by Rua Hasan
Jimmy came over to us while holding a book in his hand. He was always Alice’s favorite grandchild. I think it was the way they thought alike.
He gave the book to Alice so she could read it for him. Alice was just finishing up the first page when she dropped the book and fell to the ground.
I got up immediately trying to stop what I knew was going to happen. But deep down inside, I knew it was too late.
That was when my world stopped.
My eyes snapped open. The sun was shining into the room, making it perfectly clear that there was no more room for sleep.
That’s when I remembered the dream I just had last night. It was enough to keep me wide awake.
Well, it was more like a memory.
My heart was still racing, and I was sweating a lot for some reason. Yes, it was spring, but it wasn’t hot that I would sweat in bed. I decided to get up and have a nice long shower before seeing my parents, but when I tried to get up, I was held back down.
What?
Oh please don’t tell me I’m chained to the wall again.
I looked around to see that I was in the same place I slept in last night.
But why can’t I move?
Suddenly someone mumbling in their sleep made me realize what was going on.
Oh no he didn’t! He is so dead.
I turned my head to the side to see Aiden’s sleeping face. His arms were securely wrapped around my waist as his bare chest was pressed up against my back. Aiden was practically a second blanket.
For a moment, I stared at his sleeping expression. He looked so peaceful, not the serious Alpha I met yesterday.
I stopped my thoughts from wandering off, grabbed a glass of water that was resting on the counter next to me, and poured it all over his face.
That will show him!
He got up as soon as the water touches his face. He looked around. I could hear his heart beating so fast. I bet I scared the crap out of him. Once he saw me, he relaxed a bit but seemed pissed. He ran his hand through his wet hair while groaning.
I was trying so hard not to laugh.
“What was that for?” he asked.
I ignored his question.
“What on earth were you doing sleeping next to me?” I asked, hiding my amusement.
He got up, displaying his gorgeous body.
“Geez, you’re such a pain to deal with. I couldn’t sleep last night, so I came here. Besides, that’s my bed,” he grumbled.
I lifted one of my eyebrows at him and crossed my arms over my chest.
“I gave you a choice yesterday, and that was to give me a separate room,” I said.
He looked at me then shook his head.
“Not happening.”
God, he is so stubborn! Looks like he wants to wake up like this every morning.
I got off of the bed and made my way to the bathroom. I did my daily morning routine: took a shower, braided my hair, and brushed my teeth. Today, I chose to wear a floral dress, which was one of my favorite.
I walked out of the room to see Aiden gone and Marie sitting on the bed eating a granola bar.
Once she saw me, she got up and gave me a hug.
“Hey, immo. How was your first night here? Well, I mean first night here not chained up,” she hesitantly said the last part which made me laugh.
I nodded my head at her and spoke, “It was delightful.”
She smiled at me and handed me a granola bar.
I took it thankfully because I wasn’t planning on eating breakfast with Aiden. All I wanted to do was see my parents and clear up what happened yesterday.
“Do you know where my parents are?” I asked Marie.
She shook her head while stuffing the last piece of granola in her mouth.
“Let’s go look for them.”
She grabbed my arm and dragged me out of the room.
Marie kept on telling me about the pack while she gave me a tour of the pack house. I found out that she, Liam, and Aiden were actually childhood friends, which surprised me. Yet that was not the only thing which surprised me. It was the vision everybody outside of this pack had of Aiden.
The cruel and serious alpha turned out to be only rumors. Aiden was nothing like that at all.
We were walking through an empty hall when I bumped into some guy. I looked up to apologize, but when I saw who it was, I immediately changed my mind.
Great, I just had to bump into him!
James, the guy who slapped me, and I kicked his balls.
He growled when he noticed it was me then gave me a threatening look.
“What are you doing out of the dungeon, you bloodsucker?”
Looks like Aiden hasn’t spread word that I’m his mate.
That’s supposed to be a good thing right?
I was surprised when James came my way and pushed me against the wall. He held my neck in his hands, and I rose a little from the ground. My body pleaded for oxygen. I was paralyzed in shock, but once I recovered from it, I tried to break free.
Yeah, but here’s the thing. James was a warrior, a wolf with a higher ranking than mine, so my strength wasn’t completely near his.
Marie was begging him to let me go, but he wouldn’t budge. I saw Marie’s eyes roll up, looking toward the ceiling, as she stood still. I bet she was mind-linking someone.
I started to squirm in his hold, getting a little dizzy. Black spots blurred my vision. I wasn’t going to die from this, but I was surely going to pass out.
I heard James’s voice whisper in my ear, “You think you can trespass then hit me and get away with it? You are going to pay, and I’m going to make sure your death is painful.”
Okay, this dude has some issues. I don’t know if it’s because I’m a vampire or because I hit him, but he definitely hates my guts.
I felt like my lungs were about to explode, and Marie’s screaming started to fade as darkness took over my vision. But before I could completely pass out, a vicious growl was heard throughout the hall.
James released me, and I fell to the ground coughing and sucking in as much air as I could get. I looked up to see a furious Aiden.
And he looked ready to kill.
