The Duty of an Alpha (Book 2)

Wait and See

Chapter 3

Arden POV*

“We really need to talk about what is going on with you and Roman.” Teo said, making my heart drop. I knew it was coming eventually, but I wasn’t prepared for it to be right after the pack gathering.

“Here really isn’t the place to talk about it Teo.” I whispered.

“Fine, let’s go to your office!” he shrugged before leaning over to peck Ashton on the cheek. Ashton looked at me apologetically, and it made me think that he had tried to convince Teo to wait before bringing it up. “We have an hour, so let’s go!”

Teo grabbed my hand and dragged me along towards the packhouse, not even giving me a chance to grab my chair or say goodbye. My mind was running a mile a minute, trying to figure out what he wanted to know. I knew Teo would be easier to talk to than anyone else, but I couldn’t make my nerves stop.

At one point while he was dragging me to the packhouse, I had to stop him and remind him that I’m the Alpha and can’t been seen being dragged all over the place. Teo relaxed for a little bit, at least until I was through the door of the packhouse, then he pulled me along until we got into my office.

“Ok. Spill!” Teo put his hands on his hips and raised his eyebrow at me.

“What do you want to know?” I asked as I plopped down on the couch.

“Are you kidding me?” He exclaimed while he sat down next to me. “Roman has been unbearable lately. I don’t know how you are holding together, and other than when we were here last time, I have no idea what you two decided! I’m being nosy… so, spill.”

*Flashback*

“Arden…” Roman called out, his voice sounded strangled, but so smooth at the same time.

I untangled myself from the other two, hoping to get a huge hug from my best friend, but the second they released me, I was overwhelmed with the strongest smell. I couldn’t even describe what the scent was, but it made me feel like I was sitting on a porch watching a summer sunset.

I turned to face Roman, and saw him standing still as a statue right next to his car, his face a mixture of horror and fear.

MATE! Fae screamed in my head. Jaxon and Roman are our second chance!

I could feel her excitement, but I couldn’t move. Roman and I stood there staring at each other for what felt like forever, both not sure how to proceed.

I knew his emotions were from never thinking he would have another mate, and fear of losing another mate the way he lost Alice. There was nothing wrong with his hesitation, but I couldn’t figure out where mine was coming from. Roman was my best friend, and I had easily shared everything with him, but I was frozen.

“W-we are Mates.” Roman nearly whispered.

“Yes… we are.”

“YES! I knew it!” Teo yelled from behind us. I heard a smack and Sita shushing him before pulling him away.

Roman and I continued to stare at each other for what felt like forever, until I finally broke the silence.

“Uhm.” I whispered, then cleared my voice so I could speak up. “Uhm, let’s go up to my office.” I suggested, then turned and walked away without letting him answer.

*

We made it to my office, that was still in the process of being made more comfortable for me. Roman sat down at a lone chair in the corner, his face contorted to a mask of confusion. I pulled my office chair from behind my desk and sat a few feet in front of him.

Neither of us knew what to say, so we just looked at each other. My heart was racing as I took in his presence. He had always calmed me in a way that was supernatural, and during my time in his pack, we had become so close to each other. I shared so much with Roman, and he did the same with me.

Now with the mate bond, the comfort was evolved into stronger feelings that I didn’t know how to handle.

Why aren’t you talking? Fae asked while she paced in the back of my head. This is what we wanted! A mate who understands us and loves us for who we are!

“So.” I cleared my throat, breaking the silence. “I… I don’t know what to say.”

“Uhmm.” Roman’s voice cracked, and he shook his head to clear his mind. Without making eye contact again, he started talking. “I don’t either.”

“How do we go from here?” I asked him, trying to find a starting point.

“I wish I knew.” He said, his eyes meeting mine again. “I neve expected a second-chance mate. I never wanted one, not after I lost Alice.”

“I know that, and I never thought about what life would hold for me without Robbie hunting me.” I looked down, rubbing my sleeved arm. “I just became Alpha, and you are Alpha to your pack.”

“I’ve never heard of Alpha’s from separate packs being mates.” Roman whispered. “I don’t know what that would mean for our packs.”

