Chapter 27
“The supreme happiness of life is the conviction that we are loved; loved for ourselves—say rather, loved in spite of ourselves.” ― Victor Hugo , Les Misérables
Aiden’s POV
Back in our hotel room, Rose reached for the file with information on all the packs and began flipping through it.
I noticed how her dress rode up her thighs as she propped her legs on the table.
Smooth legs begging to be touched by me.
I looked away quickly, realizing how close we were sitting together on the couch.
“So what’s the point of having an alliance with these packs if you alphas can just challenge each other as you please?” she asked, eyes scanning the pages.
Her questions always caught me off guard with how intuitive they were. I rubbed the back of my neck, dragging my gaze away from her legs.
“You can share resources, warriors, even services like summer camps or daycares. Not all pack members live close to the territory. So if one of ours works far from home, they can use an allied pack’s daycare.
They can stay on allied land too, after the request is processed. It’s a whole system, really.”
“Why would you need to share warriors?” she asked again.
“Mom didn’t explain the political aspect, huh?
” I exhaled slowly before continuing. “Packs usually don’t fall from one-on-one alpha duels.
If an alpha knows he’ll lose, he won’t challenge.
And if no one challenges, they go to war.
A fight. Winner takes all. That’s where allies come in—they send warriors to support you.
These days, one-on-one challenges are rare.
It’s usually pack versus pack. But really, it’s more about economic strategy now.
Sometimes alphas challenge another for the right to mate with his luna—Mom probably mentioned that.
Or if the alpha is too weak to rule, physically or mentally, then someone steps up. ”
She nodded thoughtfully, still reading through the agenda for tomorrow.
"It seems like you’re the only one in the alliance pushing for a full environmental assessment before any urban development near pack lands.
You’re worried it could screw with the natural habitat, especially the animals native to our territory," I heard Rose say, her voice soft with that small smile of hers. "What a noble cause."
“I’m not noble,” I shot back dryly.
And Goddess, my thoughts were anything but noble right now. All I could think about was tearing that damn dress off her body.
I should’ve told her to leave—told her to take the file and look it over in the other room. But my guard was down. I liked having her here.
“The other packs keep saying that building malls will bring in jobs, more people, more income,” she said, tilting her head. “But you’re the only one who doesn’t care about the money—you care about the land.”
Her gaze was too intense. I felt like I was under a spotlight.
“Well, it seems like you’ve got a pretty solid handle on what’s going on.”
“Because you took the time to prepare me,” she emphasized, clearly calling out the fact that she’d felt underprepared tonight when mingling with the lunas.
I’d like to prepare you for other things too.
The thought was crude and inappropriate, but there it was, right as my eyes wandered down to the deep neckline of her dress.
I stood up and started taking off my dress pants. I was done for the night. I needed to strip out of these clothes and crash before she picked up on just how filthy my thoughts were.
Rose suddenly stood up, clutching the file to her chest like a shield, backing away from me like I was on fire.
“Um…you know I’ve never seen a guy completely naked in real life…” she blurted out, voice going squeaky and high.
I laughed, bitter and almost angry. That wouldn’t last if Jake had anything to say about it. Just the thought of him made my fists clench.
Rose gave me a look like maybe the alcohol had gone to my head. And maybe it had.
“So… I’d really appreciate it if you remained fully clothed while we talked about this,” she said, trying to sound dignified despite, well… literally begging me to keep my clothes on.
Talking was the last thing I wanted to do.
Now I was down to just my boxers and undershirt, and she kept her eyes glued to my face like it was her lifeline. My eyes locked onto hers.
“You looked gorgeous. Every unmated alpha there was staring at you. All the lunas were too busy gawking at my hot luna, wishing they could carry a dress like that and had curves like you,” I nodded towards her.
“Stop second-guessing yourself.” My voice came out rougher than I intended, and I could see the way my words were pulling her in.
And then—I felt it. That spark. She was turned on. She didn’t even know it yet, but I did. And fuck, it made things worse.
