Chapter 140

Carol’s POV

I wasn’t an angry person; I rarely got upset when it wasn’t deserved. But at this moment, I was outraged. Granted, I should have known that a mating ceremony was like a wedding. Nobody said otherwise and I wanted to spend the rest of my life with Aiden, so there really wasn’t an issue.

But was I ready for an actual marriage? I let Madison make some plans for the week and get started on the preparations. But then immediately afterwards I took a cab over to the packhouse. I knew that Aiden had drivers all over the place that would take me to and from wherever I wanted to go, but I didn’t want to use them right now. I was furious and I just needed distance from all the stuff pack and wolf.

I was in way over my head.

Aiden’s office, formally Alpha John’s office, was on the very top floor of the skyscraper that overlooked the entire gorgeous city. His office had large windows that gave the office natural lighting, and his desk was made of glass. He also had a glass coffee table on the far side of the room along with a couch and cushioned chairs with a flatscreen TV hung up on the wall. There was a small golfing set on the other side of the room that I knew belonged to his father along with another flat-screen TV, this one was much larger for conferences with other Alphas. It was tastefully decorated with designed portraits and paintings hung on the wall, an antique wall clock, and a large bookshelf.

I knew this office was all Johnthan’s doing because it wasn’t in Aidne’s taste. If Aiden had decorated this place, it would be filled with hockey stuff. I didn’t see one trophy on his bookshelf and left me feeling sad.

I almost forgot why I barged into his office with my arms folded across my chest, l completely ignoring his assistant at her desk in front of his office door, telling me that I needed to make an appointment.

I was his goddamn mate! I didn’t have to make an appointment. When were people around this pack going to realize that and finally accept it?

“Hey,” he said, standing up quickly when he saw the anger and annoyance on my face. “Is everything okay?”

“When were you going to tell me that we were getting married?” I asked him, not bothering to keep my voice lowered. I didn’t care if his perky-breasted receptionist heard me. I hoped she did hear me.

He raised his brows at me.

“We are mates, Carol,” he told me as if that was answer enough.

“And?” I asked him, fully aware that I was acting like a child, but I couldn’t seem to stop myself.

“And we are having the mating ceremony. It isn’t exactly a wedding, but in some cases, it’s stronger than a generic human wedding. Once you are marked, there’s no turning back. Your body, soul, and mind, will belong to me and—”

“I will belong to nobody,” I said through my teeth, hating the bite in my words because I watched him flinch. “I am my own person, and nobody can own me, Aiden.”

“I understand that,” he said, holding out his hands like he was trying to settle a rabid animal. “And I’m sorry that you misunderstood what this ceremony meant. But I never lied to you or kept anything from you. I assumed you knew what this ceremony was. It’s a wedding, but there aren’t any marriage certificates. The bite on your neck will be certificate enough.”

“And it won’t heal or go away?” I asked, completely dumbfounded by that fact.

He nodded.

“I mean, it won’t bleed forever. That part will heal quickly, but the scar from the bite will remain on your skin for a lifetime. It’ll also be your passageway into becoming the pack’s Luna so nobody would be able to take that from you.”

I felt dizzy.

I could see the hurt flashing in Aidne’s eyes; I wasn’t sure why I was being a complete bitch; I was just so overwhelmed by this entire thing, and I wasn’t sure what to think. I was terrified about committing my life to this man. I had been hurt in the past and I knew Aiden would never hurt me, but how could I be so sure that this was the right decision?

It would be so much easier if I had a wolf, and she could tell me if this was the right choice. I would be able to feel the mate bond and reassure myself that Aiden was mine for life. But all I had to go off was his word against mine and it wasn’t a good feeling.

I didn’t realize that Aiden closed the gap between us until his arms were wrapped around me and he was pulling me into his chest. He held me like he needed me to survive. His body was tense, but his arms were so loving and secure that I found myself melting into him right away. My knees went weak.

“If you don’t want to do this, Carol, I won’t make you. But you need to know that I love you and I want nothing more than for you to become my life partner, my Luna. I’m ready to make this commitment to you whether we get married or have a mating ceremony. I’m all in.”

I found myself immediately calming and I took a deep breath, committing his scent to memory.

“I’m sorry,” I murmured. “I didn’t mean to freak out or panic. It’s just a lot and it’s all happening so fast.”

He held me tighter as if he was afraid, I might slip away from him.

“I understand, babe,” he whispered, kissing the top of my head. “You don’t have to apologize for anything. But promise me you’ll always talk to me about whatever is on your mind. I want to be here for you no matter what.”

I nodded into his chest, not wanting to let him go just yet.

“I promise,” I whispered.

I lifted my gaze up to him so I could smile at him, and he lowered his lips to mine. The kiss was soft and sweet at first, but then it deepened and set off that fire in my belly once again. I slipped my tongue into his mouth, and I moaned against him as he took me in his arms and explored my mouth eagerly with his tongue. He nibbled on my bottom lip and drew it into his mouth, tasting me like I was the sweetest thing on earth.

We only pulled apart when we heard a throat clearing behind us. I turned around to see his assistant staring daggers at me. She folded her arms across her busty chest and narrowed her eyes. When she spoke, it was to Aidne, but her eyes never left mine.

“You have a 2:00 pm meeting,” she said, trying to keep her anger in check.

“Thanks,” he said to her, dismissively.

She glared at me for a moment longer before turning and leaving his office. I rolled my eyes, unable to help myself.

“She really does not like me,” I muttered.

“Who? Tracy? She’s harmless,” Aiden assured me as he kissed me tenderly once more.

I sighed, loving the feeling of his lips against mine and wanting more. But I knew it would have to wait until later.

“You should get to your meeting,” I told him.

He nodded, giving my hand a gentle squeeze before he released me.

I stepped out of his office and paused when I saw Tracy glaring at me once again. I forced a smile in her direction and started to walk away but her voice stopped me dead in my tracks.

“You will never be good enough for him,” she said bitterly. “You might think you can become our Luna and replace Katrina, but you never will. He will always want her, and we will always respect her more than you. You are chasing a false dream so you should just give up now.”

I wasn’t going to justify that with a response; I squared my shoulders and left the packhouse.

….

Several days had passed since my encounter with Tracy and my talk with Aiden. I tried not to think about what Tracy had said and I tried not to let it bother me too much. It wasn’t anything I hadn’t heard before, but still. I didn’t tell Aiden about what she had said because I didn’t want to stir up drama in the workplace.

Instead, I’ve been venting my frustrations to Fiona. I smiled at my text messages when Fiona offered to kick Tracy’s ass. It was a tempting offer but ultimately, I turned her down.

Madison had been hard at work all week planning this ceremony and the more days passed, the more nervous I got. I went with Aiden once more to see his father at the hospital and his father seems to be doing better than he had been, but his wolf will never recover. His mother was as cold as ever but this time she tried to hide it after Aiden threatened to banish her from the pack the last time, she opened her mouth.

I also avoided Tracy like the plague, but I knew once I was Luna, that was going to be difficult. Word had gotten out about this mating ceremony and the whispers around the capital were a mixture of nervousness and unpleasant. Most of them didn’t want their Alpha to marry a human and make a lowly human a Luna.

I curled up on the couch, exhausted from the days past and even more exhausted thinking about the days to come. I was going to officially meet Aiden in a couple of days, and I was beyond nervous about this.

Someone knocked on the front door, bringing me out of my thoughts. I stood and walked over ot the door. I pulled it open without looking through the peephole and gasped when I saw who was at my door!