Chapter 29 #2
“I think you’re a shoo-in,” he said, practically beaming.
“Your grades are spotless. You should apply once you’ve finished up your internship with Dr. Danvers.
You’ll have to apply for next spring.We’ll award you your degree, and then you can jump into the pack-doctor program in New York.
Three years of coursework and one year of residency to get your M.D.
in werewolf medicine. Werewolf medicine isn’t too complex. You can finally chase your dream.”
He kept going on about how competitive the program was and how few slots there were.
And suddenly, everything started to fall into place.
A painkiller for when Aiden touches Lexia, a fresh start in another city, and a reason to leave that wouldn’t raise eyebrows.
I’d still technically be Aiden’s “luna” to the outside world.
After four years, I could return and help the pack.
..or disappear altogether. By then, Aiden could be happy with Lexia. Maybe even have children.
The thought made my throat tighten.
With trembling hands, I tucked the pamphlet into my folder. It was time to start making plans.
“What’s with you today?” Jake asked. We were having one of our last study sessions before finals began. All we had left now was the exam next week.
I shook my head, keeping quiet as we walked to the library to study for our lab test.
“Planning on taking summer classes?” he asked, switching the subject.
I nodded.
“Are you doing a vow of silence or something?” Jake teased, making me smile as we settled into a private study room he’d booked.
“I was just thinking how much I’ll miss being here,” I said. It wasn’t the whole truth, but it was close enough.
“You’re not quitting college, are you?” he asked, horrified. He looked like he’d seen a ghost. “Don’t tell me Aiden’s asking you to leave school.”
“What? No!” I almost leapt from my chair. “Why would you even think that?”
He visibly relaxed. “It’s just—your mating ceremony is in August. My mom already got her invite.”
Oh. That’s right. Josie had been planning everything. I’d been so caught up in everything else, I’d told her to do whatever she wanted. Because, really, none of it mattered. It wasn’t real. Not like Aiden actually cared...
“So I figured he might want you to drop out,” Jake continued, but I only caught the end of it.
“No, Jake… I’m not quitting school,” I said quietly. “But I might leave. For med-school. In New York.” I figured I could at least tell him that much.
“Wait—Aiden agreed to that?” Jake asked, incredulous. “He’s okay with his Luna living six hours away? Alphas don’t usually do long-distance, you know. That’s a pretty big deal.”
I hesitated, then reached into my bag and pulled out the vial. I rolled it between my fingers before holding it up.
“Do you know what this is?”
Jake’s eyes widened. “It’s still in testing. It dulls the pain from...intimacy, right? If your mate is with someone else.” He leaned forward, brows furrowed. “Who gave it to you?”
“Lexia.”
“What?!” Jake practically shot out of his seat. “Why the hell would she— Is he still with her?” he hissed, fists clenched.
“No,” I said quickly. “But I think she’s trying. Maybe they’re kissing?”
“Have you felt it? Felt them kiss?” he growled.
“No,” I said. “In hindsight, I think I would’ve felt it. Tony said I’d be able to sense it—especially now, with how close I am to Aiden. Our bond’s growing. Sometimes, I even pick up on his emotions... especially when they’re really strong.”
I flushed, remembering Sunday night in the library—how I’d suddenly felt a wave of desire that wasn’t mine. I looked up to see Aiden’s gaze fixed on my lips. My lower lip, to be specific, which I’d been chewing on nervously.
“Then why are you carrying that around?” Jake’s voice cut through my thoughts, sharp and steady.
“Because Lexia said he’d come back to her eventually,” I muttered. “And I should know what to use when that happens.”
Jake cursed under his breath, calling Lexia a string of words that made me glare at him. But deep down, I didn’t really disagree.
“She was just trying to be nice,” I pointed out, even though I didn’t entirely believe it myself.
“She’s trying to play mind games with you,” Jake said sharply. “She’s trying to demoralize you. Honestly, for a girl, you really don’t understand how vicious you all can be when you feel threatened by each other.”
There was a sting to his words, but his tone softened as he added, “Trust me, Rose, Aiden isn’t going back to Lexia anytime soon.
The way he looks at you—it’s obvious you’re the only one he sees.
If I’d thought there was even a chance with you…
if Aiden hadn’t been interested, I would’ve pushed harder to be with you. ”
He reached out and took the jeweled scrunchie from my wrist—the one that always smelled like me because I wore it constantly. He brought it to his nose, inhaled my scent, and tucked it into his pocket. “I’m keeping this as my consolation prize.”
