Ch. Five
2007 Words
Aiden's POV
Arriving at Tasha's home, it looked way different than I remember. It is dark and gloomy and quite small.
I've actually never been inside making our way toward the front porch. Tasha stopped midway. She seemed to be observing a certain spot near her home.
"Is everything alright? I curiously asked. Tasha glanced at me and nodded, "Um... yeah, everything is fine," she muttered before turning her attention back on that particular spot one last time.
Tasha's grandmother had unlocked the front door and opened it for us. Tasha was spacing out once we walked through the entrance.
Ms. Black flicked the lights on, and we got a much better view of truly how small the inside of this place was. Being squashed in their tiny hallway was an understatement.
"I'll be right back," Tasha said as she ran up the stairs that were down the hall. "Come boys, I will put the water to boil," Ms. Black gingerly smiled.
"I'm sorry, but we weren't expecting company. So we only have two chairs," She stated. "That is perfectly fine, Ms. Black, we can stand. You don't need to apologize," I replied with a smile.
"Ma'am, do you know where Tasha ran off, too?" Luca questioned. "Probably to her room, I'm sure she'll be right back," Ms's.Black responded quite quickly.
I wonder, does everyone fear my youngest brother? No, they just know how he is. I laughed to myself just thinking about it, and I couldn't hide the smile that was creeping up on my face.
"What is it," Kaden asked me as he raised a brow with curiosity. "Nothing," I replied with a slight chuckle.
Tasha had disappeared for a little while, and I was beginning to think that she was trying to avoid us. Suddenly, a loud bang vibrated off of the ceiling. "Oh my, what is that child up to," Ms's. Black said as she glanced up at the ceiling.
And then another loud bang rang out, and now that caught all of our attention. "Should we go and check it out?" I asked with concern and confusion.
"No, I'm sure my granddaughter is just fine. She can be accident-prone at times." Ms's. Black stated as she just waved it off.
My brothers and I glanced at one another and then looked back to the kitchen entrance, waiting for Tasha to enter. I was hoping that no more uneasy sounds would hit the upper floor. Otherwise, I will actually check it out.
Tasha quietly entered this already crowded kitchen with a slight frown. Her steps are light and hard to hear. She definitely can sneak up on someone.
Although I want to know why my little mate has a frown on her beautiful face. I would love to turn it upside down. Would I be overstepping my bounds if I embraced her right now?
Would I frighten her if I did? "She is ours. There are no boundaries," Apex growled. "We still need to respect her, buddy," I told my wolf. Although he wasn't too happy to hear that, he agreed.
We watched Tasha as she slowly stepped over to the kitchen table. Her eyes never left ours. Ms. Black handed tea to all of us, and then she left the kitchen.
This silence is crazy. Someone needs to hurry and say something. I can tell that she is feeling really uncomfortable. The insane thing is, I can feel the intensity that is coming from her wolf.
She is locked onto us and wary as much as Tasha. Luca was the first to break the ice, " Tasha, please tell us what your fears are about being mated to us. We just want to help ease your mind."
Tasha glared at my brother. She was burning a whole right through him. Her anger and her frustration we could feel it.
A simple apology just won't due. Sensing that she wanted to lash out, although she didn't, it made me a little sad. What I wanted was for her to express herself even if I didn't like what she would say.
"You were relentless. Every day, you look for me just to bully me. Why do you hate me so much? Wait, isn't it because I'm Tribal trash." Our little mate finally spoke and without hesitation. I say that's progress.
Luca gulped because he knew what I knew. It is really hard for us to admit when we are wrong. Luca put his head down in shame, "I'm sorry... for everything. You're none of those things." Luca said as he looked back up at Tasha.
"In fact, you're beautiful, and we just used you to take out our anger on you. It is no excuse. We know that. We were under a lot of pressure, and we're just really, really sorry." Luca expressed with sadness.
Tasha looked saddened by Lucas' sudden apology as a teardrop escaped the corner of her eye. "OK," she nodded.
"I can't forgive you. Not right now, at least," that was all that she said before my phone buzzed in my pocket. My brothers, including Tasha, looked at me as I reached in to retrieve it.
"Hello," I answered. "Hey man, where are you guys," Rykers voice rang through on the other side. I didn't know how to answer him, so I paused a moment before I answered.
"We went for a run," I replied, "on the east side." "Didn't you just go for a run? Oh, wait a minute, did you three find the girl? Ryker chuckled as he asked the question.
I could tell that he was anticipating something good as he waited for my answer. "Ahu," I replied as I glimpsed at my mate.
"Oh, that's exciting. You should bring her to the party. Everyone would love to meet her. Especially me." Ryker voiced his opinion.