“I can’t leave, you know that.” I looked at him, begging with my eyes that he would understand what I was saying. “They need me. They need to know that there is a better way to live than how they were before.”

“I know that, Arden.” He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “But I can’t leave my pack either. They would be fine without me, but I wouldn’t be able to handle leaving the pack that my family built from nothing.”

“I wouldn’t expect you to.” I copied his pose, leaning towards him and wishing things were easier. “I love you, Roman. You know that, right?”

“I love you too.” Roman whispered, his eyes darted to my lips for a split second. “We already had a bond, but how do we deal with the mate bond?”

“I don’t know. I can’t reject you. My heart wouldn’t survive.” I heard him growl slightly at the thought of rejection, but he didn’t say anything else. “We both need to be there for our packs. Neither of us want to reject the other, but I’m not sure either of us are ready to accept the mate bond yet either. Am I right?”

Roman nodded his head and casted his gaze towards to ground. Fae started howling in my head, knowing where I was going with the conversation. I took a deep breath and sat up straight.

“Then, for now at least, we can just ignore it.” I let the air rush out of my lungs, “You go back to Silver Creek, and I stay here in Ash River. We can keep in touch, just like we have been doing, but other than that, we focus on our packs and ourselves. When we are ready to decide how we will move on from here, then we can meet up again.”

Roman’s head nodded, almost mechanically, and he stood from his seat, eyes still downcast. I followed his lead, standing as well. I so desperately wanted to take the few steps towards him and let him engulf me in a hug, but I knew I wouldn’t be able to ever let him go if I felt the sparks between us.

Don’t do this, Arden! Fae begged desperately. Please, just let us be happy. All of us.

I pushed her away, trying not to cave to her pleas. Roman walked to the door, but stopped before opening it.

“I’m going to head back to my pack.” He said, still not making eye contact. “I… I think it’s best, for now, if I’m not here.”

Fae howled in agony at watching our mate walk away.

“I’ll text you.” He continued, “I love you, Arden.”

“I love you too, Roman.” I whispered, but he had already taken off, leaving me alone in my unfinished office.

*End Flashback*

I relayed everything back to Teo, trying not to break down while I talked.

“After Roman left, I just stayed up here.” I told him, “I didn’t know how to face either Sita or you, and I needed to process what had happened.”

“We didn’t know that.” Teo said. “I had spent the next couple days thinking you two were holed up somewhere, and Sita had to keep me from searching the packhouse for you. When it was time to go back, we were told that Roman wouldn’t be joining us, but didn’t realize until we got back to Silver Creek that it was because he already left.”

I looked at Teo, wishing I knew how what to say next, but no words came.

“I’m not blaming you, Arden.” He reached over, grabbing my hands in his. “I just want to be here for you.”

“I miss him.” I sobbed, finally breaking down. “I’ve been able to keep going because I know he’s ok, but I miss him so much. What if he is never ready to accept me?”

“That’s what you’re worried about!?” Teo chuckled, earning him a dark glare. “He misses you too! When I said he is being unbearable, I meant that he mopes around all brooding like.”

“That’s what happens when you’re away from your mate for too long, but that doesn’t mean he wants to accept me.” I countered, but I felt Fae perk up at Teo’s words.

“Have you asked him?” Teo asked gently.

“We text and keep up with each other, but no. I haven’t asked.” I muttered, “But he hasn’t asked yet either.”

“How am I the young one?” He said exasperatedly, throwing his arms in the air. “You both are Alphas! You are supposed to confront things head on! Not dance around the subject, waiting for someone else to make the first move!”

I started laughing through my tears at his dramatics. He was probably right, even Fae was agreeing with him, but a look at the clock told me it was time to meet my pack for the cookout.

“Ok, ok. We can talk about this later.” I stood up and grabbed his hand. “For now, it’s time to focus on my pack, and that means being present for the cookout.” I could tell he didn’t want to drop it yet, but he agreed anyway.

We made our way to the kitchen, and I could already see pack members milling around. Our time in the office had distracted me, but as soon as we got around the pack again, the feeling that something was going to happen came back full force.