Chapter 94: Chapter 94
The afternoon was cold and misty, with a possibility of storms rolling in, the ground muddier than the firm as I walked back to our shared cabin. On my way, I played Ellen’s suggestion about meeting the healer wolf over and over again. The plan appeared to be risky at first, but the omega trainer promised to accompany me and hinted to take Caden along with us.
Beth asked me to read up on some old files the previous Luna kept as a record. They were in the study, so I gathered them and decided to take them back instead of sitting back in the packhouse with the noisy pups running around.
My black boots sank with every step forward, hands wrapping around the coat. I shivered fiercely, breeze rolling by me. There was also a looming worry about telling Aiden, but I had no idea where to start. What if he freaked out? He hated omegas, to begin with, and it took him a long time to accept me.
The thought caused a lump to lodge in my throat, toes curling. After those sweet gestures and genuine smiles, I had no intention of meeting old Aiden again. My grip tightened around the files, and I continued walking, casting my head down in hopes of drowning out the thoughts in my head.
As soon as I returned to the empty cabin, I rushed to my room, eager to read the files. A few minutes later, the chair's hardwood started cutting in my thighs, my lower back aching from the constant hunch in it, the neck in even more pain. Suddenly I picked on the sound of the floor creaking, head averting to the side only to see Aiden approach me.
The Alpha halted by the door, his head tilting slightly to the right, the long brown curls shifting with the action. I could tell something was happening inside the man’s head—he’s thinking hard about something, eyes boring into the files.
It occurred to me that the previous Luna meant Aiden’s mother, so I quickly shut the files, subconsciously straightening my back. My eyes clenched shut, cursing under my breath for not hiding it sooner.
The Alpha never talked about his mother, so I had no chance of knowing their past, only that she left the pack house. No one spoke of her, but then again, she was the Luna who abandoned an entire pack. I tried not to flinch as his footsteps got noisier, my toes curling.
Aiden delicately placed his hand against my spine, gently pressing as he ran it along the length of the curve. I released the breath I was holding, almost letting my head drop to the grain of the wood table at the ministrations. His hands are hard, but the roughness worked to soothe my back and turn my muscles to jelly underneath his palms.
“Did you have lunch?” He cleared his throat, my body sagging in relief at the change in topic.
“Umm…No. I was hoping we could eat together.”
With that, I moved out of my chair and turned to face him, our bodies extremely close to each other. The lights on the ceiling casts a soft orange glow over his skin. His eyes appeared dark green, and I could barely tell them apart from the pupil, but the tiny golden flecks hidden within the pools of darkness were evident.
“Good. I have been waiting to see you.”
His cold, pale fingers wrapped themselves around my wrists, and the Alpha turned my hands with his own. I watched at his face closely as he inspected my hands, biting his lower lip hard. Aiden held my hand reverently, staring at it with such an intensity it felt like my hand was on fire.
My cheeks flushed at his reply, face turning hot as I tried to find words. “I got so busy with reading that I forgot to cook.”
The Alpha chuckled, the husky, rough baritone sending shivers down my spine, “Maybe it’s an opportunity for us to cook together, yeah?”
It’s so quiet in my room that I could hear Aiden’s shaky breathing mingle with mine, my palms turned clammy. The room felt impossibly hot, our eyes locked, and our bodies were impossibly close to one another. My eyes flickered towards his full round lips, the sudden urge to kiss him developing in me.
As if Aiden read the thoughts in my mind, he leaned in too, my eyes fluttering shut and heart racing in my chest. But then the moment was shattered into a million shards of glass as the Alpha took a step back, dropping my hand and avoiding my gaze.
“I’m sorry,” He awkwardly coughed. “I shouldn’t have—I didn’t mean to.” Aiden took a few more frantic steps backwards, his hand tugging on his lock ends in frustration. “Excuse me.”
“Aiden”, I called out before he could turn on his feet, my cheeks reddening in humiliation. He rejected my advance. “I-I thought you liked me.”
The Alpha widened his eyes, bobbing his head. “Of course I do! What made you—Oh! I am sorry I pulled away….” He cleared his throat, scratching at the base of his neck awkwardly. “I thought you would not be comfortable and maybe regret it…I mean, after how things turned out between us last time…” Aiden inched closer to me, a furrow in between his brows. “We can kiss now if you want.”
A laugh bubbled out of me, shaking my head at him.
***
I was so engrossed in making lunch with him and exchanging childhood stories that I forgot to mention Ria. Aiden was a riot to cook with, especially with his habit of not cleaning up after and coming up with lame excuses. We made a decent meal out of leftover rice and grilled meat along with some potatoes. That was the first time my stomach hurt, and I burst into tears from laughing too much.
The following day Caden and Ellen came to take me with them to the healer wolf. It was out of nowhere, and I did not plan it. Aiden had yet to know, but Ellen was adamant about finishing up as soon as possible. There was a chance that the healer wolf may relocate or flee from her place. So we cannot miss the opportunity.
After making an excuse about attending early training, I stuck the note on the freezer fridge and rushed out. The Alpha trainer and my friend both stood with their backpacks, ready to march out.
“Do you think it’s wise for all of us to go at the same time?” I asked as we started taking the back route of the cabins that led to the pack boundary.
Ellen huffed. “There is no way we are letting our Luna go alone and put herself at unnecessary risk.”
“You know I can fight now, right?” I made a face, my eyes squinting at the harsh rays falling on my face. After forgetting the lunch yesterday I thought I would make up to Aiden by cooking his favourite breakfast. So much for my plans.
Caden made a sound, nudging my elbow. “Still, that does not mean you should go alone.”
“Whatever.”
We walked for a few more miles, my legs aching and clothes sticking to my body. I almost regretted wearing a coat, but it was chilly back in the pack. Maybe deeper in the woods, the temperature is warm. As soon as we heard the sound of stream rushing, Ellen stopped me and pointed towards the wolf hunched over.
I stilled as the creature whipped its head around; my mouth dropped open, face paling as I met the identical set of eyes staring back at me. “Mom?”
***