My Forbidden Mate

Chapter Two- Motivations

Aaron’s POV

"If you insist on pacing, can you at least do it with a broom in your hand? This place could use a sweep…" Ronan asked following a release of a pinched hold from the bridge of his nose. Although I could understand from the outside perspective why it was this could be irritating, I was not leaving her. At least not now. And if the day should come when I would have to, so be it. But it was not now. And for that, I held it as my focus.

"Why isn't she waking up?" No matter the attempts made, my fear was evident as I inquired. Whatever strength I happened to manifest since being apart from her was worn on the desperation of her consciousness. Every passing second brought another silent plea for her eyes to open. Even if they were in anger.

"We have to wait and see if she gets an infection. I cleaned what I could, but of my many talents, a doctor is not among them." Ronan attempted humor through tensions as a coping mechanism. As a child, I valued this. As an adult hovering over a woman I'd burn the world to ashes if it meant keeping her safe, it was less than appreciated. My eyes sharpened to him made this a clear broadcast before he reverted back to seriousness.

"She'll be fine, Aaron. But she can't stay here." I knew this. I knew it interrupted the balance I've made between our worlds for the time we had been apart. And yet, the thought was impossible now. A clench made of my jaw explained my silent disagreement.

"You know it's dangerous. For both of you-"

"The only thing I care about is that she wakes up." I was short and stern, ending the conversation before he could respond. His steps receded as I looked back down to her, cursing at myself for letting it happen. Every little knick set as a reminder of a debt to be paid. Whoever was responsible for making her bleed would find a return as mercy for what was coming.

The contradiction of time at a standstill and yet the hours passing as minutes existed as I remained at her side. Loathing every blink as I feared I would miss a vital moment of her.

"Aaron…" Ronan eventually motioned me away. My eyes focused on her one final moment before walking into the living room with her still in my peripheral vision.

"If you insist on keeping her here, we need to cleanse the space. If they smell a human-"

"I would like to see them try." I shot.

"The tensions between territories and camps are already fragile. Having her here-"

"She isn't leaving. Not until she walks out of here because she wants to."

The sigh audible from the annoyed man before me was enough to understand his frustration. In any other situation, his word would be taken as law. I trusted him with my life and in the latest transition of events, with hers. But he could never understand the way I needed her. Not as a man needs a woman, although those thoughts existed more than excess. But to know she was in this world as I was. Even if it could only ever be from behind a treeline.

"What if someone comes looking for her?" He finally asked as I recalled her brother speaking at her from that window. That same scent of bourbon still lingering as a side effect from her having been with him. The bastard was lucky that I wasn't closer. Visions of c*****e warmed my heart to know I could avenge her in this way if no others.

"They won't."

"How can you be so sure? How do you know she isn't married or has friends?" Maybe it was the guilt spread in my expression or the deduction of the nights I claimed to be away for the benefit of the remaining tribe, but his annoyance now turned to lecture.

"This isn't the first time you've seen her, is it, Aaron?" I tensed. Every inch of my body preparing for the lesson I'd deserved. Claiming to protect her and yet I took every chance to see her. Every chance to put her in danger, thinking my presence was more an addition than a fault. Stupid.

"Jesus, this whole time?!"

"It doesn't matter now…what matters-"

"Doesn't matter?!" It was rare that Ronan was outspoken. He used humor more than a parental guard, especially since I was old enough to spar against him if necessary.

"You brought a human into a wolf camp! Of a disgraced alpha who they are looking for any reason to put on a chopping block…again!"

"I'm aware…"

"So the lives of your pack mean nothing? Because of some girl? Some human girl?" My blood boiled to how he described her. How couldn't he see what I did? Her beauty and poise, her passion and grace, that pain and need for acceptance but forced to live a life of independence due to a world of heartless souls acting as friends and confidants? Then again, I was grateful he couldn't.

"You sound like your father-" I shifted. The respect I held for him now dangling on a thin thread to the comparison.

"I am not him."

"He said the same thing about your mother. That he could handle it. He was just protecting her. He wouldn't let it affect his role as alpha-"

"And I won't! And you better think twice before making a comparison like that again! I saved her because I'm the reason she got hurt. Human or not. And I take responsibility for that. For her. Until she's on her side of the territory barrier. Until then-"

"A-aron?" Her voice. That hoarse, weak, but beautiful voice had the power to drop me to my knees on the spot. I would have pledged my life and loyalty then and there if it meant she would always be safe.

But as I turned to her, her body leaning in majority against the arm of the couch for support, I was speechless. Of all the times I watched her, witnessing her change from a child into a young woman, I never thought of what I could say to her. I never thought that I would be given the chance. There were too many things. I wanted to know everything about her now, but nothing about the life she made away from mine. It was too painful to know someone else saw her as I did. The times I couldn't. The touches I couldn't have. The laughs I could hear. s**t, I'd give anything for one day of it. And so despite Ronan, I'd give that to myself. One day.

"How do you feel?" Ronan broke the tense silence between us from being unknown of what to say. Our eyes held a thousand conversations before either of our lips parted again.

"Do you need-" I finally managed to speak, her hands quick to my face, silencing me with what blades to my neck could never do. Threats made from intense foes paling to the power of just her kindness.

"You're different now…" She analyzed with a smile. A smile that has only become more enchanting. Reaching her eyes as I'd memorized.

"Taller…" Her eyes took in my features as I'd taken hers. An unfair trade for what I failed to offer what she gave me. Before me, a beautiful display of French inspired lines and stunning chocolate hues and all I had to offer in return had been a set of sad eyes and a silence to simply stay with her for as long as possible.

