Page 14 of Country and Clove
A flood of exhaustion knocked into Aaron as he leaned back in his seat. He had been working so hard to be normal, better, fixed. Maybe it was okay to allow his pack to see him struggling and help him out. That’s what it meant to have a pack. They were there for you no matter what.
He was still healing, still grieving, but things had to move forward in his life. Aaron needed to get back to work like he needed to breathe. It would help distract him from the past, and from Clove.
“Okay. I can work with that.” Everyone in the room placed their hands on his shoulders, showing their support. He took a long, slow breath. From here on out he would make the most of things, and work as hard as he could to let the horrors behind him stay buried in the past.
* * *
Patrols were a newer addition to the security measures being taken at the Ulric complex. Trusted pack members would sign up for various times and ensure the woods around the complex were scoured all throughout the day and night. No one would be sneaking up on the pack anytime soon. Aaron took more patrol shifts than anyone. He wanted to make sure nothing like the attack that took his recruits could ever happen again.
Running on four feet was always a liberating experience. Aaron loved being in wolf form, even though he and his inner animal weren’t exactly seeing eye to eye lately. His animal was still sulking, sending him visions of Clove every chance it got. Sometimes his animal would fight to break free, surging forward against Aaron’s will. On those occasions he had to fight to keep his inner beast within.
Once, he’d even had to go to Gideon. The damn animal wouldn’t calm no matter what he tried. Gideon issued an Alpha command and finally bought Aaron a moment of peace. There were plenty of times that he didn’t go to Gideon, though. It was part of the reason he exercised so much and worked himself to exhaustion as often as he could. It helped keep his wolf at bay.
Aaron rushed through the underbrush, savoring the feel of the damp earth beneath his paws. There was nothing but him and the woods and the wind that blew through his fur. His shaggy brown wolf burst through the tree line and froze. Two figures sat entwined in each other’s arms. He identified them immediately. It was Aria and her monster of a mate, Lark. The two were naked and from the smell of it they had clearly just finished fucking. Aaron growled as he shifted back into his human form.
“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.” Aaron glared down at the two as he trudged forward. Aria glared right back at him. Lark tensed in the way he always did when his mate was upset. “The whole forest and I’ve got to run into you two doing God-knows-what out here? Certainly not patrolling.”
Lark and Aria got to their feet. Being naked was a part of shifter life. Lark looked uncomfortable as he glanced at Aria’s naked body and then back in Aaron’s direction. Aria looked like she didn’t give two shits as she stood proudly, not hiding or covering up her nakedness in the least.
“Not that it’s any of your business,” Aria bit back at Aaron, “but our shift ended twenty minutes ago.”
Aaron spit on the ground. “I still don’t understand why Gideon let you in the pack,” he directed his anger at Lark.
“Because he’s my mate.” Aria stomped toward him and Lark gripped her shoulders, urging her to calm down.
“So what? Mate or not, I’d never let someone in who’s done the things he has. He’s a monster.”
“What is your deal, Aaron? All of this has been so unlike you, for months now. What’s going on?” Aria’s voice betrayed her hurt. Guilt gnawed at his insides. He and Aria had been good friends for years, but ever since she’d mated with Lark, he couldn’t bring himself to spend time with her.
“Don’t give me that bullshit, Aria. You’ve been brainwashed by your mate. You all have. You, Gideon, Darren, Leah. You got mates and then all lost your damn minds.”
“You don’t know anything about mates. Things will be different when you find yours.” Aria added, “If anyone will take you. You’ve turned into a real ass.”
Aaron huffed. His thoughts darkened.If she only knew.
“He’s found his mate,” Lark said, and the words hit Aaron like a punch to the gut. He cut his fury away from Aria and gave Lark the full intensity of his pissed-off stare.
“Get out of my head,” he fumed. Aria had let it slip that Lark could read minds. Needless to say, the pack was none too happy to learn that little magical tidbit. Ever since then, Lark seemed all too eager to dig around inside everyone’s skull as often as he liked. Aria said he couldn’t help it, that it was a power Lark couldn’t turn off. Aaron didn’t buy it.
“Oh my gosh! That’s wonderful! Who is it?” Aria’s entire demeanor changed. His jaw tensed as bitterness settled in his veins.
“It doesn’t matter anymore.” His body sagged.
“Why not?” Aria looked between Aaron and Lark, seeking an explanation. Aaron shot a warning glare Lark’s way but it didn’t stop the damn telepath from speaking.
“Because he rejected his mate. He rejected Clove.”
“Fuck.” Aaron raked his hands through his hair. Aria moved toward him, taking his hands in hers. Lark’s possessive growl came from behind them.
“Hush,” Aria threw over her shoulder. She peered up at Aaron, her blue eyes sparkling. “What happened?”
Aaron dropped his head. “Like I said, it doesn’t matter. I rejected the mate bond and I would appreciate it if you’d keep this information to yourselves.” He glared at Lark, then looked back at Aria. He slipped his hands out of hers. “For Clove’s sake, too. Just respect our privacy. I’m on patrol.” He wheeled around, preparing to shift when Aria’s words halted him.
“She’s been sad, you know. Clove. Wouldn’t tell anyone why. So I hope you’re sure you made the right choice. Because I think it’s eating away at her, and from the way you’ve been acting recently, it’s eating away at you, too. I don’t like to see my friends hurting. That still includes you.”
Aaron shifted without responding. Her words hooked their spurs deep inside his heart. Knowing his mate was sad enraged his wolf.
He patrolled several hours longer than was necessary, burning off steam and taking solace in the forest. He only returned to the complex because he agreed to accompany Dane to a welcoming dinner for a new pack transfer.
