Roses Wither: Into the Darkness

2 Years later

Aiden

Movie nights were chill and relaxed with the gang. We’d always hang in the family room until my parents went to bed, then Rosa and I would end up in my room, watching more movies, eating junk food and drinking beer. It was the beer that normally led to the crazy shit, but when it was just Rosa and I things didn’t get so crazy. Except my hormones.

We’d grown up together and Rosa understood what it was like to have the stress of the future looming over her. Even if we didn’t talk about it, it was nice to have someone who understood me on another level. Except for the fact that she had no idea how connected our future paths were.

I had known since my eighteenth birthday that she was my mate, but I was scared shitless. Surely she knew. Deep down, she had to know that the bond we had wasn’t purely platonic, although I kept it that way. The less anyone knew, the better.

We had chosen tonight as an 80′s movie night, and everyone else ended up bowing out for the bonfire, leaving Rosa and I to ourselves, which felt good, that she was willing to chill with me versus going out and having a good time.

The Breakfast Club had just ended and we were now in debate, as she sprawled on my bed, eating from a family sized bag of Doritos. Our metabolism as wolves meant that we burned through calories like water, which I thanked the goddess for, as I looked to my mate’s curves, while she licked her fingers clean. She had such a tiny waste, full bust and perfectly round ass.

“No Pretty in Pink?” I teased, trying not to let her see me looking, “Come on, you’re a princess. Don’t princesses like that romance shit?”

“Number one,” She held a finger up as she spoke, “Don’t ever call me that, if you want to keep your dangly bits, and number two, Ferris Bueller goes with our theme of High School here.”

“So does Pretty in Pink.” I debated with a smile that was more predatory than friendly.

“I hate Pretty in Pink.” She visibly cringed.

“What about 16 Candles?” My eyebrows rose in question.

“Why do you want to watch chick flicks?” She teased back, “Do you have a thing for Molly Ringwald? Do we need an intervention, Aiden?”

“No,” I rolled my eyes, ” You’re a chick. You’re supposed to be into that romance shit.”

I needed to cool it, or she would catch on to the fact that I was trying to make my mate happy.

“Put in Bill and Ted.” She ordered, pointing to other DVD in my hand.

I gave a nod and popped it in before plopping down on the bed and sprawling out behind her. It was the perfect spot for me. Back here, I could see the TV and those curves up close and personal.

Her phone started to buzz on my nightstand, for the third time this hour and she scoffed, standing and moving to check the screen.

“You’re popular tonight.” I gazed at it, wondering who the hell was texting my mate. As soon as her eighteenth birthday hit, and she knew what I had known all this time, shit would hit the fan. This guy, whoever it was, would disappear and it would only be her and I, but could I handle that? Could I keep the future queen safe and protected behind my army? Would I be strong enough?

“It’s Eli again.” She sighed and tossed the phone back, next to mine.

“Elijah?” I tried to smile as I leaned back on my pillow and folded my hands behind my head, “What does my cousin want with you?”

“The usual.” She sighed and snuggled into my side, as I moved one arm to slide around that perfectly curved hip.

How could she not feel the connection between us? How could she not know what we were to each other?

For two years now, things had gotten more interesting with us. Around the others, I had become a little tighter and more emotionally controlled. It was because I was preparing to become Alpha. One day, I would be in charge of this army that protected the Queen and our future Earth Goddess.

No one saw the relaxed, cool, calm and joking Aiden anymore. No one but Rosa. My Rosa, but did I have it me to protect her?

It always nagged at me. Day in and day out, it was all I could think about. In the end, would I be able to keep her alive?

Sure, we understood each other and could lay here for hours, just snuggling and watching movies, but what would happen when shit got real? Would we be the force the prophecies spoke of?

“Which would be?” I could hear the tightness in my own voice and tried to reign it in.

“He just wants to know if I’m going to show at the bonfire.” She rolled her eyes, “Calm your jets, Casanova.”

“Why does he want you there, Rosa?” She stiffened and looked up at my face as I tried to calm myself.

“Because, we hang sometimes.” She examined me, “When I told him I was chilling with you tonight, he got a little pissed.”

“There’s a story there.” I couldn’t hold my glare, “Did he claim you? You’re still underaged.”

Eighteen was the proper age for a shifter to claim their mate. Not before. It was the law we lived by, since our wolves weren’t ready until then.

“You want to share your stories?” Her little red brow furrowed at me, “No. So don’t get involved in mine.”

“You slept with him, didn’t you?” My voice was tight. No one should be touching my little mate.

“Yes.” She bit the word out, obviously annoyed with me, “Yes, Aiden. I slept with him and half of the pack while we’re at it.”

“Seriously?!” It was my turn to gape at her now.

“Look, Eli and I have innocent fun together.” She shrugged, “I don’t see that it’s a problem.”

“You turn eighteen in three weeks,” I glared down at her, “You’ll meet your mate and let me tell you, he won’t like Elijah hanging around you, or any other guy, for that matter.”

“I don’t feel anything though, not in that sense.” She played with one of the buttons on my shirt, trying to avoid my eyes, that I was sure were now the amber color of my wolf’s, “I just... My mom always said that the second she met my dad she knew. She said that all of her senses were on overdrive and it was only heightened after she became a vampire. Since I’m half vampire shouldn’t I feel it now, not when I’m eighteen?”

“Vampire or wolf, you should feel it.” I stated pointedly. What if I was the only one who felt it? I knew the pull would get stronger when she turned eighteen, but I hadn’t even thought of that.

“Exactly.” She gave a tight nod.

“So what are you going to do about Eli?” I smiled now, knowing that she felt nothing for my cousin, or anyone else she had been with.

“I’m going to let it go tonight and give him time to calm down before I call him back.” She looked up at the TV.

“How many people have claimed you?” I couldn’t help but ask.

“I am not sharing my body count with you.” She laughed.

“Body count?” I belted a laugh, trying to play it off as a game.

She gave me a playful smack, “You know what I mean.”

“Well, you and me are in the same boat, kiddo.” I cleared my throat and pulled her closer. She was mine, for now, “That’s why I’m here with you on a Saturday night, watching shitty 80′s movies.”

“They’re classics!” She snapped.

“I have to admit that your right, for once.” I gave a nod. “Bill and Ted is great.”

“I’m always right.” she shrugged.

“So, what’s your plan, if you don’t find a mate?” I asked, my throat tightening, “You’re supposed to have a King.”

“I don’t think it would be so bad to be alone,” She shrugged, but didn’t look up at me, “My future is sorted, so I may meet him... Eventually. There’s a lot in the prophecy that doesn’t make sense.”

“Like?”

“She will reign with the highest guard. A King of his land, and bring forth peace between all of the species.” She spoke the words in her prophecy, “The highest guard is technically Marcus, then your father.”

“You do realize that I’m taking over for my father when I’m older, right?” I cleared my throat, “So technically it would be me or Marcus.”

“True.” She laughed, “I just don’t understand any of it.”

“I don’t think anyone even remotely understands.” Except for me, I mentally added, “It’s so complicated. I think it even goes back to before our parents. It would have to, right?”

“Yeah, I mean, who created the Goddesses and why?” She asked, “It all seems to go full circle around them, but there has to be a common denominator. There was peace before the goddesses, right? Then the the wars came, but what had caused them?”

“Are you seriously analyzing your prophecies during Bill and Ted?” I teased, trying to lighten the mood.

“Yes.”