Chapter 8

"Let's talk." His deep soft voice was heard behind the closed door.

He tried to open the doorknob but stopped when he found that it is locked.

"Ashira." He called on me when I didn't respond to him. The way my name escaped his lips make me want to open the door and throw myself in his arms. Slowly, another wave of heat rose again within me. Making me groan softly. Damn it. The heat in me is present again.

I clenched my hand on my chest, the breath heaving that is making me huff for more air. I hate how I feel when he's around, its confusing me.

"Open the door." His voice echoed on my head like I must heed on what he was saying. Is he using his power as the Alpha with me?

I closed my eyes tight. Not anymore fighting the effects he sent to down my spine.

I walked to the door and opened the lock. Slowly, I was met by the most beautiful golden brown eyes and I felt suffocated instantly.

Everything around me blurring. Rewinding the kiss we had shared just a moment earlier. I still can feel his soft moist lips on mine and the thought of it makes butterflies flutter on my stomach up to my chest.

He's no longer naked. Wearing only blue denim pants with his bare chest. The sight is glorious and my mind can't stop complimenting the perfection I'm blessed to be with.

"W-What?" I gulped. Hating how my voice croaked then swallowed the lump on my throat.

"Can I come in?" He asked after a short pause, his eyes looked at mine intensely. My knees turned jelly again before I slowly open the door, letting him in.

He took careful steps inside my room, stopping at the edge of my bed and took a sit on it. Looking at me again.

I followed him and headed towards the other edge of the bed. I sat and lean on the headboard, hugging a pillow in front of me. I'm just wearing a loose shirt and shorts, not comfortable with some of my visible skin.

His wide back was facing me. My mouth waters with how his muscles flexed on his arm and back whenever he moves. But he's not trying to face me.

"I'm sorry for leaving you in that state." He started, talking about my heat. So he knew what I'm going through. Is that why he rushed home that way? Is he worried about me?

No words came out of my mouth, not knowing what to say anyway. A short paused from him made a long silence between us. Plus his scent that's spreading everywhere and lingering inside the room is suffocating. A sweet torment it is.

"Aurea told me what happened at the center." His body shakes a bit as he said that. I can feel the darkness wrapped in his aura. He didn't like what happened.

"That happened because you haven't claimed me yet." I managed to blame him. It's true anyway. Will I continue to undergo the same heat whenever I'm around any guy? Trying to stop those quirky feelings just so I won't give in from the lust's pull is so damn hard. It's killing me.

Why would he let me experience the same thing over again when he can make those go away with just fucking biting me!

He did not talk. He just sighed and stopped his body from shaking. Then he stood up and faced me, his eyes wanders on my body first before it landed on my eyes. A soft groan escaped from his lips.

"That is why I apologize." He said with sincerity, his features even softened. Okay then if he really is apologetic, will he finally claim me?

"Will you claim me now?" I asked even though his words last night are clear in my memories.

His jaw tightened with my question and his lips formed a flat line. I don't know what he was thinking so I waited for his response. It took him a while before he opened his mouth.

"Not now but I will."

My brows met as my forehead come to a knot. Okay. He did change his mind but when?! Every time he delays the claim, my life is taking a step closer to trouble!

I gave this mate shit a shot, okay? I thought I'll be happier this way than to be snatched by some lonely wolf but everything that's happening was beyond my expectation.

Anger is starting to build a fire inside me. My wolf is starting to hate him for his delay, not being assured of his plan on claiming me.

"It's okay for you if I jumped to any guy, then." I stated, crossing my arms in front of my chest and glaring at him.

He let out a loud growl as he gritted his teeth. "You're mine!" He exclaimed, emphasizing every word.

I stood up hastily that the pillow I'm hiding my body with had fallen on the ground. I'm trying to level my eyes on his and failed because of his height.

"You can't say that if you can't act upon it!" The last words tasted bitter on my tongue that I wanted to spit. "I don't know what your problem is but if trouble comes our way, I expect you won't blame me!"

"No trouble will come for you. From now on, you are forbidden to go outside the house." He said in a low voice. My jaw dropped when I heard that. What? That's what his plan is?!

"Are you serious? You can't lock me here!" I shouted, frustrated with everything that is happening right now. Its already hard the way it is, and he's adding fuel to the fire?!

"I will not lock you in IF you obey my order. You stay here and I won't lock you up, literally." He managed to be sarcastic with me, huh?

