Ch. 5

The world turned, I was vaguely aware that Bennett was shouting and my brother was trying to get him to stop causing a scene before anyone noticed us. It was hot outside, much too hot, I was struggling to breathe. My brain must have been short circuiting because I couldn’t figure out a way to get the air in my lungs, I was just doubled over gasping for air like a fish out of water.

“Bennett, we need to get her out of here before my father sees her this way.”

“I don’t understand why he would do this… Ace, I’m going to need some answers, considering I’ve told you more than anyone.” He pointed his finger straight into Ace’s chest, which confused me, my brother was next in line. Bennett should be cowering in fear, my father has had wolves decapitated for less.

Ace didn’t respond to that remark, he shoved his keys into Bennett’s hands, “Look, take her to my apartment, I’ll tell dad she’s staying there with me tonight. Make up some story about how she wasn’t feeling good, too much attention or something…” He mumbled. “Keep her safe, don’t let anyone in besides me man, this is important. No one else.”

He kneeled down so I was eye level with him and he whispered, “Aurora, I’ll stay at dads tonight, I’ll talk to him. I won’t let this happen, okay? I won’t let him hurt you… not anymore. Can you stand? We need to exit without drawing attention to you.”

Breathing was still difficult for me it would appear, but I knew my brother was right, I needed to get out of here…I attempted to correct my posture and stand up straight, but it was still difficult, I was seeing stars from lack of oxygen due to what could only have been a panic attack. Bennett looped his arm around my waist and hosted me up as if I weighed next to nothing. He all but sighed at the closeness of our contact and I felt funny again. Warmth was spreading from where his arm was around my waist to every part of my body, like tiny lines of electricity all connecting and constricting to my chest.

“Can you stand now? It will be easier for us to slip out if you can walk next to me.”

I nodded, I wasn’t quite sure my voice would work yet.

We headed out towards the entrance, although it seemed like I had only been here for 30 minutes, the darkness that surrounded the sky said otherwise.

“It’s probably close to Midnight, an acceptable time to leave.” It was almost as if he read my mind.

Once we were in eye sight of the parking valet that was set up, I finally felt like I could breathe again. It took everything in me not to sprint home, grab my own car, and run. But what would happen to those I loved?

“Sir, can I bring your car around?” A young wolf with boyish good looks asked, I think his name is Parker if I’m remembering correctly. “Aurora, you look beautiful as always.” Bennett growled, and my cheeks were stained pink.

“No, we would like to walk.” He said in a low enough voice that sent shudders through me and Parker dipped his head in acknowledgement. Interesting. Bennett outranked parkers’ wolf with ease even though they were close in size. “Aurora, let’s go, please.” He added the please in there for my benefit.

We walked in silence, my mind was trying to wrap my head around what would be expected of me. In a way, I think I always knew my father would never let me go. I was his punching bag, a way to keep the façade alive. The drive to my brother’s apartment wasn’t much better…

“Shit.” I meant to say it more to myself but Bennett heard, “what? What is it?” He was immediately on alert, and picking up speed.

“Oh, sorry, I just meant I forgot to tell Cami I was leaving, she has my purse in her car… along with a change of clothes and my phone.”

“Christ, you can’t do that Aurora, you scared me.” He sighed, he sounded tired. I guess we all were.

“I’m really sorry…” I mumbled, I was fidgeting and I knew it, I hated to disappoint people.

“You don’t need to apologize Aurora, none of this is your fault. I’ll mind-link with your brother tell him to tell Cami and get your stuff from her car.”

“mmm…” we settled into a peaceful silence, it was a gorgeous fall evening, Oct. 19^th, still warm during the day but crisp at night, especially the closer to the mountains you got. The one thing my father did well was build the apartments into the bottom side of the mountain for our higher ranking pack members, the others had to rent houses or apartments near town or build if they could afford it and my father approved it. Just another way to exert control, knowing exactly what everyone’s house lay out was because you owned or approved the build.

