“It’s my turn. How was the famous stealer alive?”
“Well… Zeuracious let her escape. Zynia is not the bad kind, Jorhia is.”
“Jorhia? Is that the other Luna?” he nodded. “She’s a stealer, too? I thought her name was Violet?”
Okay. This is confusing. I thought the ancient process of detecting the true mate was used because Luna Violet -who I think is what Aiden was calling Jorhia- is the fated one of Alph Zeuracious?
Damn. My mind is messy, it’s more confusing.
“Thats a third. Stop cheating.” I felt him grinning and I flushed. Oh, I forgot about the ‘game’. Now I hate how I proposed it.
I gulped and bit the inside of my cheek, a bit embarrassed. “Okay. Sorry. What’s your question?”
Aiden’s shoulder trembled from his muted laughter and I blushed even more.
Damn though. All I could think is how se*xy his soft laughs is.
“Tell me what happened on your mapping.” he asked. His arm left my shoulder and found it’s place to it’s favorite spot. He pulled me closer as I felt his palm on my midriff.
This is distracting.
I frowned, leading myself back to the conversation. “Thats not a question, more like an order.”
He snorted. “Fine. Allow me rephrase.” I chuckled. “Can you tell me what happened during your mapping?”
I slightly sighed, the mapping felt like it happened yesterday. I still feel the fear I had on that day.
“Uhm, it’s for she-wolf so try to keep up. When I cut my palm on the map-”
“Cut your palm?” he interrupts. I nodded slowly on his chest and bury my head on it even more. His palm on my chest squeezed a bit and my discomfort was immediately lifted.
“Yes. The map requires a drop of blood to locate our mate, then the part where the mate resides will glow. You don’t know?” he shook his head. I can figure. It’s mainly for women, outside the range of interest of the men. Though I thought he’ll know since he is an Alpha.
“Well, once I did, the Prime pack glowed ad that’s how I knew I’ll find my mate at your land. Which happened to be you.” I smiled and I felt him sighed quietly. I’m not sure but it sounds like a relieved one. “But after a minute, the whole map was glinting. I was confused by it and what it meant but the enchantress called out that I’m a stealer, giving me the knowledge of what I am.”
“Then?”
“Thats your third. You sure don’t know how this game works.” I rolled my eyes.
“Im used in earning answers.” I’m sure he is grinning right now.
“Whatever. My turn. Who’s Jorhia?”
Aiden shifted on his seat and I moved with him. His hand on my leg moved to entertwin with his other hand. Hugging my frame closer before responding.
“She’s a bad kind. She came to Ravenous pack with the name Violet and obviously that’s not her real name. Zynia is not the only stealer in that story, Jorhia is too. That’s a truth that was kept to everyone, uh, for safety measures.”
“Safety for what exactly?”
“Thats a second. I thought I’m the one who cant play this game?” he is teasing me again but I’m not affected!
I want to know. I never heard of it. Of that fact that Vio-Jorhia was a stealer too! So who’s the true mate?
“Ugh!” I pulled away from him and my eyes immediately met his gaze.
I felt my chest heaved as I was overwhelmed with how he looked at me. His gaze is soft, drowning. I cleared my throat, diverting my attention to our topic.
“Change of rules, follow ups are allowed.” I managed to say.
He chuckled and his finger scratched on his temple.
“Bossy.”
“Come on!” I can’t wait. Our conversation is intriguing that I can’t wait another minute to hear it. What’s the purpose of keeping Jorhia a secret? It’s something about stealers, everyone should know.
“Fine. What happened was unusual. Stealers are rare and two within a decade was less expected. Everyone thought Zynia was the fraud because Jorhia came later. Though Zynia was younger, but no one knew that. Jorhia faked not just her name but her age as well. She had mastered the art of deception, well-prepared of how to use her abnormality or how she can manipulate her chosen target by being a stealer. She’s a danger. She managed to snatch Zeuracious from Zynia, the true mate. Did you know that they mated with other men?” I nodded and bit my lips.
Zynia was the true mate. And she’s alive. This is some revelation. When Aiden said Jorhia mastered deceiving, then I can understand why he feared knowing that I’m a stealer.
“The process is ancient. Jorhia was confident that she’s the true mate, her manipulation urged Zynia to agree with the process. But thats a dumb move for Zynia. She knew she is a stealer, she’ll definitely get pregnant.” he pursed his lips, watching my reaction as my lips parted with disbelief.
How can Zynia agree to that? That’s absurd. Shes a stealer. She shouldn’t have agreed.
“As I said, Jorhia was well-prepared. She managed to delay her pregnancy. We don’t know how she did it but the fact that she have that ability is threat enough. A risk that must be kept so stealers of the future won’t be educated of the power they possess.”
I nodded slowly, absorbing everything he had said. My mind flew somewhere and stayed quiet for a while.
To be aware of what stealers can do is dangerous. Well, for ones who has a negative motive. But Aiden shared it to me, can I assume that he trust me enough that he don’t see me as a threat?
“You’re telling it to me now.” I stated. His eyes stuck on mine for a while, studying my thoughts. He shook his head after before looking away as he spoke.
“You’re different.” he sighed and looked at my eyes, as once gain, I’m met by the most mesmerizing eyes. “I don’t care if it’s the bond talking but I knew you are not a bad kind.”
I felt like a hand caress my chest when his words delivered an overwhelming warmth on my chest. I was silent for a moment, taken aback with his confession.
He trusts me. He believed in me. Sincerely.
The thought made butterflies in my stomach flutter and I’m in awe. I looked down and bit my lower lip, relishing how it felt. How he made me feel.
“Hey.” He placed his palm on the back of mine and I looked at his dazzling eyes again. He gave me a small smile when he examined my eyes like darting through my soul. “Its my turn.” he said after.
I chuckled lowly and nodded my head. I love this side of him and I’m glad he’s opening himself to me.
“Im all ears.” I whispered with a smile.
His smile widened and I was surprised with his next move. He held my face with both of his hands and leaned closer so his face was an inched away. My breath hitched from how close our lips are. He sniffed, filling his lungs with my scent.
“Can you forgive me?” he said as he breathed out.
I was stunned for a moment. What’s he apologizing for? And was this closeness necessary? It’s so distracting that all I wanted was to smash my lips with his inviting one.
I want to taste his kiss again.
Holy mother of wolves, Ash! The guy is apologizing! Shove your libid0 awaaay!
I gulped. “What for?” I whispered. I’m not sure if I said the words right though. I felt like it came out as a mumble. I swear I can’t breath right now!
My chest is beating so fast, it’s deafening! My hearts’ sound won over the chirps of the bird and the cool gushes of the wind.