My Older Alpha Mate

chapter twelve

𝐏𝐡𝐨𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐢𝐬 𝐀𝐥𝐩𝐡𝐚 𝐀𝐬𝐡𝐭𝐨𝐧 ::

______

"No peeking. I'm serious," Ashton covered my eyes and guided me blindly around my large house. "Ashton! I'm going to fall!" I squealed, tripping over my own feet. It had been two weeks since my birthday and my realization that I met my mate.

Ashton and I spent this time bonding, but on my terms. He was finally learning to respect me as an individual. I was finally beginning to understand that all of this isn't easy for him.

"Okay, ready?" He asked gently, whispering huskily into my ear, sending chills up my spine and causing me to grin excitedly. "Yes!" I say, bouncing up and down excitedly. He removed his hands to see Jake, causing me to melt completely. He looked different now... His dirty blonde hair was shorter, shaved, and his facial hair was growing in now. 

Before I could formulate anything or draw any conclusions, I ran into him and hugged his waist tightly. He hugged me back, but not nearly as tightly as I did. When I finally pulled away, I glanced over at Ashton, who was noticeably tense. "I'm going to give you two some space, okay?" He says, approaching Jake and me. 

He leaned down and kissed my forehead, something he had started to do recently. I smiled gingerly, sliding my hand down his shoulder briefly. He looked at Jake now and they shared a look that I couldn't name. A look of brothers who just rejoiced. "Take care of her, man," Ashton said, not releasing a smile. 

I've learned that Ashton not smiling does not mean he is not happy. This is his natural state and that's why it gives me goosebumps when he flashes me his pretty pearly whites. "Yeah, sure, that's why..." My wolf was getting louder and stronger with time and I figured it was because I had just hit my 'lady peak' for a she-wolf. 

The sweet blonde nurse whose name I discovered was Lucy, told me all about being a full-grown she-wolf. Everything except for something she said we should cover another time. Curiosity filled my brain. What was the last thing?

Jake snapped in front of my face playfully, snapping me out of my thoughts. I smiled at the tall boy ad hugged him again. "Can we talk?" He asked, giving me a sweet grin and holding out his arm for me to take. I nodded and reflected a smile back towards him, linking my arm in his. We walked through my back door and through the back yard and into the woods. 

I smiled as I realized where we were going. We sat down on the top of a hill where a creek lied about 10 feet below us. Where we met.

I sat on the dirt, enjoying the scent of pine and oak that lingered through the air. "I'm sorry. I thought you were my mate... Everything has just been so gloomy for so long and the day you and Jon arrived here, it was sunny. It was like the fog lifted all because of you. You are so gorgeous, Aurora. Ashton is so, so lucky," He breathes these words out like he had been holding them in like his breath.

My lips parted instinctively, sending tears into the ducts of my eyes. "Oh, Jake. I thought you were mine too. You have nothing to apologize for. You were the first person I told my story to. I am so sorry we aren't mates but I really hope we can be friends," I said, looking into his bright blue eyes. He nodded and we shared a cozy, awkward side hug. We spent another hour catching up and filling each other in.

We walked back in a comfortable silence which was good because I was slightly paranoid about being in the woods. My mind shifted to my mate who this couldn't have been easy for. I thought about the progress we made in a short time. Only two weeks and some change and he went from almost killing Jake to endorsing our friendship. I was appreciative of his attempts and thankful that I was finally getting through his thick skull.