6

When Aiden walked into the pack house, he didn't expect a Maya to jump on him. The Alpha wrapped his arms around her and hugged her tightly. The young wolf crushed her lips to his impatiently. Aiden chuckled then peeled himself away from his girlfriend before putting her back on the floor.

Maya had gorgeous regular curls. She had put in her dark hair, a small headband adorned with diamonds. She gave him a huge smile that warmed his heart.

- Help! I'm so happy to see you again!

- She can't stay still since she knows you're coming, laughed a deep voice.

A man in his thirties appeared alongside Maya. The latter approached a clean-shaven head and gray eyes. Roderick, the Alpha of this pack. Aiden gave her a warm smile.

- Roderick, thank you for agreeing to see me.

- Sebastian's pack will always be welcome in my house, smiled the Alpha.

Aiden didn't take up Roderick's pike. He didn't really recognize him as the Alpha of the pack that his father had led, it could have caused unnecessary wars if he had an excessive ego. Maya hugged him tightly, interrupting his thoughts.

- A little dress, Maya, scolded Roderick.

The latter released him with a sulky pout.

- Aiden, follow me in my office, we have to talk.

Aiden nodded and gave Maya a last look, standing in the hallway, before following his ally. The latter guided him through the large house that housed part of his pack. They arrived in front of a wooden door. Roderick entered the room.

Aiden lingered over the warm decor of the room, which was made entirely of wood, from floor to ceiling to furniture. He looked away from the shelves filled with strange objects or slimy substances locked in jars.

Roderick sat down on the seat behind his varnished desk. He urged her to sit facing him, which Aiden immediately did. Once installed, they stared without saying anything.

"I know why you're here, Aiden," Alpha Roderick began.

- Really ?

- You want Maya to come with you.

Aiden remained impassive. Showing the slightest sign of weakness to his opponent, however ally, gave him an advantage. This advantage, Aiden in no way wanted to give it to someone who did not consider him an Alpha.

- You know it's impossible. She's not of age, continued Roderick. It's not very fair compared to his parents. They would be saddened to see their underage granddaughter leave with a boy thousands of miles away.

- I'm not just any boy, Aiden defended himself.

Roderick dismissed his remark with an annoyed wave of the hand.

- I know you've had a relationship with Maya for some time, but that doesn't justify her leaving. I am her Alpha, she is under my responsibility. Give me one good reason to leave her to you.

Aiden clenched his fist. Maya was not a commodity that could be traded or traded like that. She deserved more respect.

- I want to make her my Luna.

Aiden savored the surprise on Roderick's face. He seemed to be thinking, then gave her a satisfied smile that did not reassure the young man.

- If I give you Maya, what will I get in return?

- I know where he is.

Roderick's face took on a strained expression.

- You are young. Far too young to lead a pack, in my humble opinion. If you want to negotiate, at least learn to have a currency up to par.

Aiden was tense to the limit. Roderick had gone too far.

- How's your shoulder, my friend?

Roderick glared at him. He still wasn't cured. That meant he was still looking for that vampire.

- How's your pack, Aiden? Are you safe? Are my men doing their job well? The time must seem long to them away from their families, I thought I'd call them back soon, what do you think?

The young man rose from his chair and glared at her.

- Would that be a threat, Roderick?

- Oh, I would never dare, you know it well. So calm down.

Aiden sat back down, not without wanting to rip his head off.

- I'll make you a deal. I will keep Maya close to me and you will instead take my daughter Alicia into your pack and make her your Luna.

- What do I gain by accepting?

- The safety and support of my pack forever. Our two families would be linked by an indestructible bond.

Aiden took a deep breath. This was not how he had imagined things to turn out. Making Alicia his Luna would make him give up Maya and every other woman forever. Only his pack came before his heart. His father would have accepted without hesitation. But he was not her father.

- I need time to think.

- GOOD. I imagine it can't be easy to bond with someone you don't know. Alicia will be leaving with you tomorrow morning. You can get to know each other better.

Aiden watched Roderick's smug face and it pissed him off.

- All right. Only I reserve the right to refuse the link if it does not fit between us.

- As you wish.

Roderick fired Aiden. The latter found Maya who was waiting for him impatiently. When he arrived in the living room she jumped on him again before planting a huge loud kiss on his cheek. Aiden gently pushed her away and asked her to lead him to his room. She led him to a room set back from all the others. Maya plopped down on the soft bed.

- SO ? Roderick agreed to let me go? My parents agree, you know. I made arrangements with them. I had to do household chores to get them to let me go, she pouted.

Aiden didn't answer and pulled out his clothes for the next day before laying them on a wooden chair in the corner of the room. He couldn't wait to leave so he could talk about it with his mother.

- He refused.

Maya froze. He turned to see what she was doing. She was now on her feet, arms akimbo, face flushed with anger.

- What !? He does not have the right ! How does he dare ?

- You're underage, Maya.

She looked at him without understanding.

- Are you okay with that? She got angry.

He sighed and took her hands tenderly before placing a kiss on her forehead. The young wolf instantly relaxed.

- No. It doesn't thrill me at all. Besides, Alicia is coming with me.

- Alicia? What is this plague doing in the story?

- Roderick wants me to make her my Luna.

Maya opened her eyes wide. His blue eyes that turned bright yellow. She was really angry to the point of not controlling her wolf.

- I. Am. Your. Luna.

She had accentuated each word, as if she took him for a bewilderment.

- Maya, nothing is certain that I take her like Luna.

- Shut up ! she exploded. You're saying that so I don't throw a tantrum. I wouldn't, but don't ever come see me again!

She slammed the door as she left the room. Aiden was enraged. In a fit of anger, he punched the wall, leaving a big hole in the wood. The pain irritated him even more and when he had to leave the next day, he showed himself to be execrable with Alicia who hadn't asked for anything.