Elizabeth
My heart was palpitating in my chest. Chuck dropped me home. I was about to leave the car when he held my hand,
" What happened today?" he asked gently. I only sighed, unable to answer. Chuck was the party's host and did a brilliant job interacting with everyone. Yet, his eyes were on me, and he asked if I was comfortable. He was a good man, and I wished I didn't feel as strongly for Aerys as I did.
I wish I hadn't seen him. I was seeing him after a year, and it brought back so many confusing emotions.
" We should go out, Chuck," the words left my mouth. He looked up at me, and a smile grew on his lip, his eyes lit up.
What are you doing, Elizabeth? My mind scolded me.
" W- what?" he didn't believe me. I smiled and nodded at him.
" Yes, I want to be your girlfriend," I confirmed, and he crashed his lips on me. I put my hands on his neck as our kiss deepened. We pulled away when we were out of breath. He rested his forehead against mine and inhaled my scent.
" You can't back out," he said thoughtfully. I nodded. I didn't want to back out. I wanted to give him a chance. I need to remember about Aerys.
" Thank you for giving me a chance," he said.
" Thank you for always being there for me," I whispered. I kissed him one last time and quickly left the limo before he could kiss me again. However, he was on my side when I left. He was smiling. He pulled me closer to him by my waist and placed his lips on mine. His tongue slowly and gently pushed between my lips, and his tongue playfully explored my mouth.
" I can't get enough of you," he said. I caressed his warm neck, enjoying our closeness.
" You're my girlfriend now, baby girl," he smiles against my skin. I could feel the happiness radiating off it. I couldn't help but peck him all over his face.
" I should rest. I have a headache," I said. Chuck looked worried.
" Should we go to the hospital?"
" No, no. I think I'm tired, and we'll need to rest," I told him. He smiled at me and walked me to the porch. He opened the door, and I entered.
" Good night,"
" You too,"
I sighed once the door closed and took off my heels. I was going upstairs through the salon when I saw a silhouette of a man outside. Was Chuck back? I walked back to the door and opened it.
" Chuck -" I stopped talking, and the smile on my lips vanished. It wasn't Chuck. It was Aerys standing in front of me. I was about to close the door, but he put his leg over it.
" Elizabeth, please hear me out," he said.
" What are you doing here, and how do you know where I live!" I exclaimed, annoyed by his intrusion.
" I'm sorry for everything that happened. I'm sorry for not standing by you and believing that evidence presented," he said quickly. Did it mean he believed me now? I felt relief wash over me for only a second, but I remembered what he had done.
" Well, thank you for coming here just to tell me that. Now, goodnight, Aerys," I said, attempting to close the door in his face, but he held it.
" Can I come in?"
" No, Aerys. I'm not letting you in my home,"
" Please," he begged. I contemplated and decided to hear him out. I allowed him in and closed the door. I led him to the salon, and he sat opposite me. He stared at me for a long time, and I held his gaze.
" I'm glad to see you're doing alright," he said quietly with a slight smile,
" I missed you so badly, Elizabeth,"
" I'm going out with Chuck Arrow now," I told him. I was putting it out there. Aerys looked pained by this information.
" You're my mate," he growled lowly.
" Whom you banished from your city and didn't want any longer," I retorted.
" I was wrong. Please forgive me. I should have known you'd never betray me like this," Aerys sounded broken.
" And what made you change your mind? Wasn't the evidence overwhelming?" I said, venom lacing my words.
" I was just confused at the moment," he said,
" Yes, too confused to send lycans to kill me," I barked. Aerys' eyes widened, and shock plastered on his face.
" I'd never! You have to believe me; it wasn't on my order," he refuted. I could see in his eyes that he was telling the truth.
" Just leave me, Aerys. I want nothing to do with you or your pack," I said firmly.
...
The following couple of days were turbulent for me. Aerys had been coming to my house and asking to get back together even though I told him I was in a relationship with another alpha. Chuck had traveled out of town for an emergency business meeting. He hated leaving me, especially since we started our relationship. However, we talked every night.
Today was one of those gloomy Sundays. The sky was dark with clouds, and it was chilly. I was sitting on the couch, my body wrapped around a fleece as I watched a movie. My doorbell sounded, and my heart started to race in my chest. I knew it was Aerys; he didn't come alone this time. I could sense three more people outside. Probably, his friends. I wasn't going to entertain them. I ignored it and continued watching the movie while eating popcorn. Acrimony was a good film.