Chapter 6
Aiden was shaking with rage, and it meant only one thing.
His wolf.
Before I could blink, he was already shifted.
And wow, was he gorgeous.
His wolf was huge. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like it. He had so much power radiating from him; it made me want to submit. But my stubbornly side never wanted to give in. His amazingly gray fur stood out so much. I’ve never heard of an Alpha with gray fur; they’re usually black, which is why Aiden was so special in a way. All I could think of was running my hand through it.
While I was lost in my thoughts, I didn’t notice that Aiden ran toward James and attacked. I was surprised when James shifted just before Aiden could touch him.
Will he dare fight back against his Alpha? I don’t really blame him. I mean, he is fighting for his life after all. I wouldn’t want to go down without a fight either.
James’s wolf was dark brown and bigger than an average male wolf but not larger than Aiden. When James bit on Aiden’s leg, I started to panic.
Oh, I hope Aiden doesn’t get hurt.
Wait, since when did I start to care about him? I mean, I only met him yesterday. Curse you, stupid mate bond!
It was like I kept going in a circle. My mind and heart were racing, and I couldn’t control them. One minute I was listening to my mind, then the other I was being controlled by my heart.
Aiden was growling at James viciously. His eyes turned black, which meant he was furious. I would hate to be James. Aiden was sure going to kill him.
Aiden’s wolf was on top of James. As he bit into his chest, you could hear James’s wolf barking in pain. He didn’t stand a chance against Aiden.
What surprised me was that Aiden didn’t go for the neck. No, he went
for the legs, then the arms, then his stomach. I knew why. He was making his death painful.
I remembered Alice once telling me that the neck was the wolf’s Achilles heel. A direct kill.
But Aiden wasn’t looking for one. He wanted him to suffer.
There was blood scattered all over the ground, which made me hungry. I always had a weakness when it came to blood. It’s just so good. I mean, you can’t really blame me. What do you expect from a vampire?
Marie wrapped her arms around me, comforting me. But it’s not like I needed the comfort. I thought the brown wolf under Aiden who’s losing a lot of blood needed it more than I did. She was whispering words that I could not make out. All my concentration was on James’s lifeless body lying on the floor as Aiden continued to rip his body to shreds.
You might be thinking that this will traumatize me, but no. I’ve seen worse. Like maybe the day Alice died right in front of my eyes. That, my friend, was traumatizing.
Once Aiden calmed down, he came over to me and licked my bruised neck. I bet by tomorrow it would be healed. He nuzzled his nose in the crook of my neck, and he inhaled my scent. It was very hard for me to resist. I couldn’t hold back, so I did the thing that my mind was begging me to do. I ran my hands through his soft gray fur.
I think I just heard him purr. Wolves don’t purr, right?
His wolf licked my cheek in approval.
How can this be the same wolf who just killed someone?
Marie went to grab some clothes for Aiden to wear because when he shifted, they were ripped to shreds. Once she was back, Aiden shifted to his human form and, oh my gosh, I think my face was red as a tomato. I looked at the ground as I turned around, leaving my back facing him as he changed. I heard him chuckle at my reaction. Once I was sure that he was done, I turned around and was pulled to his chest.
He smelled like blood, and if I weren’t a vampire, I would have found this disturbing. Something deep down inside me was relieved to see him okay and not hurt. His leg was healing really fast since he was an Alpha.
His thumb stroked my neck as he inspected me for any other injuries. I pulled away and spoke, “You did not have to kill him.”
He shook his head at me as his eyes darkened.
“You’re defending him when he was about to kill you? He deserved it. No one should lay their hands on you. No one!” he growled.
I decided to drop the subject. Even though I didn’t like James, I don’t think anyone deserves death. Everyone should be given a second chance.
I pulled away from Aiden, and he growled. But I just rolled my eyes.
“I want to go see my parents. Do you know where they are? Oh, and you should probably go take a shower. You smell like blood,” I mumbled the last part.
He grinned widely.
“Oh, but you know you like it. Don’t you just want to eat me up?” he asked.
Wow, someone’s a little too cocky.
I rolled my eyes at him and shook my head.
“Please, I'd rather eat garlic.”
He laughed really hard. His laugh was music to my ears. Beautiful.
Half an hour later, I was sitting with my parents in the same room they slept in last night. Aiden had some pack work, so he showed me to their room and left. I was so nervous.
What will my parents say? Will they hate me, or will they accept the fact I am mated to a werewolf?
My mom seemed completely fine when she saw me, but I could tell that she was worried. While my dad wasn’t raging, I could tell he was pissed. My parents meant so much to me since they were the only ones left around, so I needed their approval. Their thoughts mean the world to me and knowing that something could get in the way scares me.
Being a vampire means one thing—immortality. Which means that everyone around you will die. You will have to grow up and live with the fact that sooner or later you will be alone.
Swallowing the lump in my throat, I tried not to think about Alice. But I knew deep down inside that my experience with her was the greatest example of how being a vampire is like. Which was why I was so attached to my parents.
We weren’t like humans who separate after a certain age. We stuck together just like any other vampire family.
