Aria's Revenge

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Kael's POV

A sense of relief swept over me when I saw her again.

The elders had left me no choice when she was accused. The evidence was presented against her, but I knew she couldn't have done that. My soldiers were at stake, so I had to choose them.

The memory of that day still haunts me, the way her eyes looked up to mine, begging to believe her, begging to be heard. But I said nothing. I turned away.

After she was banished, I had gone searching for evidence to vindicate her, hopeful to establish her innocence.

When the soldiers had regained their consciousness after three days, I had sent the fastest and sharpest one to go find her, but she was nowhere to be seen.

I had thought it was intentional. I felt a pang in my throat when a brief thought of her returning back to her pack–to Ryder – came to mind. It wasn't a far option since his name was all she had called since she had been here. He was all she saw. I wondered if she ever even saw me. And that's why, in a moment of anger or jealousy, I had asked she be sent to the kitchen; maybe if she worked her hands, she would forget him.

"I found no traces of her scent," Hawk had reported.

After I had dismissed him, I sank onto my couch. Hurt. Bitter. Broken.

Had I yet again lost another person I loved?

The first one was Reine. My mate.

Just then, I felt a bond link. I felt her. Her pain. Her fear.

Without waiting for a beat, I gathered a few weapons and snuck out. If I had called on the soldiers, Thane would have convinced me to stop. And I was the only one who could get to her; if I sent the soldiers, they might not get her.

Luckily for me, I had saved her. And it was then I knew the moon goddess had granted me another chance, a second chance, mate.

My wolf had leapt in excitement at the discovery of this.

"A new mate", he had growled.

It had been a long time since he had felt the excitement of a mate. The yearning, the longing, the love.

But I knew I had to keep him tame from spiralling into control.

"We should sort it out with her first," I told him calmly.

However, when I tried to bring it up with Aria, she dismissed it. I could feel the disappointment in his actions. He had refused to surface throughout the day. I had broken into sweats, and yet it didn't warm me up. Lycan's wolves are dominant, and when they start acting like a baby, it's setting up a time to overshadow its dominance and subdue me.

Feeling Aria had been a thing since the bond link. I could tell what was going on with her. I felt she was anxious, and without warning, I found myself in the library.

"Alone", my wolf had leapt in excitement.

Before I could reason with him, he had subdued me. And that's how I was standing alone with Aria in the library, my wolf in charge and control.

I tried to push him back, telling him we shouldn't scare her, but it was too late. He wasn't listening.

"Kael?" she called out my name, gently.

I wanted to answer. I wanted to say, It’s me, but not fully me. But my wolf was too far gone.

He stepped forward slowly, deliberately.

“I’ve waited too long,” my wolf said, his voice low, hoarse, deeper than mine.

Hers widened, but it wasn't in horror but in acknowledgement. She knew something was off.

"This is your wolf, right?" She asked though she knew the question.

"So you know, mate," he said, walking up to her with hidden intentions.

However, with each step he took towards her, she took the same step backwards.

"Look, I am not ready for this," she muttered.

"But I am ready for this," he said, a devilish smile curled up his lips as he cornered her into the wall where her back had now collided against.

"Why are you running, sunshine?" he said, trailing her cheeks with his thumb.

She winced at the nickname, and so did I.

"I just need time...." She trailed off.

And then, a glow appeared in her eyes as she looked up at my wolf.

"Easy, big boy," she said.

Her wolf.

I felt a sense of relief wash over me. It won't be fair for my wolf to be on par with her. It's only fair for our wolves to talk it out.

However, my wolf seemed to be enjoying this as he stepped back a little to assess her.

"I like you," he uttered.

I cringed. Glad that it was her wolf he said it to and not her. Maybe her wolf would put mine in place.

"You are not bad yourself," her wolf responded as she closed the gap my wolf had created.

No. She shouldn't be doing what I think she is doing. If she starts, my wolf won't stop.

I tried to stop myself. I begged him for control, but he was far too gone as he released the arousal aura.

This is going to be a long night.

Their lips collided, and it was warm and sweet. It wasn't the first time we had kissed, but something about it was different.

Her wolf pulled away. However, my wolf wasn't done playing; he grabbed her by the waist and pulled her against the wall as he crashed his lips into hers.

Easy. I cautioned.

He kissed her like he was desperate–that he was. He took her bottom lip and sucked on it. While that wasn't enough, he tried to get deep into her throat.

They were going at it when he pulled up her gown and found his way to her panties, and that's when she pulled away. "Stop!" She cautioned while he tried to get closer.

She was back.

"I would be a fool to get on with the second man who banished me."