The Awakening Aidan - By Abby Niles Page 0,18

her fault.

It’d been her responsibility to prevent the awakening. Why had she turned her back on him?

She’d been lured into a false sense of security, that’s why. As they flung words at each other, his eyes had remained clear. Even after he’d pressed her back against him, she hadn’t heard a warning rumble from the beast. Had there been one?

She didn’t know for sure. All she’d been aware of was Aidan’s hand roaming over her stomach, the feel of his lips brushing her ear, overwhelmed by her own desire for the man. Thankfully, he didn’t know to keep his mouth shut and his demand for her to say his name had penetrated through her stupor.

And that was where she’d made the fatal mistake.

She’d been unaware that telling him to get out had brought forth the beast until he’d whirled her around and his green eyes had been overtaken by the iridescent blue.

Then it was too late.

“Jaylin?”

She lifted her head to see Pam standing in the doorway. Pam’s eyes widened. “Holy shit. What happened?”

“H-he kissed me.”

Pam covered her mouth with her hand and stared at Jaylin. “Oh no.” She hurried forward. “Are you okay?”

Jaylin shook her head. Pam’s slim arms wrapped around her, and at the gesture, tears formed in Jaylin’s eyes again. “I’ve ruined his life, Pam.”

“No, honey, you didn’t. It would’ve eventually happened no matter how hard you tried to stop it. You can’t blame yourself.”

“You should’ve seen the happiness, the peace, on his face.” She cupped her head in her hands again. “I don’t want this. I’ve never wanted this. Why would there be a shifter made who has me for his mate? Does our Dea have some twisted sense of humor?”

“I know it feels that way with everything you’ve seen, but you have to remember it’s not all bad.”

“Not all bad?” She stared at her friend. “Our entire gift is horrible. I want no part of it.”

Pam sighed. “I know you don’t, but now that I’ve met that man, something tells me you’re going to have a hell of a time convincing him of that.”

Chapter Four

Aidan leaned back against the leather cushions of the whiskey-colored chair and rubbed his chest as he rolled his left shoulder, trying to relieve the pressure building in his torso. The movements didn’t help. He tried shaking out his arms. No dice. His beast wasn’t helping matters with its constant circling and sharp snapping of its tail.

The feeling had started the moment he’d left Jaylin yesterday.

Wincing, he rubbed his chest again. It wasn’t painful. Just suffocating. Like a fog had filled his torso and was cramming his insides together. Even his teeth felt on edge, ached. He ground them together, hoping to relieve some of the pressure.

He glanced at the clock over the fireplace. Jaylin was scheduled to arrive for Liam’s session in thirty minutes. He itched to touch her. To see her. He stood, placed his laptop on the chair, and paced the room.

She hadn’t been thrilled about awakening the Drall. Not that he really expected her to from the conversation they had the other day, but her reaction seemed over-the-top hysterical almost. As if she truly believed she’d ruined his life. He didn’t understand how. Realizing she was his mate had been the happiest moment of his life, had made everything clear.

It boggled his mind that it’d had the opposite effect on her. What had happened to her to make her so fearful?

Three sharp knocks came from the door. His head whipped toward the front entrance.

Early.

Could it be possible she now felt the same overwhelming need to be with him?

He ripped open the door. In a black pantsuit, her hair twisted in a tight bun, briefcase held in her hand, she looked up at him, steely determination glinting back at him. He didn’t like it.

Leaning forward, he was intent on taking her mouth in a deep kiss, wanting to wipe the expression from her face. She stepped back, hands held up. In a firm tone, she said, “Stop.”

He forced himself to obey with some major effort.

“We need to talk,” she said.

“Now you want to talk?”

A tight smile came to her lips. “You deserve an explanation, Aidan.”

She’d said his name. Again. And again it was in a tone he didn’t want to hear.

“All right. I’d like to know why you freaked out yesterday. Let’s go in the living room.”

She shook her head. “This is personal. Once I step into that house, I’m here for Liam. This needs to stay outside.”

“If that’s