Aiden had to make Karen his. He didn’t know how to go about it, but he just had to.
A few days into the new school, he was patiently waiting for her to arrive, so that she would light up his whole world as per usual… and was harshly disappointed when came noon and she had yet to make an appearance.
What was going on? Could it be her schedule was changed drastically for some reason – like his stalking her?
Easy, boy, he told himself after a while. Think rationally.
Could it be possible she had just skipped?
That seemed more logical. He inwardly face-palmed at his stupidity and his eagerness to make assumptions.
Only one day since he last saw her, and already he felt like he was suffering from withdrawal. What was she doing to him?
“You’ve become a sap,” his wolf sing-sang in his head.
“As if you’re any better,” he scoffed at him, inwardly rolling his eyes.
“Should we go see her?” His wolf then suggested in all seriousness. He was on edge, and it showed.
But then again, so was Aiden.
He agreed with his wolf’s reasoning and decided to go to her house – of which he knew the localization seeing as he had stalked her thoroughly.
Instead of waiting till the end of the school day to go seek her out, he escaped the prison people liked to call school at lunch time, and went straight to his car.
He couldn’t wait long enough to see her. Would she be happy and excited to see him or would she roll her eyes at him?
He drove through the small town with ease, almost as if he had lived all his life there. He did have a splendid sense of direction after all.
When he finally reached her house, he parked the car near its driveway in a way that he wouldn’t bother her dad if he were to need to go out.
One could only imagine his astonishment when, after ringing the doorbell politely, she opened up to him, looking disheveled and as if a truck had run over her.
His greeting died on his lips. “What the hell happened to you?” He all but growled.
“What the hell brought you here?” She hissed through gritted teeth.
Oh boy!
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Karen, who had gone back home late once more because she had to go grocery shopping, received the beating of a lifetime from her very drunk father right as she appeared in their kitchen. He had been waiting for her.
Had she known, she would have gone to spend the night at Mason’s, her totally gay friend, giving him an excuse or another. But she had not noticed her dad’s blue car this time around, being the airhead that she was, she had been thinking of one very handsome Aiden and thus missed the damned car.
Aiden was bad news and dangerous for her – for her heart, her sanity and her future alike.
“So you’re finally home! Where were you, bitch?” Her father asked as he threw a canned box at her. Thankfully, he missed her head, but it did land on her shoulder.
** ** ** ** ** ** **
Too bruised and tired to move, Karen ended up sleeping on the kitchen floor right where she had been beaten to an ounce of her life.
When she woke up in the morning, sore from the position she had slept in and from the cold floor she had spent the night on, it was all she could do to move to her room.
A quick glance at the alarm clock told her she was late.
But she would have to run even later for she had to apply lots of foundation if she were to try covering those damned facial bruises – there were two of them. Her hand shook with the effort to apply the foundation… the pain was so intense, she believed she might be suffering from a dislocated shoulder.
Her foundation was well-applied but wasn’t covering enough. The bruises could still be seen through those two layers.
And more importantly, even if she went to school, she wouldn’t be able to take notes because of her hand or rather because of her whole arm.
She remembered a time when her father cherished her like she was his little princess. Now, he was obviously unfit for parenthood… A pang of pain struck her, right in the chest – it was heavy and restricting her breathing somehow.
She realized when there was a moment of reprieve from the pain, that the violent sobs that were wracking through her were what relieved her a little bit. She decided to lay down for a little bit – just a little bit… only to end up falling asleep.
It was close to 1 pm when the door bell rang. She went to get it, forgetting everything about her appearance, and was surprised to see Aiden at the door.
He had the nerve to ask what had happened to her! Oh, she’d show him!
