Resilience

Ch 4. Aella's Truth

"Aella!" Evander's voice broke my lust ridden trance as I turned to look at him. "What the f**k Aella! We need to go home right now!"

Cayden grip on me tightened as he pushed me behind his towering frame protectively. "Mine!" He snarled, taking an aggressive fighting stance towards Evander. Evander looked like he had a suicide mission and he returned the aggressive stance. I couldn't let my mate hurt my best friend, so I latched my arms around Cayden's neck, pulling his face towards me and kissing his lips gently.

"Yours Cayden. I'm yours and yours alone." I whispered while moving my kisses down his neck.

I felt his body relax a bit, but his eyes remained on Evander.

"This is Evander. He is the Beta from my Pack. He is my best friend ...and like a protective older brother to me..." I stated, adding the last part to put Cayden at ease. Cayden finally nodded. I looked over at Evander who looked both disappointed and angry. "Evander, Cayden is my mate." I was sure he could have already deducted that from how our bodys clung to each other, but he still looked shocked.

"You're coming home with me tonight." Cayden stated ignoring Evander.

"I need to go back to my Pack, to say goodbye to my mom and get my things." I said thinking about Ess and how much I wanted to share my good news that I had found my mate. I'm not sure she'll love that its Cayden, the most feared Alpha, but I hope she'll be happy for me.

"No. I'll arrange for your parents to visit and for your stuff to be moved. You're coming with me now baby." Cayden declared.

"Aella?" Evander breathed out.

I looked back over at Evander and then back to Cayden. "I will come with you if I can say goodbye to my friend." I glanced back over at Evander.

Cayden stiffened and looked like he was going to refuse, but he looked back at me and said "You have 1 minute, and then we are leaving."

I placed a kiss on his lips and walked quickly over to Evander. Looking into his hazel eyes, I can't think of how to say goodbye "Hey... I don't know what to say..."

'You can't seriously be thinking of going with that monster Aella." Evander whispered as he leaned in. His hand landing on my shoulder.

"Grrrrrr...." Cayden growled being me. I shake Evander's hand off even though it makes me feel comforted and safe.

"He is my mate Evander. He's already marked me." I respond.

'Does he even know? What if he rejects you?' Evander mindlinks to me now, not wanting to expose me.

'I will tell him before we complete the mating process. But he was chosen for me by the Moon Goddess. I know he will accept me.' I mindlink back to Evander.

'You need to tell him before you leave here. I can't have let you leave not knowing if you're safe.' Evander continues our private conversation while glancing over at Cayden.

'Okay. I will go tell him now.' I give Evander a reassuring hug. It feels like goodbye.

Cayden rips me from Evander warm embrace and snarls, "Do not touch my mate!"

Evander returns Cayden's snarl with a growl of his own and I can see Cayden's wolf itching to kill.

"We need to talk Cayden. I need to tell you something important before I can leave with you." I pulled Cayden away from Evander trying to diffuse the situation. He hesitates so I pull him with more force. He looks at me surprised by my strength.

"Is he your ex!? Why do you protect him!" He demanded.

"No!" I quickly respond. I lean in and whisper "I haven't been with anyone before. I am a virgin. You were my first kiss."

He looks at me with happiness knowing no one has ever touched me. "Okay, lets go outside. You can tell me whatever you want to tell me, and then we leave to my Pack."

I nod. I look back at Evander once more and wave goodbye. "Please tell Ess I found my mate and that I will call her shortly."

'Only if he accepts you as you are.' Evander mindlinks, not it a demeaning way. I can tell he is more concerned and also letting me know I deserve a mate who will accept my latency.

'He will.' I state confidently even though I am not. 'Goodbye for now.'

Evander doesn't say goodbye, he just watches as as Cayden walks me outside towards the garden. Our hands are intertwined. I feel nervous but my wolf is assured Cayden will not reject us when I reveal our condition. She believes without any doubt or reservation that our mate is perfect for us, and will accept us as we are.

Cayden stops us at the edge of the garden. It is quiet here. He wraps his arms around my torso and looks at me full of desire. "Tell me what you want to tell me now, so I can take you home now and complete the next stage of the mating process."

He means s*x. Thinking about him marking me with his semen sparks my own arousal, but I swollen it down. I know I need to tell him, but I don't want to lose him. "I'm flawed... You need to know some things about me before you decide to continue" I whisper.

"You're the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. And I felt your strength earlier. You are the perfect mate for me. Nothing you say will change my mind." He says reassuring me, and kisses my lips gently.

"My wolf... she's strong and a dominant..." I begin, "But she doesn't come out.."

"You mean she's shy?" He laughs. His laugh is melodious and brings me comfort.

"No... I'm latent. I can only shift my claws and my canines." I look down so I don't see his initial response.

After what feels like forever, he places his fingers under my chin and lifts me my face to look at him. He gently brushes the hair from my face "I accept you as you are. My wolf will protect you for the both of us."

I can't explain the wash of relief and happiness that is coursing through me. I jump onto him, kissing him passionately. Ess was right, my true mate would be perfect for me. I thank the Mood Goddess, all my pain and suffering are worth it if it has brought me to Cayden.

"Let's leave now, I need to get you out of this dress. I need to be inside you." Cayden states and lowers me back to the ground.

"How far is your territory?" I laugh.

"It's a two hour flight. I have a private plane waiting for us just 30 mins from here." He's already dragging me out of the garden towards the entrance. I can tell he is mindlinking someone.

"Well I guess you will have to be patient a little longer... I'm getting a bit tired. Not sure if I'll be in the mood to lose my virginity by the time we make it back to your territory" I tease and fake yawn.

"Oh, we're not waiting until we get back. You'll be lucky if I don't take you in the ride to the airplane." Cayden picks me up bridal style and runs over to the limo waiting for us. "Take us to the airport now!" He commands.