24

~Aurelia Williams~

When I woke up the next morning, the memory of last night was just a blur. But I could remember Arsen, which saved me again. Who else?

I was so sleepy that I only now noticed the weight around my body. I suddenly opened my eyes and saw a tattooed chest. Then I tried to move my head and took hold of his arm which is wrapped around my body.

I tried to pull away, but Arsen pulled me back against his chest, grumbling something. Now I lay again with my cheek against his warm chest and could feel something wet on it.

'Oh God', it crossed my mind. Did I drool on him in my sleep? How embarrassing. Hopefully this dries up quickly before he opens.

Again I tried to detach myself and was finally able to move my head a little more. But nothing more.

So I started looking around Arsen's room. His bed was in a niche on the left wall. Opposite the door was a large window front with a balcony. On the other side of the bed was a large wardrobe that took up most of the wall. But next to these was a smaller door. I assumed that the bathroom was hidden behind it.

I turned my head back to Arsen and started looking at his tattoos on his chest.

There was a wolf on his right breast running up towards his right shoulder. He looked like he would emerge from the shadows and run toward the shoulder. On his left chest was a tornado-like tattoo. In the eye of the tornado was 'lýkos'. However, I did not know the language. There were 4 large scars over the tattoo. They started at his left shoulder and stretched across to his heart. But before that they stopped. I wonder what Arsen has been through? It looked really painful.

I couldn't stop myself and ran my left hand over his chest, along the scars. My fingers immediately began to tingle.

"Do you like me?"

I woke up and looked perplexed into Arsen's face. He watched me carefully and now a mischievous grin crept onto his face. How long had he been watching me?

"What do the tattoos mean?"

"Better question. Did you drool on me?"

"What? No!" Embarrassed, I stared back at his muscular chest. Please just answer my question. I have to somehow distract from the fact.

"This," he pointed to his left breast. "It's my family mark. Every Alpha in my bloodline has worn it."

"And the wolf?"

"He sees loyalty, loyalty, family, cohesion, intelligence and a strong will," he explained to me. He certainly had a strong will. But loyalty and loyalty? That I don't laugh... Then I thought about it a little after his name, you don't hear arsenic every day.

"What does your name mean?"

"I don't think you want to know."

"Please?" I tried, putting on a doggy look. Name meanings have always bothered me.

"It means manhood." I started laughing at that.

Are you serious? The manliest guy I've ever met goes by the name Arsen, which means masculinity. How fitting...

"What?" he asked, dumbfounded. "You know it fits perfectly. What does your name mean?"

“Aurelia means 'made of gold'. Pretty inappropriate, I know."

"I think he suits you perfectly." Arsen smiled at me with his hot smile. I wanted to lose myself in him, but I couldn't. Remember who he is! He's the alpha and actually still is stranger.

"Why a tornado? And what's that word?" I came back to the previous topic and pointed to the tornado with the word in it.

"My last name is Storm. Since this translates to storm, my ancestors probably found the tornado to be appropriate. Well, and 'lýkos' is Greek and translated means 'wolf'."

"Seems like your ancestors were really creative," I ground out, amused.

Arsen joined in the laughter. His laugh was deep which made it really sexy. Did I mention he's just sexy in everything he does? No. Then you know now.

Then he suddenly became very serious again and with his free hand brushed a strand of hair away from my face. Strangely enough, his proximity felt good to me, even though I know that this will probably be an exception.

"Now may I ask how old you are?"

"17 and you?"

"26"

"You grandpa!" But seriously. Arsen was almost 10 years older than me. He was almost grown up when I just started school. And now I'm in bed with him.

"Hey, I'm not even that old," he replied, mockingly offended, pouting. I never thought I'd ever see arsenic like this, not so scary and intimidating. And I thought it was pretty darn cute.

There was no more fear. There was just pure lightheartedness.

What am I thinking? I should remember who Arsen is. Arsenic, after all, has a mate. In addition, he would soon be a father. I shouldn't interfere there.

Just the fact that Savanna is pregnant caused a complete mood swing in me, so that I now pulled a sad face.

"Oh, congratulations." I said that as honestly as possible. After all, a baby is something great. Even if it made me kind of sad.

"For what?" he asked me confused.

"To the baby. Savanna shared the good news with me over breakfast yesterday."

"What?" Arsen asked, still confused. He let his arm, which was wrapped around me, drop and his smile disappeared too.

"No, honestly, I'm happy for you both." Arsen's expression went from confused to shocked. At that moment, I felt it was the right thing to break away from him for good.

So I got up and walked away from the bed. Distance would do me better. I can't get that close to Arsen or I'll accidentally fall in love with him. But I'm not allowed to. I have to remember who he is and who I am. We come from different worlds. We just don't belong together.

I went to the door to leave the room. But before I left, I said, "I think you're going to be a great dad."

Arsen's gaze shot my way and he just looked totally shocked.

"Savanna is pregnant?"

Oops, should this be a surprise for him? Well now he knows.

With that, I turned away from him and left the room. Now I have to find Steven to apologize for. Maybe at least there was a future for both of us, if only in friendship. Arsenic and I just couldn't work out. I don't just want to be an affair.

I want someone who loves me unconditionally, even if no one ever will. After all, love only exists in fairy tales.