The Battle Within

Introductions

Aiden

    It's been a hell of a day. It will be at least two hours before the radiator in my truck is fixed. I should have gotten rid of that piece of s**t months ago. 

    "Hey man, I'm gonna run over next door to that bar and grab a few beers while I wait," I told the mechanic that gave me the bad news on my truck. 

    "No problem sir, my name is Ron if you need anything," he answered back to me. 

    Nothing else to do so I might as well get a good buzz. I started walking over to the front entrance of the bar and I see a large man with long hair standing by a motorcycle. It was a sweet ride too. The bike was a softail, I'm guessing a newer model, and the prettiest blue color with chrome accents. 

    "That sure is a nice bike you got there. I bet you put a lot of miles on it, huh?" I said trying to make friendly conversation. I didn't get to meet people very often since I travel so much for work. I was expecting a warm welcome and what I got was not that. 

    The man wrinkled his nose and stared at me. Do I stink? That's odd, people must keep to themselves in this town. 

    "Bathrooms are inside on the left," he said in a low deep voice. I didn't ask where the bathroom were, but I could tell he was just trying to get rid of me. So I didn't bother to make nice. 

"Thanks man, I appreciate it!" I replied with a chipper attitude. I knew that would get a rise out of him. I chuckled at the thought of irritating him. 

    I walk inside to see a lot more big and muscular men. Damn, they must all work out around here. I mean, I have arm muscles but not like them. They are built like linebackers in the NFL. Its a nice little bar though, I can tell people have fun here a lot. No one bothered to look my way when I walk in even though I can still see the side eyes from a few of the men sitting by the door. 

    I'm too thirsty to worry about other people. I go up to the bar and see a young woman standing there. It looks like she is in her own little world. I hated to bother her so I took a moment to look at her. She is wearing a Guns N' Roses shirt, s**t, I already like her just for that. She had her hair pulled up enough I could see her neck. I can see the curves on her back through the rips on the back of her shirt. I want to see her face. What is she doing by the way? Does she even know I'm here?

    "Can I get a beer?" I said to her finally breaking the silence. 

    "Any particular kind?" she answered. I could tell she wasn't amused. I must have interrupted something important. 

    "Surprise me," I said as I smiled and sounded slightly seductive. If people around here are always grumpy then I might as well kill them with kindness. When she sat the beer in front of me I thanked her and reached to out to get a drink. My fingers grazed hers as she started to pull away. I looked up at her having this warm tingly feeling shoot up my arm. When I meet her gaze, she is the most beautiful person I've ever seen. Her soft brown hair flows behind her ear. She has soft pink lips and bright hazel eyes. I wanted to ask for her name, but she was gone in some sort of trance. At this moment she was just staring at me. Almost as if she was looking through me. 

    "Are you okay?" I asked waving my hand in front of her face. Hell, I'm not as good looking as the big men in here so I know she cant be staring at me in that way. She whispered something but I couldn't hear her and then she just ran outside. I sat there pondering if I should go check on her. Maybe even find out who she is. Why am I constantly wanting to know her name? I shake off this feeling of needing to go to her and sip on my beer. Its cold and hits the spot. 

Layla

    Okay I need to calm down. I'm at work and no one can know what happened. I stand there by the backdoor pulling myself together when the door opens. Thank god its just Freida. 

    "Girly, get your little ass back to the bar. There's customers in there waiting on ya," she paused for a moment looking at me, "Whats wrong with ya?" she asked. 

    "Nothing Freida, just another small panic attack. I'll be fine, be just a few minutes," I said to her with a smile. When Sean died, I had many of these so called panic attacks. I just told her that so I would have a reason to go out to the stock shed and cry. 

    "I could tell it was one of those days for ya, take your time girly. The customers can wait," she said giving me a pat on the back. Freida was like family to me by this point. She always knew when I was having a bad day. As a wolf our emotions are so much stronger and sometimes its hard to control them. But dammit I'm trying. I wipe away the smeared makeup on my face and fix my hair. Before I walk inside I took a deep breath and resumed my place at the bar. 

    Its just work. I can do this. 

    "You disappeared on me," the human said to me. Jesus why me? I just try not to look at him. 

    "I'm sorry, I just needed some air. Another one for ya?" I responded trying to change the conversation. 

    "Yes, please. I'm Aiden. I'm not really from around here if you can't tell," he said. I could tell he was trying to make conversation. Thank god hes not from around here. When he leaves my life will be normal again. 

    " Just a little. You do look like an outsider compared to the regulars. What brings you to Logan, Ohio?" I asked him while still not making eye contact. 

    "Work. I'm a traveling Veterinarian for farm animals. I make the long trips so the farmers don't have to haul their cattle in to see me," he said. I couldn't help myself but to be interested. I grabbed a towel and started wiping down glasses as we stood their and chatted about his work. He explained how his truck broke down so he was stuck here for a few hours. My chest is filled with that warmth feeling the entire time we are near each other. That's just the mate bond trying to force us together. I will not let that happen. It's forbidden.

    "So are you going to tell me your name?" Aiden asked. I looked up and could see him smiling. I still refused to make eye contact but I caught myself smiling too. What the hell? I have to compose myself. 

    "Layla," I said. 

    "Beautiful Layla," he said in a soft voice. I could feel him staring at me. I look around and notice a few of the other wolves are starting to notice his interest in me. I just need to keep acting normal until he leaves and no one will get hurt. It's not the first time a human has came into the bar flirting with all of the she-wolves. No point in starting fights because the he-wolves would tear the humans apart. Having a mate and claiming her as yours is serious business in a pack. If anyone would try to touch me, Sean would challenge them. A challenge is a fight between wolves for dominance. Although, only wolves from outside packs tried to stake their claim on some of us she-wolves. Only because they could not find a mate themselves in their own pack. You cant just take someone else's mate, it doesn't work like that. The separation between the two wolves could possibly kill them. I survived because Sean knew he was dying. He released me before that. It felt like he ripped my heart from my chest when he said those words and in that moment I would have rather died with him. But he knew if he didn't break the mate bond we had, then it wouldn't be long after his death before I would perish as well. God, I miss him to this day. I never accepted his release which is why I still feel this aching pain and emptiness everyday. I just cant bring myself to do it. Sean was my everything and now its all changing. I feel like I have betrayed him by imprinting with Aiden. I just want to go home and sit in a hot shower to wash this all away. 

    "Your mind goes somewhere else doesn't it?" I heard Aidens voice snapping me back to reality. 

    "Sorry, I just get to thinking about things. What were you saying?" I said to him apologetically. 

    "Ron just called me and said my truck is done. So I've gotta go. It was lovely meeting you, I'd like it if we could do this again," with a smile slowly forming on his perfect jaw. Dear god I just caught myself staring. 

    I quickly respond with, "Well you know where to find me." I said this loud enough for the wolves to hear, making it known that I was not giving out my phone number or agreeing to meet him. It was better for his safety. The wolf inside me is screaming to protect him. Compared to our kind he is a fragile being. 

    "Well, until next time Miss Layla," and with that being said he slipped out of the door. A part of me didn't want him to go, but the other part was so relieved.     

    Declan walked inside right after Aiden left. His destination was headed straight for me. Oh god, what if he knows. I just feel pure panic as his salty gaze sets upon me. As if I'm a piece of meat he has been waiting to chew up and spit out for days now. I'm shaking. My heart is pounding and I am terrified.