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

Chapter 23

Aidan breathed a small sigh of relief when she said yes. A big part of him wanted her to say No, but he knew that if she did, he'd have to have this conversation with someone else, and that was one of the last things he wanted to do. It has been difficult enough having it with her. But at least she'd been perceptive enough to figure out what he was asking her without him having to say it.

He'd been too vulnerable, too unlike himself with someone he didn't know. He was never this way. But losing both his mate and his best friend in the span of a month had taken its toll on him. He was exhausted from it all. He just wanted everything back the way it was supposed to be, fixed.

He'd seen flashes of the vulnerability in Bianca's eyes as well though. She was hurting too. Her pain was sort of the same as his, but different. She'd been planning a life with her mate. She'd completed the bond with him. She'd known him for who knows how long. And he'd been ripped cruelly away from her.

His pain was different, but the fact that Ana was out there somewhere still alive was forcing his hand. He wouldn't put it past Daniel to have other candidates for him though. But if he'd given Aidan Bianca first, then he knew Daniel would feel like Bianca was the best choice for him.

Aidan had studied her some, though. Even though it felt completely and utterly wrong to do so. He didn't understand how any werewolf could cheat. He really didn't. He knew it happened, but it was rare. Just the thought of touching her repulsed him. He couldn't even put any thought into actually having sex with her.

She was right. His dick wouldn't respond to her at all. He'd have to be drugged before he'd be able to mark her properly. It would have to happen eventually; he knew that, but marking her without sex should be enough to break his bond with Ana and create a new one with Bianca. One that would make it easier for him to accept her as his mate.

Bianca was pretty, and she sort of reminded him of Elsie, the woman he'd sort of been seeing before. For sex. Their coloring was similar, and Aidan didn't take that as a bad thing. He'd been very attracted to Elsie.

He'd met her one evening at the diner in town. She'd been sitting there by herself, her date having stood her up. Aidan had been out with Xavier, Damien, and his cousin Linc at the time, and she'd caught his attention. She'd caught their attention as well, but he'd chosen to go talk to her.

He'd ended up in bed with her that night, and many nights after that. He'd told her it was just sex. She'd agreed. But she'd become a good friend to him, someone outside of the pack that didn't know who he was or what he would be one day. He could be himself with her.

His gaze darted back to Bianca. The big difference between the two women was that Elsie was human and older than Bianca. If she was still around, he might have considered taking her as his Chosen. He knew she would have liked more out of their relationship, though she hadn't said so, but he'd seen it. He'd only ever let himself be friends with her. He wouldn't be her boyfriend because he knew eventually he would have to hurt her and walk away. He realized now that he'd hurt anyway. He hadn't heard from her in three years.

She hadn't even told him she was leaving until their last night together. He'd gone to see her, and they'd been laying in bed together after sex when she'd told him.

"Aidan?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm leaving. I'm moving away. I took a job offer in Kentucky and I'm moving there in a few days," she'd said.

It had been on the tip of his tongue to ask her to stay. To ask her to be his. But he hadn't. Instead he'd rolled her over and fucked her one more time. Then he'd walked away, confident he was making the right decision. Looking back now, he realized he may have been part of the reason she'd left. Had she really fallen for him? It was possible. He'd half fallen for her. He knew that. He'd enjoyed spending time with her so much. He clenched his jaw. Why did life have to be so full of regrets?

His gaze darted back to Bianca. 'Will you let me mark her?' he asked Ghost, who remained silent for longer than Aidan liked.

Finally, he replied. 'Yes. But I don't want to.'

Aidan knew that. He could feel Ghost's distaste at the thought of marking a woman who wasn't their mate strongly. It was part of the reason he hadn't pursued a relationship with Elsie. Ghost only wanted his mate. 'I don't either.' But Ana had been on his mind almost the entire time, and he knew he was getting close to that point when he'd be consumed by his need to mark her.

His gums were starting to ache at the most random times, annoying him as visions of her naked underneath him would enter his mind. Every time he dreamed of her now, he marked her. Over and over again, the way it was meant to be. Him buried deep inside her, while she came on his cock and he buried his canines in her neck.

Lust and desire swirled through him, arousing him a bit. He closed his eyes, pushing the thoughts out of his mind. They weren't welcome right now. Not until he was alone. He opened his eyes to see Bianca studying him.

Aidan felt a wave of guilt wash over him. Guilt because he was betraying his mate, and guilt because he was asking a woman to bind herself to him for all eternity and he could almost care less about her. At times, he hated the mate bond. Going into a relationship like this really wasn't fair to Bianca, but then neither was losing her own mate. She'd been dealt a shitty hand.

But Bianca would understand some. Her bond had been broken with her mate,and she suffered from it. She always would unless a new bond was created with someone else. But hers had also been completed, unlike Aidan's. He sort of wished the situation was different and he could give her himself completely. Like she deserved. One day.

One day, he'd be able to be for her what she needed and for now, that would have to be enough. He couldn't give her more yet. He was just glad she knew that and understood it. Probably part of the reason why Daniel had chosen her for him.

"Is your wolf going to let you mark me?" Bianca suddenly asked, breaking the silence between them.

"He's uh.." he stopped. How did he tell her that his wolf was pissed at him and barely talking to him? That his wolf didn't want her?

"Not thrilled?" Bianca offered, giving him a smile that never reached her eyes. None of them had. He'd noticed that more than once with her and wondered if his own did. Probably not.

But his lips twitched at her comment. She was a sassy little thing, which he found attractive. She needed to be able to stand her ground and say what was on her mind, especially if she would one day be the Royal Beta Female. A position that should have been Ana's. He shoved that thought out of his mind. "No. But he understands why. And your wolf?"

"What's his name?"

He hadn't missed that she'd avoided his question, but he did like that she'd asked. Ghost noticed it too. Somewhat. "Ghost."

"My wolf is Nissa. She's not thrilled either, or at least that's what she tells me, but underneath it all, she's a little excited to have another mate," she admitted without looking at him. "She'll allow it though."

"And you?" He wasn't sure why he asked that, and almost took it back. He shouldn't push her, but at the same time, if she decided she didn't want to do this, it would make life even more difficult for him.