Transferring schools was an easy feat when one knew the right people. Stalking one’s mate by having the same classes as hers was not that difficult either – one only needed to bribe the board into overlooking that.
And thus, the following week, when Aiden arrived at school, all excited to see his mate for a second time – well, not truly a second time since he had been following her around from afar like a lost puppy – he was hopeful for the new year.
Being the next alpha ultra in line made him a bit overconfident about his wooing skills… not that he had ever tried them on anyone.
Yes, Aiden was a virgin.
Even better – or worse? He couldn’t decide – he had never kissed a girl before. That would make everything he was to hopefully share with his mate his first… and that was the way it should be in his opinion.
Let’s get this started, he said to himself as he killed the engine and got out of his car.
He attracted stares but he didn’t care. Being the center of the attention was something he would endure for Karen. His sweet Karen… just the thought of her made him smile.
And he heard a girl nearby sigh dreamily at that, “Isn't he handsome?”
He didn’t pay her any mind though, too focused as he was in the task he had given himself – wooing his mate and making her his as soon as werewolf-ly possible.
“Are you new here?” A busty brunette had enough guts to approach him, contrarily to her friends who were watching from the sidelines.
“I am,” he told her simply.
“Want me to show you around?” She offered kindly… but it wasn’t genuine. She wasn’t doing it out of the goodness of her heart or the desire to help, rather out of other carnal desires.
He dazzled her with a smile and brushed off the offer without offending her, “I can find my way around, thank you.”
And with that, he continued his way through the school building, uncaring of the whispers that followed him, and of the lustful stares.
He retrieved the school’s map and was then making a beeline to his first class. Already his wolf stirred at the idea of seeing his mate, of interacting with her, of possibly touching her if luck was on their side.
It was a sunny day in Fort Meyers, Florida, and Aiden had never felt so good.
He didn't know what awaited him yet. Otherwise, he wouldn't have such child-like excitement.
** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **
Karen was laughing when Aiden’s eyes zeroed in on her form. She was beautiful. And her laugh was melodic.
His mate was, however, laughing with another guy.
Rip the competition to shreds.
He would have to admit he didn’t feel exactly opposed to the idea his wolf was suggesting. The guy’s blood tainting the walls, his insides spilling on the floor… he was sure he could make a beautifully gory art, given the chance.
All he allowed himself to do, however, was making a beeline to them – he didn’t want to call them a couple just yet seeing as he didn’t know that to be a fact yet. He stopped once only two feet separated him from the competition while glaring at the guy’s hand which was raising to caress Karen.
Aiden’s mate turned to him just as the guy’s hand landed on her bare shoulder in a friendly pat.
“You?” She asked in wonder as she unconsciously stepped closer.
“Hello to you too,” came his sarcastic greeting.
“Oh, hello,” she said, blushing. And Aiden, like the sucker he was for her, felt his anger dissipate.
He almost forgot about his rival – key word here being almost.
“Who’s your new friend, Karen?” The guy stepped closer.
Your worst nightmare, Aiden’s wolf sang-song.
“I’m Aiden,” he extended a hand out of politeness. “You are?”
“Mason. Nice to meet you.”
And then, they were shaking hands, sizing each other up.
Aiden had to squash down the urge to roll his eyes at the guy and also the urge to break his hand. It was a tough task, but he managed somehow, by inhaling deep whiffs of his mate’s scent.
He knew right then and there, the school year which he had been looking forward to would not be as enjoyable as he had hoped it would be… but then again, what was life without a few challenges thrown in?
Aiden smirked inwardly.
To say Karen was surprised to see Aiden showing up at her school would be the understatement of the year – scratch that, of the century.Although her high school wasn’t small enough that she’d know everybody, she was fairly sure, she would have noticed a senior who looked so good. Because let’s admit it, he looked dashing, panty-droppingly gorgeous… and she wasn’t blind enough or stupid enough to think otherwise.The problem was he was taking interest in her. And she didn’t do relationships – or flings for that matter. She was set on graduating with high colors and getting the hell out of this hellish town. That was her goal.Her goal wasn’t to fall for some random guy’s charms just because he lusted after her somehow. It also wasn’t to suck faces with anyone in the hallways of the school – like the couple to her right was doing – and then be given a detention for it.She wasn&
Aiden had to make Karen his. He didn’t know how to go about it, but he just had to.A few days into the new school, he was patiently waiting for her to arrive, so that she would light up his whole world as per usual… and was harshly disappointed when came noon and she had yet to make an appearance.What was going on? Could it be her schedule was changed drastically for some reason – like his stalking her?Easy, boy, he told himself after a while. Think rationally.Could it be possible she had just skipped?That seemed more logical. He inwardly face-palmed at his stupidity and his eagerness to make assumptions.Only one day since he last saw her, and already he felt like he was suffering from withdrawal. What was she doing to him?“You’ve become a sap,” his wolf sing-sang in his head.“As if you’re any better,” he scoffed at him, inwardly rolling his eyes.
