Aida mind-linked with Adenos after she left her grandmother's side.
'How's it going?' I'm on my way to you. Is there anything else you require?' Aida shocked Adenos by bombarding him with questions.
'For God's sake Aida, you've been gone for a week and now you pop up and ask dozens of questions. First and foremost, we do not require anything. If you're on the road, we'll discuss it further when you get here.' Aida made him upset.
'Heeeey, am I the Alpha or is it you? You forgot when you didn't see me. When I come, I will remind you of myself.' She closed the link with a smile in her voice. When she got out of the pack house, at the edge of the forest, she took off her clothes so they wouldn't fall apart, left them behind a tree, and let Mane take control.
She had never been able to free Mane as she had been dealing with this mess for so long. Mane was also very happy. As she ran, the wind blew through her fur and her claws shook the forest floor. Aida had lost all sense of time since she was running so rapidly that the green cover of the forest around her blurred, nothing was clear, and she had lost track of time. She then abruptly realized she was standing in front of the cottage. She shifted into her human shape, grabbed behind the tree for some clothing, put them on, and proceeded to the door.
Aida seized the door's handle. She didn't rush to open the door. She could hear peaceful, serene voices coming from the cottage. She did not have a brother. She was therefore pleased to learn that she had a brother.
'Another Alpha bearing the gazes of his father.' Mane continued in a haughty tone.
'Leave that Alpha nonsense alone! What is incorrect about that? You still don't get it that he's my brother, do you?
'No, I get that. You did not understand. What if he claims your pack? Or if he challenges you? Mane continued.
"Mane, for God's sake, he's just 14!" How will he challenge me? Since he arrived, he has only brought up the Blue Moon Pack. You worry for nothing; he doesn't give a damn about my pack. Mane infuriated Aida.
She turned her attention to the peaceful murmurs coming from the cottage. All her life, she had imagined living such a peaceful existence. First her mother, then her grandfather had brought trauma to her life. Her mother was so preoccupied with the loss of her father that she never thought of giving her a happy life. She was always in depression and eventually died leaving her alone.
Later, her grandpa was so preoccupied with molding her into the Alpha that he had constantly pumped adrenaline into her life.
She inhaled deeply before turning the doorknob. She stopped on the threshold of the door when she noticed Adrian and Adenos were conversing and drinking across from one other on sofas. She was first noticed by Adenos. Adenos saw across at Aida from where he was sitting and abruptly stopped speaking. Following Adenos' gaze, Adrian made eye contact with Aida. They both got to their feet and bowed their heads in respect.
She entered and greeted Adrian, apologizing for being late, saying, "Good evening, sorry I'm late." It doesn't matter; finally, you are here, Adrian added after a brief pause. He extended a handshake to her. She was also welcomed by Adenos with the phrase "Welcome Alpha!"
Aida said hello and motioned for them to sit down while sitting in an armchair.
'See, how respectful he is.' She questioned Mane, 'Are you still insistent on what you said before?'
Mane fled into the darkness of Aida's mind after uttering the angry phrase "We will see!"
At least she wouldn't be troubled for a long thanks to this decision, Aida thought. Adrian was seated across from her, so she focused on him. She was taken aback when she was unsure of how to begin the conversation. It was difficult for her to begin, because of what Adenos had earlier told her about the young man seated opposite her.
The fact that Adenos and Adrian are half magicians and share the same mother, and also that that woman is the cause of her mother's death was having trouble knowing how to bring up the matter without offending anyone.
'Alpha Aida, we were having coffee,' Adenos remarked as he stood up to give the two of them some space after realizing her dilemma. 'Would you also like a cup of coffee?'
Aida answered, "Yeah, that sounds amazing," as she looked gratefully at him.
You are a great Beta, she replied after mind-linking him. Adenos simply grinned and walked into the kitchen to make coffee.
Adrian was still as he sat on the couch and continued to stare at his hands. Aida made a throat clearing motion to catch his attention. Adrian, though, opted to remain motionless. It was time to strike up conversation, Aida determined.
'You have indeed been here for a week. Do you feel delighted to be here?'
Adrian shifted restlessly in his seat.