Love Bites

SCARLET

Aria jumped up, shocked, but the man who was shoving his tongue down her throat looked pissed to be interrupted. How was I meant to know someone was in here?

“Really?” he grumbled.

“Don’t you really me, you knew I was coming.” I rolled my eyes.

“Babe,” Aria said.

Sighing, he stood up. “I know when I’m not wanted.”

I couldn’t help but laugh, “Oh, Chris, you’d think after five months you’d realize that you’re the third wheel in this relationship.”

Chris couldn’t help but smile. “Shut up. See you tonight, babe.”

He kissed Aria on the forehead before playfully punching me on the shoulder. I shoved him out and stuck my tongue out before closing the door.

As soon as he left, Aria dragged me to her bed, but after witnessing the make-out scene, I preferred to sit on the couch. Who knows what else they could have done on that bed?

Aria met Chris five months ago. He was the beta. His dad held that position until the tragedy, so it only made sense that Chris continue when the king returned.

Chris had been sent away to a training camp just before he turned eighteen. The rumors were that he was with Dylan. Of course, he would neither confirm nor deny it.

When Chris returned, a grand party was held in his honor, and that is how the two lovebirds met.

Aria always said that if Chris had waited a few more months before leaving, then he would have known they were mates.

I think she was more concerned about whether Chris had had flings while at camp, but I reassured her. He went to train, not to sleep around.

Aria couldn’t stop smiling and I was so happy that she had found someone. It reminded me of how I still hadn’t found my mate.

The one who would make me blush like Aria did and love me and take care of me and I wouldn’t be able to stop smiling at the mention of his name.

My eyes watered up, but I shook the tears away, refusing to let them escape. This was not the time to have a crying session. Aria deserved to be happy, her cousin was coming back and she had her mate.

I remember when I was first introduced to Chris. Aria said I was her best friend and Chris actually laughed!

So, naturally, I showed him his place. Growing up with a brother and the future alpha taught me that much.

After one swift kick to his balls and a stern warning not to mess with Aria, Chris understood I meant business.

Harry cried with laughter. He was so proud of me that day. Thankfully since then, Chris and I have become close. He teases me and I tease him.

Our mutual love for Aria makes it easy for us to get along. That and he has an amazing sense of humor.

I sat talking with Aria for about an hour. We laughed so much that we cried. But my tears quickly became sadder. I just felt so lonely without a mate.

Being the amazing friend that she is, Aria comforted me and told me that there was someone out there for me and I would get the mate that I deserved.

I cleaned myself up after my crying session, which I was mad at myself about and we both left. After all, I was here to help.

We both were heading downstairs when a maid rushed over to Aria.

“So sorry, but we need Miss Aria for her dress fitting.”

Aria groaned, “I forgot about that.”

Laughing, I replied, “You go, and I’ll go down and help.”

Aria nodded. “I won’t be long!”

I didn’t believe her. Aria was a total girly girl. She loved dress fittings and getting her hair done. Too lost in my thoughts as I headed downstairs, I bumped into Harry.

“I’m so sorry, Harry. I wasn’t paying attention,” I said, smiling a little.

“No worries, Kiddo. Since you’re here to help, might as well put you to work.” Harry winked.

“Sure, where do you want me?” I replied.

“You can be on decoration duty. I know my daughter was meant to help you, where is she?” Harry asked.

“Dress fitting.” I shrugged my shoulders.

“That girl,” Harry muttered.

I laughed as Harry walked away, shaking his head.

Oh shit, I had work to do. I made my way to the hall and sighed. It was going to be a long day. I got started on hanging up some streamers and banners with the help of some maids.

While hanging them up, I heard muttered voices and listened in. It was the maids. They were speaking about the alpha king.

I heard one of them saying that the alpha king didn’t want a mate and had gone on record saying that he would reject his mate. I pitied the poor girl who would end up as this horrible guy’s mate.

I hadn’t even met him, and I already hated him. Thinking those words made me feel weird for some reason. It was like my wolf and body were protesting.

Sighing, I carried on with my work and thought about what I heard. I hate people who just think that they can just reject their mate because they don’t want one. They never think of the consequences.

The pain that people suffer when they get rejected is unimaginable. I always felt so sorry for those people. Then there are people like me, who are mateless.

It made me feel angry, but my rational side reminded me that there are always two sides to every story.

Part of me couldn’t help but feel sorry for the king. Maybe he didn’t want a mate because he was afraid of her dying like his mom did.

The trauma he went through at a young age must have changed a lot of his thought processes.

Making a judgment based on gossip was very unlike me. I guess the topic just hit a sensitive nerve.

Shaking my head to clear those thoughts, I carried on hanging up the banners. Afterward, I cleaned up the pieces of tape left on the floor. Once I was finished, I sat down and took a little break.

When I finally had the energy to stand up, I admired my handiwork and was happy with the way it turned out. The maids were still standing in the corner, gossiping without a care in the world.

I did want to go over there and say something, but I decided against it. It wasn’t worth my time, and I had more important things to be doing anyway.

My next job was to help the kitchen staff with food preparation. I wasn’t cooking but I fetched ingredients and whatever else they needed.

That took me about an hour and the kitchen staff was so grateful. I told them that I was more than happy to help.

Once that was done, I left the kitchen and, without thinking, I headed up to Aria’s room before remembering that she probably wasn’t in there because of her dress fitting.

I took out my phone and saw that she had just messaged me. She told me my dress was in her room and I could get ready there. Aria was going to get ready in Chris’s room.

Thank God I decided to drop my dress off earlier in the week. I made my way back to Aria’s room and breathed a sigh of relief when neither Aria nor Chris made an appearance.

Smiling to myself, I went into the shower and grabbed a towel. I had to be quick because guests would start showing up soon. I showered in record time and made sure I had shaved as well.

I quickly dried myself and put on my underwear and bra. Then I slipped my dress on and brushed my hair. I let it fall in natural waves without drying it.

Luckily for me, my hair dried pretty quickly.

Makeup was the next step. I put on some foundation, mascara, eyeliner, and eye shadow —making sure it all matched. Then I put on some lip gloss and slipped on some heels.

A pair of simple earrings finished off the look and I was happy that I was ready on time. I could hear guests arriving.

I quickly cleaned up my mess in Aria’s room, I didn’t want to leave it in a mess in case she came back here tonight.

Making my way downstairs, I silently prayed that nothing bad would happen. Tonight, was important for Aria, Henry and I guess for Dylan himself.

The last thing he needed was drama at his welcome home party.

But of course, things never go according to plan, do they?