To say things have gotten better in the last week would be a lie. I had fallen out with Aaron a few times in the last week. While he wanted me to wait and do Nothing, my mind and impatience didn’t let me. Call me crazy, but I would not stay back and try to figure out how to deal with the threat at hand. Nicole and Theo were the threats. The ‘threat’ killed Tia, and every day that went by was a reminder of what I had failed to do. I failed to protect her, but I could make sure those behind what happened to her got what they deserved.
Yesterday, I walked into the study while Aaron and his siblings planned their next course of action, and I told them I wanted to be included. They all stared at me with eyes of pity and understanding. I wasn’t looking to be understood. I wanted to be a part of the plan, and they didn’t want that.
Aaron took me aside and told me to trust him, but I told him I didn’t. I couldn’t. I had felt his withdrawal since the night I told him about my father’s death. It felt almost as if he blamed me, too, and believed I ruined everything I touched. Though he said Nothing, deep in my gut, I knew he was hiding something from me. It hurt, and so I did my best not to overthink it. We said little after that, and though they let me in on their discussion, I knew how unwanted my presence was.
I couldn’t fault them completely. I was human, after all. I wanted to leave to be with my kind, my family, and the friends I had left, but I couldn’t. I had to stay here, even though I didn’t want to. My safety depended on staying here with Aaron.
Today, I barely left my room. Although Aaron slept beside me, he didn’t hold on to me as he used to, and when it was morning, he left without informing me. I guess I deserved that for being such a pain. It had been rough for both of us, and I didn’t want to add to it. I wanted us to find balance.
“You’ve been gone all day,” I said as the door cracked open and Aaron stepped into the room. I didn’t have to look up to see him. Some part of me could tell he was the one in the room with me. It could be the mate bond because I’ve read about it, or it could be something else. Either way, it made good sense.
I reached out to Lionel today, and he informed me of Betty’s plan for Tia. He told me she planned on burying her as fast as possible because she didn’t see the point of keeping her body around for much longer. The first result was misplaced, and so they had to run another, which dragged on into today. Betty was tired of the entire process at this point. Lionel told me the funeral would take place immediately after the autopsy results came out. That was a few days away, and I told him to keep me posted.
He asked me how I was holding up, and I didn’t lie. I told him I wasn’t doing so well with that but assured him I was fine. Aaron didn’t leave my side, even though our relationship had worsened over the past week. I knew he would not leave me in these hard times. I asked how he was coping, and he said he went back to his art, which was so much better than drugs. He also told me Sesi had been beside him, and that assured me he was in good hands.
The rest of the day I spent with Zion, reading to him and helping him with the little homework he had. It kept my mind preoccupied and left little room for negative thoughts. I tucked Zion into bed a few hours ago, and now I was in my room reading and about to tuck myself in.
I received silence from him in return, and it aroused my suspicion, making me turn around to look at him. He stood at the door with his back resting against the wall and his arms crossed over his chest. He observed me, and standing so far away, I couldn’t tell the look on his face, but his silence didn’t sit well with me.
“Hey!” I waved dramatically at him. “What’s up with you?”
He smiled and stepped further into the room. “Nothing.”
“You’ve been gone all day. That doesn’t feel like Nothing.” I told him, and my voice came out small: “I know we haven’t been on the best of terms, and I am sorry if I made things harder than they needed to be.”
“Don’t be sorry,” he said, strolling over to me and stopping when he stood at the foot of the bed. He climbed in, and I couldn’t stop my gaze from following his movement. He had a mischievous look on his face, and I wondered what he wanted to do.
“You didn’t tell me you’d be gone all day.” I pout. I promised myself I wouldn’t be an annoying or clingy girlfriend a long time ago, but that was exactly what I had become this past week, the former more than the latter.
I could not help it. I’ve loved no one the way I loved him, and things haven’t gone great so far.
“You’re fucking sexy when you pout like that,” he said, his attention flickering between my lips and eyes.
“I pout this way when I am sad,” I told him, pouting even more.
He smiles and says, “I guess I’ll have to keep making you sad.” He caught my already extended bottom lip between his and consumed it.
The kiss was great-amazing even-but I didn’t feel as much emotion as I used to, and it made me believe something was up.
“What’s wrong?” I asked, stroking his face.
He placed his head on mine. “I’m just thinking about everything-all the choices that you have made because of me. Everything you have lost.”
I pulled back to stare at him. “Aaron, Nothing that has happened is your fault. Alpha Theo and Nicole deserve all the blame, and they will get what’s coming to them. You shouldn’t blame yourself. All you have done since you came into my life is fix what has been broken for so long.”
The look on his face didn’t look like one ready to believe my words, and I didn’t like that.
“You do not believe me.”
“I’m trying,” he muttered, his eyes unable to stare into mine.
“Then try harder. I know I haven’t made it any easier for you so far, but believe me, it’s the truth.” I ran soft caresses over his face, and he shivered. “Look at me,” he did as I asked, and his gaze locked on mine. “You saved my life, Aaron Hart, and you’ve brought me Nothing but happiness, and though I have moments of doubt, I don’t regret having you with me this far. Never doubt that, okay?”
He nodded. I leaned in and kissed his lips, pulling him closer and showing him just how wanted he was.