It makes next to no sense as to why she can still feel the goddess’ split energies around her or why it should matter. Derek cast her out to play his game. The pang of rejection sat heavily on her heart, even though her misdirection, her careful hand, all made sense in her apartment. It was as if they were already whole; the relationship already established. She’d gotten a spike of intimacy with him and hoped for more, encouraged on by the unseen.
Maybe it was indirectly him. The thought crossed her mind that even in his admittance, his heritage could still be bouncing off hypothetical walls, in search of what she didn’t own. She had no wolf; no designation… So why was she so entirely snared by this? By him?
Aislyn’s thoughts died within the noisy traffic of the city while she focused on only one thing, getting out of
Her wolf sneezed against her neck and pulled away as she tried her best to lean right and find comfort in his pretty fur. Her eyes widened as his eyes found hers with a warning there. “Sorry… I…” she managed. “I thought…” Aislyn murmured her answer to his warning. “You look so soft. I just…” Aislyn remembered scrambling to her feet at the sound of birds racing for the sky. Her terror, his rejection… It was all too much. This was supposed to be a safe place… maybe she misinterpreted it. Maybe she was never safe, or wanted. It made sense the longer she stacked her reasons against herself. Aislyn couldn’t help the tears that openly streamed down her face as the scene before her played out. She caught her wolf’s disappointed look and ran off into the direction of whatever danger lurked there. It would be better, she thought. Better than this.Not having shoes was a blessing and a curse. What her bare feet landed on propelled her further, even if it jutted its way through the tough skin
“Even me?” Zane chuckled. “Take me where?” He sat up, dying to know exactly what she meant. Honestly, Aislyn wasn’t sure. Nothing was making sense and for all she knew he was entirely there to screw with her. Maybe even throw Derek off of his track.“Don’t get bashful,” Zane urged her on. “I want to know. What do you think is happening here.”Aislyn shuts her mouth all too tightly and waits for the other shoe to drop. What did this Alpha really think was going on?“You don’t even want to guess, do you?” he tutted, then took in a deep breath alongside her. “I can tell you, if you want to know that is.”“Of course you can…” Aislyn refrained from calling him out by his designation. A beat later her decision settled her heart. It was the right choice. She could feel it. “I take it you want to know then,” Zane reeled. Aislyn looked up to the sky, nearly ready to mutter those three, very specific to them, words that would no doubt resonate with Zane as it did Derek: Goddess help me. Eve
Aislyn turned quickly back to Zane, “It was me, wasn’t it?” she whispered. “I hurt him?”Zane gave her a hardened look.“That’s why you called me a bitch in the club, isn’t it?” she questioned, sure that he wouldn’t reply. “You were just trying to protect your brother, right?” she swallowed. Zane nodded once, careful to see where this would go. “Well you should know, I loved him. The wolf. My… wolf,” Aislyn assured Zane for good measure. “Did he tell you why he bothered being with me at all… when he returned to you?” Aislyn cleared her throat, trying to keep her emotions at bay. Zane shook his head, fully expecting Aislyn to keep going she figured. “Great.” Aislyn shook her head. “So he was just done then? He didn’t lo… care for me?”“I wouldn’t know,” Zane assured her. “But you are a human and he had no business being out with you.”“Why do you then?” Aislyn spat. “Why do any of you mingle with us?”Aislyn could almost feel the lie ready to escape him and so she waved him off.
Making it to the door proved to be harder than she thought it would be. What if no one was there? What if it was her mind playing tricks on her like it had in the past?Despite how tense these feelings made her feel, Aislyn still reached her door, awkwardly promising she was there and coming. Somehow, while unlocking each of her deadbolts, the metal clack and heaviness receding into the door felt like strikes against their relationship. Was she really keeping him out with these? Was he always trying to get in and back to her?“Just one more,” she promised and swung open the door to find her wolf sitting in the hallway holding an animal in his mouth. It was like old times, him giving her food, or something that would matter to her because it came from him.
Aislyn watches carefully as Earl waves Zane off, already sensing tension in the Zane’s proximity.“I thought you said you were brothers; always looking out for his best intentions,” she pushed out the moment she locked up behind the werewolf in question.“Pack life isn’t the easiest,” he assured her. “There’s always some that slip through the cracks… or run off into a human’s arms.”“I’m glad he did,” Aislyn murmured her reply.The Alpha beside her grunted, then corrected his posture. He slicked back his hair, then itched at his stubble. She could feel his eyes everywhere but on his brother and that was concerning
===== Derek ===== He wants to pull her in and tell her everything but even his ability to stave off the pain in his leg is waning. A soft pat from lifting and dropping his tail tells her to stop but it doesn’t feel like enough. Derek’s body, his wolf, they’re absolutely drained. Not even his Beta wants to get up now and that’s saying a lot. “Keep him steady,” Earl managed to get out as he inserted the tip of his blade to wedge the offending metal against the soft tissue there. “Careful Ais,” Earl hushed Derek’s love, making him wonder just what was going on back there. “G-goddess-ss help m-my love…” she whispered, trembling. “What’s wrong with her?” I whine to my brother. “I think she’s having a panic attack,” Zane answered. “Earl is almost done.” He can’t help the way his stomach turns in knots due to her response to him. ‘Is she okay?” he questions, avoiding his own issue. “I need her to be okay,” Derek continued to cry out. “Do you still have that bowl handy?” Earl
“Don’t make this about you,” Aislyn spat which brought unease back into the apartment, tenfold. “The Alpha of your pack. The one that has to look over everyone? Does that ring a bell?” Zane tossed the nozzle out the window, letting the water pour down it as it went out with a clank. “Don’t attempt to know what you don’t, little girl.” “Or what? You’ll what? I’d love to hear it!” Aislyn challenged and Zane snarled. “I’ll bet that you’re used to getting your way; that everyone listened to you, gave you their full attention until this wolf came into your life.” Zane’s shoulders tensed and he rolled his neck along them. “You…” “I’ll bet,” she interrupted Zane once more, “that you helped him become who he is. He’s the wolf that snuck out for a chance at something better.” Derek’s heart felt like it was only beating faster at the mention of what she thought his life truly was. “He’s the one you couldn’t control, and that’s why you hate me!” Aislyn growled. “It’s not because I’m
Ailsyn’s admission brought on waves of bullshit from his brother who knowingly pressed Derek through his comments to her. “Hey, Aislyn?” Zane would start nearly every conversation with. “Not right now, Zane,” Aislyn would respond, regardless of his status over them. “You know I out rank that response,” Zane chuckled, expecting better. “To your pack,” she answered, making Derek shake his collar out. It was a warning that went silenced. Zane wasn’t having it and Derek, well, his status meant that he had to hold tight and listen anyway. Aislyn glanced at her wolf and sighed, “I’m not part of your pack, Zane. If anything, you’re intruding on ours.” It was as if she knew. Maybe she did. Maybe she knew his real identity, but how? “You’re hilarious,” Zane replied, with not even a bit of mirth left in his being. “Glad you’re enjoying yourself,” Aislyn nipped. “How do you even know if that’s what you two are?” Zane pushed and Aislyn dropped her head back to rest on her shoulde