Roses Wither: Into the Darkness
Seven

Aiden

Rosa had gone home with Marcus last night, which I was grateful for. I didn’t know what I would have done if we’d been alone.

It was now 5am and I was getting a late start on my day. I should have started my rounds an hour ago, but chose to stay in bed, shower and take the day off. I couldn’t face Rosa today. I couldn’t face anyone.

I stepped out of the shower and wrapped myself in a towel. When I went into my room though, Rosa was sprawled out on her stomach in my bed, reading a book.

“Hey.” She flipped through the pages like everything was normal.

“Hey.” I pushed, swallowing hard. Goddess, the way that ass curved... My wolf jerked. How long could I push this off?

“I didn’t expect to see you today, with your brother and your dad home.” I slid my jeans on and zipped them up, then examined her hourglass shape before I sprawled out on the bed next to her.

“I’m going to Romania,” She spoke softly, not looking away from her book, “Mother and Father are speaking to Alpha Taima right now.”

“Well, you’re an adult now,” I shrugged, “He can’t take you.”

“It doesn’t work like that, Aiden.” She spoke softly, like she knew this day was coming, “It’s time for me to move to the next phase of my prophecies.”

“Says who?”

“The moon.” She rolled over to look at me, “It calls to me. It took Marcus years to be ready to make the change. I need to start now.”

“What are you going to do?” I scoffed, “Beef up like him?”

“No.” She snorted, “I have learning histories, prophecies, and training to do. According to everyone, I will have abilities and I need to learn to use them.”

“Like your brother.” I nodded, understanding now. Could she hear my thoughts, like Marcus could?

“I will rule them too, Aiden." She sighed, "Not just the wolves, the vampires too. I need to be prepared for what I need to do.”

“You knew all along that you would need to leave, didn’t you?” I gaped at her.

“Yes.” She gave a nod.

“When do you leave?” I asked with a sigh.

“Father says as soon as possible.”

It was for the best. She had no reason to be with me. I wasn’t right for her and we both knew it.

She sat up, reached for my hand and held it between her’s. The second our skin touched a jolt went through me. Looking into her eyes, I knew she felt it too.

“Do you feel that?” Her red eyebrows went up in question as she stared at our hands, “The draw is there, along with the attraction, but our connection is different than a normal mating bond, isn't it?"

"I agree," I gave a nod, "It’s there and it’s strong, but it’s different. We're able to hold back and control our urges." Then I snorted, "Even if it's just barely."

"Do you think it's because we're friends?" She looked into my eyes and hers silvered over.

It was the sign of the vampire that laid just below her surface.

"I think it's because of our stations in life." I told her honestly, as my wolf rose to meet her, "It's why I'm able to resist the claim."

“I feel that our connection has strengthened," She told me, "I feel drawn to you, like we should mate, but it’s not fair to either of us. Especially if I'm leaving soon.”

"This shit is so confusing." I groaned, pulling away from her.

Rosa

“Rosa, stand down!” Aiden mentally shouted, "That’s an order!”

“I can reach him!” I padded fast and true toward my target, bouncing over brush, branches and fallen trees.

I felt Aiden pause and fall back as a large, silver wolf jumped out of nowhere and into the midnight shaded devil I was chasing.

The intruder was dead on impact and, with one roll, the silver wolf jumped up, as though it was nothing but a romp in the woods.

“Now you’re in for it.” Aiden told me. I could even hear his mental, “Haha, told ya so.”

Our connection was so strong that we could mentally connect before mating. It had shocked me this morning, but now it astonished me. And pissed me off.

My brother shifted into his human form and shouted his orders.

“Shift!” He growled.

Fucker. He was pissed.

I shifted to my human form, as did Aiden, a few yards behind me.

“What the fuck all were you thinking, Rosa?!” He shouted at me.

My brother had never shouted at me before. Ever. He was so scary with the silver in his eyes. He almost looked crazed, like Father when he yelled.

“Is this what you do?!" He continued to yell, directly at me, "The Beta ordered you to stand down! It was an order for your protection! That was so fucking stupid! That wolf could have lead you to more of them and your pack, your guard, would have been miles behind you!”

“I’m sorry?” I scrunched my face.

“Aiden!” Marcus screamed at the top of his lungs, "Get over here!"

Aiden didn’t shift back, because by my brother’s rule, he was only a guard and was following previous orders, but he ran, and it took him a minute to reach us.

