Chapter 29 Move On

Aaron's POV

“You can't give up just like that.”

I watch her swallow the lump on her throat as I did after saying that short, painful line.

“This is your mate.” I continued, “He may not like or want you now, but he will need you.”

“Need me?” I asked.

Yeah, like I do... I thought but quickly pushed the thought out of my head and continued, “He is Anna's brother, that means he has alpha blood in him. And alphas are meant to accept their mates, whether they like them or not. The reason he isn't healing properly is that his wolf refuses to.”

“What do I have to do with it?” slowly, she was growing worried.

That look pierced the knife deeper in my heart.

“He refused to heal him cause he rejected you.” I answered, “By refusing you, he also refused your wolf.”

People who knew what was really going in my mind would probably think I'm crazy for telling her these things, but she needed to know. She needs to save her mate.

“Oh...” I said, understanding now.

I couldn't help but stifle a laugh seeing how small she saw the situation.

“Oh is right,” I put on my serious face, the one that masks myself. “If he breaks this bond and angers his wolf, he may lose his wolf. To lose his wolf means half of him is missing, and when that happens...”

She needs to know, and I felt my wolf trying to tell me.

“What is it, Aaron?” she asked, his eyes almost begging to know.

“He could die.” Her eyes widened, “You wouldn't, though,” I blurted out, hoping that it was what she was worried about now. Of course, I knew better. “You would feel the loss. Your wolf knows why you were rejected. She knows your real story. I doubt she can blame you for anything...”

At that moment, color slowly slip back on her face, I felt her calm down, but she was shaking. And I don't think she noticed.

“But still,” I continued, “the cold and the hollow feeling, it will always be there.”

She just stood there, staring at me. In her most vulnerable moment, I have ever seen her in. And I was the cause of that fear. I knew better than to scare her. She wouldn't leave him now.

I would have better chances of that happening if she was still that stubborn girl we met who refused to see anyone eye to eye. Especially not Jake.

That was why we grew close. We like irritating Jake.

I learned how her mind works. I knew what her next moves and words would be. I got to know her, and she told us her story.

It wasn't out of pity that I began to like her. On the contrary, it actually amazed me how strong she is now after all that had happened to her.

Unlike the girl that has a tear-streaked face in front of me, who will probably crumble any moment once that jerk of a mate of hers says another word about her.

I closed my fist just thinking of what's his face.

I know we owe him a lot after protecting and saving Serenity. But for him to talk to Jean like that voids all gratitude from me.

But still, he is her mate, and I was in no position to keep her from him. Especially when I know, I can't be her mate, even if I plead this to a higher court or Serenity and the Mother Goddess.

They were paired for a reason, and it is their fate.

Her happiness is entwined with his, and I can't take that away from her just because I know I can care for her better and want her for myself.

Sadly, that's not how it is for Shifters.

Being all this invincible and all has its price. And that's not to be able to learn to love truly. When it comes to it, we're like computers. We would naturally respond perfectly to items that are compatible with us.

There was no courting needed. It isn't learning to love them, working around our issues, or anything like that. It was in our system to adjust to what our mates were like so that we'd fit together perfectly.

We were the epitome of love. It is blind.

“You need to fight for this... this is fate. It's just a little complicated.” I pushed myself to say.

She stays quiet, her face not showing any more emotion, which worried me. Jean was vocal and easy to read. This isn't like her.

Hell, she'd glare at you the first time you meet simply because she doesn't like you, or your hair, or your voice or something.

“You'll have your happy ending, Jean. I'll see into that.” I reassured her.

If he doesn't push through, I'll make sure I do. I thought.

Then the next second, she had that determined look I only see when she wants to irritate Jake. I knew at that moment that she had made her decision.

And that's a life with him.

If I knew her well, she'd stay whether he likes it or not. Whether it was painful for her or not, all she was thinking of right now was Cole, that he lives through his long life as a shifter without his mate.

Just like her, only, she would always be in more pain.

“You should get some rest,” I said. “Serenity would need you later.”

She nodded, and I put an arm over her shoulder and dropped her off to her room.

I decided to go to the gym that was in the basement of the Johansen house.

I needed to hit something.

I needed to vent out this anger and pain.

I wasn't even in any position to feel like this, and that just doubled the pain.

“So I'm guessing you told her to fight for him?”

I looked at the doorway and saw Cam watching me.

I shrugged and continued to release my anger.

“Don't you know what happened after you left?” she walked up to me.

“I don't want to know anything about that a**.” I snapped and hit harder.

“Well, I'll tell you anyway,” she says.

Typical, I thought.

“Obviously, Serenity wasn't happy.” she said, “Eric and Siam had to plead for her not to stress so much if she wanted to heal Liam later and not to stress too much or else it would harm the baby.”

“Ok...” I said.

As I said, I wasn't interested, but I wasn't exactly in the right place to make her leave her own gym, am I?

“Then Eric told him how Jean is a part of our family and that she was not to be disrespected in her home. And I can't entirely agree with him more,” she said.

“U-huh...”

“Siam told him that none of us was to judge him of what he was doing, which Serenity objected to. But he did remind Cole of his situation of having the alpha blood and all that he needed his mate and all that jazz.”

“Mm...”

“And Jake, well, he was being Jake, you know...” she sighed.

“He agreed to Cole then?” I said, not surprised if he did. We have pissed him more than I could count, after all.

“What? No,” she said, surprised. “He actually threatened him, and he was all protective as if it was us he was talking about.”

I stopped and faced her, thinking that she was probably joking. She gave me a know-it-all smile.

