Waiting For Her (The Alphas Young Mate)

Fifteen | Sweet Dreams.

POV | Aliah

As expected when I arrived Kane was front and centre, ready to lift me off the ground into a bear hug. Before Ace or Col could even speak a word, he was rushing us up the stairs to show me how all of my things had been moved into my room at Blood Moon. 

The room, though not much different, now held all my little knick knacks, pillows and little animal stuffies. My wardrobe was now absolutely filled to the brim. Before Kane set me onto the ground I wrapped my arms around his neck, hugging him as tightly as I could around his broad frame.

"Thank-you" I murmured against him. 

A small purr of appreciation rumbled through him as he stroked my back gently. 

"Anything for you Pumpkin" He spoke in a whisper before setting me down.

Despite all the things I had grown up with in the Blue Stone pack, them being here mixed in with the things Ace had given me felt more like home. For once in all the years after my tenth birthday, I finally felt like I was in the right place. 

As I walked around admiring the clutter that filled my shelves and bed, I felt the familiar warmth behind me. The warmth of Ace. This time it carried something different, it was the same feeling I had felt in myself seeing all the things I love being brought together. 

The image of a key and lock coming to mind. I felt safe, and he felt secure. That was the feeling that was radiating between us. 

I turned on heels to face him, the warmth becoming a distant memory as my whole body pulsed with something more. I felt my cheeks blush with heat to which his eyes darkened. Ace began stalking towards me, yet I felt numb. Stuck in place while our eyes locked. 

Crouching down at what was once my level, Ace looked up with somber eyes. Reaching out he tucked a stray strand of hair behind my ear. The sensation that usually could only be felt with his lips on my cheek, radiated through the tip of his fingers to the skin of my ear. 

"I promise, you will always be safe with me Aliah" His voice made it evident that he was tired.

After the night we had, I myself began to yawn. 

With a smile he went to turn away, I reached out gripping onto the palm of his hand. Something inside me howling at the thought of him leaving. Without a fight he let me lead him to my bed. He watched over as I slipped under the covers, him pulling them tight under my chin before relaxing beside me. 

My hand held onto a single finger tight as the lids of my eyes grew heavy. The beat of his pulse in a single digit being my lullaby. 

That was the last time I had seen Ace. 

It had been days since I had moved in, and the Alpha was too busy. It's not that I was complaining, I already knew how much busier he was with his new role. But being here everyday and not being able to catch him for a second, was starting to bring me down. 

The excitement I had been feeling slowly dwindled. Pumpkin time wasn't even on the cards. At night I would sneak through the halls to Ace's office, in an attempt to see them finally. But I was always too scared to interrupt when I heard what they were talking about. 

Pack Lands, Pack wars, and rogues... Things I knew both I shouldn't hear or interrupt. 

And the other thing, I could feel Ace. Despite him not coming out of the room, I could always feel him... as if he were telling me 'Go back to bed' I was starting to despise the whole no words thing between us. I would kill for him to just look at me and say more than a hello right about now. 

Tonight was no different as I lent against the wall with a sigh. The light murmurs of the men became my little pre-night ritual before the feeling washed over me. 'Go to bed Angel' His words thrum through my mind like a whisper. 

"Yes Alpha" I mocked before making my way up the stairs to my room. I knew I shouldn't be upset, Ace had welcomed me into his pack, into his home. He still cared for me and every promise he made he had yet to break. 

But being here made me realise, yes I had been welcomed into the pack, but I had yet to find my place in it. At Blue Stone, at least I was the alphas daughter. Here... I was just Aliah. The girl who for some reason lived in the pack house with the Alpha who everyone loved. As much as I wanted to ignore the whispers, they were starting to get to me. 

With closed eyes and a pillow over my head I let myself drift in thought. Mindlessly imagining scenarios of what could come in the near future. The world behind my eyes slowly morphing a plot line I couldn't follow, the light hum of rain filling my ears as the shapes in my vision danced. 

Despite feeling so lost right now, I still felt more at home than I ever had. The focus in my mind began to blur, the dreamland I was in began to fade to a point that I would soon forget. 

Just before I could fall completely, a c***k of lighting cut through the rain making me jump upright in my bed. Thunder was one thing, but lightning made my ears ring and my heart race. Thunder storms. I hated them. 

But with the storms came a smile. Yes, I hated them. But the one thing they always brought to me was Ace. Through the first few weeks of me staying at Blood Moon, there was a storm. It was so loud the pack house, despite how sturdy it was, shook from the thunder and winds. 

I remember biting onto my pillow, holding back my voice as tears ran down my cheeks. I sat hidden in the corner with tightly shut eyes till I felt a warm hand wiping the wet streaks from my skin. That was the first night someone held me through a storm. 

Over the years whenever the rain started to pour and the sky began to rumble, Ace never failed to be there. Whether it was him running to me, or me to him, he was always there with open arms. So when I heard the strike of lightning, I smiled. Finally... I had a reason to need him. 

As I tiptoed into the dark hall, I held my breath. The house is so silent that even the smallest sound would be sure to wake the guys. With how on edge they had been lately, I didn't doubt their first instinct would be to tackle me to the ground. 

Luckily, Ace's room was just down the hall from mine. It didn't take long before I stood with my hands pressed lightly against the door. Lifting a single finger I gently tapped on the wood. The sound only to be covered up by another strike of lightning. 

Without thinking I pushed myself into his room, clicking shut the door behind me as I tried to calm my breathing. My eyes only just catching the flash from outside, it showing a half dressed Ace passed out on his bed. 

I felt myself freeze, eyes distracted glazing over his bare skin. Though a shirtless Ace wasn't anything new, something about seeing him like this felt... odd, different. Another flash of lightning struck, this time I gasped. My heart raced in my chest as I hurriedly stepped towards my safe zone, Ace. 

