Chapter 28

Aiden's POV

WHAT THE FUCK HAVE I DONE?

I watched Ashira as she sleeps soundly beside me. My eyes softened as I watched her resting face and smiled when she pursed her lips. Is she dreaming? Was she dreaming of me?

My mind flashed back to what we had shared. I can smell my scent all around her, a sign that we had complete the mating process and I can't help but smile as my possessive instinct flared.

She's mine.

I'm not sure if she is but I want her. I want her mine. All the searching for answers and solutions started being clear now, it's all an act of denial.

Ashira mumbled a low moan and my bare member immediately reacted to it. Shit.

I had the urge to flip her, hovering above her, and bury my shaft inside her this instant but I held myself.

Damn, I can't believe I'm having difficulty with my restraint. And not to my wolf but myself!

I've bedded a lot of girls, a lot of who's swooning over me. Yearned to pleasure me. But what I had with Ash is not just pleasure. It's something else. Something deep. Something I'm incapable of defining but I knew too well how it feels. Every bit of the foreign emotion bites my soul. Hard.

I can feel a part of my mind regretting but it's not even a quarter of how I feel right now.

I felt satisfied, filled... Happy even. I can't put words to these emotions rumbling inside my chest.

It's the mate bond. The pull is too strong and I can't stop the connection it delivers. It's beyond my power, beyond my control. All I want right now is to give in to my heat which I'm trying hard to resist.

I groaned and rolled, keeping a small distance between us. Resisting to roll back closer to my sleeping Goddess and damn it's so hard to withstand.

It's already four o'clock in the morning. I hadn't slept a bit but I feel alive, awaken and I know why. Every time Ashira and I will mate, I will feel this surge in power and strength. It's a blessing from the Moon Goddess, a power given to the She-Wolves. And the males benefit from it.

And being an Alpha means thrice the strength, tripled the power. I can feel it on my nerves, flowing and rushing.

'Aiden?'

I turned my head to the side when I heard Nick's voice. He's still awake?

Oh, yes. The Titus case.

'How was it?' I replied, not bothering to stand up. Not wanting to leave. Nick can handle it.

'We're still on the dungeon. I haven't accomplished-'

'Was it that hard to take his head off, Nick?' I smirked, giving him a teasing tone. I guess I'm in the mood. If this is another day, and considering the time, I would have snapped.

'Fucker. This is important so listen.' I was laughing when he said the word 'fucker' but instantly halted when Nick's tone turned serious. 'The bastard has information about stealers. He'd like to talk to you first and you can kill him after.'

I groaned. Information? What information can Titus give that Michael does not know yet?

'You believe him? We got Michael and we know what to do next. We don't need the chipmunk. Just kill him before he leaked my mate's case.'

'No, Aiden, listen. He's sure he has the information that you will want. It will be best if you come down here.'

I gave it a thought for a second. But should I? I dont want to leave Ashira right now.

'Aiden? You coming?'

I groaned. I wanted to come the other way though. But I stood up and grabbed my clothes, ready to leave.

I looked at my sleeping queen once again before heading to the doors. Not bothering to lock her inside.

'Yeah. In a bit.'

I closed the door slowly, carefully. As I was walking down the stairs, I saw Seth sleeping on the couch. He instantly opened his eyes when he heard my footsteps.

"I'm needed in the dungeons. Watch her for me." I said and he nodded. Waking himself from his slumber. "Her room is not locked but don't go in there. Also, make sure she's not leaving the house once she woke up."

Though I'm sure she'll not wake any moment soon. I smirked from the thought.

"Whoa," Seth exclaimed just when I reached the front door, ready to leave. I turned my head to him and frowned once I saw his hand covering his mouth. He looked fucking girly.

"What?"

"You-Did you-You smell-"

I hissed and turn my back on him. "Yeah, dufus. Now shut up."

I heard nothing from him until I reached my car. He probably smelled the scent. I couldn't care more though. I know what I'm doing.

Ashira is mine and I won't deny how I feel toward her. Until she's here with me, until no proof of deceit is presented, I'll keep her as mine.

