Three weeks later,
I dropped Zion off at Lionel’s place before heading out for my classes. I started my PhD course in psychology three weeks ago, and since things had fallen into a good rhythm in the past month, I felt it was the right time to take it up. Zion had a healthy and stable relationship with his family of uncles and aunts, loved ones, and friends. My boy had more love than I could have asked for, and I wasn’t complaining.
His big day was also around the corner, and I wanted something special for him. I also wanted my family and friends to be present. He would be five, after all, and it wouldn’t get any better.
After finishing my day class, I drove to Aaron’s estate. I hadn’t been back here since I left two months ago, and I didn’t think I’d willingly bring myself back, but here I was. I didn’t call him before leaving the office; I didn’t remember to, and security stopped me when I got to the gate at the estate.
“I am sorry. I didn’t call Aaron.” I told them, “I will call him now, though.” I picked up my phone from my purse to dial Aaron’s number when I heard someone say: “Let her through. That’s the alpha’s guest.”
The same second, the gates opened, and, thanking them, I drove into the large land space. During my stay here the last time, I noticed the houses at the estate looked the same except for Aaron’s, and that was what I used to find my way this time. As I passed the houses that looked the same, I knew they weren’t Aaron’s. Soon, I spotted one a few kilometres away, and I knew it was his. I drove towards the house and turned off the car when I came to a stop.
I picked my bag up and stepped out. I raced up the few steps that led to the door. I pushed, and it opened to me. The inside was as quiet as ever, and I realised it would have been best to call and inform him of my coming.
Well, better late than never. I brought out my phone and dialled Aaron’s number, but there was no answer. I tried again, and when I got no response for the second time, I slipped the phone into my purse.
“Hello, is anybody home?” I asked, and my voice echoed in the room as if no one was living there. Perhaps I should have asked the security men at the gate if their alpha was home. That way, I would have been sure of myself.
I don’t think they would have let you into the estate if he wasn’t home.
Or he could be sleeping.
Different thoughts ran through my head, and I had the answer to none. I picked my phone out of the bag to dial his number again when I heard a low growl behind me.
My heart skipped a beat, and I paused, not moving at first. I wanted to know if I had indeed heard a sound. The growl came again, louder than before, and I knew I wasn’t hallucinating.
I turned around, and I saw a big black wolf standing before me with blazing red eyes.
I had seen their full moon transformation in video clips and had seen Damor in his full wolf form months ago. Just like them, I was alone with this one, and the scary memory rushed back. I was scared. My heart was hammering in my chest, and there was no way to control it.
Yet I shouldn’t be afraid. I was at the Dominio Pack estate, specifically at Aaron’s residence, which meant the only ones who would be around would be Aaron and his siblings.
The wolf moved around me, and thank God I had emptied my bladder before coming here. Though I believed I wouldn’t get hurt, this was intimidating enough to make me want to pee my pants.
I stared at his red eyes, and their shade had a faint touch as if it were a rose. Damor’s eyes glowed a bright scarlet red. Ivan had silver and Sesi had golden yellow, so I knew the one standing before me was Aaron.
“Aaron, I know that is you.” I said with certainty as he returned to stand before me, “I came to talk.” I told him, and again he circled me, but this time he didn’t move to the front.
After a long time of silence, he spoke. “Talk about what?”
I turned around to face him, only to find him naked from the head down. I gasped and turned around immediately, and I heard him chuckle.
“Fuck!” I cursed under my breath. He had set the trap perfectly, and I had fallen into it.
“Where are your clothes?” I demanded.
“Upstairs, where I shifted,” he answered, humour still lingering in his voice. “You didn’t expect them to be on me after I shifted back to human form, did you?”
Silly me! I thought that was how it worked. I inwardly facepalmed.
“You didn’t call,” he told me, and he was correct. I should have. “I’m sorry, I forgot. Can you put something on?” I asked because, though I wasn’t looking at him, the thought of him naked behind me while we were alone didn’t help for one second. The image I just saw would torment me for a while, that’s for sure.
“There’s nothing here to put on,” he answered, and I knew he was enjoying this very much.
I dipped my hand into my purse and pulled out the scarf inside. “Here,” and handed it to him.
“What do I do with it?”
“Wrap it around yourself,” I said.