That's when my anger reached my head. I can't control my body from trembling, my wolf is trying to take over, wanted to cause havoc.

"I'll better be back to my pack than to be on lockdown inside your damned house!" I said through gritted teeth, letting out an angry growl. My eyes turned pitch black as my vision blurring everything around me. Focusing my anger on him alone.

I no longer felt affected by him. No ounce of backing down. Even when his eyes turned red and probably using his Alpha power over me.

I'm so angry at him right now.

"You'll never leave my side!" He raised his voice as well. His eyes showed unpleasantness from my behavior and tried to use his power over me.

"Why? Only you can walk away from me?!" I shouted back.

I felt trembled, not from anger but towards his order. It seemed absolute that I can't go against him but I tried my best to resist. I growled as I straightened my body which started curling down, ready to obey him.

"You're not allowed to leave." He repeated as if I had not heard him. I wanted to laugh so hard with how fate is trying to play games with me.

Everything is so unfair.

"Watch me." I manage to say with sarcasm even though I'm feeling down on the inside. A smirk was formed on my lips that made Aiden's brow furrowed.

With inhuman speed, he's instantly in front of me and tightly grabbing my jaw. His face is so close to mine as his nose touched my cheek. My breath hitched with his rough moves.

"Don't you dare defy me!" His voice is low but firm. My wolf wants to back off but I did not let her tag me along with her yielding tail.

"Make sure you won't let me escape because once I had the chance, I'm gonna release this heat to every wolf my eyes will see!"

His anger is at its fullest. I can feel it deep into my bones and only a few strength was left in my body.

"Don't you dare!" He said through gritted teeth. His hand on my jaw tightened its grip, a low whimper escaped my throat when the pain was evident.

It's hard for me to breathe but I did not cave in. If he wanted me to go through hell, then I might as well do the same to him.

"Get the fuck out of my room if you can't do anything about my thirst." I hissed in a cool voice though my insides are shaking with fear. He growled at my words then he let go of my jaw, moving his hands to my nape and grabbing on my hair. I groaned as he pulled on my hair, making my head stretched backward.

"I won't let you mess on my head." He said, almost a whisper. His words are not what I expected to hear and it seems like he's saying that to himself more than to me.

My anger was replaced with confusion when he lowered his head on my neck and his mouth touched my skin.

I let out a whimper with the sudden sensation that his simple action has brought me. In a blink, my anger subsides, reacting to his kisses.

I moaned when he grazed his teeth on my neck.

"You don't know how much I wanted to claim you." He whispers. Is that true? Was he lying to me last night? I wanted to ask but I'm drowned with what he is doing that I can't open my mouth to speak.

I gulped as his hand loosened its grip on my hair. His hand snaked around my waist and the other grabbed on my arm.

"N-No one's stopping you..."

He stiffened on my neck, pulling away his head from it. My eyes met with his once again and it's back to golden brown color. I don't know what changes his mood but to me, its the closeness between us.

"I know." He said softly. He loosened his arms on my waist and slowly stepped away from me. "Give me more time to think." He looked at me one last time and then he's out of my room.

I gained nothing in the end. Am I grounded? Will he lock me up in here? Or am I able to go out? Can I at least have a run? More time to think if what? Of the date when he'll claim me?

Our talk is nonsense. Its mostly fighting and nothing was clear to me.

One thing is he had changed his mind. He wanted me now. Far from last night that he said he will never put his claim on me which reminds me how that frustrates the hell out of me.

I need to make a move. I'd like to know more about him. If he can't do that, I guess I'll get my answers myself. I don't know how, though.

I looked at my window and saw a car pulling over in front of the house entrance. I saw a guy stepped out of the car as Aiden got out of the house. They talked for a minute before the guy shifted and ran into the woods. Aiden on the other hand, slipped inside the car and drove away.

I know I'm angry with him but I can't stop myself to feel sad whenever he's going away.

I shrugged what I was feeling and decided to head downstairs to look for Aurea.

"Aurea!" I called. She met me at the end of the stairs instantly.

"Luna." She said, bowling lightly.

"I want to do something fun. What can you recommend?" I said, beaming. If she'll suggest something like going out, it will be better.

Her eyes saddened and a weak smile formed her lips. "Alpha Aiden's order is you can't leave the house while he's away, Luna."

My jaw dropped. That answered one of my questions, huh.

