Mated To My Human Beta

5. Goodbyes

-Arya-

I hugged Luna Brienne from the back. She was busy packing things for me to bring back to Alerean. I was expecting her to cry and beg me to stay, but thankfully she hadn't done any of that in the past two days. If she did, that would make me too guilty.

She turned towards me and sighed. Her blue eyes were sad. "You look like someone has just died. I am still alive, Luna." I chuckled as I grabbed a cookie from the box and she growled at me.

"Hush, Arya. Don't say stupid things. Let me do my work in peace. I am packing you cookies, cakes and some other essentials."

"Mom, cookies aren't essentials," Asher said as he leaned against my shoulder and stared at the boxes Luna Brienne was packing for me. I had a feeling that it would take a big suitcase to just carry all of this. "And mom, Arya isn't going to the moon. It is only Alerean, and they have cookies and cakes. And is that... éclairs?"

"That is her favorite."

Asher huffed. "Mom, you have three sons. Do you remember us? Can you tell me what my favorite dessert is?" Asher asked with a petulant frown, and I laughed. He gave me a look that made me shut up instantly.

"I know. It is Dash," I said with a wink, and Luna Brienne stopped closing the box and whirled around to face a very red, blushing Asher.

He glared at me before he started to speed walk out of the dining room, but the Luna was faster. She grabbed him by the collar of his shirt and pulled him back while he flailed and tried to get away from her hold. But she was the luna for a reason. She was powerful, and the mark of the Alpha made her even more powerful than the half-fledged Alpha-blooded men.

"You are not going anywhere, young man. Sit."

Asher snarled at me before he sat down on the chair and grabbed an éclair. Luna Brienne glared at him and he shrugged.

"If I have to go through this torture, I, at least, deserve chocolate," he grumbled. "Arya, I am going to k.ill you for this."

"You can try," I said as I sat next to my best friend. He growled under his breath before he looked at his mom.

"So, who is Dash?"

"It is Arya's friend."

"And?"

"We went for a run the other day."

I also knew they had exchanged phone numbers. I caught Asher chuckling at his phone once or twice. Usually, I was the only one who sent him funny messages. So I knew exactly who was making my best friend laugh at odd times, and that made me giddy. Asher and Dash would be perfect together, at least, until they found their mates.

Because... everything is fleeting. Even love is fleeting when you are a wolf. You don't have a choice to choose who you want, most of the time. Yes, of course, some wolves did have chosen mates, but it was very rare. Most of the wolves waited for their fated mates.

I had always wanted to be a wolf, but I was glad I wasn't - because a fated mate... I just couldn't do that. I wanted love, I wanted romance. I just didn't want to go along with a fixed plan because a higher being deemed it so. Nope, not for me.

I did want love, romance, but I wanted all of them after I reached my dreams. Beta first, a partner second.

My mind was filled with an unwanted image when I thought about love.

The image of how Axel looked at me the other day and my body trembled. I was lost for a second. I had been thinking about what happened that day for days, and I just couldn't get rid of the look in Axel's eyes when he touched me. I gulped and I was pulled out of my trance when I heard Luna Brienne.

"And? Which pack is he from? Is he handsome? Do you like him? Are you two dating?" Luna Brienne looked excited as hell and Asher glared at me again. I hid myself behind Luna's back.

Asher and I shared a look and I knew I was so going to get it once we were on our way to Alerean. I should have just kept my mouth shut.

"No mom, we are not dating. We only met two days ago. And he doesn't have a pack."

Luna Brienne stopped for a second as she gave me a look.

"How do you know a rogue?" She looked at me and I shook my head. "Some of them are dangerous."

"Some of them are not. I met them when I saved his sister from a rogue wolf, and this one was the bad one."

The Luna sighed, and then smiled. "Why don't you bring him home sometime?"

"No mom, I am not bringing him home so that you can interrogate him."

"Me? Why would I?" Luna Brienne said in an offended voice and I smiled.

"Why wouldn't you?" I laughed and she shook her head.

"Now that you will be gone, I do need to find someone to keep me entertained," she said with a sad smile. "Oh and Arya, Blake will be coming with you."

I didn't miss the sneaky way she just inserted it right after giving me that heart-melting smile. This woman was a master manipulator and she did it with such perfection that you wouldn't be mad at her.

"Why in the hell would he come with me? I don't want him to come with me," I hissed as I turned around and stopped when I met Blake's freezing blue eyes. Cold. So damn cold. I almost shuddered. "If you think you are doing me any kind of favor, do not do it. I don't need you there."

"Why not?" he growled out as he walked closer to me.

"Why do you even want to come?" I hissed. I knew he didn't want to spend any more time than what was necessary with me. So why would he go on a long journey with me all the way to Alerean?

"Because mom asked me."

Of course.

"That is why I don't want you there. You don't have to go out of your way to prove to your mom that you are a good son. You are already a good son. She knows it. So stay away." That was the longest I had ever talked with him without fighting. I took in a deep breath. "Just stay the f**k away."

He looked like I had kicked him in the heart.

