Aiden had just slammed the door to his room close, when Jasmine, his mother, appeared next to Karen who had remained in the hallway, too stunned, angry and hurt to move.
“Is everything alright?” The witch asked her.
“I don’t know,” Karen said in a soft whisper. “I am human. He is a werewolf. I am not used to your ways. And he doesn’t try that hard to make me understand.”
“What do you want to know? I’ll explain what I can,” she offered softly.
“Really?” Karen beamed at her.
“Yeah, I can sense that you are troubled. I want to help,” Jasmine told her, her deep blue eyes reminding her of the sweetly calming sea.
“He said that his wolf identified me as his mate, and that his feelings started from there,” Karen said on a sigh. “What does that even mean?”
“Here’s the deal,” the woman began, “Aiden was so eager to meet you, his mate, that he went to the oracle to have a clue as to how or when or where to find you. He was that eager, and that desperate.”
“What’s an oracle?” Karen raised an eyebrow.
“A really powerful witch who’s got great clairvoyance ability,” Jasmine’s voice betrayed her admiration and respect for the woman.
Karen just nodded in response, “His mate could have been anyone though.”
“But it’s you,” she retorted. “You know, despite all the attraction and all the sparks, rejection is not unheard of.”
“Really?” To say Karen was shocked wouldn’t cover the half of it.
“It’s a possibility,” the woman shrugged. “And no, you don’t have to say any special words to make it happen. You just need to feel it, truly believe there’s no possibly happy ending for the relationship, for it to happen. And yes, both Aiden and his wolf care deeply about you, but that is not to say he wouldn’t have cared had it not been for his wolf.”
That was kind of confusing and a lot to take in.
“Picture it like this. His wolf yearns for his other half. And Aiden wants to have you as a partner, for life.”
Karen nodded at her and sighed.
Jasmine pushed her ever so gently, and not in the direction of her own room, rather in the direction of Aiden’s.
*** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
Aiden barely had the time for a quick shower, and then there was a knock on his door.
He knew from the scent alone that it was his mate.
“Here to have seconds?” He spat out as he opened the door. He was in a sour mood. His shower hadn’t helped brighten it.
She gulped down her dread or whatever, and tried hard not to look at his barely clad self he was ironically in a towel and then said, “No. Actually, I wanted to apologize.”
“Really?” He narrowed his eyes on her. “What’s the catch?” He crossed his arms on his chest in a demanding manner.
She frowned slightly. “What do you mean?”
“I mean to say that every time things started to brighten up slightly, you’d make sure to bring the not-yet-a-relationship several steps back.”
He was done sparing her feelings. He was stubborn enough to allow her to end things should she want to, fated matings be damned.
“I’m sorry,” she said meekly. “I wasn’t trying to do that…”
“Really now?” He raised an eyebrow. “Explain to me then why you’d flinch away from my touch each time, but sometimes initiate contact.”
“I just…” she began but trailed off as his towel came undone.
Her face turned red at once and she pivoted on her heels. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
“Could have fooled me,” he scoffed.
“I have my own demons to battle too,” she said on a sigh. “Doubt, insecurities… you name it.”
Aiden’s heart softened, and so did his voice when he said, “Well, never doubt this. I love you.”
He saw her nod, and then she fled the scene, but not before saying, “I cannot have this conversation with you while you’re butt naked. But just know that I’m willing to start over.”
His only response was a smile. A true genuine smile, and not a smirk.