"How often does she go against your guard?" He asked Aiden when he reached us.

I didn't turn to look at my friend, but I could feel his eyes glaring holes into the back of my head.

"Daily." Aiden ground out and Marcus's eyes widened as he stared at me incredulously.

"He is your guard for a reason, Rosa!" He continued to shout.

"I-"

"No!" He snapped, "I am going to finish my rounds and replace out where this wolf was going. Aiden, you are going to shift back and take Rosa home!”

“No! We still have more rounds!” I argued.

“You are being selfish and reckless!” He pointed at me as he shouted, “Go HOME, Rosa! We will talk about this later!” Then he shifted like lightening, and was gone in the next instant.

“Let’s go.” Aiden snapped, motioning for me to hurry and shift.

“Fuck you.” I growled and shifted, running full speed to the house.

Shift and direction had me miles ahead of Aiden and I had my thoughts set on one last warm shower. One with double jets and never ending hot water. The only place to get such was Aiden’s room and that was where I was heading.

The wolves were very open with nudity, and I had used his shower so often that he even had my shampoo in there. I wanted to utilize it one more time before leaving and now was a better time than any. I was at least 20 minutes ahead of him.

“Rosa!” Ben called to me as I shifted and ran at full speed through the Alpha’s house, “What the hell happened to you guys?!”

“Chased the spare, Marcus caught up, got him!” I shouted as I hit the stairs hard, “Need a shower, we ship out in the morning!”

I practically lived in this house and my brother and father wanted to take me from this. My home and my family.

I hurried into the shower and cranked the heat, grabbing my soap and muttering to myself.

“It was pretty stupid.” I groaned, “He’ll probably tell Tati too.”

There was a whoosh of air and I turned to see Aiden standing in the water behind me. He didn’t look happy.

He just stood there in the shower stall, staring at me with amber colored irises. He was covered in dirt and the nasty black blood the creatures contained in their veins.

“I thought I could beat you here.” I swallowed hard.

He didn’t say a word, just grabbed the soap and started scrubbing himself clean.

The stall was huge and I was able to still use my showerhead, while he used the one on the other side.

I turned to face my wall, but turned to peak at him. He was leaning against the glass window-wall, his back facing me, and letting the spray run over his head.

“Are you going to say anything?” I asked.

"You made me look like a fucking fool out there, Rosa." His voice was cold and calculated, "In front of Marcus."

"I'm sorry." I whispered.

"If you were, you wouldn't do that shit." He scoffed, "You would listen to orders."

I didn’t say another word as I finished cleaning the filth off and went into the bedroom. I put on one of his t-shirts and laid in the bed.

This was something we always did, but it felt so wrong now.

When he came out, he gave me a once over, scoffed and shook his head, to say his change in attitude toward me hurt would be a lie. It killed me.

“Do you want me to leave?” I sat up and asked.

“I don’t want your brother bursting my door down. Hell, if it was your father, he'd probably kill me.” He snorted and went into his closet to get dressed.

“Aiden, I need to chill before I leave," I told him, "I'm freaking out here."

He came out in a pair of black sweatpants that hung low on his hips, giving him a sexy edge.

“Then chill.” He said dryly.

When he climbed into the bed, I shook my head to clear it. I hadn’t meant to stare at him, but I curled into him and threw my leg over his.

“When you’re in my bed like this, I want to kiss you again.” He murmmered, before taking in my scent.

“A little kissing never hurt anyone.” I shrugged and he stiffened. I had liked kissing Aiden and my body wanted so much more from him.

“You’ll be gone for years, Rosa.” He reminded me, "Maybe our off connection is due to that."

“I know, so why not make the best of the time I have here?”

“We can’t.” He shook his head and practically pushed me off of him, then got up to pace the room.

He was obviously turned on by the thought, so why not?

“I’ll claim you Rosa.” He stopped to stare at me.

“It’s a claim, it’s not a bond.” I spoke just as clearly, "If I don't need the you back-"

He visibly thought about it for a moment before shaking his head again.

“No, go replace Eli.” He turned toward the windows as he spoke. The whole back of the house was made up of window walls, the ones on the lower level opened for an easy shift and run. They were open nearly year round.

“Eli can’t help me,” God, this was embarrassing. I let out a huge sigh, “He and I are only friends. I was hiding there with him, because I’m still-.”

Aiden’s lips were on mine before I even finished my sentence.