“I know, I was surprised myself. But then I remembered all the time he would tell me how you and Jean would irritate him to heaven's end and back.” she stifled a laugh, “He always said it was like a little sister was added on the mix of you two.”

“Oh...” I said.

“Yeah, that cousin of yours sure has a lot of surprises in his sleeve, huh?”

“I guess,” I said and resumed punching.

“And so are you,” she said. I didn't answer. “Could you be cuter, Aaron?”

“I'm not cute.” I snapped, not stopping.

“Yes, you are. First, there are those puppy dog eyes, then your sweet, silly words, then this little crush you have on Jean.”

“I don't know what you're talking about,” I said, shifting a bit to turn my back on her.

“Yes, you do,” she teased, “you wouldn't have said those things to Cole if you didn't. Don't get me wrong, and I agree with you hundred percent. I didn't expect it. But like I said, I think it's cute.”

“Nothings cute,” I said again.

“Yes, it is,” she said, amused. “Don't be embarrassed about it, Aaron. Everyone goes through these cute crush stage and-”

“It's not crushing!” I snapped at her.

And she took a step back, surprised.

“What?” she asked.

“Nothing,” I said, turning away and pulling off the gloves.

“Aaron, please, don't tell me...” she pleaded.

“Then don't ask.” I snapped.

“Aaron, don't do this...” she followed me toward the dumbbells.

“It's already done.” I bent over the dumbbells.

“Aaron-”

“I said it's already done!” I hit my fist down, and the rack of dumbbells shook underneath me.

We stood in silence until all we can hear is my heavy breathing.

“Aaron, remember when you told me how I need to believe that Jake can't stay away for too long?” she broke the silence. “You told the same thing to Jean, didn't you?”

I paused, remembering how Jake tried to fight away the pull to Cam. It was so obvious to everyone. He wasn't exactly the quietest guy I know.

The keyword being know. I also knew that he would never be able to stay away too long.

We know better than that.

Jake and I are cousins, after all.

My mom was her dad's twin sister. His mom was human, and my dad was human.

The pack didn't have any problems with that. They were all loved and liked. Well, until they heard of the hunters and all the danger we were to be submitted to. My dad wanted out instantly. Soon, Jake's mom agreed.

But my mom and uncle being part of the royal family, can't leave. Not now, not ever.

My dad and aunt planned on taking us away and escape the pack. Which was really near to impossible. And they learned that the hard way, it cost them their lives in the end.

After they died, my mom followed, leaving me in the care of Jake's dad, but even he wasn't doing well.

Do you know that line that Spiderman said? With great powers comes great responsibilities?

Well, that's us.

The whole sense to have a mate was for us to have a weakness. See the pattern? Reject your mate. You die. Get your mate killed. You die. Get yourself killed. Your mate dies.

In the end, everyone just pretty much dies, so it isn't that exciting a life.

If you want a bodyguard? Order a set of married wolves, and your all good until you let them go.

Anyway, after that, Jake and I pretty much vowed never to keep anything from our future mates. If we weren't ready, we would wait. But only long enough for us to know that we are ready to protect and take responsibility for another life.

For years, we practiced on Serenity. Keeping her happy and safe was the goal. It wasn't that hard seeing Serenity can easily be pleased. Ice cream, books, tea time... that kind of stuff. Besides, Liam had all that covered. We were in charge of keeping guys and harm away from her.

Then came Anna. She stuck with Serenity and Liam. She was beautiful, which caused a bit of a problem for us, especially when boys started to notice. The worse came when Siam realized that she was his mate. It was chaos in the school parking lot, the boys' locker room, and that certain field a few miles outside town.

It was like fate was actually training us to protect the women in our lives by giving us the princess and a femme rogue.

And when Siam found out about Anna, we pretty much forced him to tell her. Liam, of course, was the one who stayed neutral. I hate seeing Anna in pain when she can't go near and calm Siam.

Then there was Serenity and Eric. I was sure that if Uncle Silver weren't the king, I probably would have done him some serious damage.

Jake and I were becoming like the protector of mates or something, and it was just stupid, really. That's why we kept the player act up.

“Aaron, are you ok with it?”

“No...” I said. It was like the only true thing that I've said about this issue. “No, I'm not.”

“Then why?”

“You wouldn't like someone to take Jake's place, would you?” I asked her. “If he didn't come for you, would you have wanted someone else? Would you have been happy with someone else?”

She didn't answer.

“It's not like I am deeply in love with her.” I said, “I know she doesn't see me like that. She found her mate. She deserves to be happy, truly happy. And that isn't with me.”

“But-”

I sighed and faced her. “I'm not ok with the situation, but in general...” I paused, thinking of an answer, “I'll be fine.”

She gave me a look as if assessing for herself if I was telling the truth. Finally, she nodded.

“Well, remember I'm just here if you need someone to talk to, ok?”

I nodded, “Thanks.”

She smiled, “I would hug you right now, only your too sweaty.”

I raised a brow and raised my arms.

“Hell no, Aaron, I'll seriously kick your ass.” she said, moving away, “Or I'll call your cousin to do it for me.”

I frowned, “Killjoy.”

She laughed and shook her head as she walks toward the door.

“Anyway, you better get cleaned.” she said, “Serenity said she'd meet all of us in Liam's room in half an hour.”

In an instant, my spirit was lifted. Liam was finally waking up. For some reason, having asleep made him boring than he already was. After all, he was the responsible one among us guys, as Serenity loved to remind us.

“Yeah, I'll be right there.”

She nodded and left me thinking.

“Yeah, everything will be fine,” I said to myself.