"I can't believe him." I shake my hand and bit my lower lip. I'm can't feel any anger for him right now and it is so amusing.

"I'm sorry, Luna. But he said he'll be back shortly." Aurea said.

"I doubt that." Last night, he didn't even come home to sleep.

"If you want, I can prepare a picnic in the garden. Will you like that? Though it'll be just you and me."

I gave it a thought and figured I can ask Aurea some questions about Aiden. My eyes beamed with the idea so I agreed to her suggestion.

I helped her prepare some food. Just enough for the both of us. Some snacks and bread with two bottles of different flavored juice were placed on a basket together with a picnic blanket and two glasses.

"Whoa!" My mouth kept open the moment I saw the garden Aurea was talking about. It's freaking huge!

"How come I never see this? Wow! This is so relaxing!" I said cheerfully as I sat on the blanket Aurea already laid on the small grass.

Aurea chuckled at my reaction. I scratch the back of my head when I realize I might have sounded silly. Damn girl, have you never seen a garden before?

I have! But everything here is so lively! The flowers, the greens, the butterflies! Wow!

I picked some snacks and started eating them when I saw Aurea looking at nowhere. I immediately figure out that she's mind linking someone. And I knew who that someone is.

"You're sending a message to Aiden?" I asked, careful not to scare her.

She gave me an embarrassed smile. "Yes, Luna. Sorry, but it was his order."

I hummed and nodded. "What did you say to him?" I looked far and put the snacks in my mouth. What does that guy want to know anyway?

"I just told him you liked the garden." She smiled playfully and I blushed on the thought that Aurea might tell him how naive I looked when I saw his impressive garden.

"Okay.." I whispered, no longer interested in the 'report' she's sending him.

"I should tour you around some time, Luna. Alpha Aiden's house is big. This is the ancestral home of his late parents." Aurea said after a long silence. I zoned out without notice.

I stopped munching as she said that. Oh, I forgot I need to gain information about Aiden.

I already know that his parents died from the war with the Ravenous pack a few years back but that's all I'm aware of.

"Can you tell me more about it? The war, I mean." I tried doing the puppy eyes that always work with Cruz back home. Aurea chuckled.

"I don't know the full story but I'll tell you what I know."

I nodded and sat properly, eager to listen to her story.

"Ten years ago, Prime pack was the second strongest pack in the North. First was the Ravenous pack, Shadow pack was third, followed by Mystic pack and then Regal."

I never heard of that before. So my pack was the weakest in the North before? Well, we've ranked fourth now. But how come Ravenous pack is the last on the list if they have been the strongest?

"Alpha Aiden's mother, Luna Tina, was born from the Ravenous pack. Her brother, Zeuracious was the Alpha when she met her mate, Alpha James."

"Aiden's father, right?" I corrected it. Sometimes I'm messing up the names.

"Yes, Luna."

"Okay. And then?" I look like a kid who's attentively listening to a bedtime story right now. Meh.

"In those times, North was too peaceful that there are no boundaries on pack lands. Wolves of the North were known to be friendly and unlike the other district, the war was almost taboo in the North."

"Then why did Ravenous and Prime had a war?" If it's so peaceful back then, what's the meaning of starting a war and destroying the peace?

"It started when Alpha Zeuracious met his mate. The first in the history of the North that an Alpha was tricked by a stealer."

I shivered when I heard the word. What? Someone like me? I got nervous hearing the story and my hands started shaking. I hide my hands so Aurea would not notice my nervousness.

One thing kept playing on my mind. How could a stealer like me start a war?

"Do you know what a stealer is, Luna?" Aurea asked when she noticed that I'm zoning out.

I blinked fast and looked at her. I don't know if I'll answer her with a yes or a no. I suddenly wanted to hide my abnormality from her. I'm suspicious someone will accept me in this pack now that I knew a stealer like me caused all this damage.

In the end, I shook my head. "W-What's a stealer?" I asked, trying to make her believe I'm not aware of it.

"Stealers are rare so no one knew too much about them. Some information is gathered from experiences of the past that were passed down to generations. The last time it was taught to wolf schools are when I was young."

My hands are sweating badly right now. I'm quite grateful that stealers are forgotten to teach at every young wolf because damn, what can happen to me if it does?

"The rest of the story about Alpha Zeuracious was private so everyone around my age just knew he was tricked. But the story was much tragic than what I only knew. It is said that he found his true mate and ended up killing the stealer."

