Author's Note: 

Thank you all for your patience. I've had writer's block since I started college like 7 years ago (Go Blue). I've finally found a nice career choice that I am settling into, and I have finally been able to collect my thoughts together and begin writing again. I couldn't leave this book alone like this, and I am very sorry for keeping you all waiting. I will say that I have gotten better at my writing style, so I'll be going in and heavily editing both books. Please enjoy the story. :)

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Chapter 19

Third-Person POV

Two Months Later

     "Did Aaron leave again?"

     Amaris looked up as Brad leaned over and asked Amaris the same question he had been asking him every single week for two months now. Amaris did a quick sweep of the room, spotting Loren and Ady by the fireplace and Mel and Kenny on the couch. With his enhanced hearing, he could hear Brian in the other room scribbling down notes at his desk. Hoping he was doing some more research on where Dominic's girlfriend was and the Viscosoes so that they could all go home and live happily ever after.

     Not that any of them had a problem with being in Italy.

     Cqari was in the other room on her Kindle on Duolingo practicing her Italian. He could very clearly hear the distinct bell whenever she got words or phrases correct. Amaris lifted his head and looked outside at the screen door. Dominic was outside sitting on the porch. Brad was very obviously right beside him. Which left Aaron out.

     "Yeah, he left," Amaris finally responded.

     Brad looked grim. He shifted uncomfortable at the table, looking like he wanted to get something off of his chest. Amaris raised an eyebrow and waited for Brad to say something. "Has he been acting weird to you? Lately?"

     Amaris shrugged. "I mean, I haven't known the guy for as long as you have, but I guess so, yeah."

     Brad nodded slowly. Yeah, he wasn't done asking questions. Amaris could see the wheels turning in Brad's head. At this point, he was just waiting for him to-- "I just think it's weird because we usually go everywhere together, you know? We're best friends. We used to always tell each other what's up."

     It was Amaris' turn to nod slowly. "Right," he said slowly. "And has he not been telling you where he was going?"

     "Not at all. He just says he'll be back and then be gone for hours."

     "And how does that make you feel?"

     Brad opened his mouth to answer and then frowned at Amaris who was currently trying to hold back a laugh. "Dude, this isn't couple's therapy. I'm serious."

     "No, yeah. This is serious. Utterly and completely."

     "Fuck off, man."

     Both of them laughed again. Amaris could see a bit of tension leave Brad's shoulders. Poor guy was lonely, it was kind of obvious. He leaned on Aaron for most things, but when Aaron kept disappearing, Brad didn't have much to go off of. 

     "Why don't you go after him?"

     Brad furrowed his eyebrows. Like he hadn't thought about that? Sure, Aaron was a grown ass man and didn't need to be babysat, but when you keep disappearing for hours and not giving anyone any explanation, maybe you did need to be followed.

     "Talking about Aaron?"

     The boys looked up to see Dominic come back inside and join them at the dining table. Brad nodded. "Yeah, he ditched us again."

     Dominic shrugged a shoulder. "He said he'd be back."

     Brad furrowed his eyebrows. "Wait, he told you?"

     "Yeah, I was outside when he left. He said he'd be back," he repeated with a shrug. Brad looked at him incredulously.