I didn't respond. I just told him that we would be there as soon as we could. Then I hung up with him and placed my phone back in my pocket.
"We will make this right, we are sorry, and we promise that you'll never have to endure pain like that again from us." I gave half a grin while I approached Tasha.
I kneeled down in front of her. My eyes never wavered from hers. I softly grasped her hand in mine and brought it up to my lips. "I promise, just trust me." I said as I planted a light kiss upon the top of her hand.
She was tense while she sat there watching me. "We will see you tomorrow at school, alright? Just think about what we said." I told her as I stood up.
My brothers came a bit closer to our mate and smiled at her as they exited. I said my goodbyes and left.
Tasha's POV
I waited just until I heard the front door click closed. "Oh crap," I shouted silently to myself when I remembered that I had left Macy's drunk ass unattended.
I dashed off to my bedroom, I was hoping and praying that she had settled down. Right after that fall, she had taken after climbing through my bedroom window, that is.
Though I am curious how and the hell she climbed up that tree in the back. "Macy," I said as I entered my room.
Macy was hurled over my trashcan and making the most disturbing noises that I've ever heard. I sat down on my bed and waited for her to finish. My mind got carried away with thoughts of my bullies.
Since tomorrow is another school day. What will happen? Will things be different now that I'm there, fated? Will I still be bullied by them? Will Kristen and her posy come for me?
Kristen is going to want to fight for Aiden. Because she believes that she belongs right next to his side and that she's the rightful Luna. I have so many unanswered questions. It's really frustrating.
"Tash, I think I over did it," Macy whined as she glanced at me. "Ya, think," I replied sarcastically, I swear she's like a child who needs to be watched consistently.
With vomit on her face, she wiped her mouth using only her arm. "Eww, Macy, that's just gross." I exclaimed.
She smiled before falling backward and passing out. "Damn it, Macy, you're going to draw attention to yourself, and my grams will come running in here." I harshly stated to a sleeping Macy.
I cleaned her up the best that I could, considering the circumstances, and helped her to my bed. If my grandmother catches Macy in my room drunker than a skunk, she'll kill us both.
"Why me," I said to no one.
Aiden's POV
We met up with Ryker back at our house party, and he stomped over to us. "What is it, Ryker?" Luca aggressively asked. He placed his hands in his pockets and asked, "So where is this mystery girl of yours?
My kid brother just stormed off in the opposite direction. "What is eating him up?" Ryker asked. "I'm assuming she is not the girl he was hoping for," Ryker added.
"No, that's not it. We're actually fine with her." I stated. "Even him?" Ryker asked as he pointed to Luca. "Even him," I smiled. "So then he's just being luca," Ryker laughed as if it was the funniest thing ever.
Which caught the attention of my ex, unfortunately. Kristen grinned largely while she was coming our way.
"Oh yeah, my cousin hasn't shut up about you this whole time. She has been telling everyone that she speaks with that you'll end up taking her as your chosen mate.
Rykers' cousin is no other than Kristen. We all grew up together, which is actually how it all happened. She was nothing more than a childhood crush and the worst mistake that I ever made.
I needed to let some steam out, and even though the timing was all off, it just came out. "Not even when hell freezes over, would I ever take her to be my chosen."
Kaden was snickering from the side of me he turned slightly just to try and hide it. "I know, man. I tried to tell her to back off, but you know how she is." He said, showing how apologetic he was.
I just had to ask, "Hey, you didn't mention anything about us finding our mate? Did you?" " Nope, that is yours to tell, and besides, I don't need you kicking my ass." He responded with a huge smile painted on his pale face.
"So... what ya talking about," Kristen said as she popped her hip to the side. Kaden had decided that he would walk off as well while he laughed.
I bitterly told Kristen, "Nothing that concerns you," Ryker was glancing back and forth between the two of us. He probably just wanted to see what his cousin would do about being told off.
My ex is just a spoiled rich girl and the only child to my father's beta. Kristen just stood there with a blank expression on her face. She tried to process the fact that I don't care about being nice anymore.
"Is everything OK, Aiden?" She asked. "Yes, everything is just fine." I said, but then I paused a moment to think about it.
"No, actually, everything is not OK. You need to stop going around and telling people that I plan on taking you as a chosen mate. I warned.
She just looked at me as what appeared to be actual tears in her eyes. "But... I... Love you. I just thought that we would be happy together, that's all," she announced.
But I don't by it, not even for a minute. "Kristen read my lips. You will not now nor ever be my mate. You need to understand that." I put forth as clearly as I could.
I glanced between her and Ryker one last time before strutting off to go and find my brothers.
- Writer
