16. Chapter SixteenAaronMelina
Chapter Sixteen
Aaron
A fter breakfast, I dropped Melina off at my sister’s home. They were to spend the day together shopping. I asked to join them, but my sister shooed me away and told me to spend time with friends. She had to be joking because the only friend I had was Ivan. Therefore, that was who I contacted. We met to play a game with some of his friends and, afterward, went to a pub for a late lunch.
“So,” Ivan began, slumping down in his seat, “how does it feel being back? Ready to leave again?”
I looked around the darkened space of the tiny bar. It was not busy at this hour, and I felt more than comfortable. Since being released from prison, I hadn’t had much free time in Nodoor before moving to Prinath. The few days I did get out, I was met with hostile looks from others. My town in Nodoor was relatively small, and word traveled fast. Since returning, others did not notice me, barely looking my way. Perhaps my absence had made a difference. Or, instead, some other news had trumped the rumors about me.
“It’s been oddly good,” I replied. “This trip was needed.”
Ivan smirked at me. “Needed enough to engage in very public sex with your Mrs.?”
I rolled my eyes, unsurprised that Ivan would have heard about that. The restaurant was discreet, but others still talked, even if they couldn’t capture anything on recording. “Don’t let her know anyone was talking about it.”
“Of course, of course.” He was silent for a moment. “I heard it was quite the show.”
“How long would you like to keep talking about this?”
Ivan chuckled. “For however long you would allow me to, brother.”
I side-eyed him. “I don’t think I ever allowed you to. How is it with your family visits?”
Ivan shrugged and picked up his drink. “Changing the subject, I see. My family loves me and is still angry with you that you took me away.”
I rubbed my face, fighting the urge to choke him. “I encouraged you to stay. You followed me.”
“They don’t need to know that. Although, they seemed less upset when I told them I met a nice Faerie in Prinath.”
I raised a brow in disbelief. “You have?”
“Not yet.”
I opened my mouth to respond, then snapped it shut when I saw a familiar Faerie walk toward our table.
My ex-fiancée, Frena. She was with two other female Fae who veered away from her to sit at a far-off table. However, she kept her focus on me. Frena had a presence about her, and all eyes in the room were often on her. And she knew it. I barely recalled what she looked like without glamour since she’d used it since we were teenagers. However, her glamoured beauty had garnered her much attention. She was tall, close to six feet, and thin with slight curves. Long, ash-blonde waves cascaded down her back, and her calculating ice-blue eyes narrowed on me .
She was pretty, and I would be a liar if I said she wasn’t. However, looking at her now, I could only think about how she was not Melina. Frena appeared cold and rigid. I thought of Melina’s soft curves and bright, smiling eyes. I missed her already. Looking at Frena, the female who had ruined my reputation, I didn’t want to be here. The more I thought of her, even before our breakup, the more I realized I never cared for her. She was the duty I was fulfilling. Never Melina. Melina was where my heart sang.
Frena stopped at our table, hands on her narrow hips. “Hello, you two.”
Ivan tilted his head in her direction. “Your iciness.”
She flashed her teeth at him in a tight smile. “Can I have a word with my ex-fiancé for a moment?”
“Be my guest.”
“Alone.”
Ivan eyed me, and I nodded to let him know it was okay. He grumbled and grabbed his drink, standing up. “Fine, but don’t be long. He has a beautiful, kind wife to get back to.”
She waved a dismissive hand at him before moving to take his seat. “Don’t you worry. This will be brief. I know you can’t stand to be apart from him for long. One of many things I’m glad not to have to suffer through any longer.”
Ivan swiped his hand across his throat, miming cutting his neck, and I shook my head. “What do you need to say, Frena?” I asked.
She sighed, clasping her hands on the table. “I realize I’m the last Faerie you’d want to see while visiting.”
“Or ever,” I muttered.
She paused, raising an eyebrow. “Fair enough. I know I broke your heart when I ended our engagement.”
