Aether's Claim | Editing

Chapter 22

I rushed into the car I had been given early in the morning to avoid too many questioning eyes; swiftly packing all my things having only explained the situation to Kong and a few others would definitely reap endless curiosity, and I don't think I could handle the shame of explaining what everyone else in this pack already knew.

What they all knew but didn't tell me.

I felt betrayed by everyone, I had been here for months, laughing and spending time with these wolves and not one of them had thought it appropriate to mention my uncanny resemblance to their Alpha's previous mate. I felt humiliated and I needed to get out of their as soon as possible.

I knew Aether was watching me, his windows overlooked the pack after all, but I couldn't find it in me to give him even one last look, as far as I was concerned, we were officially strangers once again.

My drive was long and silent, I wanted to get back to my old pack as quickly as possible, however due to the size of Aether's pack, it would be a while before I even left his territory. My mind was filling with intense memories and regrets, places and moments I should've known, should've realised that something was wrong. It was hard to concentrate as I drove; my eyes filled with furious tears, and I had to keep stopping to wipe them away. I wouldn't cry for Aether again. My wolf was silent too, knowing I needed time to compose myself and plan what I was going to say to everyone once I inevitably informed them of my arrival, and why I was returning.

As long as it had been, I was actually glad to be coming back to my old pack, seeing my mother again and some of the other warriors I had trained with would definitely bring me the distraction I needed right now.

Hours passed and the air grew colder as I drove more north, I had passed a couple of landmarks I remembered on the journey too Aether's pack and a pang of hurt struck my heart every time I thought of him.

I had been so certain of my new future, but it was beginning to seem like I would be alone forever. I honestly couldn't see a life settling down with a family, and that scared me.

But as the trees thinned and familiar roads came into view, all thoughts of Aether ebbed away as I came closer and closer to my destination.

-

"May, look how big and strong you've gotten!" My mother exclaimed as soon as she laid eyes on me, extending her arms for a hug.

A small crowd had formed around me as well, mostly of my mother's closest friends and those I had grown up with. I felt comfort in these people, my heart aglow with warmth.

I smiled and embraced her, basking in the feeling I had almost forgotten. It felt good to be back in her arms.

"I've missed you, mother, how have you been?"

Once I had caught up with everybody and it was just me and my mother left, we began to shuttle my belongings from my car to my old room, chatting animatedly as we did so. The conversation varied, and we laughed and smiled the whole time, talking about who had given birth, to who's children had shifted for the first time to even how the tensions between our pack and Riven's had not eased up at all since I had left. Whenever Aether's relationship with me managed to crop up in our many conversations, I would subtly avoid talking about him and his pack and steer the topic back to my mother and her new hobbies. She would've noticed of course, she was my mother, but I'm glad she didn't bring it up and respected my boundaries.

It was clear she had missed me as much as I had missed her, and I made a promise to her that I would never leave her alone like that again, though she assured me many times that she had been just fine without me.

It was late into the night once we had finished moving everything and tidying up, my mother kissed me on the forehead and retreated to her room, clearly exhausted from all the excitement today.