I hope you're enjoying the read so far my lovelies ^^ Much love, Larose Semsem
Aiden was devastated and all kinds of enraged when he saw the bruises on Karen’s face. When he remembered images of his smiling mate, he couldn’t fathom how someone could be so cruel as to hit her. He couldn’t control the tone of his voice when he had asked her what the hell had happened. And it seemed like his sweet mate wasn’t in the least bit scared by the shift in his eyes color – maybe she simply hadn’t noticed? – for she spat out with venom, “What the hell brought you here?” “Do not speak to me that way,” his wolf had taken over and hissed at her, and she flinched, almost as if she had been slapped. He tried to get some self-control back, by closing his eyes, pinching the bridge of his nose, and inhaling and exhaling loudly. “Why are you so pissed anyways? You shouldn’t have sought me out,” she carried on in a rather sad almost resigned voice. “Because I care a great deal about you! Can’t you see that?” He retorted in a strong voice, ope
“Where are we going?” Karen asked him as she got in the car rather obediently. “To Jacksonville,” Aiden told her, a fond smirk stretching his lips. He had good memories there. As much as he didn’t want to admit it, Anastasia – The Troublemaker’s daughter – was good company… when she wasn’t mourning the absence of her mate, that was. He briefly wondered how she was faring in the vampire academy, and made a note to himself to call her or Ace later on. Karen kept quiet the entire ride to Jacksonville, and although Aiden wasn’t particularly affected by the silence, he preferred when she was arguing with him than her distracted state of mind. “I need to be back home before 5 pm,” she announced just as he parked the car in front of a big house. His bodyguards were naturally in another car, following closely behind, not knowing what to expect, but probably reporting everything to his mom… yes, his mom, not his dad. She was overprotective and
It was in a werewolf’s genes to hunt. The urge was even more intense if they needed to give chase to their mate.And although Aiden, next in line to be the alpha ultra, was usually a composed teenager who knew how to control himself, he had trouble handling his wolf at the moment.Run, little girl. Run, his wolf basically sang.Aiden could picture the wolfish grin all too well.Don’t, he tried to fight him. She’s scared.Even as he told him that mentally, his wolf started taking control of his body. His eyes stung as they went black and his fingernails elongated into claws.“I’m giving you a head start,” he sing-sang before chuckling, “make good use of it, little mate.”The next thing Aiden knew, he lost the fight, and he was hurrying down the white hallways of the pack’s clinic. He could hear her screaming for help. He then saw her almost begging, reaching out for someone at the door of another room… But what werewolf would dare touch what was his?H
Aiden didn't know what to say. He was flabbergasted. How could Karen even think he had messed with her head?But then again, he did intend to do just that. She wasn't ready. She wasn't ready for him, or his world. And although he wanted to take the time to explain everything to her, he knew they were running out of it. Aiden looked at his wrist watch and sighed. Where was the eraser? "What are you sighing about?" Karen asked Had he had the luxury of time, he would have taken things slowly. As it was, she needed to be back at her home by night time. "It's nothing," he drawled. "Then when are you going to answer me?" She carried on. "Have you or have you not messed with my head?" "I have never," he said truthfully, his eyes boring into hers despite the distance. "Then what is the erasor for?" She asked in a strong voice. "You have to understand," he began. "It's not that I want it. It's what's n
As Karen pleaded with Aiden to let her keep her memories again, and as the witch whose name he didn’t even know approached her, he started to second guess himself and doubt gnawed at his insides.“Stop,” he commanded all of a sudden.The hope he saw shining in her eyes would have been enough to make ice melt, and yet his resolve to have her memories erased still peaked its head.The eraser turned his head his way, and looked at him with his eyebrow raised.“How about you cast a silencing spell or something?” He offered.Fear came back full force in her eyes.“And what is that?” She all but shrieked at him.“What do you want exactly?” The witch asked, his interest seemingly piqued, ignoring Karen's shriek completely.“I just don’t want her to reveal my secret to any human being. She’s welcome to say whatever the hell she wants with supernaturals.”She flashed a tentative smile at him. “Can’t you just trust me?”“I cannot,” he answered simply, shaking his