I snorted. “You and I both know there was no love lost between us. We were never a match. Breaking our engagement was a kindness. Spreading those false rumors was not.”
“I suppose you’re right. Besides both of us being gorgeous and omegas and alphas, we didn’t have much in common.”
She looked down at her hands, silent momentarily, and I simply waited for her to continue. She said she had something to say. This couldn’t be all, but my patience was not long for her.
“I’m sorry about the other thing, too.”
I cocked a brow. I knew what she meant, but it was severely lacking if this was her version of an apology. “What other thing?”
Her shoulders tensed. “Perhaps it’s possible that I didn’t put a stop to certain misconceptions about your past behaviors and personality traits. I didn’t want to look bad for breaking our engagement. Even if the Prinathians were our enemies, not all of us had hatred for them, and we especially wouldn’t agree with the kidnapping and murder of innocent Fae. My father made me end our engagement and insisted you were a traitor. I disagreed with that, but he’s my father. And he was powerful.”
I sat back in my seat, considering her words. I believed her. After the end of the war, more citizens expressed their displeasure with our leadership’s deeds during battle. Frena’s father was not a popular Fae, and his power status was removed once new Nodoorian leadership was appointed.
Frena sighed, a look of actual remorse on her face. “Others know now that you are not a traitor. Most know why you were imprisoned, and they sympathized. The truth came out when my father was imprisoned, and the rumors ended.”
I raised a hand to stop her. “Wait, your father was jailed?”
She scrunched her face in displeasure. “Yes, soon after you left. War crimes, they said.”
He deserved it, but I wouldn’t say that out loud. Upon taking a deeper look at Frena, she looked less confident than usual. I could see a slight hollowness under her eyes; even her hair seemed dryer and less luscious. Looking down at her hands, I could see her fingernails were short and uneven as if she had been biting them. These were minor things to someone who might not be paying close attention or not know her well. I, however, did know her, and these were signs of apparent stress. Perhaps things had not been going so well for her.
“Aaron, I truly apologize. I will continue to try to make things right for your reputation. I don’t expect your forgiveness. I just wanted you to know.” She pushed her seat back. “And she is beautiful. When we were together, I never really got you. I got what you wanted me to see. Just enough so that I couldn’t say you didn’t care or weren’t attentive, but I knew our relationship was just another duty for you to fulfill. It was the same for me. We were both going through the appropriate motions. I couldn’t imagine what an Aaron in love would be like.” She smiled slightly. She had a wistful look in her pale eyes as she stood up. “And then I happened to see the two of you the other day. You were just strolling down the street. And the way you looked at her… It was as if she were your sun. And her eyes held the same. I was a tad jealous of what you have. I hope to find the same one day. But you deserve that happiness, Aaron.” She then turned and left.
I stared after her, amazed at her sudden change. I let out a breath, feeling the weight of anger release from me. She was right, I deserved happiness. Happiness with Melina. I was no longer angry or bitter. In the end, things had worked out the way they were meant to, and I could ask for no better closure. I had indeed found my sun.
* ~ * ~ *
Melina
I didn’t want to part from Aaron after breakfast, but his sister insisted we go shopping, and I wasn’t opposed to that either. After Aaron’s declaration, Lucian seemed to accept our situation, and he backed down, promising to keep us notified of any new developments on the attacks and disappearances. So, when I left my husband to spend time with his sister, it was on a good note. When we returned to each other that evening, he shared with me that he had encountered his ex. This had been a day of the past reappearing. However, our pasts had come in kindness and only reaffirmed that our lives had joined precisely as they should. I loved Aaron and could finally say I was receiving the love I’d always wanted.
The next morning, we had a less eventful breakfast, and I still felt a buzz of thoughts and emotions. My body felt light, almost giddy. Was this me fully falling in love? It felt euphoric.
I leaned into him as we left the inn. “What’s next on the agenda for the day?”
He clasped my hand in his. An electric zing went through my body at the connection. “I wanted to take you to a town about an hour away. It’s been untouched by modernization. It’s quite beautiful and quaint.”
