Aether's Claim | Editing

Chapter 18

I sighed heavily, rubbing my tired eyes as Aether packed my luggage into the back of his car. It was shiny, luxurious, it turned the heads of the few wolves who were walking around the pack at this hour. They turned their noses up, trying to scent my emotions, see what I was feeling, what I was doing. I'm sure when I left, they would gather around Alpha Warren who'd make a speech about my departure, my mother would stay silent as he spouted his lies and tried to paint me as one who abandoned their pack, but the wolves would not believe him. They knew of Ares' disservice to me, they knew how I was wronged and what had been happening to me, even if none of them reached out and tried to console me, and they too were loyal to the pack, I knew at least that.

"You didn't pack much." Aether commented, grumbling a bit.

I sighed, rolling my eyes at him, though I knew he wasn't angry. I had explained to him I would be returning to my pack to visit my mother, that I didn't want her to be alone for months on end without her only living family member. Aether objected but conceded once he realised I wouldn't back down. He was sympathetic to my views, as much as I was to his, which was something I really enjoyed about him. Even though we weren't, I felt as if we were equals, that I could talk to him about anything and instead of giving judgement he would calmly advise me.

I stepped away from him, eyes gazing over the pack I had grown up in as I took it all in for what was the last time for a while. I felt my eyes glaze over with tears, my wolf emerging as she too became emotional at leaving her pack, her home, all because her mate was with another. I felt I was making the right decision, I was glad I was leaving but, a part of me wanted to run to Aether and tell him to leave my things behind, that I'd be staying after all.

I was in high-spirits, despite the tears in my eyes, and felt that once I left a heavy burden would be lifted off my shoulders, that Ares would no longer be lingering in the back of my mind like skeletons in a closet. But a part of me feared what would happen when I arrived at Alpha Aether's pack; would I be shunned or welcomed? What would people think of me, a juvenile, unmated female, clinging to Aether as if I were his mate? I feared their judging eyes, their wolves that emerged to peer down at me, but I trusted that Aether would explain to them my situation, that he would not allow me to be a recluse, an outcast, as I was in my own pack.

"Do you want to see your mother, one last time?" Aether asked from behind.

He was telling me it was time to leave, that I should say my last goodbyes and we should get going. My heart ached as the realisation spread through me, my wolf whining so I had to pat her down and calm her, reassuring her we would, in time, return.

My gaze found my mother, eyes alight with joy as she watched Aether and I. My feet began to move of their own accord, gravel crunching underfoot and picking up speed, so I was jogging towards her and embraced her with such force that both of us stumbled. We erupted into a fit of laughter, squeezing each other like our lives depended on it. She put her cheek to mine, rubbing her scent into me like they did in the old days.

I would miss her so much, but I'd make sure to visit - I wouldn't let Aether dissuade me from that. I felt the tears begin to fall from my eyes, vision blurring as my mother wiped them away with a smile.

"I'll miss you, so much." We both said at the same time, then erupted into another fit of laughter filled tears.

My mother, who had gone through so much pain in her life, told me to be careful where I wanted, to trust my wolf and always be wary. I took her words in, making sure to internalise them, I would not let myself get hurt by another male. But I trusted Aether, didn't I? So far, he hadn't done anything that would arouse any doubt within me, but then again, he could be a wolf in sheep's clothing.