This was the closest I had ever been to her. Years of obedience and distance are rewarding me now. Enough to notice the golden flecks in her eyes caught in the light just over my shoulder from a vintage lamp. To count the freckles on her nose, although I knew the sum from when she was younger, the blemishes have now faded. And that smile. The parting of her lips as an invitation I could never accept.

"Ahem-" Ronan reminded me of my own words by this correction alone.

"Are you in any pain?" I finally asked her, her heart skipping a beat as she spoke.

"What-what happened?" She asked as my hand came down her wrist, helping her to her feet as she stumbled into me. Although I detested the pain she felt, I reveled in her weight against mine.

"You were attacked in the woods." Ronan answered for me, completely unaware she knew of what I was. A detail I refrained from telling him as I knew it would only make him worry and even more upset with me. Especially after everything he has done for me.

"And you saved me…" She looked at me as Ronan c****d his jaw, slowly piecing the details together.

"I brought you here…" I corrected, incapable of agreeing with the heroism she saw. Because if not for me, she wouldn't have needed my assistance anyhow.

"Here?" Her eyes began to assess her surroundings as I watched her turn to face Ronan.

"You're safe but you'll be sore…"

She slowly bobbed her head. "You should eat. It will help give you strength." The irony of my words not lost on me as I knew having her at my side was my source of brawn. Releasing her would be to sever that. Samons hair to Delilah's shears. Hercules' strength in exchange for Megara's life. And Alessandra Holloway to me.

"I'm okay…" My eyes narrowed as I scoffed. A lifetime of gaslighting made this lie a truth for her. Unfortunately, I knew her circumstances were less than desirable and yet they were on the fringes of what kept me from acting. Her brother, a pill popping addict with a narcissist complex spoke his indifference to her in repetition. Not a name she hadn't been called or an insecurity he hadn't inflamed. But it was never enough to intervene until tonight.

"You will be. But you need to eat…" Ronan pulled a bowl of fruit in front of her. The fact that anything fresh remained in this house had been from his hand. And right now I was thankful as she reluctantly accepted.

"Then you need to rest…" I added.

"At home." Ronan added as I glared.

"You're welcome to stay here until you have the strength to go." I warned him as he exhaled deeply. Another silent rejection lacked agreement.

"I can walk…" She stood, apple in hand, before fumbling. The strength attempted failing her against gravity. My hands catching her and my nose brushing against hers. If not for the fact it would prove Ronan right, I would have kissed her then. If not when she woke up. Not when she touched my cheek. For that, I knew I had some self control. But by God, it was dwindling. Especially with how she looked at me. Like I was hers.

And I was.

"You'll stay here tonight…" Ronan stiffened in my vision. My eyes chose to ignore him as I focused on her.

"No…I'm fine."

"Fine isn't an answer…"

"Really, I don't want to be-"

"Unless you can walk out of here on your own, you aren't going anywhere." My tone was harsher than intended as she displayed a shy smirk hidden as she bowed her head away.

"You're always welcome here." Ronan rolled his eyes as I pulled her face to view mine, a single set of my index fingers bringing her to me. I wasn't about to explain myself by showing her kindness.

"Aaron," Electricity surged through me as she spoke. Hearing her speak my name through the wind each night identical to now, only this wasn't a figment of some lust filled dream of her panting my name. This was a sweet reminder of her innocence.

"I don't think your dad likes me very much…probably not the best first impression by leaving bloodstains." Just as before, she was light in a moment of darkness. But instead of my skin brandishing the wounds, it had been hers. Because of me. That guilt acted as my only stability to keep from pinning her beneath me and acting out my urges. But she deserved more than some animal.

"He's not my dad…"

"Oh…"

"He's my uncle." I confessed. "And my advisor."

"Is he a…" She leaned forward as if my existence were some curse. I suppose it was. Just not to her.

"Yes." She looked to the door before taking a moment to assess and angled back to me.

"Can he hear me?" I grinned. For a time, I'd hoped she didn't remember the details of what I told her about me. Maybe I would be some imaginary friend she convinced herself never existed. Or maybe even a lucid dream that gave enough details to feel real only to know with my lack of a return it wasn’t. And I hoped she hadn’t. Not because I didn't trust her but because I didn't want her to hold that burden. This knowledge I never should have told her, risking my entire existence. Yet one look in her eyes and I divulged everything I knew.

"He doesn't listen to my conversations…" I heightened my tone. "If he knows what's good for him…" The sound of shuffling feet validated my suspicion as her lips pulled at the edges in humor.

"You should get some rest. I'll be right outside the door if you need-"

"Stay…I mean…would you…stay? Just until I sleep?" I hesitated. My lips were already moving to agree as my head pulled away. Another invitation I shouldn't accept.

"I promise you, you're safe here…" Before I could stop myself, I pulled the hair behind her ear just as I had done when I left her. In a way, picking up right where we left off. Where it should have been left. But it appeared fate had other plans.

"Just until you sleep." I offered, my strength dissolving with each second spent with her.

The second I reclined, I regretted my agreement. Hearing her wince as she moved was only worsening the need I had to comfort her. To trace over every scratch and wipe away every bruise. To take them for myself so she never knew pain again. And these were the most innocent thoughts. Those that existed beneath these were despicable and all consuming, worsened by her naked skin against my fingertips as she laid beside me. A mere brush, without any promise of anything but close proximity, and I was threatening every primal urge to the surface.

"Thank you, Aaron…" I clenched to my name on her lips, turning to find her already falling asleep. My eyes pulled closed if not for the abrupt interruption found in her scent. An unwanted visitor. One that had even more of a reason to loathe her even more than Ronan. And she was walking up the steps to my door with upset and a purpose behind six inch heels, as always.