“That sounds lovely.”
Once we got inside the transporter and headed out of town, I finally said the thing that had been on my mind for the past few days. “Can I finally talk about you telling me you love me?”
“I knew it would be a challenge from day one not to fall in love with you. I thought if I said I couldn’t, then I wouldn’t. If you kept your love from me, then it would be easier. But even your pranks made me adore you.”
I shifted in the seat to face him, my heart melting at each precious word he uttered. “That was the opposite of my plan,” I cracked.
He winked at me. “It was never a good plan, Rabbit, I’m sorry to say.”
I poked at his arm. “I see that now.”
“Now, I have to admit something, and don’t be angry with me,” Aaron continued.
I puffed out a breath. I knew things were too good to be true. “You can’t just let this moment rest before upsetting things?”
He shook his head. “No.”
I crossed my arms over my chest. “I don’t want to know. ”
He reached over and uncrossed my arms, placing one of my hands on his thigh. It wasn’t done in a flirty manner; it was more like he needed my touch. And I needed to feel him. “You are being a brat. Don’t move your hand.”
I humphed but did as he instructed. “I got to look through profiles and pick the omega I thought I’d be most compatible with and, of course, attracted to. I picked you. I was told later that you didn’t have the same option, and I realized that was unfair.”
I felt like I should be upset by this, but my current warmth of joy was clouding that particular emotion. It felt almost moot to be bothered. It wasn’t his fault, and the whole process was unjust from the beginning; what was another aspect of it? I shouldn’t have been surprised. “Perhaps they gave you the option because you were moving to my land. Why didn’t you ever tell me?”
“I didn’t want to upset you since you didn’t get that option, and I thought you might think I could offer you love if you knew I picked you. That was when I was stupid.”
I chuckled. “That wasn’t that long ago.”
He smirked, eyes still on the road. “I got smart quickly.”
I looked out of the window, giving his leg a quick squeeze. “Thank you for picking me.”
“I’ll pick you every time. Never doubt that.”
The rest of the ride to the town was contentedly blissful. The town was just as charming as he described. The buildings and homes were all one story, surrounded by rolling hills and lush plant life. We visited a few shops, buying some items, before having a late lunch at an outdoor restaurant in the midst of a garden.
I looked over at the rows of colorful flowers, feeling more relaxed than I had in a long time. “I’m having a good time on this trip. It’s kind of like the honeymoon Lila talked about.”
Aaron brushed a braid over my shoulder and kissed my exposed skin. “Sorry, it’s not someplace more exotic.”
“She said it’s not really about the place but the time together.”
“Makes sense.”
“Aaron, tonight, I think, no, I know, that I want you to claim me.”
His eyes rounded in surprise, but his lips quirked up, giving away delight. “Are you sure, Rabbit?”
I nodded. “Yes, I trust you. I want your bite and not just to keep us safe from whatever is after us. I want the connection.”
His eyes softened. “I do, too. I’m ready now. Very much. I?”
He suddenly keeled forward, touching his stomach. Alarmed, I grabbed his arm. “What’s wrong?”
He didn’t answer me at first, his face tight with pain. He got up. “I’ll be right back.” He then rushed inside the restaurant. He was either going to vomit, or he didn’t want to me to see him in pain, or both. I would give him five minutes until I followed him inside, whether he liked it or not. I had never seen Aaron in pain, and it greatly concerned me.
Five minutes passed, and I got to my feet. My vision doubled, and an imbalance caused me to grip the table. However, it quickly passed. Damn it, we couldn’t both be ill. I shook my head and moved to head inside when Aaron reappeared, looking clammy but no longer in pain. I rushed to him and felt his forehead; he was cool to the touch—the opposite of what I expected.
He removed my hand from his forehead and walked us back to the table. “I’m fine, Rabbit. Just got a little sick.”
“Do you think you ate something bad?”
He pulled my chair back, and I sat down again. “Not sure where it came from.”
