That makes sense. If I was in her shoes, I might think the same but waging a war because of suspicions are never alright. We’re talking about hundreds of lives at stake and intuitions were not a great root to start a war.
“Alpha James agreed to the war?” I asked. All I heard was Luna Tina’s anger but it’s always the Alpha who decides.
Aurea shook her head and she looked down at her cup with sad eyes.
“Alpha James never agreed to her. He’s against the war that his mate wanted to start.”
“Then why?”
“He was blinded by love, my Luna. He’ll bend any rules for his mate and when Luna Tina feed him words enough to pursue him, the war arose.”
I can’t speak as I heard that. I respect the love he gave for his mate but I can’t say its right to prioritize at that time.
“Luna Tina was killed on the night of the war but instead of being weak and inefficient for the war, Alpha James’s mourning leads him to kill hundreds of enemy wolves. Killing Alpha Raekon as well. He took great damage as well but lived for a few days after winning the war. But he died when his wolf denied to heal him, taking a huge blow from losing his mate.”
I did not realize that tears are flowing down my cheeks until it dropped on my neck. The story saddened me that my chest aches a lot.
“Ravenous pack lost a lot, their count gone down to less down half and they haven’t risen up from that damage even after eight years had passed.”
I sniffed and wiped the tears on my face. Aiden lost his parents during that war. He must felt devastated during those times.
I had the urge to go to Aiden and hug him tight even though the tragedy happened a long time ago.
“How old was Aiden when the war happened?” I asked, still sniffing and controlling my sobs.
“He was fifteen, also the age when he took over the pack,” Aurea said, she looked as sad as I am. “He’s too young but he managed to lead the pack to its best. We never lost to any war and our pack kept the highest rank in the North. Everyone loves him, and everyone will love you too when they knew you’re their Luna.”
I sniffed again, feeling proud of Aiden and his achievements but not feeling an ounce of pride for myself.
“I doubt that.”
“Ohh, my Luna.” Aurea reached on my hand and squeeze it. “I know they will because I do. Thank you for coming into his life.”
I sobbed loudly and hugged her tight. I cried on her shoulder as she tapped my back, hushing me.
“You’ve made my mate cry enough, Aurea.”
I looked up and Aiden was standing a few steps behind us. His hands are in his pocket as he looked down at us.
Aurea stood up and bow to him. “You let me to, Alpha.” She said.
I sniffed and wiped the tears on my eyes again. So Aiden was there the whole time? I’m probably too engrossed with Aurea’s story that I did not notice his presence.
“He’s here this whole time?” I asked Aurea with a low voice. Tears still roll down from my eyes and I can’t stop it. I feel too sad. I even wanted to cry aloud like a child but of course, I won’t in front of him.
He walked near me and bend down, leveling his gaze to me.
I saw Aurea bow to us before excusing herself.
I looked at Aiden who gave me a weak smile.
“Don’t waste your tears on me.” He said and that made me cry more.
Everything was blurry and most of what I can remember is crying on Aiden’s shoulder while he hugged me tightly in his arms.
I’m too emotional after hearing what happened to his parents and the pack. I can feel his pain while he hugged me close to him. I can feel his pain and the hardships he had after taking over the pack at a young age.
The story about Alpha Zeuracious and the stealer also worries me but I set that aside when I heard about Alpha James and Luna Tina.
Aiden’s character while he’s trying to comfort me is what I least expected of him. He’s too soft and thoughtful of me right now that he seems like a different person. An attitude that I haven’t seen from an Alpha.
It must because I’m his mate that he can show me a different side of him. That might be also the reason why I can feel what he had felt. Despite the claim not happening between us, the bond is too strong to let those memories flow to me.
Next thing I knew, he was carrying me bride-style as we headed upstairs. My sobs had calm but my eyes are still wet from the tears. My nose is probably red from how harsh I was wiping it before. I’m not conscious of how I look right now, not having enough emotion to care for myself when I was too full of his sorrows.
He gently put me in the bed and I noticed that I’m not in my room. Everywhere in here smells like Aiden.
I’m in his room.
“Why am I here?” I asked trying to sit down but he stopped me before I can.
“Stay still.” He said and lay beside me. He lay on his side then reached his hand to my cheek. Gently caressing the part where the tears were. His eyes are intensely looking at mine. “Why are those tears never stopped coming?” he complained in a whisper.
I giggled at his words. I did not notice that my tears are continuously flowing.
My heart felt light around him suddenly. A part of me pitied him still but the other part praises him for being strong and brave during those times of loss.
“I’m just too sad.” I admit. His eyes softened as he purses his lips, trying to halt a smile.
“You’re weird,” he said, giving me a weak smile.
“It’s all in the past. You don’t have to cry over it.”
“But you’re involved! Blame the mate bond for making me feel how you did.” I snorted wiping my nose again.
He paused for a moment, shocked, before speaking again.
“You’re supposed to have those feelings once I marked you.”
What? It’s my turn to freeze. Aiden was referring to the claim but I was bothered by his words. I wanted to slap my face for not knowing enough about mates and how the bond works!
“Then why am I encountering this now? You haven’t claimed me yet.”
We’re looking at each other with a questioning look. Does this have something to do about me being a stealer?
If it is, then I’m providing inklings for what I am. I can’t risk what I am to him, not now that I’d learned that a stealer caused a war in his past!
“You’re weirder than I thought then.” I thought he was serious but when a smile formed on his lips, I eased myself and smiled back.
I let go of the topic and changed it to something else. Avoiding to feel nervous while this close to him, I’m afraid he might feel it.
“Why are you home early anyway? Don’t you have work to do?”
He’s an Alpha so he must be busy but here he is. I don’t think he has something planned for today.
“I decided to spend time with you. I’d like to know you more.”
A warm hand touches my heart with what he said. Did he just put me first before his own pack?