Chapter 15
**ARIA**
Adam stands at the bottom of the stairs on the phone and hangs up as soon as he sees me. His mouth open and desire clearly written in his eyes. He approaches slowly as if bewitched.
“This is going to be fun.” Riley whispers next to me. I elbow her discreetly.
“Wow you are beautiful. And again that word doesn’t seem to fit.” He says to me as he shamelessly ogles me up and down.
“Thanks.” I reply, feeling the red rise to my cheeks.
“He’s right. I picked out the dress very well.” I hadn’t noticed Austin coming up behind me.
He puts an arm around my waist and pulls me to him. He kisses my temple before whispering to me. “You’re even sexier than I could have imagined.”
Adam’s jaw twitches and I hate that he’s jealous, that he’s uncomfortable and that I’m the one responsible.
“I have a surprise planned for Aria tonight.” Austin tells him. “We have a room set up for you, David can show it to you and you can have dinner with the others if you want.”
“Perfect.” He answers her through his teeth.
As Austin guides me toward the exit, I stop next to Adam and kiss him on the cheek. I feel Austin tighten his grip on me.
The three of us are going to have to have a talk and agree on a few rules because I’m going to end up freaking out.
***
When we arrived at the restaurant, we were seated in a corner isolated from view. Austin ordered a bottle of wine and we started eating our food.
“Tell me a little about yourself and your family.” I tell him to start the conversation.
“Well there’s not much to tell. My mom passed away when I was 15 and after she died my dad started to freak out. He waited for me to take his place as Alpha and he let himself die.”
“Oh my god, that’s horrible.”
I can’t believe what I’m hearing. I also lost my mom but unlike him, my dad kept fighting for us, even though it was hard for him to live without her. His love for us was enough for him.
“Actually, it’s not really his fault.” He pauses. “When one has completed the mating process, our mate becomes our reason for living and when we lose him or her it is not uncommon for the one left to go crazy and for living without their mate to be insurmountable.”
I place my hand on his and despite his words I perceive pain in his eyes.
“I understand, but as a child it must be hard to say that you are not enough of a reason to live for your parent."
He simply nods and continues to eat while keeping his other hand under mine.
“Are you an only child?” I ask him.
“Yes, but I consider David my brother. His parents were there for me when it got tough.”
We both continue to eat in silence and I feel a little bad for bringing up this topic but I wanted to learn more about him. When Adam told me about his family it made me think that I didn’t know anything about Austin’s.
“What about you? Are you close to your father and brother?”
“It depends on what you mean by close.” I reply with a smile. “I talk to my dad on the phone every other day and with Cassius we don’t call each other often but I know that if I needed him in the middle of the night, he would come with a snap of his fingers, wherever he is.” I take a sip of wine. “We’re tight, it’s pretty much always been the three of us so we’re there for each other.”
“You know you could keep seeing them if you chose me. I mean we don’t age as fast as the average human but that wouldn’t stop them from continuing to be a part of your life and our family.”
I remove my hand from his quickly. I don’t like the way this conversation is going, I thought I was going to have a nice time with him where we would get to know each other but he ruined it by campaigning. I feel like I’ve been reduced to a mere prize to be won.
“Did I say something wrong?” He asks me concerned.
“No. It’s just that I’d rather we had a normal discussion. It’s true that I feel for you what I’ve never felt before, but we barely know each other. It’s hard for me to project myself into a future with either of you.” I pause. “I just want us to get to know each other and have a good time.”
“Okay, no worries.”
We spent the rest of the evening talking about our respective childhoods, my studies and funny anecdotes. I now understand that behind the Alpha there is a much less rigid man and I really want to get to know him more.
Back at the pack house, we stand strangely between our rooms doors. He is obviously trying to figure out the best way to end the evening. Faced with his indecision, I decide to take the lead and I approach him. Reassured, he fills the space separating us and kisses me by placing one of his hands behind my neck. Our bodies now stuck one against the other, I feel his erection against my lower belly.
I hear a throat clearing behind me and turn to see Adam.
“I heard you come in. Did you have a good time?”
“Yes it was very nice thank you.”
Ok there this is downright weird and not knowing how to get out of my embarrassment, I wish them both a good night and go into my room. I stand with my back against the door for a moment. I hear Austin’s door close a few seconds after mine but without a word before.
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