“Maybe we should go to the pharmacy and find you a potion, just in case, for your stomach pain.”
Despite his ashen complexion, he smiled, sitting down across from me. “I am an alpha Fae. I don’t get things as mundane as stomach aches. In fact, the only Fae who get those ailments are children or the elderly. We are of magic.”
I frowned, worried. He was right. If we got sick, it was serious and most likely based on magic. Nominal aches and pains were a human problem. “You’re right. Maybe we should go to the infirmary instead. It could be nothing, but we shouldn’t ignore it.”
He shook his head before taking a sip of water. “I’m fine. No need to ruin a fine day for something so small.”
I humphed, not convinced but knowing he was just as stubborn as me. “Fine. But if it happens again, we’re going.”
He leaned in and gave me a quick peck on the lips. “You really have become my wife. Already with the nagging.”
“Rude.”
“Well, if we’re talking about not feeling well, you are sweating.” Now, it was his turn to touch my forehead with the back of his hand. “Are you catching a cold? You’re burning up.”
I scrunched my face, remembering my earlier wooziness, and I could practically hear my heart drumming a frantic beat in my ears. Such an inopportune time. “You don’t get sick, but I can?”
“I’m not the one sweating, my omega.”
I shrugged. It was hot, and I had thought nothing of it. The beautiful scenery was worth the minor discomfort. “It’s the weather getting to me. I’ll be fine.” I was not fine, but why did it have to be now?
He narrowed his eyes, scratching his chin as he watched me. “I run hot, Rabbit. You don’t. If it was that hot out, I’d be sweating with you. It’s actually cool. Are you starting your heat?”
I reared back. Damn him and his perceptive ways. My heat wasn’t due for almost another week. Sure, I was a bit overheated under the bright sun, but I had all my wits about me. However, that didn’t mean things wouldn’t quickly change. Such was the nature of a heat. I needed to get a suppressant because being in heat with him sick was the last thing we needed. Of course, I couldn’t tell him that directly. “No, I’m not, and I feel like you’re trying to get the attention off yourself. Let’s go back to the hotel so you can rest, and I can watch over you.”
I got up, and a sudden dizziness racked me again, forcing me to stumble back down in my seat. My vision blurred once more, and I blinked quickly, willing my sight back to normal. I needed to get medicine before I went to the next stage—distracted lust.
Aaron jumped up and kneeled in front of me with a worried expression. “You are not okay. What just happened there?”
I shook my head slowly, rubbing my stomach, which felt suddenly tight. “I think I’m a little tired from all the day’s activities.”
Aaron smirked. “That’s not it, gorgeous. And I think you know it. You’re practically perfuming the whole surrounding area. If we don’t get you away from everyone, another alpha will appear to take you, and I will have to kill him.” He raised his hand, getting the waiter’s attention for the bill.
I closed my eyes and breathed deeply through the discomfort in my core. However, that just forced me to take a massive whiff of Aaron’s forest scent. A responding contraction in my stomach caused me to groan. “Your scent is too strong.”
“My scent is normal. Your nose is just more sensitive right now.” The waiter appeared, and Aaron paid the bill, telling the waiter to keep any extra. “Can you walk, or shall I carry you?”
I raised a hand. “That would be mortifying. I can get to the transport. I just need to rest. And so do you.” I realized I needed more than sleep. Rest wasn’t going to cure my surprisingly early heat. However, we had an hour’s drive back to the hotel, and Aaron wasn’t well.
“You aren’t going to make it back to my town. ”
He was not going to listen to me unless I told him the truth. I should have known my husband would be this difficult. “Yes, I will. I’ll just buy a suppressant from a pharmacy.”
He snarled in distaste. “No. I want your heat, my omega. I told you that.”
My pussy clenched at his words and that overpowering gaze of his. If I allowed my omega mind to take over, I’d let him have me right here, right now. Instead, I shrugged, my hand still on my stomach and mind more than distracted by his scent. “There is always next time. You aren’t feeling well, and getting through a heat is too much when we aren’t at our best. I don’t want you hurting yourself further. Now, let’s go get the suppressant.”
