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

Chapter 30

He'd passed out on the couch at Dylan's house. Aidan laid there, staring at the ceiling the next morning, knowing he needed to get up. He wished he could stay asleep. With Ana in his dreams, where he mated her and marked her every night.

His gums ached and his canines popped out. He sighed deeply and rubbed at his jaw, retracting them. He had to forget about her. She wasn't around for him to mark. Why couldn't his body understand that?

He wasn't completely lying when he'd told Violet last night that he hated her. He hated her for leaving, for forcing him to never be with his fated mate. For taking that away from him. For forcing him to mate a she-wolf he didn't want. All while she could be with any man she chose to be with.

Aidan glanced up at the time and sighed. He needed to go home and take a shower and brush his teeth before breakfast. Then he'd go see Bianca, and hopefully convince her to let him mark her.

It was selfish of him; he knew that. Selfish because he was mating a woman he wasn't interested in, and he didn't want to go find another. She was here and available. Sort of.

Aidan knew he was running out of time. He didn't want to fly all over the world looking for another Chosen mate. Besides, Bianca was pretty and he would hopefully be able to mate her at some point. And she really didn't seem to care about his position.

He sat up and rubbed his eyes. He'd drank too much last night, but it didn't matter. It wasn't like he could get a hangover. He stood and headed out the door. He'd see Dylan and Violet later at breakfast or lunch.

He came back the way he'd left, up on to his deck and inside the French doors and into his bedroom. He stripped off his clothes and got in the shower, then got out and brushed his teeth before finding something else to wear. Then he headed on out and back downstairs.

He stopped outside of Bianca's room and took a deep breath. He'd rather just turn and walk away, but he couldn't. His need to mark his mate was growing worse by the day. He lifted his hand and knocked.

She opened the door a moment later and gave him a small smile that didn't reach her eyes. This whole thing wasn't fair to either of them, he realized. She stepped back and let him in, not saying a word.

Aidan walked in and sat down in a chair, and she sat in the other one. "How did you sleep?"

She shrugged. "Okay."

He studied her quietly, but she had barely looked at him. "You're having second thoughts, aren't you?"

Her gaze met his then, and she let loose a long sigh. "I don't know."

"Be honest with me, Bianca."

Her gaze darted down. "Yes I am."

He wasn't surprised, especially after his conversation with Dylan last night. He already knew she'd hold back from telling him what she was thinking just because of who he was. Her need to submit to him was ingrained in her. She'd probably even agree to be his Chosen if he told her she didn't have a choice. Not that he would. That would be cruel, and his mother would beat his ass for it. "Tell me what you're thinking, Bianca."

She still wasn't looking at him. Instead she was staring down at her hands, and chewing on her lip. "I don't want to upset you."

Now he really wanted to know. "It won't make me mad. It's not like I'm going to kill you for upsetting me or something like that."

She sighed softly, and it still took her a few moments to say anything, but Aidan could be patient. "This whole thing is messed up."

He could agree with that. It really was. He remained quiet though, letting her say what she needed to say.