Waiting For Her (The Alphas Young Mate)

Fourteen | Welcome Home.

POV | Aliah

As my body throbbed I relaxed more into the warmth that surrounded me. I knew I was in Ace's arms. I hadn't quite lost consciousness but I couldn't seem to grasp more than the slight mumble of voices around me beyond the pounding that had consumed my head. 

The burning was gone, which I was thankful for. But the taste of blood remained in my mouth. I swallowed trying to wash it away with no luck. 

Whatever happened out there, I knew who it was. Amestris. It had to be. 

As the mumbling continued I focused on my breathing. Trying to calm myself enough to stabilize my senses. 

Slowly but surely the mumbles began to turn into words that I could understand. It wasn't until my name rumbled through the chest I was pressed against that I finally grasped what, and who they were talking about... me. 

"Aliah is to stay with the Blood Moon pack... she is to train with my highest ranked warriors... the death The Elders predicted will never come to fruition..."  I tensed at Ace's words. I was staying at Blood Moon? I was training? And then, The Elders. 

I didn't remember every detail of the night we went to their caves. But the one I did was the death that they predicted. My death. Now I knew it was true. Both Father and Ace were holding back the truth behind me being at Blood Moon. They were worried about my safety. 

My heart began to race in my chest. Pulling my arms closer to myself I tried to calm it, only for Ace's arms to tighten around me. Him pulling the blanket that covered us higher over my head as he continued. 

"Aliah is more than just your child... she bears something powerful... I refuse to set her up for suicide... agree to these terms..." I froze this time, listening to each word as carefully as I could. 

I couldn't grasp everything through the pounding that continued to echo in my head. But I could hear the determination in Ace's voice as he spoke.

Ace was fighting for me. He was an Alpha, just like Father... and he was demanding control. I knew that Blue Stone had always been my home but even now, being in Ace's arms, I felt safer than I did being on the same land as the man who had given me life. 

Looking up I caught Ace's eyes as he glanced down at me. It was then I realised he knew I was awake. Just as the panic set in, he knowingly rubbed circles across my back. Knowing I was listening this whole time, he was speaking loud enough for me to hear. He wanted me to know, to be involved. I settled at the thought, relaxing against him again. 

The room fell silent. All I could focus on was Ace's comforting hand as my mind ran with all the words I had managed to catch. But now wasn't the time to speak. 

The moment of peace passed when I heard the shuffle of fathers feet behind me. With my mouth shut tight I tucked my head down, curling it further towards Ace's stomach. 

As Father approached I had to hold in the gasp that wanted to escape me at the sudden sight I had caught. Though dark under the blanket, there was dim light shining through the thin fabric. It revealed to me that Ace was, in fact, naked. 

Wolves were very open about nudity, due to us shifting. It was something that usually didn't have much of a shock factor. But right now... with an Alpha wolf - one who had been so close to me for so long - being naked beneath me... Made a warm feeling flood my body. Despite no eyes on me I knew Ace could most likely tell.

"Agreed" Father's voice filled my ears. The blanket fell as Ace shifted, reaching out an arm to my him, my eyes snapping shut to ensure I wasn't caught listening... or staring... as they shook hands "Aliah is to move to the Blood Moon Pack indefinitely" 

This time I heard every word as Father spoke them. My eyes shot open at the news, luckily I was greeted with the security of Ace's arms, hiding my shocked gaze. 

I'm moving... I'm moving in with Ace... with my beasty bodyguards... with Blood Moon. 

I knew I heard it right, there was no denying the words that Father said. Energy coursed through me at the thought of moving to the place where I had always been accepted. Where I had never been looked at like a monster. 

I had been so consumed by the statement that I hadn't realised everyone had scattered from the room. Rustling could be heard beyond the walls that encased my room. The packing had begun, and I still hid between a warm body and a blanket. 

"Are you ready to be awake angel?" Ace murmed into my hair. Pushing myself away from him I sat up, the blanket that covered us falling only making the warm feeling in me grow with a now very evident blush. 

"Um... you're..." I mumbled seeing even more of his bare skin. 

"Naked? Yeah you didn't give me much time to change" He chuckled holding me in place while adjusting himself beneath me. As he did I saw the blood coating his skin. A wave of guilt washing over me remembering the blood in my mouth wasn't just mine, It was Ace's too. 

I hurt him yet he still held me in his arms, protecting me. And now he was going to welcome me into his home. With watery eyes I wiped my fingers over the still sticky blood to which Ace pulled them away. 