I blushed, feeling awkward and unsure of how to respond.
He cared about me, but I didn’t feel the same anymore.
Not like that. Not since… everything. I glanced at his profile, noticing how much he resembled Aiden.
They were cousins, after all, and it showed.
Maybe my initial attraction to Jake had been more about Aiden than I’d realized.
“Well, now that I’ve completely humiliated myself, let’s dive into those lab notes,” Jake said, grinning to brush off the tension that had settled between us.
Later, I called Layla to come pick me up.
Strangely, I felt lighter after talking to Jake.
Sure, I hadn’t been completely honest, but just getting it out of my system helped me untangle the mess in my head.
I felt hesitant to talk about these issues with people in my pack, mainly because I felt like they might be biased.
One thing was clear—Aiden was doing an excellent job convincing everyone he was totally in love with me.
When I got home, I wasn’t expecting to walk into chaos in the kitchen. Josie was standing near the stove, looking flustered, and Dylan was clutching a fire extinguisher. The stove was covered in white foam, and the smell of something burnt hung heavy in the air.
“Lorraine called in sick,” Dylan said, like that explained everything.
Josie shot him a glare. “We don’t need that anymore, Dylan.”
“What happened?” I asked, cringing at the smoke still lingering in the air.
“Mom put taco shells in the oven and forgot about them… uufff!” Dylan got elbowed by Josie mid-sentence.
“That’s enough, Dylan. Go put the fire extinguisher back,” Josie said, stomping her foot.
“I’m not putting anything back until you’re out of the kitchen, Mom,” Dylan retorted.
Josie looked like she was gearing up to lay into him. He was turning eighteen in a few weeks, and he was getting bolder by the day.
I couldn’t help but laugh. “Dylan, put away the fire extinguisher. Josie—why don’t you let me try cooking something?”
I set my bag on the kitchen counter and gave her a small, reassuring smile.
“Oh, Rose, sweetheart, no. Don’t worry about it. You probably have to study with finals and everything,” she said, genuinely concerned.
“I could use the break,” I replied firmly, already guiding her out of the kitchen. “Go relax. I’ve got Dylan to help me if things go sideways.” I shot Dylan a playful wink.
“Yup, I’ll be right here with my trusty fire extinguisher,” he quipped, waving the nozzle dramatically.
I got to work, pulling out a whole chicken and setting it in a bowl of hot water to defrost. Then I started working on the marinade while Dylan cleaned up the foamy mess from earlier. Somewhere along the way, a bit of marinade splattered onto my white cotton shirt.
“Oh no!” I gasped, looking down at the stain.
Dylan had finished up and said he was heading off to watch TV.
He told me to holler if I needed help. I decided it was time to change into something I didn’t care about ruining.
I ran upstairs and came back down wearing old denim shorts and a worn, dark blue tank top.
It wasn’t glamorous, but it was kitchen-proof.
Aiden’s POV
I walked into the kitchen and saw Rose standing there with her toned legs on display attached to a perfect butt outlined in shorts that left very little to the imagination.
She wore a flimsy tank top which showed off her supple, round breasts.
Breasts that were further emphasized as she spun a mixing spoon in a bowl.
The primal urge to shove her on the countertop and take her entered my brain, completely unbidden.
Those smooth bare arms were begging to be gripped.
I licked my lips as he saw her luna mark on display.I wanted to sneak up behind her, grab that perfect ass of hers, and—
“It would be nice if you stopped staring at me like I don’t belong here and actually helped,” she snapped, slicing clean through my indecent train of thought.
She hadn’t even looked up, still focused on her mixing, but clearly, she’d noticed me.
There was no way she thought I was turned on right now.
She wasn’t dressed in sexy lingerie—just a worn tank top and cutoffs.
But damn, it was enough. Or maybe it was just my wolf acting up, all pheromones and no control.
“I... that’s not what I was thinking,” I said, throat dry and voice rough. I cleared it quickly, trying to play it cool. “I was just surprised to see you. Uh… where’s Lorraine?”
“She called in sick. Josie almost burned down the house,” she said with a shrug, her tank top slipping slightly and giving me a peek of cleavage.
I licked my lips again before I could stop myself. Her eyes flicked up immediately, catching me in the act. I jerked my gaze away, mentally cursing myself. Get it together, Aiden.
“A little help here… Alpha?” she said mockingly, clearly not expecting me to stay.