     "Oh boy," Amaris mumbled. "Again, how does that make you feel?" He ducked when an apple came flying at his head.

~~~~

     "Who the fuck did that to you?" Aaron frowned.

     Jasmine had come to their meeting spot, obviously limping. They had come to an agreement to meet up once or twice a week to stay out of suspicion. If either side knew that the two were seeing each other, they'd be furious. As to be expected. Jasmine might even be killed for all they knew.

     She hadn't even come close to him, but he could tell that she was limping. She only rolled her eyes in response. Aaron was already protective; it didn't take him long to get that way. Considering they only ever met up in private once or twice out of the week? Hell yeah Aaron was going to get protective. What if things happened to her while she was with the Viscosoes that Aaron obviously couldn't be there for? He couldn't control that, nor could he control his emotions when it came to that.

     "Nobody. I did to myself. You know I'm clumsy." She walked up to him. Aaron wrapped his arms around her tightly and leaned down to give her a sweet kiss on the lips. She sighed in content and kissed him back. 

     "How are you then?" Aaron asked when he pulled away. He wasn't going to pester her about the ankle then. For now.

     She gave him a smile. "I'm good."

     "You look good, too." Aaron winked and that made her laugh. As she laughed, she ran her hand through her hair and Aaron caught a glimpse of what looked like a bruise on her forearm. He frowned. "What the hell is that?"

     She stopped laughing and covered the bruise. "Nothing."

     Aaron frowned even more. She knew exactly what he was talking about, he didn't even need to point it out. "Did someone grab you?" She shook her head but didn't look at him. Aaron took her hand and gently removed it, looking at the bruise closer. For fuck's sake. Someone put their hands on her way too hard. It was in the shape of a hand. "Jasmine..."

     "It's nothing, Aaron. Seriously. One of the pack members saw me leaving and asked me where I was going, and he grabbed me. I'm fine."

     Aaron wasn't having any of that. It sounded like she was trying to make excuses for whoever the bastard was. "He didn't have to put his damn hands on you," he snarled.

     Jasmine frowned. "I said I'm fine. I can take care of myself, you know."

     "I didn't say you couldn't. I just don't like that he put his hands on you."

     "Well, it happened, so get over it," she hissed.

     Aaron growled at her and she seemed to back up in shock. He backed her up against the old car and put his arms on either side of her. Looking into her eyes, he made something very clear: "I am your mate, Jasmine. Not some guy looking for a whore. I deserve the same amount of respect that I give to you." She looked up at him and bit her lip. "And if I worry about your safety, it's because I don't want you hurt. So don't give me attitude if I don't like that another fucking guy put his hands on you."

     Aaron was just starting to think about how maybe he went a little too far and shouldn't have been so rough when she grabbed his shirt and pulled him down to her mouth. Aaron groaned and wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her closer. No complaints here. Whatsoever.

     He was drowning in her kisses when she finally pulled away but not before biting his lip. Aaron growled at that. "That was pretty hot," she said with a grin.

     Aaron's eyebrows rose. "What? What I said?"

     She nodded and brushed his lower lip with her thumb. "I'm sorry. I just don't want you to worry. I'm okay, really. And I know this just isn't about the bruise. I'm okay where I am. They're not hurting me, but I do have a reputation as a smartass to keep, okay?" She gave a smile.

     Aaron still wasn't having any of that. He knew exactly what they were doing was wrong. His friend was trying to find the assholes that took his girlfriend, and here he was making out with one of those assholes. Not that Jasmine was the asshole, but she was affiliated with them, so everyone else would see that differently.

     Before Aaron could even respond to that, he back tracked at what had been said. "Wait, I called you my mate."

     Jasmine pursed her lips. "Oh, wow. Yeah, you did." She stared up at him.

     In the two months that they had been seeing each other, neither of them acknowledged that tiny but huge fact. They were definitely mates. There was no mistaking it or bullshitting it, but neither of them had said it out loud. It just made it very real if it was said out loud. And it also made it pretty difficult to ignore the fact that, once again, what they are doing is very wrong. 

     Like they could just stop? That's not how the whole mate thing works. If that was the case, Dominic would have never traveled to the U.S. to get Amaris, none of them would have crossed paths with the Viscosoes, and Aaron would have never gotten into that tussle with Jasmine the first time they met.

     Hello, destiny.

     "Was that...okay?" Aaron mumbled.

     "Well, I mean--yeah. But also no." Jasmine chuckled.

     Aaron nodded. "Yeah, I get it. It just slipped out in the heat of the moment. My bad." Was he really apologizing for speaking the truth? Not exactly, it was almost as if weight had been lifted from his shoulders. And it felt good to say it and acknowledge it. He was practically beaming at the thought of it finally being acknowledged.

     Jasmine raised an eyebrow. "You're not actually sorry--you're glowing."

     "Can you blame me?" he laughed a little. "We both know it's the truth, and I hate to say it, but--you're stuck with me now."

     Jasmine tilted her head back and laughed. "Oh, the horror. I think I'd rather be mated to that Brian guy you've been telling me about than you."

     "Ouch."

     Jasmine smiled again and kissed Aaron's softly. Yeahhhhh, Aaron had been a chatterbox. He told Jasmine all about the group. He wanted nothing more than for them to meet each other. He just knew they'd love each other.

     Unfortunately, destiny had had other plans for them.