Her hand reached out—like she was going to touch me. But just as quickly, she seemed to snap out of it and bolted into her room, heart pounding loud enough I could hear it. Shit, I wanted to run after her, grab her, and….
I collapsed onto the sofa with a groan once she disappeared from sight. I closed my eyes and let the memories of tonight haunt me.
Ever since I saw her in that tiny emerald dress, all I could think about was getting it off her. I wanted to see if her breasts were as soft and full as they looked in that damn neckline. I wanted to run my hands from her knee to her thigh, just to feel her against me.
Was this just the mate bond talking? Or was it… something more?
I forced myself to breathe. She deserved better. Someone who loved her. Worshipped her. Not some selfish guy giving in to lust.
I knew she probably felt something for me. That pull between mates—it was strong. But she didn’t understand what it meant. She couldn’t. Taking advantage of that would’ve been easy. Too easy. And what kind of person would that make me?
I kept breathing. It’s just the proximity. Just the bond. Just me being a young guy with a sex drive. That was it. I didn’t actually have feelings for her. Right?
The protectiveness, the way I wanted to shield her—that was just friendship.
I remembered the way Alistair had glared when I put my arm around her. The guilt. The promise I made to Lexia.
“When I figure out how to break the mate bond, I’ll make you my luna. I’ll reject her after her turn, and we’ll be together.”
That’s what I told Lexia when I ended things. Because it wasn’t fair to stay with her when I was this drawn to Rose. But lately… I was thinking less about Lexia. And more about Rose.
Why?
Unbidden, I saw that image again—Rose, with her shirt torn, her lip bloody, crying and thrashing.
No. I’d never let anything like that happen to her again.
Rose's POV
The next morning, I woke up to the sound of loud banging on the wall. My groggy mind reeled and I winced.
“Princess, I know you like to sleep in, but we’re expected at breakfast in an hour!” Aiden’s voice was loud, annoyingly chipper.
I groaned. “Do I have to wake up now?”
“Yes,” he called back. “We have to be on time for breakfast with the three other aligned packs to discuss our own agenda before presenting it today. I’m coming in now—I need to use the bathroom.”
Frantic, I tried to pat down my hair and rub my eyes. Great. Morning gremlin mode activated. He came in just as I was struggling out of bed, and we bumped right into each other. Before I could even fall, he caught me—his arm wrapping around my waist, steadying me against his chest.
“And I thought I had too much to drink last night,” he teased, and my heart did a dangerous little flip in my chest. Too close. Too warm.
I mumbled something about needing the bathroom and slid out of his grip, cheeks flaming. After I scrubbed my face and brushed my teeth like a woman possessed, I let him take over the bathroom.
“Do I really need to call Diego for breakfast glam?” I asked as he walked in, fully expecting him to insist I look the part of a luna.
“Do what makes you feel comfortable,” he replied with a shrug and closed the door behind him.
Istood there for a second, surprised. Comfortable, huh?
At breakfast, Aiden offered to grab our coffees while I wandered around with a plate in my hand, barely able to stomach anything at this hour.
I finally settled on a croissant and jam.
When I sat down and took a sip of the coffee he’d brought me, I was genuinely surprised—sweet with a hint of cinnamon. He knew how I liked it?
I stared at his back as he chatted with alphas and filled his plate like it was nothing.
I was still processing the small moment when Ava appeared out of nowhere and greeted me.
We exchanged polite smiles and she said I looked nice in my yellow shirt and black jeans.
I smiled, glad I’d opted for comfort. Soon enough, pack officials from Aiden’s alliance surrounded me, launching into a discussion about our agenda for the conference.
Somewhere in the middle of it all, I finally got to meet Mrs. Evans, Lexia’s mother.
Later, when the conversation had wrapped up and everyone was leaving, Mrs. Evans gently pulled me aside.
“How’s Josie doing? And the rest of the pack?”
I blinked, surprised by the warmth in her voice. “They’re doing okay,” I replied.
“It’s been so long since I visited,” she said with a sad smile. “I haven’t been well, otherwise I used to visit weekly—when my parents were alive.”
“You were originally from our pack?” I asked, genuinely stunned.