↑ Chapter 45. Pride and Pro
Chapter 45: Pride and Promises
Chapter 45: Pride and Promises
(Aaron’s POV)
I stormed into my office, the door slamming shut behind me with a loud thud. My mood was dark, and Logan, my wolf, paced angrily inside me, his presence prickling at the surface. Disappointment and frustration churned within me.
I yanked off my leather jacket and threw it onto the sofa without care. It landed in a crumpled heap, which only mirrored my chaotic thoughts.
A sharp knock cut through the silence. “What is it?” I barked, my voice sharp and full of irritation.
The door creaked open slightly, and James Morrison, my Beta assistant, stepped in cautiously. His movements were slow, deliberate, as though not to agitate the storm already brewing inside me.
“Alpha,” he addressed me formally. His hands carried a polished lunchbox, and he carefully placed it on my desk as if it were something fragile. “This is from Miss Redwood. She left it for you before returning to her territory.”
At the mention of Caroline, my patience thinned further. I hadn’t even looked at the lunchbox, but irritation mixed with exhaustion already burned in my chest.
“Give it to the pack staff,” I said coldly, almost dismissively, my gaze fixed on the floor–to–ceiling windows. The view beyond was lost on me as my thoughts swirled back to the unfinished business of the day.
James, ever the loyal yet blunt Beta, didn’t leave immediately. He cleared his throat as though choosing his next words carefully.
“Alpha, if I may,” he began, and I shot him a warning glance, my golden wolf eyes flashing briefly. “Is it… smart. to eat food prepared by another she–wolf when you already have a mate?”
The question shouldn’t have touched a nerve, but it did. I stiffened and turned sharply, my voice cutting
through the air like a blade. “Are you questioning my decisions, Beta?”
“Never, Alpha,” James replied without hesitation, though the faintest hint of sarcasm played at the corners of
his tone.
The growl that left my chest wasn’t entirely human. “Get out,” I ordered, the words rumbling and final
James gave a slight bow and backed out of the room. My gaze lingered on the lunchbox for a moment before I turned away with a displeased growl. Logan stirred, an uneasy twist of emotions rumbling low in his form.
A few minutes later, James returned, his presence announced by another carefully timed knock
“What now?” I snapped when he stepped in.
This time, he held a different package. It was pristine and smelled far more delicious than anything else in the room. My wolf’s instincts perked up almost immediately at the scent.
“From Luna Freya,” James informed me, his tone much smoother now. He set the second lunchbox down my desk with a reverent care, almost as if daring me to compare the two.
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Chapter 45 Pride and Pra
I stared at him, waiting for further clarity.
“The meal is from The Silver Spoon restaurant. Luna had it delivered and ensured it met your preferences,” James clarified.
It was at that moment that Freya’s voice reached me through our mate bond. Her connection was brisk and precise–unemotional, even,
“Elder Katherine mentioned your eating habits were poor, her voice pointed out. “The chef knows your
preferences, so you have no excuse not to eat now.”
The casualness grated against me, not because of what she said, but because of the quiet intent beneath it.
“When did you start caring about what I eat?” I questioned, though my tone carried more irritation than
curiosity.
“Since you’re the pack Alpha and your grandmother worries about you,” she replied smoothly.
I scoffed under my breath, muttering about Freya’s usual disinterest in me. But something about the mere fact that she’d sent me food refused to leave my mind.
It aggravated me further. My emotions were as off–balance as they had been all week.
I opened her chosen meal, the smoky aroma of perfectly cooked steak hitting me immediately. It was a dish i usually enjoyed. The chef’s trademark blend of herbs and sauces was unmistakable.
James gestured to Caroline’s original lunchbox, still sitting untouched on the desk’s corner. “Shall –?” “Distribute all of it to the pack staff, I ordered sharply, turning away from him. “Every last bit.”
James hesitated as though caught between amusement and duty. With a curt nod, he said, “As you wish, Alpha,” and exited once again with both lunchboxes.
