Aiden moved, closing the distance between them slowly, each step deliberate and heavy.
Rhea's heart thudded against her ribs. Instinct made her stagger back. She narrowed her eyes at him, trying to pretend she wasn't rattled, but her pulse betrayed her. What is he doing? She wondered if she had finally bitten off more than she could chew. Still, she lifted her chin and puffed her chest, determined not to fold under his gaze.
His eyes locked on hers and didn't waver, glacial blue and probing, as if testing exactly how long she could keep this false bravado standing.
The closer he came, the more she retreated. Step after step, she found herself pushed back until her spine brushed against the cool wall. Nowhere to go.
Aiden didn't break his stare. He reached out, plucked the apple from her hand without asking, startling the Omega as he sank his teeth into it with the same unnerving quiet. A slow chew, a swallow, then he set the apple back on the table besides them.
Rhea's fingers twitched at her sides. Her throat tightened, and she caught herself glancing at the door — half-expecting, half-dreading — what he might do next.
"You are one strange Omega," Aiden said, his tone more puzzled than annoyed, like he couldn't quite figure out if she fascinated him or just irritated him in a different way.
Rhea's mouth curved, the start of a retort already on her tongue—
"Aiden—" Ellie's voice rang in, halfway to a shout. "I knocked and no—" He stopped short, eyes landing on them. His brows shot up in silent question.
Aiden eased back a step, just enough to put space between them, and cleared his throat. The sound was awkward, almost guilty, but he didn't look away from her right away.
Rhea let out a sharp breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. Her fingers curled in against her palms, trying to ground herself,but her pulse still skipped like a stone over water.
Ellie's gaze flicked from the Alpha to the battered-looking Omega, taking in the bruises, the split lip, the smudged shadows under her eyes. His first thought was absurd — did Aiden do that to her? He shoved it away immediately. No. Impossible. Aiden was many things, but not careless with violence.
"What do you want, Ellie?" Aiden's voice cut through the silence, short and flat, his eyes narrowing. "I said I wanted to be left alone."
Ellie's brow arched, a slow smirk tugging at his mouth. "Oh, sure. You look real alone to me…" he muttered.
Aiden rolled his eyes, but the muscle ticking in his jaw gave him away.
Rhea seized the opening and started inching toward the door, her limp making each step a quiet wince. But as she limped closer, Ellie's expression shifted. He tilted his head, squinting as if trying to match a memory to the face in front of him. The bruises, the darkened eyes, the cuts had thrown him off earlier. Now, up close, recognition snapped into place.
"Rhea?" His voice caught on her name, surprise breaking through.
She froze mid-step.
"What happened to you?" Ellie asked, softer this time, but still threaded with disbelief.
Her lips parted, ready to answer —
"You know her?" Aiden's voice sliced in, cool and sharp enough to cut the moment clean in half.
Ellie blinked at him. "Of course I do. I know everyone in this pack… something you might want to try, considering you're the Alpha, for moon's sake."
Aiden's jaw flexed, his expression unreadable yet heavy. "Watch your tongue, Ellie," he warned.
Ellie only huffed a dry scoff, shoulders rolling back as he turned to Rhea. "What are you doing here?"
"To clean the Alpha's room — not a suit," Rhea complained, gesturing loosely toward the expansive space around them.
Ellie's brow furrowed, clearly missing her point. His gaze slid to Aiden, like maybe the Alpha might offer clarity. Aiden just gave a lazy shrug, as if the details was beneath his attention.
Ellie sighed. "You're not in a position to clean anything. Go and have the healer take a look at you."
Rhea's face lit up, her tone bright. "Thank you, thank you. Finally. Someone with sense." She reached out and patted Ellie's chest like they were old friends, her voice lifting in mock praise. "You should be the Alpha."
She limped past without looking back.
Ellie froze. The weight of those words landed immediately. She might not even realize what she'd just said, but he did. And the last thing he wanted was to turn around. He could feel the shift in the air before he even turned.
When he finally faced Aiden, the Alpha's expression was glacial. If it could get any colder, it just had.
Ellie swallowed hard. "She didn't know what she was tal—"
"Who's she?" Aiden asked, his voice dark and flat.
*******
Author's Note:
First of all, thank you — truly, sincerely, wholeheartedly. If you've read all the way to this part of the story, it means you've given me one of the most valuable things you have: your time. I don't take that lightly. Every chapter you read, every moment you spend with these characters, is something I deeply appreciate.
I'd love to know — how's the story landing for you so far? Are the characters pulling you in? Is there someone you secretly love, or maybe love to hate? Were there moments that made you laugh, or scenes that made you want to yell at the page? Your feedback is more than just helpful — It helps me see the story through your eyes and makes me an even better storyteller.
And trust me, this journey is far from over. We've still got a long way to go, and the road ahead… well, let's just say it's not going to be smooth. There are twists coming, truths waiting to be revealed, and emotions you might not be ready for (but you'll get them anyway).
So, thank you again — for your time, your thoughts, and your trust in this story. Let's keep going. We're just getting started.