Page 59 of Luna Ascending

“He's my mate” She fires back before clamping her hand over her mouth and looking guiltily between us. “At... at least he thinks he is. We... we won't know for sure until I get my wolf back.”

Oh shit. I know Aaron doesn't trust Lyell around Aurora. This is going to send him through the roof. I glance sideways at my mate, and slip my hand into his, urging him over our mind-link to go easy on her. All I can feel from Aaron is a cold fury I didn't know he possessed, and buried at it's heart is fear, fear for his sister.

“You cannotbe mates” he states slowly, deliberately, ignoring her crossed arms and defensive stance “Didn't he tell you?”

“He tells me everything!” Aurora clenches her fists, but she sounds less certain and Aaron's heartless laugh can't help.

“Then you'll know he can't be your mate because he already had a mate, once.”

“I... I didn't know..” Aurora sounds very small now “but... there are second chance mates”

“Stop.” Aaron bellows “Stop this fanciful nonsense. You go and you ask Lyell why he was banished, why he was a rouge before we took him in. You ask him what he did to his own mate. Then, little sister, reassess if you still want to play at happy families with him after that.”

Tears stream down Aurora's face, and I feel them pricking the corner of my eyes too. But Aaron hasn't finished.

“Once you've got the truth from him, you willnevertalk to him again or I will banish him from this pack. I will have him branded if you threaten to go after him”

“Then I will do this alone” she says, flatly.

I grab Aurora by the shoulders, trying to hug her. She rips herself from my grasp and runs away crying. She's not coming back, I can tell.

“What the fuck Aaron?!” I hiss. How can he be so fucking insensitive? That's his bloody sister... and what if sheisLyell's second chance mate? I storm past him to find Lyell.

Chapter Forty-Three

Aaron's POV

I can't express how angry I am with my sister for disobeying me. I can't let her disobey her alpha just because she's my sister. She doesn't understand, I can't be lenient on her. If she would just behave and let me do the work of finding her wolf I wouldn't have to punish her.

Now I have to make an example of her. Her and fucking Lyell. I curse the day we accepted that bear into this pack. He's a good fighter, and has done well by us, but I care less for him than my sister. If I have to make an example of her, and I do, I sure as hell will make an example of him.

Freya's meddling has brought all of this on. If she had just kept her mouth shut like we agreed, like I told her to... What is it with my family and following simple fucking orders?!

I don't know what's got into Freya at the moment. I love her so passionately, so fully, but how can I possibly keep her safe if she goes around behaving like this?! I can't run a pack who think my commands are optional.

I deliberately avoid Freya when she comes looking for me. I know she wants me to send her with my fighters after Aurora but it's simply not happening. Aurora has endangered her own life but she will not endanger my mate's too.

My fighters will find Aurora and bring her home, and then I will deal with her, and Lyell. If I have to lock Freya in our rooms until all this is done I bloody well will. Actually that's not a shabby idea.

I change my tact and actively seek Freya out, putting on my most contrite face. If I apologise I might just manage to persuade her she shouldn't go hunting for Aurora. If I can't, then it's time for plan b.

When I spot her from the distance, obviously ranting at Liz. I have to admit my mate looks radiant when she's angry. She's truly glowing. Sidling up to her I wrap my arms around her and squeeze, lifting her off her feet.

“What do you think you're doing Aaron Varg?” She wriggles hard trying to push me off “I am absolutely furious at you”

“I know baby but you're sexy when you're angry, and I wanted to apologise”

“I'm not the one you should be apologising too” she huffs, but I feel her body relax into mine a little.

I take my chance and scoop her up, ignoring Liz's exaggerated tutting. I carry Freya away, back to our rooms listening to her grumbling the whole way. I drop her gently on the bed before getting on my knees beside her, taking deep calming breaths of her scent.

“You're so sexy” I growl at her running my hands slowly up her legs.

“You're not out of trouble Aaron” Freya's voice hitches a little though, so I risk to rubbing my thumb across her soft inner thigh and she lets out a low moan.

Using one finger I trace her curves, gently following the folds of her skin, teasing, until I reach her centre. “We're better as a team beautiful, let me make it up to you..”

I hear her grumble turn into a sigh as I run my fingers over the already damp patch on her panties.

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