Chapter 83
Cassia was bent over her bag, rifling through it with growing frustration.
“Where the hell is this car key?” she muttered. She shook the bag, and everything spilled to the ground. She groaned, bending to pick the items up, her hair falling over her face.
As she reached for her things, another hand appeared. Large, familiar. It lifted her lip gloss and held it out. Cassia froze, her heart skipping. She brushed her hair from her face, and her eyes met the last gaze she wanted to see.
Aiden.
For one breathless moment, the world stilled. Their gazes locked, and it was like a storm swept through her veins, sparks, heat, her wolf stirring faintly inside her as his scent wrapped around her like smoke.
Her pulse thundered, her breath quickened, and she hated herself for it.
“Here,” his voice was low, rough, almost reverent. “You dropped this too p>
She blinked, jolted back to reality. She snatched the gloss from his hand, but their fingers brushed, and a jolt shot up her arm. Her chest tightened at the warmth of his skin, the way his eyes lingered on hers.
She ripped her hand back, stuffing the gloss into her bag, refusing to look at him.
“If you can’t find your keys, I could drop you off at the hospital,” Aiden said, watching her every move as if she were air and he was suffocating without her.
“No. I’ll manage on my own. I don’t want to disturb you with my problems p>
“Your problems are mine, Amelia,” he said quietly, and her head snapped up. Their eyes locked again, and for a heartbeat she couldn’t breathe.
“I mean your life is still in danger. Let me drop you off p>
“I don’t need your help, Aiden. I can handle myself just fine p>
“Amelia,” his voice roughened, almost breaking, “can you stop being so stubborn and let me help you p>
Her chest burned. “I’m being stubborn? No, you’re the stubborn one. I’ve asked you to stay away a hundred times, but you keep pushing closer p>
He stepped toward her, desperation flickering across his face. “Because I can’t stay away from you. Even if you push me a thousand times, I’ll keep coming back. I don’t care how much you hate me, I will never stop trying p>
Her throat constricted, but she shoved the heat away, forcing steel into her voice. “Don’t you get it? I hate you, Aiden. I hate you so much I can’t even stand looking at you. I hate you p>
Her words sliced him open. The pain flashed across his eyes, raw and unguarded. But he didn’t move. Didn’t
retreat.
His voice came softer, breaking. “I can bear your hatred… but I can’t bear losing you again. That would kill me, Amelia. ”
Her heart skipped just for a second but then she steeled herself. She shook her head, choking back the memories clawing at her chest.
“You know what? Forget it. I’ll just walk and find a taxi.” She shoved past him.
Aiden stood there, his chest heaving, guilt and longing tearing at him. Every part of him screamed to run after her. His wolf clawed inside, desperate not to let her slip away again.
Meanwhile, Amelia is seen in the street of red moon pack walking fast, her heels clicking against the pavement, her breaths shallow. The further she got from him, the calmer she felt. No sparks, no unwanted stirrings, no wolf clawing awake. Being near him was torture, her body betraying the hatred her mind fought to hold onto.
She sighed, running a hand through her hair, waiting for a taxi. But then she saw headlights flare. A black car pulled smoothly in front of her.
Aiden.
Her fists clenched tight. “What the hell does he want now?” she muttered, trying to walk around.
But he drove forward, blocking her path.
She glared at him furiously as he stepped out of the car, determination etched in every line of his face.
“Are you crazy, Aiden p>
“Just get in. Let me drop you off. I only want you safe.” His voice cracked slightly at the edges, his desire bleeding through every word.
Cassia bit her lip, eyes narrowing. “I said no. I’m not going with you p>
“Then you leave me no choice,” he growled softly. “I’ll carry you if I have to p>
Her chest tightened, memory flashing from last night, his arms lifting her against her will, his warmth pressing into her skin. She stepped back quickly, her heart racing.
“You can’t touch me! I’m married. If you try, I’ll scream. I’ll tell everyone you’re trying to force yourself on me and that you are trying to hurt me p>
He flinched, his face twisting with anguish. “What? No! Amelia, I would never hurt you, never take advantage of you. I just p>
he paused, staring at something behind her
Cassia froze at the change in his expression. Slowly, she turned.
A small crowd of pack members had gathered, their faces grim, their eyes hard as they glared at Aiden.
One of the men stepped forward, his voice sharp. “Luna Amelia, is the Alpha bothering you p>