He kicked me in my heart first.

"Okay. I won't be there, Arya, if you feel too strongly about that. I didn't even want to come anyway," he said with a scoff.

"I know, and that is why I didn't want you to come," I said with a grunt and walked away. Talking with him always took a lot out of me, and I don't have the energy to do that right now. I had to get ready for Alerean, and I knew it was not going to be a cakewalk.

I re-checked my bags and said goodbye to everyone in the pack.

"Is it true that you will become a Beta in some other pack?" Lola, one of my friends asked. I had a lot of friends in the pack, but Asher was my ride or die.

"I mean, yes, if I can prove myself to the Alphas in the academy, they might pick me and I am going to prove them," I said with a determined frown.

"Why can't you be the Beta of our pack? We don't want you to go anywhere else. You can't leave us all here," Emily said with a huff. "It is the future Alpha, isn't it? That guy is hot, but his brain is a hot mess."

I chuckled and she frowned at me.

"I am not joking. Seriously... if he wasn't so hot, I would break his nose."

"Oh, Blake... you are here."

Emily jumped and gasped. "Alpha- I-I-" She turned around with a whimper and sighed when she realized Blake wasn't there. She glared at me and I laughed. "You- you, I am going to kill you."

And soon, it was time for me to begin a new journey away from Silver Shore, and for a second, I just didn't want to leave. I wanted to stay. I would miss my dad, Luna, Alpha, Ash and Ayd... I would miss Emily and Lola. I would miss Marni and her chocolate cakes and cookies.

I would miss... I sighed. He wasn't there. The whole pack was there to send me off, except that asshole. Yeah, of course.

Luna Brienne sniffled and hugged me. Alpha Emerett gave me a silver dagger.

"That is for you. You know... just in case. It is made of silver and it is also infused with Aconitum. Dip it in this concentrated Aconitum after you use the blade," he said as he handed a vial of clear aconitum extract to me. "And stay safe, Arya. I am sorry I can't talk him into-"

"No, don't be. I think this is a part of my destiny."

"And I hope you will find what you are looking for on this journey, Arya. It was hard for me to get you into the institute, but one of the founders was my granddad's best friend, and one of the current administrators is a friend of mine. That is how you got in. I am not saying this to scare you, but I promise you it is not going to be easy."

"I know, Alpha Emerett. But I am ready."

I turned to Ayden. For once, he wasn't smiling or joking. He actually looked serious.

"You always astonish me, Arya. It is true you can't shift into a wolf, but you are basically a wolf. A wolf at heart. You are fierce, independent and Blake was wrong. I know you would make an amazing Beta."

"Ayden, is that you? Why are you talking like this?" I smiled and he shook his head and pulled me into a hug.

"I almost want to kidnap you and hide you somewhere, Arya, but I know you have to go."

"Yes."

I sighed and nodded before I got into the jeep. I waved at everyone. My home. My family. My breath stuck.

Ash jumped in next to me, and my eyes were blurry as I stared at the faces staring at me with sorry and pride, too. My dad started the jeep. I blinked and a tear rolled down my cheek.

"I will miss you, Arya."

"I will miss you, too," I sniffled and wiped my eyes and turned back, even though I knew he wouldn't be there. I didn't know why I looked.

I would have loved to at least meet Axel, but there was no point. I was the one who asked Blake not to come. And for once, he respected my wishes. It angered me that this was the one time he actually respected my wishes, though.

My dad cursed and braked and the jeep swerved for a second before it came to a halt. I blinked.

"What the hell is-"

"Dad, what happened?"

"It is a wolf." He turned the headlights on and my lips pulled up in a smile when I saw Axel standing there, staring straight at me, his blue eyes accusing. As if he couldn't believe I would leave without saying goodbye to him.

"Is that Axel? Goddess. You two make my head ache," my dad said with a growl as I jumped down and ran to him. He howled in greeting.

"You came."

He nodded as if to say, of course, I came. I laughed. I really didn't want to leave without saying goodbye to him.

"I thought you wouldn't."

He shook his head as he bumped softly against my stomach. I rubbed his head and sighed.

"Goodbye, Axel," I said and bent down to kiss his head. He trembled before he looked at me, his bright blue eyes shining in the moonlight. I knew I would cry if I stood there another second. I couldn't cry in front of him. Blake would know.

I walked back to the jeep. My dad started the jeep and cursed once again. "What now? Goddess."

I looked up to see Blake walking towards the jeep. He had already changed into his shirt and pants.

What the hell was he doing here now?

"I am Axel, Arya. I didn't come because my mom asked me to. I came because I want to be here," he said with a low growl. The tension in his shoulders was palpable. He looked at me, his eyes dark and dangerously convincing.

But I knew he was lying. I knew it wasn't Axel. Even though they looked the same, I knew when it was Axel, and I knew when it was just stupid old Blake. IDIÒT.

"Will you go away if I ask you to?"

He shook his head with a grunt. "No." His eyes were defiant.

"Then get the f**k inside and let's go. You have already wasted twenty minutes."

----