Hunted

Chapter 24: Hope and Aaron

Hope

I know it’s wrong to feel excited over someone else’s pain. But I was so excited that Emmry finally felt comfortable enough to tell me what had happened to her. I wanted to hug her and scream with her. I knew that wouldn’t be helpful for anyone but me. I couldn’t believe that someone would do that to her. No one deserved to be attacked in that way.

While we were talking I suddenly picked up a sound of someone in the kitchen. I sent out a mind link asking who was there. I didn’t get a response. As we continued our conversation I heard a noise and I mind linked again using whatever Beta power I had which generally wasn’t much. There was a growl in that came through.

Don’t tell her it’s me.  

Well damn.  My guess is that they heard what happened to Emmry and is having a hard time dealing with it. I hated lying to my cousin..but maybe it was for the better. When I said my goodbyes and went to find my parents.

I really didn’t want to lie to her. I wonder if I can sneakily tell her… I just earned her trust I don’t want to lose it. I quickly got home and told my parents the plans. Together we went to Joe’s. Pizza was delicious and everyone was happy the whole time. Emmry looked mostly there which for her was a pretty good thing. Half of the time she looked like she was in another world. I can’t blame her.

After dinner I decided to go meet up with Aaron. I had been spending so much time with Emmry lately that I had been kind of neglecting my mate. I felt bad but…at the same time I knew he would understand. I missed the first 18 years of my life with Emmry and I’d had at least 10 of that with Aaron already. I walked up to his door and knocked. Aaron was a few years older than me. Since his dad was the pack accountant and my dad was made Beta when I was a baby we would see each other on the occasional bring your child to work day.

I leaned againt the wall of the house and waited for him to come out. I turned when the door open and gave him a smile. “Did you miss me?”

Aaron rolled his eyes at me. “Why do you knock? I’ve lived by myself for a year now…it’s not my parent’s house anymore.” He laughed at me and opened the door so I could go inside. Aaron moved out sometime last year after he and his dad got in a big fight. His dad wanted Aaron to take over as pack accountant right after he finished school but Aaron didn’t want that.

Aaron really didn’t want to work as an accountant at all. He was good at it. It was in his blood but he found the work to be mind numbing. At least that’s what he’s told me every time it comes up. Which lately it has come up a lot.

“I know but it still feels weird.” I said. I walked in and went over to his sofa plopping down.

“It’s not that I don’t want to see you but I thought you had family stuff tonight.” Aaron sat down next to me and pulled me into his lap.

“Yeah we went to dinner. I told Emmry I’d hang out with her tomorrow.” I leaned in and kissed his forehead. I could feel the tingles of our mate bond through my skin. It was just as thrilling as it was the first time. Now that I was 18 Aaron and I could finally go through with the bonding ceremony. Legal age use to be 16 since that’s when you shifted but they realized that you can’t have 16 year old kids pledging their live to someone at the same time they were coming into their own.

I’m glad that I’ve had these years to grow with Aaron. I feel bad for all the shifters who don’t find their mate. It’s not common for a shifter to not have a mate but it does happen. They usually tend to find what they call “chosen mates”. Though anyone that I’ve known who does this has an agreement if their destined mate shows up and they want to be with them…well they will.

“Hope…where’s your head at?” Aaron asked pulling me out of my thoughts. He was kissing my jawline. I could feel his smirk. I pulled back and sighed.

“I want to tell you something…but I don’t want to lose the confidence and trust I’ve built up with Emmry.” I got off Aarons lap and settled back on the sofa.

“You know I’m not going to say anything to anyone…Emmry doesn’t really trust me anyway. We don’t have many conversations.” Aaron shrugged. I knew he didn’t exactly love my cousin. Aaron was a quiet guy. He preferred with others talked…so did Emmry.

“She was…well she was attacked in one of the worst ways you can be.” I gave him a look and hoped he understood. “While she was telling me I heard someone in the kitchen. They weren’t answering the mind link at first but then when they did..I realized it was Colton. He heard everything Emmry had said.”

Aaron frowned. “That’s really…wait wait…too many things at once. One that is super terrible and I kinda feel like a jerk now… Two Colton was in the kitchen…and he heard Emmry spill her guts.. I’m guessing he went and flipped his s**t?”

I shrugged. “I didn’t see him when I left but the part that is the hardest for me is that he told me not to tell her. Using his stupid weird Alpha/Beta tone on me. I know that I could resist it…but I thought maybe it was better than her knowing he heard? She would be so upset if she knew he heard. She’s so embarrassed by it.”

Aaron nodded along. “She is your cousin…so that’s pretty hard place to be. I think you did the right thing though.”

“Wait really?” I was surprised. I was sure he was going to tell me to go back and tell her.

“I mean…it’s Emmry we’re talking about here.. She gets upset over just about anything. She feels terrible if you spill something on yourself…she apologizes even if she wasn’t in the room.”

I laughed and then shook my head. “You’re right. It would have caused unnecessary stress.” I moved to lean against his shoulder.

“Can I spend the night?” I asked giving him the biggest eyes I could accompanied with the saddest pout I could manage.

“Did you clear it with your dad?” He asked giving me a knowing smirk. My dad had pretty much one rule. I had to get permission before I spent the night at Aaron’s until we had the bonding ceremony. I guess it was his way of still having his little girl.

“I did. I asked him at dinner.” He acted like he didn’t believe me.

“I don’t want another incident where your dad makes you work so much that you don’t get to see me like the last time.” Aaron gave me a look.

“I swear it’s okay this time.” I assured him kissing him lightly. “Wanna watch a movie?” I asked poking his cheek. Aaron rolled his eyes and grabbed the remote. He handed it to me.

“Put on whatever you want…as always.”

I smiled triumphantly and searched through the channels. I loved Aaron…and I couldn’t wait till we completed the mating process and were fully bonded. It was going to be the best day of my life.