“Mom, Dad, I really don’t know what to tell you. I really don’t know what to do about this situation. I just hope you guys aren’t disappointed in me,” I whispered the last part.
My parents got up from where they were sitting and gave me a warm, loving hug.
“Oh, sweetie, why would we be disappointed in you?” my mom began. “It’s just when we heard the news we were both shocked and worried. We just want you to be safe and happy.”
I looked at my dad then asked, “But why were you so mad yesterday when Aiden told you I was his mate? It’s because he’s a werewolf isn’t it?”
My dad shook his head while chuckling.
“Oh, sweetie, you don’t get it. Yes, I don’t quite get along with werewolves—”
Before he could finish, my mom raised an eyebrow at him and said, “Don’t get along? Lucas, you hate them.”
I smiled.
“Bella, let me continue. Geez, as I was saying, I don’t care if he’s a wolf, vampire, hybrid, or human. You’re my baby girl, and just seeing you grow up so fast makes me think you don’t need us anymore.”
I was shocked to hear what he just said. I was always daddy’s little girl, even though I was more than a hundred years old. I gave my parents a big smile as I tried to prevent the tears threatening to escape my eyelids.
“Mom, Dad, you guys will always be number one in my heart. No one will ever replace you.”
Then the thought came into my mind: What will I do with Aiden?
“It’s just I’m confused on what to do. Aiden is my mate, but he is mortal. I don’t want to lose another important person in my life,” I whispered, looking at my lap as I played with my fingers nervously. My voice cracked in the end.
My mom took my hand in hers and smiled at me sadly. I’m pretty sure she knows who I was talking about.
“What does your heart want? I know you’re afraid of what’s coming, but sometimes you just have to stop worrying about the future and live the present. Take a couple of risks and have fun with your life. I just want to tell you that being with your mate is one of the best things in life.”
When she said the last part, she looked at my dad. They were so much in love; it sometimes made me envy them.
I realized that what my mom said was right.
What does my heart want? I still don’t know yet.
“Oh, and we have a little of bad news,” Dad’s worried voice broke off the moment.
Bad news? Splendid! Now what?
I looked at my dad so he could continue, but my mom beat him to it.
“Sweetie, Uncle Robert has gotten himself into an accident.”
My mom paused as my eyes widened in surprise.
“He was out with a couple of friends when some wolves decided to attack. He is really injured, and not even his vampire powers can heal him,” my mom continued.
I ran my hands over my face and through my hair. This must be so difficult for my mom to deal with. They were really close. After all of her family died, she had no one but him. Letting out a sigh of frustration, I looked back up at my parents.
“Me and your father decided that tomorrow morning we’re going to go visit him and make sure he’s okay.”
What? Uncle Robert lived all the way in Japan!
“How long will you be gone? What about me? Can’t I come with you?” I asked.
They’re going to leave me here all alone in a pack with Aiden!
My dad shook his head then spoke, “Sweetie, we will be gone for probably three to four weeks, and Aiden won’t allow us to take you with us for that long.”
Dammit! Where is the overly protective father when I need him?
I sighed in defeat. I didn’t want to stay here all alone, but I couldn’t prev
ent my parents from going. They had to go.
I nodded my head understandingly.
“Okay, but you guys have to call me every day and tell me what happens,” I said sternly, narrowing my eyes.
My parents nodded their heads.
Sometimes I feel like I’m the one who’s parenting around.
The day was pretty boring aside from the fact I witnessed someone being killed. I spent my afternoon with Marie. We were getting pretty close. She told me that she hasn’t found her mate yet.
I know I never bring this up, but I gave up on finding my mate years ago. It’s really rare for a vampire to find their mate. Living for so long had an effect on us. We usually don’t get to meet them probably because they died years before we get the chance to meet them. The only possibility you can find your mate is if they’re a vampire. If not, then your chances are very low.
I remembered the day Alice first met her mate. It was probably the best day of her life. They say being with your mate completes you. But how can you feel complete if you know that it’s going to end? In a very, very terrible way.
Death.
I walked into Aiden’s bedroom, still not accepting the fact that it’s mine too.
The room was empty, so I decide to get changed and go to sleep. My parents are leaving early tomorrow to catch their flight, so I’ll be waking up around six o’clock. I walked into the closet where I put my clothes in and grabbed the same clothes I wore yesterday.
After I came out of the bathroom, Aiden walked through the door looking all tired. It must have been a long day for him. I haven’t seen him since this morning’s event. Something inside me was telling me to let him sleep on the bed, but I ignored it.
Before I could tell him anything, he got on the bed and slept in a second.
He didn’t even take off his own damn shoes!
I sighed in defeat as I walked over to the bed and took them off for him. I put an alarm on my phone so that I could wake up early, then I get under the cover. I make sure to leave enough distance between us. The last time I slept in the same bed with a guy was probably twenty years ago. I’ve been walking the single path for a while now, not wanting to get too attached to someone.
Aiden wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me closer. If it weren't for his even breathing, I would have thought for sure he was awake. I tried to break free, but it’s no use. Even in his sleep, he’s stronger than me.