The Beta's Missing Mate (Book 16 Of The Regal Eclipse Pack Series)

Chapter 51

Aidan watched Ana's face, paying close attention to her body language. She seemed relaxed though, but maybe a little anxious. "It means we're meant for each other. I want you to stay. I want you to live with me and be mine."

"Are you proposing?" she asked, looking a bit startled. Then her face fell and she looked away from him. "Zane said you don't get married."

"You asked him?" That was surprising, but it also meant that her mind had gone that way. She'd thought about it.

"Yes." It was all she offered.

"What we do is much more permanent. It binds us together until one of us dies," he told her.

She looked back up at him, thoughtfully. "Is this why I can't seem to move on past you?"

He smirked. "Yes."

She glared at him and sat back in her seat. "So, if I had never found you, I'd still be tied to you for the rest of my life? You know I can't kiss other men? It makes me sick. Literally. I puked! So what? You come up to me? Decide I'm your soulmate, and give me the best sex I've ever had and then just expect me to comply with your wishes? You're an asshole!"

Aidan blinked. The woman had a temper. "You think I picked you? If I was going to pick someone, it would have been much easier to choose a she-wolf. Someone who knows who I am and what I am. Someone who knows the importance of the mate bond and wouldn't disappear on me in the middle of the night!"

He saw the hurt flash across her face and immediately regretted his words. But she'd hurt him too. "Ana, we're like two halves of one soul, meant to be together. I'm sorry I said that. The last five months have been extremely difficult for me."

She pursed her lips. "You're stuck with me."

"I wouldn't put it like that," he protested, kicking himself mentally for saying what he had.

"I'm sorry you ended up with me," she whispered, then stood and hurried out of the room.

"Ana!"

The door slammed in response and Aidan ran a hand over his face in exasperation. Ana had a temper, and it was sort of a surprise. She'd been so sweet and compliant before. He hadn't realized underneath it all, she was a little firecracker.

Aidan stood and walked down the hall, then cracked her door open. "I'm coming in, Ana."

"Please don't," she called.

He ignored her wishes and walked into her room. Ana was sitting on the other side of the bed, very still, her back towards him. He could smell her tears and mentally groaned.

Ghost growled at him, pissed that he'd upset her. Aidan felt like growling back at him. He was so annoyed with everyone right now; he felt like screaming out his frustration. But he knew fixing things with Ana would be a start. He walked around the bed and sat down next to her. "Ana."

"What?"

"I'm not sorry I ended up with you as my mate." He sighed softly, knowing he was going to have to be completely vulnerable with her. "I'm not the least bit sorry. You're beautiful, and I was incredibly excited when I first laid eyes on you. I enjoyed every single moment of our time together at the bar and at the hotel. I'm not upset that your my mate at all, Ana. But I do have a love/hate relationship with you."

She turned to look at him. "You love me?"

His heart ached as he looked at the tears running down her cheeks. "I've obsessed over you for the last five months. I've been frustrated with you and worried about you. Yes, I do love you."