(Caroline’s POV)
Despite leaving Aaron’s office earlier, I couldn’t bring myself to leave the headquarters entirely. My heart was heavy, my attempts to get close to him backfiring once again.
I walked down to the lower floors, lingering near the common areas where I knew the Betas and Omegas often gathered. My steps faltered slightly as I caught sight of James Morrison, Aaron’s Alpha assistant. He was holding the lunchbox I had carefully prepared.
“James!” I called out, my tone a mix of cheer and concern.
He turned to face me, his face neutral as always. “Miss Redwood,” he greeted politely.
“How is Aaron?” I ventured, forcing a smile. “Did he… enjoy the sandwiches? I spent a lot of time making sure they were his favorites”
For the briefest moment, James seemed hesitant, but he quickly masked it. “The Alpha had the meal Luna Freya sent from The Silver Spoon. He gave your sandwiches to the pack staff to share”
The weight of his words hit harder than I expected. “Oh,” I said softly, struggling to mask the sharp sting of rejection. My fingers curled ever so slightly around the strap of my bag, the bandage on my finger a bitter reminder of the effort I’d gone through.
“He did compliment the quality of the sandwiches,” James added, likely an attempt to soften the blow. The pack staff was quite pleased.”
Chapter 45 Pode and Pho
Despite his intentions, the words did nothing to ease the fansion belliding in my dad has ne
cant harten tried them. Freya’s store bought meat had overshadowed my handmade one so affontendy
“Thank you,” I mumbled, trying to maintain my compodore appreciate you letting me never
James nodded, his duty complete, and walked off, leaving me standingG THAT
I felt ridiculous. How had it come to this? My confidence, my carful planning all of it has numPLES AT THE
face of something so small.
(Aaron’s POV)
I wasn’t surprised when there was another knock on the doce The tang and the scent per away before
the door even opened.
“Enter,” I said without emotion, already knowing what was coming.
Caroline stepped in carefully. Her demeanor had changed, the quiet confidence she always carted seemed dimmed. She paused near the door, hesitating for the first time in a long time
earl “I wanted to check on you,” she said softly, her words tentative. “You left so suddenly river was wonted
I gestured toward a chair but didn’t offer her the warmth she might have been seeking Tm fire Caline
Just busy.”
She lingered by the door for a moment longer before sitting “If something’s wrong you know you can tell me she added, searching for an opening in the walls I was so clearly keeping up
I sighed, leaning back in my chair. “It’s nothing, Caroline. The pack’s demands are constant. You know how in
is.”
Her lips twitched, forming a faint smile. “Well I hope I’m not overstepping. I just thought-
‘Phone calls work best in the future if it’s something minor, I interrupted, my tone brisk but not cruel Something flickered across her face–hurt, disappointment–but she quickly masked it. She clasped her hands in her lap, trying to steady a shaky facade
“Have I become a bother to you, Aaron?” she asked quietly, her voice dipping just enough to feel genuine Her question pierced through me in ways I didn’t anticipate Memories surfaced unbidden–of the day I had nearly lost my life to a rival pack and of Caroline standing there as my supposed savior
Logan growled lightly, reminding me of the debt that still chained me to her, no matter how far I tried to distance myself emotionally.
“No, Caroline,” I said, my voice softening just enough to convey that truth. “You saved me once. That will always matter.”
“Then why does it feel like you’re constantly pulling away?” she pressed, her eyes searching mine for
answers.
I ran a hand through my hair, the weight of everything wearing on me. “You’re not a bother,” I repeated firmly. “You’ll always have access to me, Caroline. That won’t change.”
Her guarded expression flickered before she finally allowed relief to cross her face. She stood abruptly and crossed the room quickly, throwing her arms around me before I had time to react.
Chapter 45. Pride and Pro
“Thank you,” she whispered against my shoulder. “You don’t know how much that means to me.”
My hands hovered briefly before lightly patting her back in a gesture of distant affection. As she pulled away, something unspoken lingered in her eyes
I straightened, maintaining a composed distance as I said, “I owe you my life, Caroline. Any request within my power as Alpha… is yours.”
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