Even though the drive was a little under a half hour, I must have dozed off, being around Bennett was peaceful, he didn’t talk much and I felt this soft buzz underneath my skin that should have concerned me- but it made me feel at peace.

“Wake up sleepy head, we are here.” Bennett was turning off the ignition as I was coming too.

“I’ve actually never been in my brother’s apartment before. Is he a slob?” I giggled, picturing the state Ace used to leave his room in when he lived at the mansion.

“Surprisingly no. He’s grown up a bit in the last two years.” There was a twinkle in Bennetts eye, like he was proud of my brother- my heart warmed.

“I see that. You both have.” Once again, there I go, words spilling out of my mouth without a second thought.

“Let’s just get inside Aurora.” His voice was gruff, I could tell he was irritated with me, although I had taken the hint over the last two years since the only time that I saw him was at a distance.

I noticed that his hands were shaking as he was trying to unlock the door, how odd.

“Nervous Bennett?” I offered a half smile

“Maybe a little, kid, maybe a little.” He finally swung the door open, and to my surprise he was right. My brothers’ apartment was clean, immediately to the right was the kitchen the cabinets were wood stained a dark espresso, with lighter mahogany accents throughout, it was gorgeous. If you continued to walk through the hallway and to the right opened up into a decent size living room, painted a neutral grey with a white trim. A leather sectional and TV sat off to the side, leading way to two rooms towards the back of the apartment.

“Two bedrooms?” I asked

“Yeah, I stay here more often then not.” He huffed from behind me, I could feel his breath on the back of my neck, goosebumps sprouted on arms.

“You… You live here? With my brother?”

He shrugged, “I guess you could say that, your brother officially announced me as his second in command for when he takes over for your father. It just makes more sense this way after long patrols and discussions, plus I’m supposed to protect him at all costs, it’s my duty.” He said the last part with so much conviction it made my heart swell to twice its size.

“If I didn’t know my brother any better, I would have to ask you if you were romantically involved.” I chucked to myself at the thought of my brother and Bennett.

“Aurora, I most definitely am not into males. Not that there is anything wrong with it as some believe, I just like women.”

“Oh, that’s… nice I suppose.” I felt a pang of jealousy spring to life knowing that Bennett had probably been with his share of women. I did find it odd at twenty he hadn’t claimed a mate yet, true mates were rare, I don’t think I had heard of one in the last hundred or so years- they seemed to die out when we were cursed. Now wolves just tended to pick their mates and hope they didn’t find their true mate before it was too late.

“Are you blushing?” He elbowed me in the side.

“Ye…no, I mean, I don’t know. I don’t know much about relationships.”

“You don’t?”

“Not really.” I shrugged, I found myself doing that a lot these days, giving vague half answers. I also found myself realizing how much about life I had yet to experience.

“What about Calvin?” Bennett sneered Calvins name.

I sighed heavily and out loud this time, I mean, what was I going to do?

“I don’t know Calvin, but I guess if it’s what my father wants, then that’s what will happen.” I looked down at the floor while spewing my response, fully digesting what this meant, I wanted to vomit.

A loud cracking sound to my left caused me to jump no less than three feet in the air. I was grabbing my chest with one hand and holding on to the wall with the other.

“Damnit, Bennett what the hell!” His back was towards me and his lack of response caused me to cautiously approach him. “Are you okay?” I touched his shoulder and he inhaled deeply.

“No Aurora, I’m not okay.” He turned to face me, and I was immediately transfixed by the soft glow his eyes were illuminating. His sent was causing my vision to go fuzzy and my brain to malfunction.

“You aren’t supposed to be his. You’re mine.” He seethed, before he snaked his arm around mine back and pulled me closer to him. “I’m going to kiss you now, but I need you to tell me that it’s okay.”

My mouth parted slightly with the shock of his words, Bennett, wanted to kiss me? Was I going to let him?

“Aurora, I’m trying to be patient, but I’ve been patient for two years.”

That didn’t make sense to me, what was he talking about? “Two years?” I asked breathlessly.

“Yes, I knew it the second I turned- I could smell it all over you. You’re my mate.”