Aether's Claim | Editing

Chapter 23

"I'll kill him!" Ares growled as I explained to him the reason for my sudden departure from Aether's pack, sitting in his room the next day.

He was pacing around the room, furiously whispering to himself and I sighed, getting up from my seat to comfort him.

"Ares, calm down, you said you needed him, remember?" I reminded him, unfurling his clenched fists.

"That was before I knew what he did to you!" Ares' eyes flashing the colour of his wolf's, his fists clenching in anger.

I sighed and unfurled them again, pulling his face so his eyes met mine. They instantly softened and he leaned into my touch.

"I'm sorry, May... it's just...what kind of deranged wolf does something like that!?"

"He lost his mate, Ares, he thought I was his second chance." I said softly, wrapping my arms around myself and going to sit back down as the painful memories resurfaced.

"Well, you're mine," He said, coming to sit next to me, "Forget him, I can win without his help anyways."

I sighed and shook my head, knowing he was lying for my sake.

"It's not like I can ignore him forever anyways, I might as well go and reconcile with him and just hope he doesn't harbour any bad feelings towards me."

Ares allowed me to go and see Aether alone when I was ready a few weeks later. Even though I hadn't seen him in a while, and we had informed him I would be arriving, my heart still hammered in my chest as I made the drive towards his pack.

He was waiting for me with a smile when my car pulled to a stop a few meters away from him. My wolf now agitated at the sight of him, urged us to hurry back to the safety of our own pack, and I agreed.

"May, you look good." Aether said, closing the door to his office and pulling out a chair for me to sit down.

I nodded politely and opted to remain standing, I was just here to formally request his aid, not as a friend.

"I'm sure the rumours of why I am here have reached you by now," I began, "Alpha Ares requests your support in the challenge of his father, Alpha Warren, for the title of Alpha of the Blood Moon Pack."

"Of course, May, anything for you." Aether said, and I was taken aback.

"This isn't a joke, Aether, people's lives are at stake here, my mate's life is at stake here." I wanted to scream at him to think about anyone else but himself for once.

Aether sighed, sitting down and running his hands through his hair," I know, May, I'm sorry, for everything. I mean it. I never should have mislead you or kept things from you."

"That's not what I'm here for right now." I interrupted.

"Right, yes, but I take it things are going well between you two, considering you just referred to Ares as your mate?" Aether questioned and I stifled a growl, wanting to confirm his help and get out of here as quickly as possible.

"I don't know...it's complicated," I managed to say, pushing the formal documents towards him to subtly speed up the visit. At this rate I wouldn't even get to visit Kong.

Aether got the hint and quickly signed the papers, reassuring me that he would be on whatever side I wanted him too once again. This time, I nodded stiffly and turned to leave, wanting to get home to my pack, and my mate, immediately.

Tensions in the pack were beginning to rise. Whispers of the challenge had begun to spread, and a sort of divide had formed between certain members.

Those who had been with Alpha Warren for a long time would give disapproving looks to Ares when he walked by, or just outright stare when he passed.