Alpha Mate bond

4

She ate more than she normally did, not realising just how hungry she was. That was probably what she got for staying off food for almost an entire day. This was the most extreme thing she had done in a long time and it was no wonder her mother had reached out to her. She had been so lost in her thoughts.

“Aiyana… are you ready to tell us how it went now or do you still need time to get yourself together?” Her dad asked, rubbing his thumb against her palm. “You’ve never acted like this.”

Her mother nodded in agreement. “No pressure or anything, but we need to know you’re okay.”

Aiyana shook her head at them and smiled. “I’m fine.”

•

Aiyana dashed across the distance between the stairs and the door. “Bye mum, dad.”

It was rare for her to be this excited, but she was and there was nothing to rain on her parade. She breezes past the buildings until she reached the ice cream shop they always met up at. It was a deal they had made the day she decided to travel the world. Aiyana had made her promise to get her a huge tub of ice cream whenever she got back. Her legs had moved so fast when she got the text earlier that day.

‘Your tub of ice cream is waiting for you.’

It was almost like a secret code between them and she opened the door of the shop, eyes scanning until they landed on the strawberry blonde mop of hair seated at the far left of the shop by the window. She walked up to her friend, placing her hand on her shoulders. “Where is my ice cream?”

Ardeth only chuckled, looking back with her eyes twinkling. She stood up in a hurry and they hugged hard, tears brimming in their eyes because it had been three years since they last saw each other. Ardeth was a force to be reckoned with, refusing to held back by her family’s hopes for her. On the day she chose to travel the world, she had called for them to meet at the ice cream shop, their spot.

“I’m leaving,” were the two simple words she said and Aiyana understood.

There was nothing wrong with her taking hold of her life, but Aiyana had also been dragged into it when her parents started searching for her. It was weird that even at 20 then, she still had her life in the palm of her parents. They had rained knocks on Aiyana’s door until her parents opened up. Aiyana had lied she didn’t know where Ardeth was and it wasn’t until the next day Ardeth called her that she was relaxed.

Ardeth called her parents too, assuring them she was okay, but that she wasn’t coming back. They had been planning for her to get married. Fresh out of college and thrown right into a marriage arrangement wasn’t what Ardeth had planned for her life. So she recreated her path, channeling her energy and leaving all the negativity behind. Her parents stopped pestering her months after her departure, focusing on her older brother who was still doing their bidding.

Ardeth was Aiyana’s dream self.

She wanted to do that too, to be free and to take charge of her path in life. As they hugged, she felt relieved and relaxed. All of the worries about her failed deals were now at the back of her mind. It was something Ardeth’s presence caused her.

“I missed you so much.” She said, her words muffled.

They separated and took their seats together in the same booth, excitement coursing through them at the stories they were about to tell each other. Well, Aiyana was more excited to listen, but that wasn’t the point. She was still excited.

“I saw different places, Aiyana. There is a lot more out there that doesn’t revolve around our little world here. There is so much to see, so much to learn and so much to eat.” Ardeth nearly moaned. “The food. Goodness me, the food was so delicious. They were so different.”

Aiyana was at the edge of her seat at those words, her mouth watering at the different kinds of food Ardeth described to her. She wanted to taste them just as much. She considered checking out their stores for ingredients in her free time to see if she could cook them too.

“What about you?” Ardeth asked, shoving a spoonful of ice cream in her mouth. “What have you been up to?”

Aiyana dropped her spoon in the tub, not knowing how to respond or the right things to say. There was nothing to talk about. “I wrote some books…”

Ardeth clapped excitedly. “You completed them?”

She nodded meekly, her eyes zoned in on her dress and her black boots. “Three of them.”

“Not one, but three?! Wow. I think I have missed a lot.” Ardeth chuckled, taking another spoonful. “I’d love to read them. Now that I’m back fully, I will certainly have a lot of time to myself. What better way to pass time besides reading your amazing stories, uh?”

Aiyana rolled her eyes, but her cheeks were stained a lovely shade. “You joke too much, Ardeth.”

“I’m not joking. I kept telling everyone about my amazing friend back here at Tamery.” She said, shrugging.

“I haven’t been able to get an agent to publish them. That’s one problem I have had for so long and for the past four months, I haven’t been able to put anything down.” Aiyana confessed, feeling relief as she said those words out.

“That sucks. I’m sorry to hear that, Aiyana. It’s all time I guess, I’m sure you will find someone to publish your works soon enough.” She mumbled encouragingly, rubbing Aiyana’s shoulder. “Regarding the block, why not leave our town?”

“Leave? Like you did?”

“Well, yeah.” Ardeth chuckled. “You have been stuck here all your life and I think you need a change of environment, so why not?”

Aiyana thought about it. “I don’t know… it just feels unlike me, you know? I’m really comfortable here. Going to somewhere I know nothing about would be odd.”

“You’re thinking too hard.” Ardeth shook her head. “You need to relax and let yourself unwind. Besides who said knowing nothing about something is bad? When you know nothing, you try your best to build up knowledge.”

Their conversation drifted from that to other things and Ardeth revealed she didn’t tell her parents she was back. They had disowned her, but Aiyana noticed she didn’t bothered by it. She was almost sounding happy about it. The thought made her smile, satisfied that Ardeth had gone to find the adventure she wanted.

They departed later in the evening when the shop owner ordered them to leave. They had stayed there all day, cuddled up in the booth, taking enough ice cream to upset their stomach and just talking. Aiyana didn’t realise she also had so much to share until she started talking as well. Even as she walked home, replaying their conversation in her head, there was still a small smile on her lips. It had to be the effect Ardeth had.

She used her keys to open the door, stepping out of her shoes and walking into the living room where she was her mum knitting and her dad commenting on the football match he was watching.

Her mother rolled her eyes just as she walked further into the room. “Oh, hey, sweetie. How was your day with Ardeth?”

“Hey, kiddo.” Her dad said, his attention on the TV.

Aiyana blinked back in surprise. “How did you know it was Ardeth?”

She rolled her eyes again, this time at her daughter. “Who else will have you running out of the house like your butt was on fire? I hope she’s okay.”

“She is.” Aiyana replied, nodding. “She said she’s back in town fully to settle now.”

“That’s so good of her. I hope Collins reaches out to her and stops being an old grump about it.” Her mother said. “Your dinner is on the table, love. I’m sure you haven’t had anything proper to eat all day.”

Aiyana blushed, rushing to the table to see her dinner on the table. Her mouth watered at the pasta and she began eating. Their conversation at the ice cream shop replayed in her mind and she sighed.

Maybe she needed a change after all.