When Karen got home at around 7 pm, her dad was waiting for her in the living room – sober for once. His eyes narrowed at Aiden’s figure trailing behind her, hands lazily tucked into his hoodie’s pockets. Indeed, Aiden had insisted on going in with her. And she hadn’t had the courage to argue with him. Even though her dad wouldn’t appreciate his presence, she was much too scared of getting a beating worse than that of the previous night for going home late.“The school called to tell me you skipped, Karen,” he iced out as soon as she was within sight.She grimaced, remembering school all of a sudden. How could she have forgotten? She truly needed to do her best at school if she wanted to have a shot at leaving this town from hell.Okay, the town hadn’t done much to her in all fairness. It was her dad she was running away from… and admittedly the painful memories as well.“I wasn’t feeling well,&rd
Karen was quiet – too quiet – during the car ride. And Aiden didn’t like that. But no matter how much he tried to get her to talk to him, she didn’t open up. He could almost sense her sorrow and confusion. And he could damn well understand where her feelings came from. Thus, after a while, he stopped all attempts to lighten up the atmosphere, and opted for silence instead.He hurt for her.His heart ached for her.“You should just take me to Mason’s,” were the first words she uttered as she straightened up in her seat.Aiden hit the brakes so hard, she was propelled forward. His hand shot out to steady her, and he could thank both his werewolf reflexes and the seatbelt for his mate’s safety.“Mason’s?” He all but growled out the name.Should have ripped the boy to shreds the moment I saw him, his wolf said angrily.“Yeah, I’ll give you the directions,” she said off-
Aiden realized how hasty he had been when he called his mom in the evening. She told him she wished he would have called her before making such a decision – erasing his mate’s memories, that was.He knew he had acted rashly, but he had thought that his parents out of everyone would understand.After all, they knew how it went the last time he had shared his secret with a human friend – his only human friend back when he had been ten years old.The dumbfounded Tom had acted politely but his voice had held this hint of wariness that Aiden had just chosen to ignore.He shouldn’t have.And boy did the ten year old babble afterwards!Tom’s parents had come to tell Aiden’s parents that their child needed help if he believed so strongly in the existence of werewolves, and even worse viewed himself as one.His parents had berated him so much on his recklessness, and had had to use the service of an eraser to deal with th
Karen, the too-goody-two-shoes, the nerd, fell for the bad boy, the werewolf, the alpha ultra to be. And she fell hard.Her plans of making it out of the town and into the college of her dreams became a reality soon enough. And Aiden, the man she called hers, even admitted enjoying his time in college.All issues had been addressed, and peace had been restored.The couple spent each of their summer holidays at the palace, learning everything they could about their upcoming responsibilities.It wasn’t Aiden’s idea but rather her own to do that. He tried to convince her to go abroad more, to experience life fully, but she was much too indebted to his parents, and admittedly dedicated to him, to think she wouldn’t enjoy everything the palace had to offer.As long as she could stay with her beloved Aiden, she didn’t mind not getting a taste of the world.The world was a nasty place. And the man she had always looked up to as her fath
The following day, school was buzzing with excitement as there was going to be a dance. And as per the traditions, for the first dance of the school year, it was up to the girl to ask a guy to escort them to the dance, and not the other way around.Karen was naturally going to ask Aiden. She was even planning on confessing her strong albeit complex feelings to him.You can do this, Karen, she told herself as the fourth period ended and it was time for lunch.She and Aiden were heading to the cafeteria together to have lunch when he whispered in her ear, “I can sense that you’re nervous about something. What’s wrong, love? Is there something I should know?”Her eyes narrowed at him briefly. How could he be so dense? And then a pout broke onto her features, softening them.“What is it?” He insisted.“Oh god, you’re so thick!” She exclaimed angrily.“Oh my, thank you,” he said in a teas
Karen asked Aiden to take it slowly when they reached the bedroom.“If you have doubts, I’ll stop at once,” he told her softly as he kissed her lips gently.“Not doubts,” she shook her head negatively. “It’s just that I am a virgin.”“So am I,” he said with a small smirk.“Oh?” She was shocked by that to say the least. He was such a hunk.“Why is it such a surprise?” He raised an eyebrow as he helped her out of her dress.She had no time to feel self-conscious and cover herself for he grabbed both her hands in his.She had trouble coming up with a suitable answer, and ended up saying awkwardly, “You’re just so handsome, I cannot help but wonder how that came to be.”“I was taught to respect women,” he shrugged before discarding his shirt on the floor.Her eyes travelled across the acres of hot sculpted chest and she dampened h