"Hey, don't you dare blame yourself. I ran to you Aliah, I put myself in the position okay?" He wiped my bloody fingers onto the already dirtied blanket as he spoke. I knew I shouldn't, but I couldn't help but stare down at my bloodied nail beds. Remembering how I dug my claws into his back when he pulled me from that heat. 

Placing a finger under my chin he titled my head up. I wanted to say sorry, say thank you. Ask him why and how... so many things ran through my mind that I couldn't pin a single one. I felt myself grow flustered as my heart raced. 

"Hey..." with a simple smile Ace pushed the hair from my face "You don't need to say anything right now. We will sort everything out once we're home" 

Home. My body felt light at the thought. Despite my glowing eyes, the uncontrollable thing inside me. Despite the fact people looked at me like a monster, that I hurt him and made him bleed. Ace was still set on taking me home. 

"Okay" I nodded. Ace let out a breath as I calmed. I looked back to the dried blood on his shoulder, this time ignoring the guilty feeling knowing Ace cared none for the fact that it was there. 

Trailing my eyes lower I examined his chest. Part of me wanted to make sure I hadn't hurt him anywhere else... The other part of me was curious... excited. Stuck in my own little world I let my eyes fall lower. Then trailing down each curve of his muscles that consumed his stomach. 

I didn't know why but something was keeping me from looking away as I continued to gaze lower. A small trail of hair beginning at his belly button and connecting with a small shaven patch that rested between my legs. 

Ace's hands squeezed my sides as he growled. I froze with wide eyes realising what was hidden beneath me. Then a tingling warmth filled my chest, I knew what it was. I could feel Ace's desire.

I hadn't quite understood the feeling at first, but over time I realised the sensation was Ace having a strong feeling of want. Curious I searched it up trying to figure out the feeling, that's when I came across the word desire. 

It was the same feeling I got every time we shared a kiss on my birthday. Something I had become accustomed to and more or less now enjoyed. 

I hadn't told Ace I understood the feeling, instead I just let him know I accepted it. And right now, the tingling feeling bubbled deeper in my stomach, making me still above him. 

As I did my legs tensed to which Ace grunted. I wasn't sure why but the sound caused me to think he was in pain "Ace?" I whispered. His eyes clenched shut before opening to reveal the dark ebony that had begun to consume them. 

"Are you o..." I halted my words at the sudden feeling that rested beneath me. Before I felt nothing but the warmth of Ace's body beneath mine. Now, there was an added pressure that had grown beneath me. 

I glanced down again shocked by the presence to which Ace gripped my shoulders. Him gently pushing me off his lap and onto the couch beside him. The blanket had fallen loosely over his lap as he held me at arms length. 

I watched his eyes glaze over for a second before the Beastly bodyguards came bouncing into the room. They looked to Ace who's dark eyes were glued to me before Kane swept me up in his arms. 

"Think you're getting out of packing duty just because you got a little hot earlier, then think again Pumpkin" Kane beamed down at me with a smile as he headed back towards my room. I rolled my eyes at him before trying to glance over his shoulder to Ace. His gaze was watching me intently before I disappeared from his view. 

"Is Ace okay?" I asked Kane as he set me down. It was now that I noticed the boxes that filled my room. Empty shelves and an unmade bed were all that filled the space. He turned to my wardrobe, placing an empty bag on the floor before he began filling it with my clothes.

I'd be lying if I said it wasn't a bittersweet feeling to see my childhood room being emptied so quickly. Not that it should be a surprise. When it came to a decision made by an Alpha, packs worked fast to ensure the demand was met. 

"He will be fine pumpkin, we should've let him get dressed a lot sooner" Kane more so chuckled to himself as he continued to pull my clothes from their hangers. Stepping closer I knelt beside the bag, taking the clothes from Kane to fold them neatly before packing them away. 

"Um yeah.." I mumbled as I folded another jumper. Trying to hide my blush as the memory of a naked Ace. 

"Oh, should I call you Cherry instead?" Kane turned glancing down at me teasingly with a smile.

"Go sniff your own butt" I retorted, scrunching the next jumper into the bag.

"Oh Pumpkin, I would if I could" He laughed with a shrug. I groaned in response, zipping up the now full bag before a light knock was heard at the door. 

Ace stepped inside now full dressed. The faint smell of blood still lingered on him, only causing that uneasy feeling to wash over me again. I hated that I hurt him, but I also felt unsure about the filled boxes and bags around me.

Ignoring myself I pouted and pulled another bag from my wardrobe. Piling and scrunching another lot of clothes into it. I saw Ace give Kane a silent nod, as if asking him to leave before he walked further into the room.

