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 I. I know most of the pack leadership throughout the packs think that we age slower 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 breath. 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 was, 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 may 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."

"I'll still come to Regal Eclipse," she said after a few moments. "And I'll keep your secret."

"Okay. Thank you, Bianca," he said quietly. It was the least he could say. He'd do everything within his power to make her happy too. He'd be the mate she deserved and make it up to her for the shitty way he was going to mark her. The shitty way this relationship was starting out. Though it was a bitter thought, he hoped that one day he'd be able to love her.

She nodded. "I still want to get to know you though. Maybe we could start out as friends?"

Friends. This she-wolf deserved so much more, though he couldn't give it to her. Not yet. "Yes, I think that would be for the best," Aidan agreed. Friendship he could do.

"You said it's been five months?" Bianca looked up at him.

"Yeah," he murmured. Five long miserable months.

"You won't have long then," she commented, her gaze darting away from him.

He sighed. He wished he had forever. He wished he wouldn't start to obsess about Ana. He wished for a brief moment that Bianca was his actual mate. It would be so much easier for both of them. He could indulge in her, and enjoy her. Instead, he was barely able to stand the thought of touching her. Or mark her. He hated this entire thing so much.

The mate bond was so weird. He'd never thought to wish he was human, but he'd had moments where he had. He hated that he'd wish it too, and had apologized to Ghost more than once. It was something else for him to feel guilty about. He had a long list.

He sighed. Hopefully once he'd created a new bond with Bianca, his wolf would be okay and get over his anger. They could go back to being best friends, the way they had been before he'd woken up to find Ana gone. Things had spiral from there with his wolf, and they'd both become miserable.

His phone went off at that moment, distracting him from his thoughts, and he pulled it out, looking at the text from Zane.

I have to fly out to Colorado. Something is going down there, and I need to leave right away.

Aidan dialed his number. This was sort of random. He knew Zane was the Colorado Pack's liaison, but he also never went alone. No one went alone anymore. It was one of Malachi's rules. "You're leaving now?" Aidan asked the moment Zane picked up.

"Yeah. It's pretty urgent, and you know it's not a short flight. The Gamma is driving me to the airport. I've got a flight already booked," Zane said.

So not only was he going alone, but he was also taking a commercial flight. Something seemed off. "Zane.."

"Worry about your new mate. I'll be fine. I'll be back in a few days," Zane said, cutting him off.

"You know Dad is going to blow a gasket and so is Malachi," Aidan reminded him. Neither of them would be pleased with him for doing something stupid.

"I'll call them and let them know," Zane told him. "I'll see you in a few days."

"Watch your back and keep me updated," Aidan told him.

"Will do," Zane said before disconnecting the call, leaving Aidan hanging

Aidan cursed under his breath. His father and Kai were both going to have both of their asses for this. His gaze darted to Bianca, who was watching him. He knew she'd heard the entire conversation.

"Trouble in paradise?" She lifted a brow at him.

"I have no idea. He was rather vague," Aidan grumbled, incredibly annoyed with his brother

"He's your brother?" She crossed her arms.

"Yeah. He's the only sibling I have," he said. "Which means I'll be the one conducting the pack visit alone. Which is fine though."

"When are we leaving?" she asked.

"Today. If that's okay with you?" He watched the play of emotions cross her face. She liked to chew on her lip when she was thinking, he noticed.

"Okay. I can be ready," she agreed.

"If it's not enough time, tell me, Bianca." He hoped that she was going to think she needed to always defer to him because of who he was. That wasn't going to work for him.

"No, I should be fine," she said. "We'll be back here again?"

"Yeah, we will be. Let's head back then," he said.

"Sounds good. It's warm today, but after a while, it does get cold." She turned and headed back up the beach, her arms wrapped around herself.

Aidan fell into step beside her. So far, he didn't mind her. She was a little sassy, which he appreciated. Maybe he could fall for her eventually. Maybe.