Standing at the foot of the bed I watched anxiously as he grunted in his sleep. With tightly shut eyes and furrowed brows, his skin beaded with sweat. Pressing the flat of my hands to the bed, I pulled my legs up. Kneeling in the empty space beside him as I watched his features tighten. 

As of late Ace and the guys had been doing nothing but meeting in his office, training or securing new pack land. I could feel it every day when he passed me by, he was beyond stressed. The pain in him resinated in me, all I wanted to do was make it disappear each time it hit. 

Right now watching him struggle in his sleep, watching what could only be a nightmare disturbing his dreams... only made me want to be there for him even more. 

"Ace..." I whispered, reaching out to touch the damp skin of his check. 

Rolling his head, he groaned. Pushing his face deeper into my touch. That familiar feeling blossoming in my hand. I knew he felt it too as his eyes and jaw relaxed. For the first time in days, the stress that had consumed his face seemed to melt away. I stared in awe for what seemed like forever before a loud rumble sounded from outside. 

The sudden thunder caught me off guard causing me to squeal. My voice came to a halt as a strong hand came down over my lips, my eyes immediately catching those of Ace. His dark gaze bored into me as the thunder continued to sound. 

Despite my racing heart I felt safe. The steady thrum of Ace's pulse radiating against mine as he pulled me close. His arms wrapped themselves around me while he buried his face into my neck. The world seemed to stand still, nothing but our joined warmth filling the space. 

"Ace?..." I whispered. 

His lips parted against my skin, as if savouring the vibration of my words as I spoke. A deep growl soon rumbled through him in response. I couldn't help but tense at the sound, it sending a wave of tingling warmth straight through me. 

"Angel..." Ace growled again, this time it vibrated through the air as he pushed me down against the bed. My body slipped under his in perfect sync as he rested himself between my legs. My thighs trembling at the pressure of his body against mine. 

The warmth we shared consuming every inch of air around us, my lips parted as he breathed heavily from above. His dark eyes and low growls only made me realise.. it wasn't Ace I had woken up... it was Xerxes. 

Yes, they were the same person. But when your wolf was in control, you became animalistic. Emotions became intense and holding back wasn't at the forefront of your mind. 

I myself felt the pull of something other than myself. Like a layer inside was being peeled away. Every scent that filled my nose, every sound that filled my ears. It made me feel light, warm... my mind was swarming with nothing but Ace. 

Leaning down he trailed his nose over the skin of my neck. I tilted my head back allowing him more access. Without missing a beat he pressed his face into the crook of it, inhaling my scent with a groan. This time I clamped my lips shut. 

So consumed yet so confused with this moment. Reaching up I gripped onto his shoulders, pushing him back slightly until our eyes met. All words that went to leave my mouth vanished from my mind as they did. Instead, he smiled as I froze.

Running his hands down the length of my arms, his hands found mine. Our fingers tangled together as he pulled them up over my head. His grip was soft but powerful, I wriggled beneath him only revealing how stuck I was. As his dark eyes bored into mine I felt my own grin begin to tug at my lips. Ace may not have answered any of my questions. But maybe, with Xerxes in control... he would. 

"Xerxes... why am I here?" I whispered. He continued to look on, watching my lips as they moved like he was mesmerised before he replied. 

"Mine... mine to protect" The deep growl in his chest followed, I swallowed the lump in my throat trying to ignore the unfamiliar feeling that began to simmer inside me at the sound.

"W-why me Xerxes?... Why do you need to protect me?" I choked on my words as he continued to watch my mouth. Unsure of what he was thinking or doing, all I knew was that there was no escape. Releasing one hand from mine he trailed it slowly down through my hair before tracing the skin of my cheek. 

"Amestris.." He growled. As the words left his mouth I remembered the first thing I wanted to ask. The thought that had pondered my mind ever since he said her name to me. 

"Xerxes, how did you speak to her that day?" For a split second I felt Ace's body tense, recognition flashing in his eyes at my words. I looked up hopeful to finally get a straight answer before they returned to their dark hue. 

Xerxes panted above me, our bodies pressed tightly against one another, locking me to him like a vice grip. Whimpers escaped my lips as the heated tingles grew. I felt stuck but didn't want to move. I didn't want to push him away, somehow I needed him closer. 

With tight eyes I felt my chest grow heavy. My thighs tightened around Ace, asking, begging for an answer. As if to help a dull ache that was hidden deep within me I whined.

"P-Please Xerxes... Ace..." My voice trembled as he stilled above me. I didn't know what I was begging for but my mind started to cloud. 

Ace's eyes fluttered shut for a moment before they snapped open. The colour of them shining through the dark hue as it dissipated to nothing. With a shocked expression, Ace looked between my eyes before glancing down to our tightly pressed bodies. 

All I could do was hold my breath as he pushed himself away. The beads of sweat that coated his skin earlier returned as he gripped the sheets tightly in his fists. 

"A-Ace?..." I stuttered only for him to growl. 

"OUT" He commanded. The deep growl of his tone vibrating the walls. The sound most definitely waking the others. If there was one thing a wolf wouldn't sleep through, it was the sound of their Alpha in rage. 

"W-wait Ace..." my lip quivered as I tried to explain. 

"NOW" His voice boomed again as he turned his head. 

As my eyes watered I jumped from his bed, ripping open his door I began running down the hall. The thunder continued to sound along with the strikes of lightning, but my heart was too focused on the anger Ace held in his voice to care. 

Making it to my room I slammed the door shut, slipping to the floor and pulling my knees to my chest. Why did everything hurt, my body began to ache as the tears spilled from my eyes. I felt.. rejected. But why did it sting so bad?