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Aiden

Aiden took a deep breath, the strong metallic scent surrounding him like an intoxicating embrace as he explored further into the basement. His pulse quickened, a primal energy thrumming beneath his skin. The scent of fresh blood stirred the wild spirit within, hinting at an exciting, mysterious adventure.

Lights flickered, casting long shadows over the vacant space. The eerie silence wrapped around him like a thick fog as he stepped into the main area, heart heavy. Delilah's desk sat untouched, her coffee mug still half-full, a faint reminder of laughter that once filled her workstation.

Aiden paused, a lump forming in his throat, as memories of shared moments echoed in the hollow room. The emptiness seemed oppressive, like it had lasted for far too long.

He stepped into the very back hallway and leaned against the cool brick wall, the rough fabric of his jeans biting into his palms as he opened the door. Images of her flashed in his mind─Delilah's determined gaze, the way she stood tall against the madhouse he called work, resolute and unwavering. He ran a hand through his hair, frustration bubbling under his skin. How could someone so fragile stand tall against the storm?

His mind raced with questions, each one gnawing at the edges of his resolve.

Would the day's events haunt her, or had they made her indestructible?

He sighed as his thoughts returned to her and the accident. She had stayed still, her attention locked on the buildings where the sun shone the brightest. As shimmering light danced around her, illuminating her features with an ethereal glow, time seemed to pause. A delicate feather drifted down, brushing against her ankle, its presence a whispered promise of something extraordinary.

Aiden shifted his weight, his gaze sliding away as he struggled with the reality of Merrick's statement about him being in denial. A strange pull tugged at his chest, urging him to be with her, but a wall of doubt held him back. Unlike before, where women had sought him, here he felt the unfamiliar thrill of wanting genuine love.

He'd always preferred deeper connections over fleeting encounters. He craved the intimacy that blossomed between his ex-girlfriends as their relationship with him deepened. Aiden had spent several months with one person at a time who ignited his passion and appreciated him just as much as he valued them.

He'd just hit rock bottom. Women in the office would cast lingering glances his way, but he remained uninterested, a stark contrast to the way he once engaged with their attention. His body ached with an insatiable desire, yet it was clear that only one person could quench that fire.

Delilah Fox.

A faint moonlight illuminated the vacant alleyway when Aiden stepped outside. He leaned against the closed door, his pulse racing and a familiar desire for her burning inside him.

Delilah's aura surrounded him, her body fitting against his, and her powerful legs enveloping him, luring him closer and lighting a fire in his soul. It was such a delightful fantasy, imagining her moving with him, their breaths mingling in the warmth of the moment, while everything else faded into the background.

The sudden noise of a rat broke into his fervent daydream, sparking a surge of annoyance in him. He felt warm as he faced the terrible reality: a man like him, lost in passionate fantasies throughout the night. Even as he repeated the enthralling moments with her in his mind, his body reacted with an acute yearning, a bittersweet aching that pounded like a drumbeat.

He tightened his jaw, wrestling with the feeling that was trying to take over him, a wave of desire that made him feel both excited and flustered. Would he ever discover the freedom he longed for, or was he destined to pursue his desires alone?

Delilah was the most beautiful woman Aiden had ever laid eyes on. He was more enchanted by her than by any supermodel. She piqued his interest more than the long-legged women in the company. He paid little attention to her flaws. His mind raced with memories of her, each one more vivid than the previous. Every flaw she perceived in herself seemed to intensify the fire within him, a silent yearning that resonated profoundly.

With her lip wedged between her teeth and a subtle trembling in her hands, he couldn't help but appreciate her deviation from the usual. He imagined her lips brushing against his flesh, the heat of the moment encompassing them both.

There was an undeniable spark in her that caught everyone's attention, drawing gazes and whispers wherever she went. He wondered whether any of the men had been admiring her.