Aiden was devastated and all kinds of enraged when he saw the bruises on Karen’s face. When he remembered images of his smiling mate, he couldn’t fathom how someone could be so cruel as to hit her. He couldn’t control the tone of his voice when he had asked her what the hell had happened. And it seemed like his sweet mate wasn’t in the least bit scared by the shift in his eyes color – maybe she simply hadn’t noticed? – for she spat out with venom, “What the hell brought you here?” “Do not speak to me that way,” his wolf had taken over and hissed at her, and she flinched, almost as if she had been slapped. He tried to get some self-control back, by closing his eyes, pinching the bridge of his nose, and inhaling and exhaling loudly. “Why are you so pissed anyways? You shouldn’t have sought me out,” she carried on in a rather sad almost resigned voice. “Because I care a great deal about you! Can’t you see that?” He retorted in a strong voice, ope
“Where are we going?” Karen asked him as she got in the car rather obediently. “To Jacksonville,” Aiden told her, a fond smirk stretching his lips. He had good memories there. As much as he didn’t want to admit it, Anastasia – The Troublemaker’s daughter – was good company… when she wasn’t mourning the absence of her mate, that was. He briefly wondered how she was faring in the vampire academy, and made a note to himself to call her or Ace later on. Karen kept quiet the entire ride to Jacksonville, and although Aiden wasn’t particularly affected by the silence, he preferred when she was arguing with him than her distracted state of mind. “I need to be back home before 5 pm,” she announced just as he parked the car in front of a big house. His bodyguards were naturally in another car, following closely behind, not knowing what to expect, but probably reporting everything to his mom… yes, his mom, not his dad. She was overprotective and
It was in a werewolf’s genes to hunt. The urge was even more intense if they needed to give chase to their mate.And although Aiden, next in line to be the alpha ultra, was usually a composed teenager who knew how to control himself, he had trouble handling his wolf at the moment.Run, little girl. Run, his wolf basically sang.Aiden could picture the wolfish grin all too well.Don’t, he tried to fight him. She’s scared.Even as he told him that mentally, his wolf started taking control of his body. His eyes stung as they went black and his fingernails elongated into claws.“I’m giving you a head start,” he sing-sang before chuckling, “make good use of it, little mate.”The next thing Aiden knew, he lost the fight, and he was hurrying down the white hallways of the pack’s clinic. He could hear her screaming for help. He then saw her almost begging, reaching out for someone at the door of another room… But what werewolf would dare touch what was his?H
Aiden didn't know what to say. He was flabbergasted. How could Karen even think he had messed with her head?But then again, he did intend to do just that. She wasn't ready. She wasn't ready for him, or his world. And although he wanted to take the time to explain everything to her, he knew they were running out of it. Aiden looked at his wrist watch and sighed. Where was the eraser? "What are you sighing about?" Karen asked Had he had the luxury of time, he would have taken things slowly. As it was, she needed to be back at her home by night time. "It's nothing," he drawled. "Then when are you going to answer me?" She carried on. "Have you or have you not messed with my head?" "I have never," he said truthfully, his eyes boring into hers despite the distance. "Then what is the erasor for?" She asked in a strong voice. "You have to understand," he began. "It's not that I want it. It's what's n
As Karen pleaded with Aiden to let her keep her memories again, and as the witch whose name he didn’t even know approached her, he started to second guess himself and doubt gnawed at his insides.“Stop,” he commanded all of a sudden.The hope he saw shining in her eyes would have been enough to make ice melt, and yet his resolve to have her memories erased still peaked its head.The eraser turned his head his way, and looked at him with his eyebrow raised.“How about you cast a silencing spell or something?” He offered.Fear came back full force in her eyes.“And what is that?” She all but shrieked at him.“What do you want exactly?” The witch asked, his interest seemingly piqued, ignoring Karen's shriek completely.“I just don’t want her to reveal my secret to any human being. She’s welcome to say whatever the hell she wants with supernaturals.”She flashed a tentative smile at him. “Can’t you just trust me?”“I cannot,” he answered simply, shaking his
When Karen got home at around 7 pm, her dad was waiting for her in the living room – sober for once. His eyes narrowed at Aiden’s figure trailing behind her, hands lazily tucked into his hoodie’s pockets. Indeed, Aiden had insisted on going in with her. And she hadn’t had the courage to argue with him. Even though her dad wouldn’t appreciate his presence, she was much too scared of getting a beating worse than that of the previous night for going home late.“The school called to tell me you skipped, Karen,” he iced out as soon as she was within sight.She grimaced, remembering school all of a sudden. How could she have forgotten? She truly needed to do her best at school if she wanted to have a shot at leaving this town from hell.Okay, the town hadn’t done much to her in all fairness. It was her dad she was running away from… and admittedly the painful memories as well.“I wasn’t feeling well,&rd