“It won’t go around. I am big. You know that.”
I knew the big thing he spoke of, and at this moment, I wish I did not know that. “It will go around if you hold your breath.” The scarf was not wide, but it was big enough to wrap around his waist. “We only need to talk for a few minutes.”
He mumbled something under his breath, but I didn’t hear it. “Done. You can turn around now,” he said, and I did just that, turning around to face the still-naked man but for the scarf around him.
I couldn’t speak because the skin of the man that stood before me differed from the one I remembered over five years ago, and I would know; I ran my hands over him a few times.
His skin looked paler and inked up than it did then, but he remained the same size. The side of his rib had a scar there, and I immediately figured that was the injury he sustained from his fight with Henry many weeks ago. I curiously stared at his body, fascinated by what I was seeing. I knew my body had experienced the same level of change, and the body I once had wasn’t the same as the one I have now.
“I haven’t had a woman give me this much attention in a while, Zera; I might read into it,” he warned, and I snapped out of my mind. I realised I’d done more than invade his privacy. I was scrutinising it, and that affected him more than anything.
I tore my eyes away from him and cleared my throat. “I’m sorry,” I said, and I glanced down at my suddenly interesting fingers.
It was his fault. His skin had changed a lot since the last time I saw it, and it looked interesting and puzzling. It was only natural that I’d want to satisfy my curiosity.
‘Wow, Zera. Look at you pushing the blame and not taking responsibility for your actions.’
“Why did you come?” He changed the subject, and that lessened the tense state of the room.
“Zion will turn five in two weeks. That’s on the 25th. I thought maybe we could throw a party for him,” I suggested.
His eyes flickered in delight. “Sure, then, whatever you choose to do, I’ll be there to support you,” he promised with a smile on his face.
I pressed my lips together. “I was thinking I’d give you this year’s honour.”
“Why? Because I might not see next year’s birthday?” he asked, his tone switching to an accusing one in a second.
Now that he said it like that, I felt bad, but I didn’t consider his demise when I came up with the idea.
I shook my head and said, “No, that’s not it. I just thought since this was your first birthday celebration with him, you might just want to plan it, and I’d be here if you need me.”
“Oh, that’s thoughtful, then. I have, however, never planned a five-year-old birthday before, and I might not know how to go about it.”
“That’s why I will be close by. We have two weeks to get it right,” I encouraged.
He grinned, and his hazel eyes twitched interestingly. “Two weeks together planning. You’re sure your boyfriend would be happy with that?”
My eyes dropped from his, and I bit my lips. “We are not together,” I answered, and he scoffed in disbelief before glancing up.
“What?! What did he do this time?”
“Aaron.”
“Do I need to go talk to him again?”
“No! We never got back together. I didn’t accept his offer for another try when he came back many weeks ago.” I said it and realised Aaron had been in the dark about it for weeks. He probably thought we’d gotten back together all this while.
His eyes dropped. “Oh, I’m sorry. That must have been painful.”
“Why? I turned him down.” I stressed out because I felt he wasn’t hearing me.
“It doesn’t make it hurt any less,” he answered, and he was right.
With everything going on in my life, I couldn’t fit Daniel into the mix. I knew I wouldn’t give him the love, commitment, and attention he needed, and I found no point in stringing him along. The decision hurt. I wanted him in my life because he was the best thing that had happened to me in a while, and I hated to see it go, but it was the right decision.
We spoke when we met at the university three weeks ago. Though the tense atmosphere lingered, there was no grudge. He kissed my forehead and wished me good luck with whatever path I chose. There was no guarantee we would go back to being friends, but I could hope.
“You’re right. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Give me a second, and I will dress up.”
In that same second, he was gone from before me, and a minute later, he came back. He had on a pair of black trousers, a shirt, and white sneakers. In his right hand was my scarf.
He tells me he could have done this five minutes ago after he transformed, but he chose not to and made me give him my scarf instead.
“Here,” he said, stretching his hand towards me and handing me my scarf.
My cheeks heated, and I glared at him, storming off without uttering a word to him.
“Don’t you want it anymore?” he yelled from behind.
Not after you’ve tied it to your ass, I don’t. “Keep it, asshole.”
“Well, thank you,” he yelled back, falling in line with me.
This birthday preparation will be a disaster.