The cheering of the pack drowned his deep rumble. Aiden would kill anyone who harbored feelings for her. He knew he had no claim to her, but his need for her was as vital as oxygen. He had no claim to her, yet he wasn't willing to give her up. Not for any man. Supernatural or not.

His desire for her had become so terrible for him that he couldn't even pass the coffee shop on the corner without getting hard. Delilah had turned him into a complete pervert, and it was driving him insane.

What is she doing to me?

He was aware of her brief tenure with his company and that her contract was about to expire. Delilah had only spent a few days with them, and her departure was rapidly approaching. He massaged the back of his neck, a familiar tension coiling inside him. How could he allow himself to feel drawn to someone who would one day leave?

The idea of her leaving, carrying a fragment of his heart with her, caused a chill to run down his back. He closed his eyes, trying to drown out the impulse to contact her and to engage in that magnetic pull that kept urging him closer. Instead, he took a deep breath, grounding himself in the present.

He could handle this. In the past, he had successfully controlled his crazy romantic inclinations. This time was no different.

With determination etched on his brow, Aiden turned back to the door, keeping his phone in his pocket, knowing that the best way to protect them both was to keep his heart at bay until her time with the company─and with him─came to an inevitable close.

He took a breath, the strong smell of sweat and blood surrounding him as he stepped back into the stuffy room. This chaos felt like an old friend, a rush of excitement flowing through him. The sound of clashing fists, mixed with the cries of the crowd, encircled him.

Here, in this gritty circle, he could unleash his wolf─no distractions, no risk.

Being with somebody new would present challenges. Strong and vibrant, Delilah was a force of nature, a whirlwind of passion that could sweep him off his feet. Nevertheless, the idea of her beautiful gaze connecting with his in unsettling places sent a chill through him. A relationship would tether him to something he wished to avoid.

His pulse throbbed as he returned his gaze to the improvised arena, where the audience screamed and others yelled for their brothers. Two men exchanged brutal blows, their muscles glistening and taut, the primal energy intoxicating. Aiden could feel his own wolf stirring, yearning for the release of a fight and a chance to unleash the pent-up tension that clung to him like a vice.

"Let's get this started," he declared, his voice steady as he squared his shoulders, a challenge simmering in his gaze. He locked eyes with Merrick, the tension palpable between them. "These younger wolves think they know what a fight is. They don't know anything."

The smaller of the two men slashed through the air, striking the other's jaw. The noise echoed, and a wave of applause filled the room, washing away the tension.

Perspiration, adrenaline, and pine from the nearby forest filled the air. The audience's cheers of support sparked a wave of excitement inside him. None of them had felt this euphoric rush in months. They had spent countless days buried in spreadsheets and deliveries, consumed by the grind of growing their Alpha's business, neglecting the wild spirit that throbbed inside them.

They were wolves at their core, yearning for the raw thrill of combat. This wasn't just a dog fight; it was their heritage, a rite of passage steeped in the blood of their Scottish ancestors. The promise of proving themselves, of letting loose the beast within, filled their hearts, and Aiden couldn't wait for the first round to begin.

"You in or out?" Merrick shifted forward, his breath a mixture of eagerness and expectation. His eyes sparkled under the dim lights as he examined the makeshift ring, a small circle marked by a fraying rope and encircled by an anxious crowd.

The atmosphere crackled with vitality, heavy with the aroma of perspiration and excitement. Inside the circle, two men clashed like titans, fists flying with brute force. Every punch resonated, creating a raw cadence that enthralled the crowd.

Aiden watched intently, his heart racing, feeling the raw energy pulsating through the ground beneath him. Muscles strained, the men danced on the brink of transformation as they battled and grappled. The crowd's cry of support and scorn fueled the fury.

He turned to Merrick, urgency flickering in his gaze. "I'm in." The words flowed from his lips, sparking a flame inside. He needed this─a release from the burden of responsibility that clung to him like a second skin.