'Aiden!' I was driving when Nick popped into my mind. 'You completed the mating?! Seth told me! What the fuck man!'

I hissed and stepped on the gas, not bothering to reply Nick. He'll know it when I reached the dungeons. And why the hell are they so exaggerated about this?

This is my life. They can't interfere. But I can't stop their exaggerated emotions as well.

My tires stopped with a screech as I stepped on the brake hastily. The guards outside the pack building greeted me and bowed their head, I nod to them as I continue my way inside the building.

The pack building is a two-story building with an underground. The second floor is mostly where the offices are, the ground has a huge lounge and the Prime Hall, also a cafeteria with free foods for the employee.

The underground is where we keep the prisoners if any. I prefer killing trespassers and traitors so the dungeons are mostly empty. It's just my way of ruling, and it's not like they have much to lose anyway.

"Alpha Aiden." Nick greeted as I walked the midway of the dungeons. I prefer Nick and Seth to not call me by my title but when there are ears and eyes, they need to. Also, when I'm mad. Though the latter is what I cannot change. Being an Alpha means having complete control of my wolf yet a thin thread of patience. Hyperbole it is.

"Where is he?"

"At the last cell. I took the secret passage so no one saw us. I also instruct the guards to stay out of the dungeons."

Pft. It's not like they needed to stay inside. We got no prisoners to guard.

"Is he being tough? Why won't he tell you what he needs to say?"

"No, Alpha. Arresting him is easy and without struggles. Though he wishes to tell you in person. I can sense a death wish, as well."

I scowled. Titus is one of my devoted help but I guess losing his mate makes him crazy.

We reached his cell and I saw him sitting on a wooden chair, his hands are tied on his back with a silver chain, and his head was bowed.

He looked up when he sensed my presence just to bow his head again. "Alpha Aiden."

"Titus." I went on a chair and sat on it. He looked calm, ready. For the information he'll tell or his death? I wonder which.

I'm sitting in front of him across the room and Nick was on the other side, standing because no seat was left available.

"Thank you for coming, Alpha Aiden. I'm-"

" Let's head to the point. Why am I needed here?"

He looked at my eyes and bowed again after seconds. I saw Nick leaned on the wall and I turned my head back to Titus. He's looking at me again.

"I apologize for delaying the report about your stealer mate -I mean- Luna Ashira. I wanted to tell you sooner but I had a deal with her. My intentions are good but I know the outcome was otherwise."

"So you want to come clean? Is that why you're wasting my time?" I raised the side of my lips as I felt irony with what he said.

His motive was never the case in the first place. I just want him to shut his mouth. Forever. It's not safe if Ash's identity will leak.

"Yes, I apologize for wasting your time."

I grunted. "You got nothing to apologize. I don't give a damn if you used my mate for your greed. All I want is for you to stay silent about what you've learned. Now, what information will you offer."

He looked at me with blank emotions, not even surprised by my revelations. He must be aware of it, of course. Now I understand what Nick meant with a death wish.

If he knew about stealers, then he knew he will be sentenced to death for the information he upholds.

'I told you. He uncovered Ash's identity just after her introduction. And the reason he revealed her is not that he is against her. He wants us to kill him for what he knows.' Nick said through our mind link and I nodded slowly, mostly to myself. We shared the same thought.

"My grandmother, Josephine, was Zynia's servant back in their days. When she was killed, she left some journals about Zynia, the stealer. I don't know if it can help, what's written in it is mostly the stealer's good deed. I'm guessing my grandmother was tricked by her, too."

Ah. Of course. No one learned that Zynia is not the bad kind. They only knew that she tricked Zeuracious because of Jorhia's deception.

And I guess I can use that journal for reference.

"Once you put me on my darkness, you can find the journals in my office. Behind the shelves is a small chest, it's hidden in there."

My jaw locked as my head starts to put Titus under consideration. He meant no harm. He intended for this to happen.

He wanted to join Sharma. He wants himself dead.

'Death wish. Told yah.'

I sighed and shook my head a bit from Nick's statement. I'm just glad he does an excellent job as my Beta or else I would've kicked him by those inappropriate mind messages.

