Chapter Twenty
Aiden and Chloe walked through the lush gardens of the Lycan kingdom, enjoying the beauty of the flowers and the fresh scent of nature. As they strolled, Aiden suddenly stopped and led her towards a beautiful water fountain, surrounded by lush greenery.
“This fountain is more than just a decorative piece,” Aiden said, “It’s been in my family for generations. My ancestors built it as a symbol of unity and strength for our people.”
Chloe was fascinated and leaned in closer, “What do you mean?”
Aiden took a deep breath and began, “The fountain was built by my great-great-grandfather during a time when our kingdom was facing a lot of challenges. The humans were getting stronger, and our people were divided. My great-great-grandfather knew that the only way we could survive was by uniting and standing together.”
Chloe’s eyes widened, “That’s amazing. And the fountain still stands today.”
“Yes,” Aiden replied, “It still stands today, a reminder of our strength and unity. It’s been passed down from generation to generation, and it’s our responsibility to keep it safe and strong.”
Chloe smiled, “I’m honored that you shared this with me, Aiden. It’s a beautiful piece of your heritage.”
Aiden took her hand and pulled her closer, “And now, it’s a part of yours too, Chloe. We are bonded, and my heritage is now yours as well.”
Chloe felt a flutter in her chest at his words, “I’m happy to be a part of it.”
They stood there for a few moments, enjoying the serene beauty of the fountain and the peacefulness of the moment. As they turned to continue their tour, Chloe knew that this was just the beginning of her journey with Aiden and the Lycan people. And she was excited to see what else lay ahead.
Chloe sat on the balcony of Aiden’s castle, her mind wandering back to the time when Liam had treated her so poorly. She remembered how he had rejected her, making her feel worthless and unwanted. He had believed she was too weak to be his mate, and had chosen Emily, his girlfriend, to be his future Luna instead. She had been humiliated and bullied by Emily and the rest of the pack, and Liam had stood by and done nothing.
As she sat lost in thought, Aiden walked up to her, concern etched on his face. “Chloe, are you okay?” he asked, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder.
Chloe shook her head, tears threatening to spill over. “I’m sorry, Aiden. I was just thinking about Liam and how he treated me so badly. All because I’m a half-breed and not good enough for him.”
Aiden’s expression softened, and he wrapped his arms around her, holding her close. “You are more than good enough, Chloe. You are beautiful, strong, and intelligent. Liam doesn’t know what he’s missing.”
Chloe smiled weakly, feeling comforted by Aiden’s words. “Thank you, Aiden. You always know how to make me feel better.”
Aiden brushed a strand of hair from Chloe’s face, his eyes locking onto hers. “Chloe, I know we have a strong connection, and I want to be with you.?”
Chloe’s heart skipped a beat at Aiden’s words. She had never felt so wanted and loved before. She looked deep into his eyes and nodded her head, a smile spreading across her face. “Yes, Aiden. I want to be with you too.”
Aiden’s face broke into a grin, and he leaned in to kiss Chloe on her cheeks. Chloe felt a sense of belonging and happiness that she had never experienced before. She knew that with Aiden by her side, she would never feel unwanted or unloved again.
Chloe was jolted awake by her own voice yelling in terror. Her heart raced as she tried to shake off the remnants of the dream that still clung to her mind. She couldn’t remember the details, but she knew that it had been a nightmare. She shivered, feeling a chill run down her spine.
As she tried to calm down, Chloe realized that she couldn’t shake off the image of Emily’s sneering face. She had always known that Emily despised her for being a half-breed, but she had never imagined that the woman would go so far as to wish death upon her. The memory of how Liam had treated her badly in the name of Emily also resurfaced. Chloe couldn’t help but wonder if the dream had been a manifestation of her subconscious fears.
She took a deep breath, trying to push the thoughts away. She reminded herself that she was safe now, in Aiden’s kingdom, and that she had no reason to fear Emily or Liam anymore. But the fear still lingered, like a ghost haunting her mind.
Chloe lay back down and tried to go back to sleep, but her mind was too agitated. She tossed and turned for what seemed like hours, her thoughts racing as she tried to make sense of the dream. Finally, she gave up and got out of bed, deciding to take a walk in the gardens to calm her nerves.
As she walked, Chloe couldn’t help but wonder if the dream had been a premonition of some sort. Was Emily really planning something? Or was it just her imagination playing tricks on her? She tried to shake off the feeling of unease that gripped her, but it wouldn’t go away.
Suddenly, she saw Aiden walking towards her. Relief flooded through her as she ran to him and hugged him tightly. Aiden held her close and whispered soothing words in her ear, and Chloe felt her fears start to dissipate. She knew that she was safe with him.
As they walked back to the castle together, Chloe couldn’t help but wonder if her dream was a warning of some sort. She resolved to be more cautious in the future and to keep her guard up around Liam and Emily. She knew that she couldn’t let her guard down, not even for a moment.
Chloe sat with Aiden, recounting her dream to him. She couldn’t shake the feeling that it was more than just a dream. Aiden listened intently, his eyes fixed on her, a deep concern etched on his face.
After she finished, Aiden took a deep breath and asked her, “Do you think there’s a possibility that Emily had something to do with your poisoning?”
Chloe’s eyes widened at the suggestion. “Emily? But why would she do something like that? I mean, we weren’t exactly friends, but we weren’t enemies either.”
Aiden leaned forward and placed his hand on hers, “Jealousy can drive people to do unimaginable things, Chloe. I’ve seen it before. And in our world, where bonds and mates are everything, jealousy can become a matter of life and death.”
Chloe couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Could Emily really be capable of such a thing? She shook her head, “I just can’t wrap my head around it, Aiden. It seems so extreme.”
Aiden nodded in agreement, “It does, but we can’t rule anything out yet. We need to keep an open mind and look at all the possibilities.”
Chloe sighed heavily, “I just want to forget about all of this and move on.”
Aiden squeezed her hand gently, “I know, Chloe, but we need to figure out what happened. We can’t let someone get away with something like this.”
Chloe nodded, “You’re right, Aiden. Let’s find out what really happened.”
Their conversation left Chloe with a sense of unease. Could Emily really have been capable of something so heinous? She couldn’t help but think about all the times Liam had treated her badly because of his bond with Emily. Was it possible that Emily had gone too far this time? The thought sent shivers down Chloe’s spine.
Chloe’s heart raced as Aiden sat on the edge of her bed and prepared to leave. She couldn’t bear the thought of being alone in her room after the terrifying dream she had just experienced. She reached out and grabbed his arm, pleading with him not to leave her.
“Please stay with me,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “I don’t want to be alone.”
Aiden’s lips twitched into a mischievous grin. “Are you sure you want that?” he teased. “Things might get intense, and I might not be able to resist you.”
Chloe blushed at his words but didn’t back down. “Maybe I don’t want you to resist me,” she replied, returning the banter.
Aiden chuckled softly. “As tempting as that sounds, Chloe, you’re still recuperating. We should take things slow.”
Chloe nodded, understanding his concern. She watched as he slipped under the covers beside her and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close. She felt safe and secure in his embrace, and soon drifted off to sleep.© 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.
As she slept, her dreams were filled with visions of Aiden, his kind eyes and gentle touch. She knew that she was starting to feel something for him, something deeper than just friendship. But the thought of Liam still lingered in her mind, leaving her confused and unsure of what to do next.