Aether's Claim | Editing

Chapter 20

"Alpha Aether, someone is here to see you."

We pulled away from each other, lips almost touching but not quite. Aether cleared his throat and stood up, glancing down at me as he did, a longing look in his eyes. I looked away, embarrassed, wanting to hide but also wanting him to stay, all I could do was watch as he left, the maid that had interrupted us scurrying after him, apologising profusely.

I groaned once the door had shut, scolding myself, I had been here only a few months and had managed to evade the elephant in the room; whether Aether and I were truly something more than just friends. But now, there was no way that maid would keep her mouth shut, not unless Aether intimidated her into doing so, which was something I doubt he would do. He had expressed to me his feelings, told me to brush it off when someone asked about us, but I had a feeling he wasn't doing the same. Why would he, after all? If he had feelings for me then surely, he would want to discourage anyone else who wanted to pursue me.

Months had passed since I had left my pack and yet it seemed Aether and I's relationship was stagnant, unmoving. I knew that was partly my fault; I let myself lean on him, let myself get close to him, let myself almost kiss him, but never anything more than that - as if something was holding me back. I knew what it was, of course, and it wasn't as if I was not ready to take the next step, but a part of me was still wary and always would be. If Ares, my true mate, one bound by the moon and influenced by the mate pull, could resist me, cling to another and be bound in mate ship with another, then what was stopping Aether from betraying me the same way? It was a cynical, bitter way to think, but it was the only way that would stop me from getting hurt again.

Everyone has their own way of dealing with things; this was mine. After being broken again and again, hurt and betrayed by the very male that was supposed to protect me, stick by my side when no one else would, I cut myself some slack in the romance department. And besides, I didn't go with Aether to start a new relationship, I got away from my pack to get away from Ares and his...unwanted behaviour, his flip-flopping between me at nights, and Riven in the mornings.

What Ares did to me still haunts me, how he used me, then flaunted his relationship with Riven, even taking her to the place that was sacred between us. But ultimately, I had forgiven him. At least, I thought I did. I had enlightened Kong onto a vague reason I had come to the pack, and he had informed me that to heal my body, I first needed to heal my mind, and that involved forgiving all those who had wronged me. At first, I battled inside my mind at the thought, wanting to remain bitter and broken, but a part of me, my wolf, had already forgiven Ares, and was probably never bitter for more than a day in the first place. She allowed me to relax, use my compassion, and forgive Ares. It was a freeing action, I felt a burden lift on my shoulders, and it was one of the keys I needed to unlock the potential I had been missing out on.

It was somewhat of a strange feeling, having so much power I never thought I could have. The training I had gone through before was hard on my juvenile body; but it never pushed me to my limits. Aether's pack's training though - I had to work my way up, fight juvenile wolves like myself, females just out of school. Then I fought the males with automatic strength that trumped mine due to their gender, it was hard on me, took weeks to get to their level, but once I was, none dare challenged me after. Kong made sure I stayed humble, my wolf never got boastful or arrogant. We moved up the ranks slower than I would have liked, but Kong reminded me all moved at their own pace, I needed to trust my body and not to push it. Soon, I was fighting females that towered over me in both age and stature, their muscles rippling as they tore into my flesh. I had many a trip to the emergency room, but I was young, and that was my advantage over them. They grew tired quicker than I, breaths coming out in heavy pants while I was still rearing to go, and that was their downfall. With quick successions of pounces, I was able to floor all of them and won, making the crowds that had gathered erupt into applause. It was all so exhilarating, never had I felt such love and appreciation from wolves.