would never do something to hurt you. Have a little faith in her.”

I ran my hand in my hair, looking away as those words sank in. My gaze settled on the pair laughing about something when it dawned on me that I did trust Rose; it was Caden who irked me. After all, Alphas are the most two-faced creatures ever.

***

The dinner began shortly. My father asked Rose and I to take the centre seat, allowing us to thank the guards. As the Luna of the pack, she had to give them gifts for safe return and say a few words. In my opinion, Rose handled that way better than I expected.

We were free to use the bar set up on the side after that. Music began blaring from the speakers, fire crackling and giving the entire atmosphere a soft glow. Some of them even gathered on the raised platform and started dancing with their mates. Rose, on the other hand, had slipped away with some of the guard's wives after the dinner.

As soon as I spotted my mate swaying in the chair, giggling loudly and drawing attention, my feet carried towards the omega. My brow knitted together seeing the flush that settled on her cheeks, eyes blearily blinking at me, lips slick and wet.

“My Alpha!” She noisily yelled, using her hands to beckon me closer, her fingers opening and closing. The omega threw herself in my arms, the cold tip of her nose pressing into my scent glands. “Mine!”

I tried to steady her, cheeks turning red as all the omegas gawked at us. Rose started trailing her fingers on the side of my face, an awed sound leaving her lips. “Y-You are so gorgeous.” She hiccuped, slapping a hand over her mouth and started giggling.

“Sorry, Alpha Aiden, we had no idea that it’s her first time drinking alcohol.”

“We only wanted to have drinks with our Luna.” Another one admitted. I turned to the other ladies, glaring at them. How could they let her get so out of it?

“Rose?” I softly murmured, standing by her side, our eyes locked. “Can you get up for me?”

“A-Anything for you, my dear husband.” She slurred.

“Excuse us, ladies.”

Rose made some noises causing me to haul the omega to her feet. We swayed and stumbled because she couldn’t quite feel her legs at first, one arm draped over my shoulder. I snaked an arm around her waist to support her as we discreetly slipped out of there.

The last thing I wanted was my father and Beth to find her in that condition.

I manoeuvred us around a corner and towards our cabin that looked very daunting in the semi-dark, challenging considering Rose lack of control over her limbs. She let out a sharp cry when I offered to pick her up bridal side, wanting to walk by my side—having no other choice, I gave up and let her have her way.

***

“Go to sleep now.” I pressed my fingers into her shoulder and slowly easing her down on the bed. She went lax under my hold, her head lolling back to rest on the pillow underneath. “That’s it.”

Rose exhaled loudly, licking her lips. The painful tightness in my chest dissipated a little at the sight of her eyelashes fanning her cheekbones, mouth parted. She looked serene and calm in her sleep.

I slowly retreated my arm and started to move away, the floor creaking as I shifted my weight.

“Alpha.”

My eyes widened as her fingers suddenly closed around my wrist, at this one word spilling from her lips without a second thought. For one mortifyingly long moment, I hovered without movement, without a sound.

“I-I think…I-I like you. A lot.”

I swallowed thickly as those words sank in, my chest and throat burning. Panic seized my insides; a lump lodged in my throat. The omega gripped my hand so tightly that her nails were digging into my skin, making me wince.

“I-I wish you would like me back, Alpha.”

***