The Hidden She-Wolf

-Home-

-Time Laps-

-Aiden’s POV-

It’s been a week since the execution of Alpha Mark. All my men have been working on getting the Redwood pack back in order. All that is left to do is to appoint a new alpha and let the pack recover from its fall. I must travel back to the Redwood territory and finalize everything. I have been spending time with Mary explaining the ways of the pack and helping her with her wolf. I have yet to explain to her that she is my mate. I do not want her to panic or think I want to take advantage of her. I know she feels a bond with me, but she does not know what it is. I decided that until all this Redwood pack stuff was over with, that I would not talk about it. I gave my room to Mary and been staying in the room right next to it. I wanted her to feel accepted and not a burden on the pack. Plus, hopefully when I explain to her the mate bond, I would be moving back into my room.

I needed to tell Mary that I have to go back to Redwood. I do not want her to think I took off and left her all alone. I walked to the library where she had been spending a lot of time. It is quiet and no one ever went into it, so she found her safe place outside the bedroom. I wanted her to be happy, so I gave it to her. When I got into the doorway, I saw that she had taken a book and was trying to read it. I leaned against the door frame and just watched for a few minutes. Her beauty was unmatched by any other she-wolf I had ever seen. Her wavey brown hair was down and pushed to the side and shiny. Her pail skin was like that of an angel and her emerald eyes are focused and sparkling. Even the way she wore her orange sundress made her look like a ray of sunshine. I could feel my heart skipping beats every time she turned a page. She finally looked up and noticed that I was watching her. “I’m sorry.”

“Why are you sorry?” She looked up at me and smiled.

“I wanted to let you know that I need to leave the territory for a little while. I have to appoint a new Alpha n the Redwood pack.” I could see her tense up. “I hope you are ok here without me here.” She stood up with wide yes. “It will not take me long, I promise.”

She put down the book she was reading and slowly walked up to me. She was no more than a few inches from me when she smiled again. “How long will you be?”

“Might take me four to five hours at most.” Her eyes filled with worry.

“I… I’m worried.”

My heart started to ache. I could no longer hold back what I know. “Mary,” I held out my hand to her. She took it gently. “Do you remember talks about wolves and mates?” She nodded shyly. She looked into my eyes with wonder and my heart melted in an instant. “Do you remember that I told you it happens whenever the Goddess deems right?”

“Yes, I remember. You tried your best to explain it to me so that I could know when it might happen.” I could tell that she was speaking so that she could get all the information she could.

“And do you remember that day you started to feel more things?” I wanted her to come to the realization herself.

“Yes, the day I started to see you differently. Why?” she c****d her head to the side and looked into my eyes carefully. Her eyes suddenly widened and she took a step back. “Are you saying…?”

I stood up straight and nodded. “I did not want to tell you when it happened because so much was going on.”

“Does that mean that we have to?”

“No, little wolf. You came that choice all on your own. I won’t tell you what to do. I want you to be safe and happy no matter what.”

She blinked a lot and then asked, “So all the feelings of comfort and warmth and…” She trailed off as if she did not know the word she needed.

“Love?”

I could hear the breath catch in her lungs and I hold back from smiling. “Is that what I been feeling?” I nodded. She hesitated for a moment and then took a step toward me. She took another and another until her chest touched me. I looked down at her and finally smiled.

I slowly lifted my hands and touched her hips. She flinched a bit, but did not pull away. “May I?” I spoke in a whispered tone. She smiled and nodded. I leaned down and touched my lips to hers with a gentle yet long kiss. I closed my eyes and deepened the kiss as she wrapped her arms around me. I could feel her relax and the waves of love and connection filled me more than I had ever felt before. I wanted to pick her up and show her what true love felt like, but I pulled back and took a couple of steps away from her.

“Was I not good?” Her eyes filled with worry.

I touched her face gently and smiled. “Little wolf, I just want you to be comfortable with everything. I do not want to move to quickly.” She smiled at me and bowed her head for the moment. “And I have to go to the Redwood pack and handle things.”

“I will be here waiting when you get back and we can talk about all this.” I kissed her forehead and turned to walk away. She grabbed my hand and I stopped. “Can you walk me to my room?” I gently squeezed her hand and we started to talk to the bedroom.