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

Chapter 24

Bianca shrugged. "I don't know yet."

He nodded. It was what he'd expected her to say. But then another thought occurred to him. He needed to tell her what becoming a member of Regal Eclipse entailed. "Bianca, there's one other thing I need to tell you that may cause you to change your mind. It's important, though."

She looked up at him expectantly. "Okay?"

"This is something that I need you to keep between you and me. I know most of the pack leadership throughout the packs think that we age more slowly than the average werewolf," he started, watching her face. Perhaps she did know that. She was the Beta's daughter after all. "The truth is, we don't age at all. So if you join my pack, you'll stop aging."

Her eyes widened and her mouth dropped open as she stared at him for a moment, then dropped her gaze. "Forever twenty-one," she muttered. "Are you sure you want someone so much younger than you?"

No, I don't, unless your name is Ana, he wanted to shout at her. Instead, he gave her a half smile. He felt like someone was sitting on his chest, crushing him. Like he could barely breathe. Like it hurt to breathe. Why did this have to happen to him?

"So, if we mate, it'll be forever," she said quietly, her gaze still on his chest.

Forever. It sounded like a prison sentence. "Yes. For as long as we remain in the pack," he confirmed. He almost wished he could just mark her now so that he could accept her. Make this easier on him.

She bit her lip. "This doesn't even seem fair to you."

Her words startled him, surprising him with her compassion. "Life isn't fair, Bianca," he told her. "If it were, you'd be with your mate, and I'd be with mine."

She sighed softly and looked away from him altogether. He watched her visibly swallow, and a tear escaped, slowly working its way down her cheek. She looked down and brushed it away.

Aidan closed his eyes. If he couldn't comfort her, there was no point to this. It wouldn't be the same as what her mate would have offered, or at least not yet, but he also couldn't stand there and watch her cry either. He'd sort of made her cry, though it wasn't intentional. His own heart was already shattering, pained by the deal he was making with her. He stepped forward, closing the distance between them, and took her hand in his.

"Sorry," she murmured, sniffling a bit.

"Don't be," he responded hoarsely. This whole thing really sucked. "I'd like to say I understand, but I don't."

"You sort of do," she responded quietly, her gaze finally finding him again.

"Maybe, but I never marked her. She's still out there," he said quietly. "Somewhere." Much to his dismay. Why had she left? He'd asked him that question so many times. He still didn't have an answer and probably never would, unfortunately.

"And mine is out there." She gestured towards the water. "Somewhere."

Aidan glanced out at the water, realizing the implications of what she was saying. Her mate was still out there? Buried at sea. "I'm so sorry."

"It is what it is," she said quietly, as her gaze moved back out to the water again.

"It sucks, is what it is," Aidan muttered in disgust. He sort of hated that phrase.

She let loose a small giggle. "That's not a proper sentence, Beta."

He snorted. She wasn't wrong, but she didn't need to be calling him by his title anymore, either. "No, but please just call me Aidan. It's only right after all of this."