Conflicted - Twist Of Fate

The Summit.

I wake feeling like I didn't sleep. Could that have all been real? It felt real. But how? A message from Selena? A new ability? I don't understand.

I look to clock beside me and jump. 11am?! No one woke me? The dinner & final day of the summit. The last day I had to get answers. Wasted.
My days spent sleeping after breaking the bond with Tristan wasted so much of my time here.
I had one day/night to get the answers I need before everyone goes home. Back to their packs. The royals back to their castle.
Only the lycans will remain here.

I dress quickly. The red gown I selected for this day no longer making me feel beautiful, instead I feel fake. The gala starts at 2, with dancing & drinks before the formal sit-down meal. Many people use this time to share concerns with the lycans about safety, beg the royals for funds or support for their packs or make alliances with other leaders.

I had one group of people I needed to target. The Wardolves.

I'm putting the finishing touches on my makeup as Aiden knocks. "Come in" I say absently, my mind elsewhere. I hear his gasp. "Wow Armima, you look beautiful, are you trying to cause a brawl between your many suitors?" he laughs, I turn shocked.
"Too soon for jokes?" He says smiling, closing the door as he sits on my bed.

Sensing his nervousness I move to join him. "We need to talk about your mates" he sighs. "They are not their father. You can't make this choice because of me, the past or any other reason that doesn't involve how you feel, got it?" I shake my head.
"Are you saying you'd visit Eclipse if I was their Luna? Or allow their pack members onto Blood Moon ground? It's not that easy Aiden" I sigh. Feeling his anguish along with my own.

Not wanting to prolong this I stand. "We have other things to focus on today Aiden, like where I come from. So how about today, you be my date?" I say with a fake smile.
Seeing I'm trying to bury this he nods. Standing too.
"With pleasure my beautiful daughter" he says, taking my arm.

As we head down the stairs my whole body tingles. I feel my heat trying to push me to mate. To be marked. I will see Leo & Nate today. Two powerful Alpha's, both ready to accept me. Then there is Tristan, the thought of the little boy in my dream haunting me.

What he did when he met me was a disgrace. Something I thought unforgivable. Now, if my dream is truth, I'm unsure. He was not always dark, he was forced to be that way. Always the protector. Never protected even as a small child.

I wasn't ready to face any of them. Not when I needed my focus elsewhere.

As I near the door, my heart races. Aiden sensing this holds my arm tighter. 'I'm here for you Armina, I may not be able to promise everything but that I can' he reassures me through the mind link. I squeeze his arm tighter. 'Thank you, Aiden, I love you' 'More than life' he smiles.

Show time.

The moment we enter the room the beauty of the hall is breath taking. A large dance floor in the centre of the room surrounded my large lanterns, fairy lights & liquid ice creating a fair tale theme. To the sides, chairs decorated with vines, beautiful oak tables with name cards on each table. 

Waiters carrying drinks as lycans and wolves mix. Couples dance, several alphas throwing back drinks and sharing war stories. I feel their eyes on me at once. My eyes meet Nates, I instantly see the sad little boy hiding, before my eyes meet the darker version. I haven't seen Tristan since I left him crying on the floor as I broke our bond. I expected indifference, our mate bond has been broken. Instead I find longing, regret, sadness & shame. All hidden under iceblue dark swirling eyes.
My dream was real. I'm certain of it. Memories of a fraction of the times he was badly beaten to protect his brother.

If only I could have helped him. No child should ever go through what he did. His father deserved worse than what was given to him.
Aiden squeezes my arm as I realise I was staring. I turn to meet his eyes and find the eyes of someone else standing behind him. Leo. He was watching me watch Tristan. His eyes hurt.

Damn.
What a mess.

I can't even look somewhere in this room without hurting someone.

"Dance with me?" I ask Aiden. Needing a distraction. Aiden nods; smiling "My pleasure" he leads me to the floor as his arms wrap around me protectively.

'Are any of the royals here yet?' I mind link. Focusing on the task at hand. Aiden tenses. 'One that I see, Seth, his an old sleaze. Uses his status to lure she-wolves into bed with false promises' Aiden growls in the mindlink, his voice worried.

I laugh out loud.
My stress levels showing.

"Aiden, think about what you said? You're worried his going to walk me into bed?" My laughter throws him off, until his mind catches up. He laughs with me. 'I guess his your real family' he says, his laugh dying at the last two words.

I stop dancing, "No Aiden, you are my real family. These are relatives" pulling him into a hug.

After a few songs, where I watch Seth fail to hit on a waitress I've had enough. I've looked into his emotions, watched his interactions, listened to his conversations & so far he has not inspired a desire to connect. His a very simple, uneducated, spoiled man. It is clear he is not one who would be trusted with family secrets.

The royals detest these events. They see it as the lycans showing their dominance. Forcing them to bow. Knowing they have no choice. They'll wait until the last minute to arrive and leave first.

As we leave the dance floor, Leo approaches. "I didn't want to interrupt but Armina, wow" his eyes looking me up and down slowly. I don't have time to respond as Nate's growl pierces the room. Alpha's are possessive. This happens often. A few people glance, the women more curious.

Surprisingly it's Tristan who places a hand on his arm. Whispering for him to calm down.

"Thank you Leo" I smile, choosing to ignore this situation for now. He looked amazing. His wearing a stunning black suit, his  muscles highlighted in the fitted white shirt underneath. I find my eyes wandering over his torso as Aurora wakes too, purring for the first time today. My mind wanders to our moment together, although I didn't see it his manhood felt large and hard against me. His skilled tongue as he kissed me. The memory warms my body as I feel myself become damp.

'Armina' Aiden mindlinks as I snap out of it.

Fuck.
My heat.
I can't.

"Excuse me" I blurt. My legs moving quickly towards the rest room sign.

How. Right next to Aiden. Oh my God. Could he smell me? 'No Armina, we covered it' I breathe, 'How?' 'Don't worry, Aiden didn't know, I can't promise our mates didn't though' the moment I'm in the rest room I run the cold water over my arms.

I wish I could wash my face but the last thing I need is mascara everywhere.

'Aurora, Tristan, I felt something, a connection?' I ask, 'am I going crazy?' I feel her hesitance. 'We choose our mate Armina, we broke that bond but if you start to feel connected the bond will return' this can't be happening. So if I find a man attractive his suddenly going to be my mate? If I feel sorry for someone? Make a friend? How many can it be? Where does it end?

I feel the tears coming as Aurora laughs in my head. 'No Armina, we have our fated and Leo. If you reject them all it could be years before we get another bond', 'How do you know?' I beg, 'I feel Selena answer us sometimes, it's not words, just a sense, she's looking after us' I smile.

If the moon goddess is watching out for me, I can do this.

Right?