“What are you playing at?” Aiden all but growled out the words at the sight of his mate in another guy’s arms.He and Karen were back to Fort Myers. They resumed school, leaving behind everything that pertained to the werewolves, the witches, and the vampires. Aiden knew his parents were still young enough to be able to solve it all without his help. And even if he did want to give them a hand, Karen had expressed her desire to continue school, and that brought them back to the town.“I’m hugging my best friend?” She asked rather than stated.Mason glared at him. “Where did you take her? You both disappeared completely off the radar.”“I kidnapped her. What is it to you?” He deadpanned almost angrily.“Aiden,” she groaned her displeasure. “Play nice.”“Aye captain,” he mock-saluted.And her best friend laughed at his expense.“You too, Mason,&
“Do you have any idea how hard it was for me to reach an understanding with…” Aiden started his angry tirade as he rose to his feet, only to be interrupted by his dad.“Calm down,” he commanded in a booming voice.Aiden glared at his dad at that, not because he was a spoiled brat who didn’t like taking orders, rather because his dad had used his alpha tone on him…“You have to understand that we’re doing this for you,” his mom told him softly.“Oh really?” He taunted.“Yes, really,” his dad assured him as he put a calming hand on his shoulder. Aiden wanted to shrug it off but didn’t want to upset his dad. “You’ll thank us later.”“Right,” he scoffed.“By choosing to give you 5 years, we’re allowing you more time to love one another,” his mother told him softly, “away from the palace drama, away from every
Karen had meant what she told Aiden. She was more than willing to start over with him, and she did her best not to flinch or shy away from contact the following day, to keep herself from voicing out her insecurities in a way that could possibly hurt him too.“You don’t have to force yourself,” he told her softly after a while.“It’s not like that,” she shook her head negatively. “It’s just that I’ve been… I’ve been abused by my dad for so long that I forgot what it felt like to be loved. I’m just scared, you know.”Tears sprung to her eyes. And Aiden’s eyes softened on her when he said, “You’re my mate, Karen. I would never hurt you the way he did.”“I want to believe you. I really do,” she had a hard time not choking on the words. “It’s just so hard. I told you that I have my own demons to battle as well.”“I understand
Aiden had just slammed the door to his room close, when Jasmine, his mother, appeared next to Karen who had remained in the hallway, too stunned, angry and hurt to move.“Is everything alright?” The witch asked her.“I don’t know,” Karen said in a soft whisper. “I am human. He is a werewolf. I am not used to your ways. And he doesn’t try that hard to make me understand.”“What do you want to know? I’ll explain what I can,” she offered softly.“Really?” Karen beamed at her.“Yeah, I can sense that you are troubled. I want to help,” Jasmine told her, her deep blue eyes reminding her of the sweetly calming sea.“He said that his wolf identified me as his mate, and that his feelings started from there,” Karen said on a sigh. “What does that even mean?”“Here’s the deal,” the woman began, “Aiden was so eager to meet y
Upon reaching the palace, Aiden was almost too eager to see his mate, but he couldn’t just yet. He needed to report to his dad first.He knocked on the door of his office and waited for the instruction to come in. It took a few seconds for his dad to unlock it and open it himself.Aiden wasn’t too surprised to see his mom in there. His dad only locked the office when he had his mate over for some reason or another.Seeing her slightly flushed face, Aiden had a mild idea regarding what they had to discuss, and he smirked ever so slightly.“Unless you want your mom to kick your ass, you’d do better to wipe that smirk off your face, son,” his dad whispered in a conniving tone.Aiden’s lips twitched some more and then he tried to school his features.“I’m here to report about the extraction mission,” he announced in a loud voice.“Come in,” his mom said as she rose to her feet from the s
Hunting down witches had never been on Aiden’s agenda. He was a sucker for peace. Besides, his mom was a witch herself, so one could understand his reluctance to go on the mission.Not only did he meet one of the warlocks who were probably involved, but he was the target too. His dad left him in charge of the squad of warriors he sent.That put a lot of pressure on him even if he would never admit it out loud.His task wasn’t to capture the witches or anything of the sorts – Blake was adamant about that according to his dad – but rather to find their base and possibly get them to talk. What unnerved Aiden more was that this hunt was making him part ways with his beloved mate.But then, he reminded himself that this was for the sake of peace – and because they made the first move. It wasn’t his fault if Blake vowed to rain down hell on them as soon as possible.Aiden had to travel back to Florida. He first went to the place