This story is similar to what Eric told me. But how did that seed a war when it sounds like they've solved the problem?

"What caused the war then?"

"The Alpha's bloodline ended on him. I'm confused with how it happened when in fact he found his mate. I heard his Luna even got pregnant before some Rogue killed her. The pup was even born so I'm not sure how he ended up with no heir to continue his legacy. Then suddenly, news spread that he needed to step down and pass his throne to the strongest wolf by duel. Alpha Zeuracious lost the battle and new Alpha blood was born."

"It was Alpha Raekon." I guessed. Alpha Raekon was the late Alpha of Ravenous that Aiden's father had a war with.

"You're right, Luna." Aurea nodded. "Aiden's mother was furious when his brother was snatched away from his title. Luna Tina believed that his brother had a child with the stealer but she had no evidence to prove it."

Aurea paused to have a drink, her throat must be dry from continuous speaking.

My mind wandered back from the past. How can Luna Tina impel that his brother had a pup with the stealer? What was the root of it? I thought the stealer died though. So what's the origin of her theory?

"To make it short, Luna Tina pushed Alpha James to wage a war with the Ravenous pack. She wanted to drag Alpha Raekon down with what she believed was stolen title from her brother. She accused Alpha Raekon of hiring the Rogues to kill his brother's mate to make him weak a few days before the duel."

That makes sense. If I was in her shoes, I might think the same but waging a war because of suspicions are never alright. We're talking about hundreds of lives at stake and intuitions were not a great root to start a war.

"Alpha James agreed to the war?" I asked. All I heard was Luna Tina's anger but it's always the Alpha who decides.

Aurea shook her head and she looked down at her cup with sad eyes.

"Alpha James never agreed to her. He's against the war that his mate wanted to start."

"Then why?"

"He was blinded by love, my Luna. He'll bend any rules for his mate and when Luna Tina feed him words enough to pursue him, the war arose."

I can't speak as I heard that. I respect the love he gave for his mate but I can't say its right to prioritize at that time.

"Luna Tina was killed on the night of the war but instead of being weak and inefficient for the war, Alpha James's mourning leads him to kill hundreds of enemy wolves. Killing Alpha Raekon as well. He took great damage as well but lived for a few days after winning the war. But he died when his wolf denied to heal him, taking a huge blow from losing his mate."

I did not realize that tears are flowing down my cheeks until it dropped on my neck. The story saddened me that my chest aches a lot.

"Ravenous pack lost a lot, their count gone down to less down half and they haven't risen up from that damage even after eight years had passed."

I sniffed and wiped the tears on my face. Aiden lost his parents during that war. He must felt devastated during those times.

I had the urge to go to Aiden and hug him tight even though the tragedy happened a long time ago.

"How old was Aiden when the war happened?" I asked, still sniffing and controlling my sobs.

"He was fifteen, also the age when he took over the pack," Aurea said, she looked as sad as I am. "He's too young but he managed to lead the pack to its best. We never lost to any war and our pack kept the highest rank in the North. Everyone loves him, and everyone will love you too when they knew you're their Luna."

I sniffed again, feeling proud of Aiden and his achievements but not feeling an ounce of pride for myself.

"I doubt that."

"Ohh, my Luna." Aurea reached on my hand and squeeze it. "I know they will because I do. Thank you for coming into his life."

I sobbed loudly and hugged her tight. I cried on her shoulder as she tapped my back, hushing me.

"You've made my mate cry enough, Aurea."

I looked up and Aiden was standing a few steps behind us. His hands are in his pocket as he looked down at us.

Aurea stood up and bow to him. "You let me to, Alpha." She said.

I sniffed and wiped the tears on my eyes again. So Aiden was there the whole time? I'm probably too engrossed with Aurea's story that I did not notice his presence.

"He's here this whole time?" I asked Aurea with a low voice. Tears still roll down from my eyes and I can't stop it. I feel too sad. I even wanted to cry aloud like a child but of course, I won't in front of him.

He walked near me and bend down, leveling his gaze to me.

I saw Aurea bow to us before excusing herself.

I looked at Aiden who gave me a weak smile.

"Don't waste your tears on me." He said and that made me cry more.

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Thank you for waiting! This chapter took so long but I hope you guys love it! Thank you for the support and hope you can share this to your friends❤️