Aiden forced his burning muscles to keep going, pushing his body to speed up. His lungs drew in air with raspy breaths, but he obliged his body to move, pumping his arms in time with his legs to aid with his momentum. Sweat trickled down his face, blurring his vision and giving him a salty aftertaste in his mouth, before dripping down onto the ground. Not far left to go. Just a little further. You can do it! He encouraged himself silently, watching with an intense fixation as his goal approached.
As the digits on the treadmill hit twenty kilometres, he jammed his hand on the speed dial, drastically reducing his effort as the mat below slowed to walking pace. He groaned as his body relaxed slightly, his muscles cramping. For the past few days, he'd been using the gym as a way of escaping the mating season, desperate to avoid the canoodling couples. After the first few days he'd known that his mate wasn't here, and right now he couldn't bear the sight of other mated werewolves. They were truly pathetic.
He forced himself to draw in long breaths and slow his breathing. His face continued to drip with sweat so he pulled off his t-shirt, using it to wipe his face and neck. A slight sound on his right distracted him. It was a very quiet sort of sigh, and he wouldn't have heard it if it hadn't been for his werewolf hearing. He stopped himself from looking over. Although the gym was mostly empty, there were a few wolves milling around, mostly wolves with long term mates. But the group of females watching him from the side of the gym were unmated, and their eyes had been fixated on him as he ran. It had been really distracting, yet Aiden was determined not to let them get to him.
Most unmated wolves were happy dating and messing around with other wolves, with the understanding that finding their mate would end whatever had been going on. But Aiden had seen first-hand the effects of dating from his brother and was determined to wait for his mate. Although that was getting harder. The mating season had increased his sex drive, and he often found himself pushing down his arousal at the sight of the half-dressed females around him.
Sighing inwardly, he finished cooling down and stepped off the treadmill. He had planned on doing a more general workout but knew he would be extremely self-conscious with other females milling around, so decided to go straight upstairs for a shower. He draped his t-shirt over his shoulder, aware that his chiselled torso was fully visible, yet he was loath to have to pull his sweaty top back on. He quickly manoeuvred his way past the group, and out of the basement. He kept his head low, eyes averted as he rounded the stairs, climbing up and turning down the corridor to his room. But as he turned he bumped straight into a solid mass. Lifting his head, he saw Liam's bulk in front of him, María close behind.
Aiden mumbled a 'Sorry' and sidestepped the couple, quickly shutting the door to his bedroom behind him. Although he'd forgiven Liam for how he'd acted with Sam, Aiden still wasn't entirely comfortable when he saw the mated pair. He guessed that it was probably due to jealousy on his part, his own desire to find his mate and his inability to comprehend why Liam, of all people, found his before he did. He knew that he had to get over it, and he probably would once the two stopped acting like love-struck pups who were attached at the hip.
It would be an understatement to say that Liam had lost all individuality since meeting María. The two had become inseparable, and neither could say, do or go anywhere without the other. Aiden wasn't a huge fan of this new personality of Liam's, but Obi had reassured him that this was just the honeymoon phase effect and that Liam would eventually return to normal.
Wandering into the bathroom, Aiden snatched up his phone and scrolled through his messages. He hadn't checked his phone since that morning and saw loads of notifications on his screen. Suddenly he froze. He had a missed call from Sam, and an unread voice message.
Why the hell would Sam be calling me during the mating season? She never gets in touch. Maybe something's wrong. Oh my goddess, maybe she's hurt, or she's stuck somewhere and can't get out, or maybe she's been captured by someone, or maybe, or maybe... Aiden forced himself to stop that train of thought. This was Sam, the chances of her being captured or hurt were low. She was one of the strongest wolves he had ever met, with an iron will. So maybe she just wants to talk. But what would she want to talk about... Maybe she wants to see me? During the mating season? Aiden's heart raced at the thought of seeing her, at the thought. His head raced with the scenario. Catching a glimpse of her across a dark forest, feeling the intensity of her gaze and the rush of heat as I claim her as mine. The possibility of this pull finally becoming something real, of being one with Sam, of sharing her every thought and emotion, of being her rock, guiding her through her darkest days... And being able to touch her... feeling her soft skin under my hands, caressing her gorgeous curls. I want to pull her close to me, meld our bodies together and never let her go.
Aiden shook his head. Seriously he had to stop. He should at least check the message before getting any more wild ideas.
"Erm... hey Aiden, it's me... not sure what to say... not sure why I called honestly but felt like I should, felt like I needed to let you know that I'm leaving for a while, but I'll be back. I just don't want you to worry about me."
Sam was leaving? That didn't make any sense. She always stayed in the woods during the mating season so that she was close by if anyone seriously needed her. And where would she have gone? And also why would I worry? Aiden paced the room, all thoughts of having a shower forgotten.
She said she wasn't sure why she was calling, but said she didn't want me to worry. Which means I definitely have every reason to worry as knowing her she's gone off to do something stupid.
Dialling her number, Aiden called her back. The call went straight to voice mail as if the phone was switched off.
"Sam, what the hell sort of message was that. What do you mean don't worry? You saying that is just going to make me worry even more. Where are you? Please call me back."
Where could Sam possibly have wanted to go? She wouldn't have visited her family, as they belonged to another pack, and Sam avoided all wolves during mating season. She could have gone back to uni, but during the middle of the holidays there's no one there, so why would she go there. Anyway, she prefers the trees and mountains. She can't bear a busy city for too long.
As Aiden paced, the corner of a piece of paper on his desk caught his attention. Moving over, he shifted the top of the pile over, looking down at the heading. DIR.
Shit. He knew exactly where she was.
YOU ARE READING
Permission to escape - The Rogue Pack
Werewolf"You, I was thinking of you" she admitted. Aiden groaned, curling his hands around's Sam's waist as she spoke, her words like an enchantment to his ears. Her body fit into his perfectly, her short height of 5'2'' only adding to his sense of dominanc...