Merrick's expression shifted, a knowing smirk playing on his lips. "Good," he replied, his voice low, almost conspiratorial. "You need a mental vacation from fantasizing about your Guardian Angel."

Aiden's jaw clenched, a muscle twitching in his temple as Merrick's words hung in the air like a thunderstorm ready to break. He fixed his gaze on the floor, fists balled at his sides, the tension rippling through his shoulders as if a heavy weight pressed down on him. The air was thick with unspoken thoughts, a silence that felt almost tangible, stretching out as Merrick's pointed comment about Delilah echoed in his mind.

He straightened his posture, a flicker of steely resolve igniting in his eyes. No, Aiden couldn't let this distraction derail him. He inhaled again, grounding himself in purpose, his determination hardening like steel.

This battle was his responsibility─his mission to teach the pack─and he would see it through, no matter the cost.

He took a step forward, clearly excited. His men parted, their eyes flickering with respect as he approached the middle. He stood at the rim of the ring, heart pounding, as he witnessed a breathtaking transformation.

The first man's muscles rippled beneath his brown skin, and with a low growl, he morphed before their eyes─a dazzling flash of fur erupted, and where a man once stood, a powerful wolf now roared.

The remnants of the fighter's clothes lay crumpled on the ground, overlooked, as the two massive wolves circled one another, their eyes locked in a primal dance. Aiden felt the tension rise; this was no ordinary fight. With effortless grace, the smaller wolf darted forward, evading his opponent's snapping jaws.

The crowd's excitement swelled, their cheers echoing like thunder as the agile creature struck twice, biting the larger wolf's hind legs with precision. A gleam of victory lit up the smaller wolf's eyes as he pinned his adversary to the ground, his snarl belying his size. The audience roared with excitement.

The winner backed off, and both fighters reverted to their human forms, exhausted and liberated. They shook hands, the bond of warriors clear between them, as the crowd's applause rose like a powerful flood.

Aiden moved in, the subtle scent of moisture and testosterone lingering around him.

His gaze swept over the pack─his pack. They all stood together, muscles coiled and ready, the flicker of unease in their eyes mingling with the camaraderie built from countless battles fought side by side. He could see the fading bruises on their arms, a testament to their resilience.

By tomorrow, they would wear their scars like badges of honor, ready to face whatever the night would throw at them next. However, as he surveyed their faces, a tight knot formed in his stomach.

He'd been so preoccupied with his company's ambitious plans that he'd neglected the basic drive simmering behind their controlled exteriors. Being wolves meant nurturing the wildness, not ignoring it. He recognized their apprehension about becoming erratic spirits because of their unpredictable behavior. Visions of the recent meeting with the vampires swirled in his mind, electric with a foreboding he couldn't shake off. Something was brewing in the darkness, and his pack was sharpening their claws.

He clenched his jaw, knowing it was his responsibility to ensure his men were ready to unleash their inner beasts when the time came. A thrill of urgency coursed through him; this was his focus, his duty─not the distractions of a woman, even one as enigmatic as the moonlit night.

Aiden surged forward, separating them from the approaching danger, his soul ignited by his determination. "We need to train harder," he declared, his voice echoing against the walls. "No distractions!"

The men straightened, their eyes locking onto his, a spark of ferocity igniting in the depths. As wolves, they faced their issues together.

The air hung thick with tension, every heartbeat echoing in the collective silence. Aiden ripped his shirt open, muscles tense, buttons scattering like falling stars on the ground.

"Next fight is mine!" his voice thundered, shattering the stillness and setting out a jubilant applause from the audience.

Eyes flickered around him, eager for a glimpse of their leader rising to the challenge. But there, amidst the chaos, stood a young man, his eyes glued to the glow of his phone, oblivious to the charged atmosphere.

The circle pulsed with anticipation. Aiden's lips curled into a predatory grin as he locked onto the distracted figure.

"You and me, Lowell," he taunted, voice dripping with bravado. "Show me what you've got, Furball!"

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Thank you for reading! <3