Mommy shakes Aaron Turner's hand, "Are you the Alpha's brother by chance?"
"You could say that..."
"I see that. You're a matured version of him."
"Oh. Thanks."
"Come on in," she pulls him inside and I'm unwilling to let Aaron sleep in my house. Why is my mom acting like he is her best friend or something?
For the rest of the night, we eat pudding and bread mom made at the dining table, the light bulbs twitching as heavy insects blindingly jam into them. I listen to him crack jokes all night until 2 AM. Mom tells me to show him a room as she retires to her room.
I open the guest room and gesture inside, "this is your room now. Until you sort out your issue." The room has only one made bed, a nightstand and a wardrobe by the window. It used to be my sister's room but everything that belongs to her has been cleared leaving only the bed. Even the sheets were changed.
"You're too kind, Ms. Olsen."
Before he can pass by me and enter inside I grab his wrist and he pauses, looking at me with a raised brow. "I don't know if I'm doing the wrong thing here, Aaron. I don't even know if you're indeed Aaron Turner but if I'm right and you're lying to me, I will hunt you for the rest of my life. Do you get me?"
"Do you have a knack for threatening people or what?"
"It's hard to earn trust. I respect people who fight to earn one. You're a stranger and for all I know, you could be running from the Alpha. So forgive me if I up my guard against you."
"Can I go in? Or are you taking me to the bed?"
I unhand him faster than he can finish uttering those words and I stomp away, hearing him chuckles behind me.
♣. ♣. ♣
I twist and turn for the umpteenth time, my eyes wide without sleep. I grunt in frustration and jump out of bed, heading outside for some breeze. The fan in the room makes it harder to breathe.
Aaron Turner is out on the porch when I come out. He looks lonely and disturbed, hugging his knees like a little troubled girl. I go towards him and sit on the step beside him. He stretches his legs, resting his arms by his sides.
"Can't sleep?" I hear him say.
"Yeah."
"Me too." The breeze is chilly than normal.
"Are you the only child of your parents?"
I eye him and look away. "Yeah." Now.
"Must be fun."
"I do wish for a sibling sometimes."
"Trust me." He looks at me, "you wouldn't want one. You're better being by yourself."
What he says strikes a chord in me. A memory plays in my mind and it makes me long for something. Something unattainable. Guilt gnaws on me. "Why do you think like that?"
He opens his mouth. I only hear him breathing, then he stops and says, "nothing."
I nudge at him, "Tomorrow is a full moon."
"So?"
"Tomorrow, some of us will finally meet our mates. Might just make your life easier."
He chuckles, tilting his chin to look at me, his gorgeous green eyes shimmering in the moonlight. "You're so naive, Leticia."
I scoff, "don't worry. I will pray to the moon goddess to make you meet your mate tomorrow."
He chuckles again—low and dark. Then, it turns into a full blown laughter. I have to remind him my mom is asleep.
"Don't tell me you've given up on finding your mate."
"I'm not.... Who knows if she's dead?"
"Don't think like that, Aaron Turner." I sigh, exasperated. Why is this wolf filled with melancholy? I should have left him at the mercy of those outlanders. Does he want me to cry?
"Can we... Can we change the topic?"
"Alright. What do you want to talk about?"
"Anything."
He shifts so close to me that our bare elbows are touching. He is so warm that I almost melt beside him like candy. "What about your girlfriend?" It comes out so quickly and I immediately regret what I did. But I'm curious so I push forward, "surely, you must have a girlfriend." I downplay it with a pathetic giggle.
"No. I'm currently single."
"Have you even dated before?"
He chuckles, "Ms. Olsen is so invested in my love life. Should I be honored?" he sighs, "Do you have a boyfriend, Leticia?" He looks me dead in the eye and I fumble with my words. By God, what those deadly green eyes are doing to me and I don't actually hate it.
I open my mouth and say, "well, I just got dumped so I'm currently single."
"Your ex must be crazy to have let go of someone of your caliber." He says and my face burns. Did he just compliment me? Should I compliment him back?
"Boyfriends suck," I say, feeling more like basking in his pity party.
"Boyfriends don't suck. It's just that you haven't met the right one," and he drawls, "yet."
"Well, who knows? I might just find my mate tomorrow."
His face grimaces and I quietly laugh. I notice he's stopped talking and I look at him. He's looking straight at me. And, he's not smiling. There's something in his eyes. It's too thick for me to make out. I stop grinning and anticipation fills my core. Why is he looking at me like that? He leans closer, blocking the gap between us. His breath is fanning my face and I'm sure mine is fanning his. Is this happening? Is Leticia about to be kissed right here, by a stranger in front of her mother's house? His lips touch mine for a brief moment. An invitation. I open up to him and he takes me with eagerness, biting softly on my lower lip as I kiss him back, the flies jamming the lightbulbs have formed and are summersaulting in my stomach. He brings down my walls and walks into my heart like he owns it. His hands connect with my body. One rests on my back. The other trails my thighs, my stomach, pulling on my wrist to hold him too. I feel his hard shoulders, his biceps. His hands squeeze my hips and I flinch. I feel his mouth curve up in mine. He's teasing me. I wonder if he's invested in this little act of intimacy like I am. I cup his cheeks and I pour myself int
o him. Maybe it's because I want him to want me. To take me. Not here. Somewhere better.