Chapter 07

Chapter 07

"I'm sorry" Aiden caught up with me, grabbing my hands which I pushed off.

"I'm not mad" I practically snapped, folding my arms.

He chuckled and I snapped my head at him. "Seriously? You think this is funny!"

"No, no" He muttered slowly, his hands smoothly sliding inside his pockets as he took calculated steps towards me.

"Wh..what are you doing?" I stuttered, stepping backwards but his stride was faster.

"You look really cute right now" He muttered.

" Why? Because I look like your ex?" My intrusive thoughts came to my head and I sent it down the depths immediately. Don't ruin this moment please.

Aiden suddenly stepped backwards. "W..what?" He asked.

"What?" I asked at once. What? What happened? What ruined the moment? Ryan? I asked myself as Ryan appeared from a distant view.

"What?" I asked slowly this time, searching his face for what just happened.

He said nothing and only inserted his hands in his pockets again as Ryan got to us.

"Alright, I'll take that as she isn't 'fake mad' anymore"

"I wasn't faking being mad!" I snapped at Ryan.

"Of course" He faked a yawn then I turned back to Aiden who simply said nothing.

Wait... Did I?

Oh Fuck me, I said it, it wasn't just an intrusive thoughts, I said it out loud. Shit, he must have thought I was weird. What do I say now? Do I tell him I didn't mean to say that? Then why did I?

Shit, please tell me what to say, anyone! Wolfie, please.. I called on my non-existent wolf. Fuck, it was times like this I hated myself for being me, wolfless, weak and stupid.

If I had a wolf, she could have gotten me out of the mess.

I didn't realize we had bade Aiden goodbye and I was now in the parking lot until Ryan waved his hands before my eyes, and I blinked repeatedly, shocked.

"What?" I asked, looking around. When did we get here? I didn't know I had said that out loud too.

"I carried you since you wouldn't stop staring at Aiden" Ryan responded as he pushed my head gently into his car.

Wait, I said that out loud? "Yes you did" Ryan responded as he got in the driver's seat.

Wait, seriously? "Yes! Now focus, and don't pass out or anything" He muttered as he started the car's engine. I turned to look at the entrance if I could catch a glimpse of Aiden again but I didn't. He isn't mad at me or anything right?

***

It's currently 8:30pm and I was waiting in the garage for Ryan to come pick me up, he had texted me thirty minutes ago to get ready.

Genuinely, I forgot about the hunt already but immediately I got his text, I got excited. Not just cause I had always wished to go on those types of hunts, neither the ones that happened every year, or the ones that happened in school every month, I never got to go to one, mom wouldn't allow, I was too weak, she would say. But Ariana was allowed to go, 'she can manage' mom would say which was practically equivalent to, 'you're weak but she's not'

And also, a part of me is excited because I get to see Aiden again, maybe then I can apologize for my stupid outbursts.

"Back to life, princess" That was Ryan, who snapped his fingers in my face. I rolled my eyes before slinging my backpack on my shoulders. His left brow raised. "What's that for?" He asked as he walked behind me to his car.

"Things I need for the hunt" I said, as I opened the back door and dropped my backpack there, then shut it again and walked to the other side.

"You don't need those" Ryan's brows creased as he spoke again, he opened the door and I did too. My eyes widened when I saw him seated there. I raised my brow and glanced at Ryan who only shrugged his shoulders.

He turned to me and I bit my lips slowly before closing the door, and I got in the back seat.

He came, of course he did.

"Arielle, by the way, you won't be doing no hunting, just stick behind us and be careful not to get hurt" Ryan said as he reversed the car. "What?" I half-yelled. Of course I definitely won't be doing so.

"I'm well prepared.." I said, grabbing my bag pack and shoving it to the front. Aiden grabbed it at once and emptied it all on the dash-top compartment in a swift motion.

"This?" He grabbed one of the wooden stakes I had packed. "You call this 'being prepared" He asked, curtly.

I snatched it from him. "You don't have to mock me, I worked hard stealing that from dad's workshop" I muttered and his brows knitted together while Ryan gave me a glance through the rearview mirror.

"You stole it?" Ryan judged me.

"I didn't, I practically borrowed it" I said. "Moreover, it's not like we're going hunting for rogues or something, just animals" I said, zipping the opened space of my bag.

"We could encounter some rogues, so we have to be careful, stick with me throughout the hunt and you'll be fine" Aiden muttered before looking forward.

"Yeah, I would rather stick with Ryan" I muttered inwardly and the two exchanged glances.

"What? You heard me?" I asked, surprised.

"Yep, loud and clear" Ryan said with a teasing smile and I rolled my eyes.

"I didn't mean it" I muttered, tho it probably didn't matter. He probably doesn't care.

"Can you two at least talk it out before we get there. Would sulk if you two were fighting instead of sticking together" Ryan said, tightening his grip on the wheels.

"We're not fighting" Aiden and I said at the same time.

Ryan glanced at both of us before smiling.

I sighed as I leaned back against the chair. This was going to be a long night.

"By the way, Ariana's coming" Ryan suddenly said, his voice slicing through the peaceful atmosphere.