SWNOVELS Chapter 88
Chapter 88: Ayla
Theo and I talked for hours. Eventually, he picked me up and moved us to the couch, where we were more comfortable. I understood what he went through when he talked about wanting a mate to support him through this transition in life. It was the same desire that had me leaning on him the way I had.
When I found out my father was killed, I didn’t have that. I couldn’t let anyone see me break down. They needed me to be strong. But this time, Theo was there. He offered comfort and support, letting me work through my grief and sadness without expecting anything in return. I didn’t want to let that go.
I don’t know when I fell asleep, but I woke up in bed the next morning. I was still dressed and, to my surprised disappointment, alone. I got out of bed and went to the front room. Theo was asleep on the couch. A smile tugged at my l*ps.
I leaned against the doorjamb as I looked him over. His arm was thrown over his head, partially covering his face. He had two-day-old stubble that added to his rugged appeal. He was too tall for the couch, and his broad shoulders barely fit on the deep-set cush**ns. His cotton shirt stretched over a muscled chest, riding up slightly to reveal an enticing trail of hair leading below his waistband.
I felt my cheeks flush with heat and pushed the thoughts from my head.
A shower. That’s what I needed. A long, cool shower.
I emerged about an hour later to the smell of coffee and eggs. Theo was at the stove, dishing breakfast onto plates.
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“You didn’t have to do this,” I said, coming up behind him.
He turned to me and smiled. “I told you, you’ll have to tell me to leave if you want to get rid of me.”
He leaned over and k*ssed my check. My knees may or may not have gone a little weak. I shook it off and went to my phone charging on the counter. It had died sometime the day before. I had plugged it in before showering. Turning it on, I was greeted with more missed calls and
texts.
A pang of guilt hit me.
“Everything okay?” Theo asked.
“Yeah,” I said, putting my phone back down and sitting at the table.
We were about halfway through the meal when Theo spoke again.
“What is he saying?” he asked cautiously.
“Huh?”
“Kingston,” Theo indicated. “I’m sure he’s trying to get in touch with you.”
“Oh, yeah,” I said. “Just a lot of sorry’s mostly. I haven’t really read them all.”
“Briggs said he was having you followed,” Theo expressed. “Did he say why?”
“He said it was about Conner and keeping me safe,” I said. “But it doesn’t excuse it. He had been acting strange before that, anyway. He’s been keeping something from me.”
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“Ayla,” Theo said tentatively. “I know I have no room to comment, but please be careful with Kingston. I don’t like that he didn’t tell you about the Blessed One tale. I’m afraid he may have been using you.”
“We don’t know if he knew the story,” I said quietly.
“Perhaps,” he replied. “But you said he was the Beta’s son. It’s highly unlikely he didn’t.”
I sighed. “I know.”
I had wondered why Kingston hadn’t told me about that. Even if he had just brought it up when we talked about his memories of the pack. I still had a hard time believing he was using me for something. An Alpha’s daughter and a Beta’s. It made sense that we would have a real connection.
Either way, it didn’t matter. I still didn’t want to be with someone who wasn’t honest with me or treated me like a child. I did think I needed to talk to him, though. He deserved that much.
I cleared our plates and went to the sink to wash the dishes. Looking out the window, I noticed Alpha Torin’s truck was gone.
“Where did your parents get off to?” I asked.
“Hmm?” Theo got up and looked out the window himself. “I don’t know. They didn’t let me know they were leaving.”
We went to the house to see if anyone was there. There was a note on the kitchen island left for Theo.
“They went into the city,” he told me. “Dad’s doctor got him in for some new screenings. Something about an experimental treatment, I guess. I’ll give Mom a call about it.”
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“Oh, that sounds like a good thing,” I speculated. “When will they be back?”
“Tomorrow morning,” Theo said.
“Alright,” I said.
“Did you have plans today?” Theo asked as he leaned against the
counter.
“I was supposed to be back in Sablemane,” I replied. “Since that’s not happening, I’ll get some writing done.”
“I have some work I need to get done.” Theo informed me. “I’ll be in the office if you need anything.”
“If you need to go home, you can,” I said. “You don’t need to stay on my account.”
Theo smirked and pushed off the counter. “I know.”
He k*ssed my head as he passed by, heading to his dad’s office. Heat crept up my cheeks again, and I rolled my eyes.
I returned to the guest house and pulled my laptop from my computer bag. A blue envelope fell to the floor at my feet. I had shoved it in the bag before I left for the packhouse. Beta Harry had given it to me the morning after Alpha’s episode. He said he had found it in the guest house. I had managed to hide my shock from him and brush it off as nothing more than a friendly greeting card.
It wasn’t, of course. The fact that this creep had followed me all the way here was unnerving. But I had decided against telling Theo about it, at least for now. I’d tell someone if another one showed up, but I was already causing enough trouble for everyone. I didn’t want another fuss. But I did feel a little uneasy working in the guest house on my
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own. So I grabbed my things and returned to the main house, settling on the couch.
I tried to focus on work, but I was struggling. After about two hours, I gave up. There were too many things running through my mind. Theo’s alluring scent hanging in the air wasn’t helping. I shut my laptop, tucking it under my arm as I went to the office door. I rapped my knuckles on the open door, getting Theo’s attention.
“You getting any work done?” I asked.
He smiled. “Not as much as I should,” he replied. “You?”
“I’m pretty caught up. I’m running out of material,” I said.
“Is there anything you can do without Dad?”
“Actually, I need to interview some people in his life,” I said. “Get their side of some experiences. Share some of their own. You’re on the list. / If you think you have time?”
“I think I can pencil you in,” he teased.
“Oh, thank you. You’re so generous,” I said sarcastically, taking the seat in front of the desk.
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