He grinned, but there was something feral in his steel eyes, the white ring around the gray seeming to glow. It made him look anything but friendly at that moment. “Rabbit, if you keep threatening to get a suppressant, I will bend you over this table and fuck you right here in front of everyone, and, being that you’re in your heat, I don’t think you’ll mind.”
I dropped my mouth open, touching my chest. Right, I was supposed to be shocked. Very shocked. And yet, I could feel myself grow wet at just the image in my head. It wasn’t something I would want to do out in the open during the day. However, my heat mind just wanted sex, especially with him. And with his exhibitionist ways, I didn’t want to test him. No, I had to get out of here, and I had to stop threatening suppressants. It didn’t mean I wouldn’t get them. I just wouldn’t tell him.
I raised my hands in surrender and slowly stood up. The dizziness was at the edges, but I stood my ground, steadying myself by holding on to the chair. “Who’s the one in heat? Me or you? Threatening to have sex with me in front of others.”
I gave him a disapproving shake of the head and walked through the restaurant to the main road where we parked our transport. There was a pharmacy not too far away, but it was in the other direction of the transport. How could I get to it without him making good on his threat? An idea suddenly popped into my head.
I turned to him. “On second thought, I don’t think I can make it to the transport. Can you bring it in front of the restaurant? I’ll just wait here.”
He gave me a wary look. “I can carry you.”
“Please don’t. That would draw too much attention.”
He ran a hand over his hair, an unsettled expression on his face. “Stay here. I fucking mean it.”
My nipples hardened at his order, the bass in his voice dropping into almost a growl. Something about his authoritative tone was turning me on. And every time he cursed with his demand, it meant he was more than serious. My heat-filled omega brain loved a dominant alpha. “You know, you’ve become a lot bossier since your rut.”
He bared his teeth at me. “And you like it.”
I really did, but that didn’t mean I was willing to risk his health to get through my heat. As soon as he was past my eyesight, I raced out of the restaurant and down the street to the pharmacy. I tripped halfway there; a heat-induced vertigo ripping me off my balance. However, I pushed through and went into the pharmacy. I slammed my hands against the counter, feeling sticky and sweaty.
The startled pharmacist, an older woman with gray hair, rushed forward. “Is everything alright my dear?”
I nodded, then shook my head. Everything was beginning to tingle, especially between my legs. “I need to buy a heat suppressant.”
Her eyes widened, and she wordlessly spun around and scurried off. I sighed and dropped my head to my chest. My core was practically throbbing, and my legs felt weak. I was this close to running in a corner and touching myself. This was mildly embarrassing. I crossed my legs as if that would hold in any lust. It did not, and the unintended friction was the opposite of what I needed.
I moaned and bit my lip, wishing the pharmacist would hurry as I dug in my pocket for money. When she returned, I practically threw the money on the counter, backing up. “Is that enough?” I called, still heading to the door.
“More than enough. You don’t want your change?” she called after me.
I turned around and kept my walk to the exit. “No ma’am, thank you for your hard work!”
“Good luck!” she called back.
When I returned, Aaron was leaning against his transporter, arms crossed. A wave of fear and maybe excitement passed through me. “I could have sworn I told you to stay where you were, Omega.” He eyed the potion in my hand, lips tightening in a thin line. “You got the suppressant anyway.”
He definitely looked angry, and that made me a little nervous…and turned on. How would he react? Would he try to punish me? An image of him bending me over the front of the car and spanking me on the bare ass before ramming into me caused my slick to drench my panties further.
I looked down at the vial as if seeing it for the first time. “Oh, this? How did this get here? Someone must have slipped it in my hand when I wasn’t paying attention.”
The scent of pine and spice caressed me, and when I looked up, Aaron was standing inches from me. He wrapped an arm around my waist, yanking me to his hard chest. “You are more stubborn than I thought. No matter, we can fix that.”
And before I could blink, he transported us away.