Chapter 13 - Respect

Alexa could feel his gaze on her back, but she had soon realized that she could always feel his gaze, as was their magnetic relationship. It didn’t bother her as much as it once did, instead it made her feel safe, knowing he was there, not that she’d ever admit it out loud, and if he asked about it, which thankfully he hadn’t, she’d vehemently deny it, even if he could feel it through their bond anyway.

For the rest of their trek through the forest they had remained silent, neither brave enough to break through the tension between them, though less awkward than when they had first left the clearing due to their short conversation on the way back.

The walk soon ended, much to Alexa’s disappointment, not that she’d ever admit to it that either.

Without so much as another backwards glance at Aiden they both entered the bustling little village known as the Burrow.

Everything had changed for Alexa since the first time she had woken up here nearly two years prior. She wasn’t the same damaged teenager that she used to be, and just six months ago she had been an outsider, someone to gawk at, gossip about, and send distrustful glances at. But all that changed, almost overnight.

One she didn’t even remember, she mused as they made their way to the center of the Burrow. They passed many of the pack members as they did, and instead of those distrustful glances, and barely contained whispers, she was met with a much different sight.

They still stared, whispered, and avoided her, something she took comfort in as it was one of the only things that hadn’t changed, the only thing was that they now did it for an entirely different reason, and that made her uncomfortable.

Without her permission, her gaze met some of the wolves as they passed, and unlike in the past, those wolves immediately averted their gazes and bowed their heads.

A sign of respect Aiden had reminded her just this morning when she’d complained. It left an odd taste in her mouth and a lead brick in her stomach, but she couldn’t tell them to stop.

It didn't feel right to her, someone who had believed themselves to be nothing but an ordinary human all their lives to have others treat her as if she were royalty, even if - heaven help her as the thought passed through her mind - her wolf said otherwise.

Now that was an entirely different form of adjustment she had yet come to terms with, having this other consciousness in her head. But it felt as if it belonged there, a part of her, she never knew was missing.

She sighed; it was just another thing to add to her list of things she refused to admit to.

Aiden could feel her discomfort, as easily as he breathed the clean forest air, but wisely said nothing. He merely adjusted his strides so that instead of walking behind her he was walking beside her. Offering her comfort through the bond she could no longer hide from, no matter how hard she had tried to at first.

She was grateful for his presence, and they moved swiftly through the bustling territory ignoring the pack members and taking in the lively atmosphere of the Burrow, which could only be described as a small town within Black Pines Forest, which mostly surrounded another, slightly larger town of the same name that was uncoincidentally owned by the pack.

There were echoes of greetings, heads dipping, and whispers of the word Alpha as they passed by on their trek toward the large mansion that she called home.

Alexa could only give a stiff smile and a nod of her head in return, her shoulders stiff, and her hands balled into fists as her discomfort radiated through the mate bond.

Aiden could hear her heart pounding and feel her anxiety. Without a word, he brushed his broad, tanned arm against her shoulder, and felt her relax at his touch. A vastly different reaction than he was used to and couldn't help the triumphant grin that graced his face.

‘Ally!’