1

Aaron.

The rays of the sun warm my face and wake me up. I stretch and put my hands behind my head. My gaze rests on the ceiling, like every morning. Today is going to be a whole new day, I can feel it.

I get up and walk into my bathroom. The cold water gliding over my body relaxes my muscles. I love this feeling in the morning. After getting dressed, I go downstairs. Leon and Jason are eating. I greet them and sit down opposite them.

- Brad and Justin want to see you, Jason informs me.

- For what?

He shrugs and continues to eat. Brad and Justin were my dad's beasts. Since my childhood they are the ones who have managed the pack. And now they've got used to meddling in my business and I don't tolerate being given orders.

- He was talking about research last night with my mother, intervenes Léon.

- Research? I repeated.

- Yeah.

Leon being Brad's son, is always aware of his father's thoughts. Which works to my advantage. We finish eating and leave the house. As we head to my office, I sense Lena sitting alone in the forest.

- Go ahead, I'll join you later.

When I approach her, she doesn't move but I know she smelled me. I hug her from behind and kiss her bare shoulder.

- Hi.

- Hi.

- What are you doing? I asked him.

- I was waiting for you.

- How did you know I would arrive?

- You're addicted to me, she answers smiling.

I'm kidding, she's right. She turns around and puts her arms around my neck.

-Why do you want to see me in the morning? I asked him knowing the answer.

She grabs my lips and thus answers my question. I pin her against a tree and deepen our kiss. She wants me. When she pulls the bottom of my t-shirt I reluctantly push her away.

- They're expecting me.

She pouts saying to me:

- They can wait a few minutes.

- A few minutes? No, wait tonight and it will be hours.

She laughs and kisses me. Arrive in front of the office, I sigh and go home. Brad, Justin, Leon and Jason are waiting for me seated. I sit at the end of the table and wait for one of them to start.

- According to our men, several packs in the South were attacked by wolves whose presence they had not sensed, explains Justin.

- It must be Thomas and his pack! We must go!

- No, Brad contradicts me.

- How's that, no? It's an opportunity! We know where they can be, it's now or never!

- That's why we asked to speak to you. You are not ready Aaron.

-I'm not ready? I repeated bewildered. I AM THE STRONGEST ALPHA! I could beat a whole pack on my own and no problem!

My fist slams down hard on the table under my angry gaze. I am a man, I am no longer a child and they no longer have the right to meddle in my affairs! I am the Alpha!

- What he means, Justin intervenes, is that you are not at the peak of your strength.

I calm down and nod for him to continue.

- An Alpha is only at its peak of strength when it has...

- Her soul mate, Leon finished for her.

I take a few seconds to realize what I just heard.

- What?

- You will have to find your soul mate.

- No.

I get up and lean against the window. I had never considered finding my soul mate before. Léna is the one I want. She and not another.

- I already have the one I want, I tell them.

- Aaron, you should wake up and realize that your relationship with Lena is toxic.

I glare at Brad. How dare he say such a thing? I look at Jason and Leon who avoid my gaze.

- The only thing we ask of you is to find her.

Annoyed, I leave, slamming the door. I need to release this fury in me. I venture into the forest, and can't take it anymore, I hit a falling tree. I don't want her, I have Lena and that's fine with me.

In the evening, I am in Lena's bed. She has her head resting on my bare chest and her eyes closed.

- I don't want you to go.

- I have no choice, I sighed. I need her.

She sighs in turn. We are both against it but as I just said, I have no choice. I get up reluctantly and get dressed. All I want is to go find her and get back as soon as possible.

Several cars are waiting outside the door. We check one last time that we have everything we need. Several people from the pack are watching us, waiting for our departure. They are all eager to see my soul mate. What could she possibly look like? I hope that at least it will suit my image.

Justin comes up to me and pats me on the shoulder.

- I hope that all will be well.

- I don't see why it would be the opposite.

He shrugs and laughs. I was about to get into the car when he stopped me:

- Aaron?

I stop all movement and listen.

- Avoid making the same mistake as your father.

- What a mistake? I asked him surprised.

- If she doesn't want to come, understand her and avoid using the hard way.

- My mother didn't want to come here?

- No, he said smiling sadly, he forced her and she had a hard time getting over it.

I say nothing, surprised at this information. I didn't know she didn't want him, I thought they had always loved each other. He smiled staring at the ground, surely recalling a memory. And that's when I understand.

- You liked it, I noticed surprised.

He stares at me without saying anything. I can't take my eyes off his, trying to understand him better. He was in love with my mother?

I pull myself together and sit on the passenger side. Jason drives and Leon sits behind. I don't speak the whole way, surprised by this revelation. I have 1001 possible situations but I still don't understand how he could have loved my mother.

Jason is also puzzled. Learning that his father loved his Alpha's soulmate is as hard on him as it is on me. But there's one thing I sensed that Jason didn't know. If she would have been there, he would have continued to love her.

Maybe they're right after all, I look a lot like my dad. Because I know that if she doesn't come of her own accord, I wouldn't hesitate to use the hard way. Whether it traumatizes her or not.