Chapter 98: Chapter 98

/Aiden’s POV/

It was dark as I reached the packhouse and looked up towards the familiar door with my heart caught in my throat. It’s deserted and quiet, with only a few windows illuminated, colouring the outside snow in warm hues that dragged shadows with them. Amidst I could hear my own pulse throbbing loudly in my ears. My legs are cold and stiff when I took the slippery steps up to the front door, my breath a light cloud in front of my face, arms rigid by my side.

“What are you doing?” I uttered to no one but myself as I unfroze my hands and lifted them. My knuckles almost stuck to the icy wood of the door when I knocked, holding my breath.

It didn’t take nearly as long as I hoped for the door to be opened, and I was face to face with the housekeeper in her impeccable dress and warm eyes.

“Aiden, did you need something?”

I cleared my throat. “Umm…actually—”

“Oh, moons! It must be freezing outside. Come on in. I will put a kettle for you.”

My feet seemed to move on their own. The old housekeeper led the way along the dimly lit corridor, and we were surrounded by silence, not even a single floorboard creaking in the entire house aside from our steps. I guess the mated couples must be back in their cabin, and the rest of the pack members have retreated to their rooms.

As soon as Beth disappeared into the kitchen, I slowly made my way towards the bar, hoping to find Damon. Liam told me a few minutes ago that the Alpha was packing his bag, ready to go the first thing in the morning. I did not want to end his trip on a bad note, especially since the bond we share as best friends.

My body froze when I spotted his weirdly shaped head in the room, a sigh forcing out of my breath. As if on instinct, Damon let his gaze wander around, presumably because he had to do something rather than sip his drink in silence. The Alphas eyes fall onto me, widened, and he stilled.

It’s as if invisible fingers were encircling my throat, squeezing all air out of me, making me momentarily dizzy. Should I make a run for it? The thought of facing him after the way things ended between us made me nervous, palms turning cold and clammy.

“Aiden?” His voice pulled me away from my thoughts. There’s still time to turn around and run. I was quick, always has been. But what’s the point, I thought, fully knowing that escaping won’t make me stop thinking about our upcoming dual. Or how the Alpha suddenly changed his mind about it.

Exhaling a deep breath, I walked towards him, slowly and cautiously, with a tight-lipped smile taking over my face.

“Did you—what are you doing here?”

“I was just,” I managed, swiping a tongue over my lips, taking a calming breath in through my nose. “Walking back home and decided to stop by.”

Damon snickered at the blatant lie. “You cannot even lie properly.”

“Is it that obvious?”

“With you, it always is.” He patted to the seat next to him, beckoning me closer. “Let’s have a drink together.”

“Are you sure you won’t punch me?” I teasingly asked, the joke falling flat in the room. Pulling the chair, I slumped, my hand tightening around the empty glass.

“Whiskey?”

“Sure!”

I cleared my throat, filling the awkward silence that settled over the room. Never did I think we would move to a stage where words couldn’t fill the void. All because of Ria and her selfish means, the thought of her name boiled my blood.

“Liam told me you are leaving tomorrow morning.”

“Is that why you came to see me?”

“Yes.” I sighed, realising there’s no use in pretending anymore. “Damon, you should know that I would never do anything to hurt you or put our friendship into risk—”

“I know.” He cut me off, mid speech, forwarding the now filled glass in my direction, his lips tilted downwards. “Ria talked to me a few hours ago.” Damon let out a humourless chuckle, taking a sip of his drink, shaking his head. “It just made me realise how stupid and hopeful I have been all this time. She never wanted me to begin with, and I behaved extra in hopes that things would turn my way.”

My stomach twisted at that. “Stop it! You had no idea.”

“Still, that does not make it any better.”

I winced. “What did she say to you?”

“Basically how this is all her fault, and she is ashamed for letting it affect our friendship. She finally realised that you will not reciprocate her feelings, and she is going to change for good now.”

I refrained from rolling my eyes at those words, fully knowing how the beta fooled me the same way. “So what have you decided? As an Alpha, you can reject her, and no one will bat an eye.”

“Don’t you think I know that?” Damon snorted, swirling the liquid in his glass, pitifully staring at the rim. “Call me a fool, but I am giving her another chance. My pack members were so excited when I told them the news, so I want this to be real.”

“What do you mean?”

“I am taking Ria back with me.” He straightened his back, angling the chair in my direction. “Before leaving, I was going to ask you as future Pack Alpha for permission and also apologise about the dual thing.” Damon smiled sheepishly, his cheeks appearing pink, which might be due to the cold outside or that he was embarrassed about the turn of events.

I nudged his side. “Is that why you have been drinking?”

“You know me! Liquid courage.” He chuckled along, eyes crinkling by the sides.

“So we good?” I asked in a small hopeful voice.

“Of course!” Damon raised his glass in the air, and we clinked them together, my shoulders sagging in relief.

***

On my way to our cabin, I decided to take a detour and get little something as a gift to Rose. After all, she was the one who made it possible for our friendship to be restored. My feet automatically stopped on arriving at the bakery, head ducking at cold biting my cheeks.

The omega loved their croissants, but we rarely had them as it was miles away from pack house. She had it during one of the meetings and told me about it while we got to talking. I could not forget about it.

I discreetly paid for the order and slipped past the couples walking around the park, holding their gloved hands together. A smile curved around my lips, imagining doing something similar with Rose. I quickly shook my head, embarrassed at the sudden thought, before continuing my journey.

My feet shifted on the porch, teeth chattering together as I knocked on our front door. Usually, I carried a key along with me, but that was in my other coat pocket. I blew a puff of air through my mouth, watching the white mist in front.

Rose opened the door with a huge smile on her face. “What took you so long?”

Hiding a smile, I raised the paper bag in the air, dangling it in front of her. “I am sure you can guess, baby!”

“No way!” She let out a gasp, sniffing at the bag while quickly snatching it from my grasp and holding it closer to her chest. “How did you know?”

I shrugged, my hands curling in a fist as a gust of wind blew by. “You said it was your favourite!”

“This is why I like you!” Rose exclaimed, not realising the words that slipped out of her mouth. It was enough to make me freeze on the spot but not from cold this time.

***