"Fine, then." I stood up and walked near Titus. He looked up at me and I can see a sheer of tears building at the side of his eyes. "I know what you want. I'll give it to you."

He closed his eyes and bowed. Letting his tears roll down his cheeks. Another sigh came out of my mouth.

I turned around and walked away.

"Kill me, please, Alpha Aiden!" he begged. I closed my eyes shut and looked at Nick.

'Do it.'

I ordered.

Am I being soft? Can't I kill him? No, that's not it. But I'm killing people who break my law. Those who have a black bone, only the threats. Not like this.

I walked away and Nick shut the door behind me. I pulled a cigarette out of my pocket as I heard the noises happening inside the cell.

I puffed on my stick. Blowing the smoke as I exhaled. I felt the sadness, the pain, already sympathizing with another loss of a member of the pack. It's always like this.

The door of the cell opened as I smelled the blood and the scent of death. Only Nick's heartbeat is present in the dungeon aside from me.

" It's done." he announced, wiping his hands on a piece of cloth. "Why didn't you do it?"

I puffed another smoke.

"Not in the mood for killing today." I simply said.

He chuckled and I rolled my eyes at his response.

"This is a first." he wiggled his brows when I looked at him. "Another first is you broke your own rule. You had sex with Ash. I can smell how precise your Alpha is. Almost scary."

I puffed once more, ignoring Nick and walking away. I'm not in the mood for his mockery. As well as his honest tongue.

I did break my own rule. I thought I can hold myself, to resist, but it's the opposite. I had sex with her in the end, minutes after I promised myself I won't.

Nick walked behind me and followed like a puppy waiting for his treat. I sighed and tossed the cigarette butt away. I need someone to remind me why I befriended this arse.

"I hope you do have control of your wolf. A hundred percent." he spoke again and I asked myself why can't he shut his mouth. He even copied my voice when I said the last phrase to Michael.

"Are you questioning my ability?" I asked but without horror. Enough I make my Beta chuckled again. Another rolling eye came from my reaction.

"Not in my lifetime. But this is different. It's the mate bond. You can't mess with it. Unless you wanted to keep her forever."

"She's mine." I growled. "I can keep her if I'd want to."

"I'm not saying she isn't. But I'm not saying she is, too. What happened to think in between?"

We reached my car and I stopped to look at him. He stopped and purse his lips inside his mouth. Like he said something he shouldn't but only realizes it now.

"No more thinking in between. She's mine." I hissed and turned, gliding inside my car seat. Just when I on the ignition, Nick's already slipping himself inside of my car.

"If you say so. I like her, " I growled. "Not that kind of like! God! Stop being scary!" he chuckled again and I just huffed as I shifted the gear. "I mean, Ash didn't find you herself, you found her. Bad motive is unlikely her doing."

That's what I thought, too. Jorhia came to Ravenous pack, not from the mapping ball, she just popped out of nowhere. Ashira came here in a traditional way. I thought of that from the beginning. Though I denied entertaining the idea because I yearned to be fair. Yet, I can't stop my feelings as I should be.

"Why are you coming with me?" I asked as we hit the road. Nick leaned on his seat comfortably and I groaned.

"I needed to sleep. Your orders exhaust the hell out of me."

"You have your own house, fucker." I stepped on the gas again, can't wait to reach the Ancestral. Can't wait to be near her.

"I lend you my house when you needed it. You owe me."

"I owe you nothing." I growled again, I remembered how foolish I was when I tried to run away from Ashira's astonishing scent. Ugh, now Nick is making fun of me with it. I just handed him another card to piss me off.

"Okay. I'll pretend you don't." he chuckled again and I let go of the conversation before I throw him out of my car.

The sun is peaking and everywhere is a dim bright. I looked at my car's digital clock and it's almost six in the morning.

I hope she's still asleep. I wanted to watch that angelic peaceful face once again. And her pursing lips as she dreams.

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I decided to cut the chapter I worked on because the other half is yet finished and I wanted to update for you guys. Hope it's okay. :)

Expect the next update tomorrow.