" Elizabeth, I know you're there," Tonga said. I sighed and went to the door, still covering myself with a fleece. I opened it, and she smiled at me. Tonga stood there awkwardly for a moment, not knowing what to say. Like Aerys and the rest, she, too, believed what they were saying about me.
" I'm sorry," her soft, begging voice broke my heart. She looked teary. I smiled at her and pulled her in a hug. Sue me. I have never been one to hold a grudge. I wouldn't say I liked that part of me. Tonga and I hugged for a long time as she whispered how sorry she was that she didn't immediately stand up for me.
" Can we come out now?" Alec whispered.
" They want to apologize, too," Tonga said, and I nodded. Coswell and Alec appeared in the doorway and beamed at me. They bowed their head and apologized. Did they not believe the evidence, too?
" Thank you for finally believing in my innocence," I said. My eyes searched around. Didn't Aerys come with them? I was disappointed that he hadn't. However, all the disappointment went away when he came into view. My heart began to drum again; I'm sure he could hear it. He looked handsome in his all-black outfit. He smiled at me, and I looked away, my eyes fixed on Tonga.
" um, so you want to come in?" I asked, unsure.
" Yes,"
I threw the fleece around me in a nearby pantry and went to the kitchen. The guys followed suit, and my heart was pounding, knowing that Aerys was there. I could feel his intense gaze on me.
Everyone made themselves comfortable and just hung around as I made tea.
" Congratulations on finding your mate, Coswell. Anne is amazing." I smiled at him. I was happy for him, and Annalise is a great girl. Plus, the two made a cute pair.
" Thanks, you know Anne?"
" Yes, she's my boyfriend's sister," I shrugged. There was a deafening silence in the room, but I didn't care. Low growls were reverberating from Aery's chest.
" Tonga, can you help me," I asked. She nodded and passed the tea to Aerys. He declined it,
" Can I have whiskey?" he asked.
" You could have said so before I started making the tea," I said with a tight-lipped smile.
" Well, you didn't ask us," he retorted, seeming pissed. I inhaled, glaring at him, and put a hand on my hip.
" If you-"
" I'll drink his!" Chipped Tonga. I breathed in and out before going to the small bar. I rarely use it, but it's Chuck's favorite place in the house. I handed Aerys a bottle of old whiskey. Our fingers touched, and tingles went through the whole body. Our eyes locked, and his love words repeatedly played in my head. His fingers caressed my hand. I was startled and almost dropped the drop, but he finally caught my gaze, and I moved away.
" This looks good," he murmured, pouring in a glass.
" It's older than you. Enjoy," I said.
" Well, I'm 24 now," he mumbled.
" It's still old," I barked softly. My emotions were a mess. I excused myself quietly and went upstairs for a moment. I grabbed my phone to call Chuck. It was good that he answered on my first ring.
" Hey, baby girl,"
" Hi," I said. I felt emotional, and tears poured into my eyes. I had just realized how madly I was with Aerys. However, I didn't want to get back together with him.
" Are you alright, love?" he asked.
" My mate banished me from his city. Someone fabricated evidence against me, and he believed it. He is here and wants me back," I told him. He was silent, but I could hear his steady heartbeat.
" Do you want him back?" his voice was gentle.
" No, I- he hurt me badly, and I want to forget about him, but he's here, in my living area," I told him.
" Aerys Chasia," he mumbled. He always seemed to catch on quickly.
" You knew,"
" I have eyes,"
I leaned against the wall.
" I'll fly back tonight, and we can talk about it," he said. I nodded and ended the phone call. I made my way downstairs, and Aerys' eyes greeted me. I smiled at everyone and resumed walking into the salon.
An hour later, we were all drinking and having fun, telling stories of what had happened. I'm glad to hear that the pack was thriving, too.
I was telling them the story about how my rooster almost committed suicide, and my eyes glanced at Aerys. He was looking at me with a smile.
" Dumber?"
" Yeah, like you and your sister," I said softly. His smile grew, and my heart fluttered, my stomach bouncing with butterflies. No, no. He hurt me, I reminded myself again.