"What's wrong?" Ace sat on my bed, patting the spot beside him with a soft smile. Turning away from the poorly filled bag I walked to the bed, taking the offered spot with a sigh. Ace held out an open palmed hand to which I placed mine gently on top. 

My heart raced at the connection. More so because I knew he could already feel the uneasiness inside me. Something we had developed over time, but with skin contact, it always intensified. Small words were never needed between us, just a touch and Ace knew I wasn't okay. 

"You tell me right now if you don't want this and we will put everything back" With my hand in his he looked at me unsure. 

"But even you said before, the best thing for me is to be at Blood Moon" I shook my head, dropping my gaze to our joined hands.

"If it comes at the expense of your happiness, then I will think of something else" His words calming me as always. Even though my room was already packed and a decision had been agreed upon between the alphas, Ace would undo it all in a second just to make me happy.  

The sincerity in him only proved to me more where I wanted to be. 

"I want to do it. I want to be at Blood Moon..." I smiled up at him, it faltering a moment later as that uneasy feeling again washed over me. 

"But?" Ace urged me to continue, knowing there was something I was holding back. 

"But... If I leave does that mean I'm giving up on mum?" I sighed finally letting go of a fear that was putting me on edge. Ace smiled down at me. Something he had never failed to do was listen to me and trust in my words. 

"I promise you Aliah, we will make everything right... but you come first" He gave my hands a squeeze. No questions, no back and forth discussion like I usually had to do with Father. Going to Blood Moon was the best thing for me. And even if it was going to put more distance between Mum and I, Ace was ensuring me it wasn't going to be forever. 

"Then mum?" I mumbled with a soft smile. 

"If that's what you wish for" He whispered back.

An elated feeling filled my heart. My soft smile turned wide as I lent into Ace's side. "Then let's go home" 

The warmth in my chest matched that of the one that I felt grow in Ace's. This was the right decision, one that was a long time coming. Blood Moon had already welcomed me into their pack as their own. And now, I was going to be a part of it wholeheartedly. 

After months of questioning everything around me, months of looking for answers. I was finally getting closer to the truth. Truth behind The Elders, Blood Moon, Ace and most importantly...me.

There was just one thing I wanted to keep close to me while I waited for the real thing. Sitting up I turned to Ace with a final request "There's one thing I want to take"

"Anything." He smiled. 

Jumping up from the bed I ran from my room, headed towards my father's Office. Ace followed behind me with slow strides, watching as I excitedly ran into the room. 

Father stood behind his desk watching as I rushed towards the two Grandfather chairs. Looking up he gave a nod to Ace who then stepped inside after me. They both looked on inquisitively at me as I held onto the carved wooden arm with a smile. 

"I want to take these with me" Ace squinted at me confused for a moment but nodded without question. 

"Alpha Stone, do you mind if we take your... chairs?" For the first time in a long time Father laughed, enjoying the confused expression on Ace's face. Stepping away from his desk he ran a hand over the blue fabric. 

"Keep them safe child..." Father began as he stepped closer before kneeling down to my level "And when the time comes they will go back to their rightful place. Agreed?" 

Nodding, I smiled, pulling him into a hug. Father wasn't a very affectionate person and I know he often didn't understand me. But he never failed to try and be there for me despite everything. For that, I was thankful. 

"Promise you'll visit me?" I whispered to his ear as he held me firmly.

"Of course Child" His voice carried a sense of pain. I knew this decision had to be hard for him. But as agreed, we all knew it was best. I couldn't deny it myself that I felt safer being with Ace. I felt stronger. 

Pulling away I saw Father's eyes glaze over, soon enough pack members were piling into the office to collect the chairs. With a final nod Ace and I parted ways with Him. 

My heart raced as it all finally settled in. I was leaving Blue Stone.

Gripping my hand Ace helped me get into the backseat of the Car before walking around the other side to slide in next to me. Col sat in the driver's seat, waiting until I was buckled in before heading off. 

Kane on the other hand had already left for Blood Moon with a car full of my things. He had told Ace that he wanted to get everything set up before I arrived. Out of everyone, it was safe to say Kane was the most excited. 

As we drove I rested my head against the glass of the window. Soon enough the tall trees I had seen the first time we ever drove here filled my view.

Feeling a warm hand grip mine I turned to Ace who's eyes were sparkling as he spoke "Welcome Home Aliah" 

I smiled at his words knowing that this time I wasn't visiting to see The Elders. I wasn't worried about what was to come. I was home.