Part A: Chapter 3
The days flew by with Aidan by my side, just the two of us living in the forest and truly getting to know each other better. Aidan was finally fully healed up from his injury and whenever I asked him about it, he would change the subject and I never brought it up again.
“Pick up your pace and stop thinking too much,” Aidan said from beside me, no longer in front. “Get out of your head and embrace nature and let it lead to who you truly are. You were meant to do great things Jemila.” He wrapped fingers around mine, intertwining them and stirring my heart.
It had been more than a week now since Aidan and I met and his touch always ignited fire within me. It was as if there was something that was struggling to come out but couldn’t.
“I was just doing you a favour, I didn’t want to bruise your ego by beating you seamlessly,” I replied as I pulled my fingers from him and pushed myself even harder. “Pick up your pace would you.”
I heard Aidan’s laugh sound from behind me and then he was flying past me before I could even blink. When Aidan started feeling better, he suggested that he train me so that I was prepared for whatever would happen and so every day we would go for a run and then he would teach me how to fight. I had to admit, my skills had improved a lot more after that and I was now faster than when I trained alone.
Laughing to myself because I knew I was losing this match again, I pushed myself harder until I was not too far behind Aidan but then he abruptly stopped. I wanted to run past him but something told me to stop beside him and that was exactly what I ended up doing.
“Can you hear that?” He asked, looking around him on high alert. “Someone is calling out but I can’t hear much more than that.”
I remembered the training he had taught me about enhancing your human senses and I closed my eyes, honing on the sound.
“They are calling out your name,” the words left my mouth before I could even comprehend them as my eyes flew wide open and I stared at the man beside me.
Aidan stood frozen in his place not knowing what to do but it seemed I was too slow to catch on to what was actually going on because I gently tugged him and he snapped out of it.
“Come on, someone is looking for you and not many people come to this forest,” I said enthusiastically. “Whoever they are, they will need our help getting out of here before it gets dark.” I tugged on his hand again and then resumed running in the direction the voice was going from with him by my side.
The faster we ran, the more the sound got closer and closer until finally we could see the person. It wasn’t just one person, oh no, it was more like a search party.
“Mr. Carmichael,” one of the people yelled while another yelled “Aidan.”
I slowed down and quickly threw a look at Aidan who signed but didn’t say anything as he walked over to the group, making his presence known.
“Stop yelling,” he growled, his voice booming louder in the woods and the person who had called him ‘Aidan’ turned and smirked at him.
“This is the only chance I get,” he responded coyly and then clapped Aidan on the back. “What the hell are you doing in the forest? Didn’t want to get your hands dirty anymore?” His eyes turned to me and his smirk only grew larger, “so, that’s why you didn’t hear us for days now.”
The man had dark hair which was wind swept and his hazel eyes held a mischievous glint to it. “Hey love, what’s your name?”
Aidan growled and shoved him back. “Watch it Carter, you don't want to get on my bad side this early.”
The man grinned as he threw his hands up in surrender. “Sorry. I know when not to overstep my boundary.” Then he turned serious. “Your father sent us here to look for you. After you went missing from the party last week, I tried calling your phone but it didn't go through and when it finally did, it was found in an abandoned warehouse that belongs to them and I knew something was wrong.”
Racking his fingers through his hair, Aidan looked at the man and then after a while, the man, Carter, nodded, turned to wink and me before going back to the party and waved them off. Aidan then walked back to me and took my hand in his.
“We are going home but first, I need to explain something to you.”
His words sounded faint and far away as everything finally sunk. These were Aidan’s people and they were here to take him back. I was going to be alone again. No, no, no, this cannot be happening. I thought I still had more time with him, more time to have him to myself and to get to know him. But now, I was too late. There were things I wanted to tell him, things I needed him to tell me about myself and where I could possibly come from or what my special thing was.
“Jem, are you listening to me?” Aidan lightly tapped my hand and I snapped out of my thoughts.
Not being able to look at him, I pulled my hands from his grasp and turned my back to him. “You should go, you shouldn’t keep your people waiting.” The words sounded foreign even to my own ears but I didn’t look back as I walked away from him. Saying goodbye to him hurt but I knew it was one day going to come.
But he wasn't having it because he grabbed my hand and spun me to face him. “I’m not leaving without you. We belong together and each moment I spend away from you kills me inside,” he said. “You promised me you would go back with me. Please Jem, don't do this to me, to yourself, to us.”
“Hey love birds, we need to head back before nightfall,” Carter said, saving me from having to say anything. “Can you hurry it up over there with the goodbyes or whatever it is you’re doing, we don't have all day you know.”
Aidan growled to which Carter whimpered and lowered his head. “She’s coming with me,” he growled again. “Got it?”
“Your father won’t approve of this,” Carter said quietly. “It’s against our tradition to bring someone into the pack who isn’t one of us.”
“She’s one of us because I said so.”
“You can’t change the rules unless you’re,” Carter stopped himself as he gave me a suspicious look.
“She knows who I am because she is my mate.” The words left Aidan’s mouth so smoothly that Carter took a step back. “She goes where I go or I don't go anywhere, you decide that for yourself. The both of us or none of us.”
Carter swallowed and then grabbed his phone. “I need to let your father know about the change in plans,” he said and then walked away, leaving Aidan and I alone once more.
Aidan took the chance and kissed him, hard. “I cannot leave you behind Jemila. You and I are now one and the same. I feel everything you and I know you can feel exactly what I am feeling right now. I know you are scared but I’m more scared of losing you.”
“You can’t be sure I’m not happy you’re leaving,” I replied sarcastically. “What if I was just waiting for the day when you finally left?”
Aidan scoffed, “we mated and sealed our bond. I know exactly what you are feeling and that isn’t even close to it. You can’t push me away. You can’t condemn me and yourself to a life of pain and suffering. We both need each other to survive from now onwards.”
Before I could say anything, Carter returned and he didn’t look too happy.
“What did he say?” Aidan said without looking at him.
“Your father isn’t happy. Arrangements were made and they cannot be broken,” Carter said, not once letting my gaze. “However, he is willing to let you keep her as long as she passes the test.”
Aidan snapped and had Carter by the neck in the black of an eye. “Tell him that those arrangements can be cancelled and she won’t be proving anything to anyone about who she is. She is my mate and he should be happy about it.” He growled as he threw Carter to the ground. “Tell him to pick his words carefully because I will forget he is my father and the former alpha.”
Carter stood back up and dusted himself then grabbed his phone. “Yes sir, I told him but he won't listen to me. Yes,” he said and then handed the phone to Aidan. “He wants to speak with you.”
Aidan grabbed the phone and listened, with each word uttered, he grew more pissed, annoyed and tense. “I call the shots on my life this time around father and you cannot tell me otherwise,” he snapped. “If you won’t accept her as my mate then I might just as well remain here and you don't ever have to see me again. Carter can take over as CEO and become the next alpha since you always wished he was your son more than your actual son.”
There was silence on the other side of the phone and the man said something which made Aidan ease up. “We will be there,” then he hung up and tossed the phone back to Carter who caught it with ease. “Jemila, we are going home and I will make sure no one,” he said that whilst looking at Carter who looked annoyed, “will take you away from me ever again.”