Ayden's pov
"Kareen please stop."
Kareen just shook his head, his eyes focused on the window and I inwardly cursed Zander for leaving. Why did he always do this? Why couldn't he just once think about Kareen's feelings? Straightening my shoulders, I marched across the room to where Kareen stood and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"What is it, Ayden?"
"Let's dance."
"I do not wish to dance."
"I know, but I can't keep watching you stare out the window so sadly, it's like watching a kicked puppy."
Kareen sighed and for a minute, I thought he was going to ignore me again.
"Very well."
I smiled gratefully and we got into position. Since Kareen was taller than me, he took up the male role. As we danced I couldn't help ask the question that was burning inside of me.
"Do you think the Moon Goddess ever makes mistakes?"
"When I found out that I was barren, I wondered if the Moon Goddess made a mistake by giving me a mate that wanted pups enough to continuously stray from me and when he returned with you, I truly started to believe that the Moon Goddess wished for the two of you to be mates and I had somehow managed to get in the way. When he told me why he mated you I blamed myself because I could not give him what he wanted, but I would not let him go . . . I wish to believe that the Moon Goddess places us together, but it is up to us if we stay together."
"He's a jerk. If you were my mate, I'd never let you go."
"It is alright . . . I am used to him leaving me alone."
"You shouldn't have to be used to that! No one should have to get used to their mate cheating on them, especially you!"
"What do you mean?"
"Well besides the fact that you're a prince, you're kind, generous and beautiful inside and out. I'm surprised he chose to mate me at all when he had you as his mate!"
"Do not sell yourself short, Ayden. I am no better than you are."
I chuckled quietly, shaking my head.
"You're also incredibly modest too. I wish I had your strength too."
"I am not as strong as you believe I am . . . if you were not here I would have let things go on like they were . . . it is because you are by my side that I am able to find the courage to stand up to Zander."
I swallowed nervously as the fear I knew we were both feeling reared its ugly head.
"Do . . . Do you think they're going to accept us this time?"
"I believe they will and if they do not, we will still have each other, right?"
I let a small smile cross my lips.
"You think your dad will mind if I stay here? I don't think he likes me."
"I will convince him to let you stay . . . but will you not miss your family?"
Derrick forbid the pack to acknowledge me and after that, well my family completely shut me out . . . I think my parents even told my brother and sister to stop considering me family."
Kareen pulled us to a stop, a look of shock and anger on his face.
"Why would he forbid the pack from having contact with you?"
"I truly don't know . . . if he didn't want me, that was fine, but to take everyone else away from me . . . to leave me with no one to turn to when he hurt me, I never understood that."
