Aaron Ch. 06-10

CHAPTER SIX

"Aaron, Kate? You free to catch up?"

"Of course we are, Thorn is everything okay?"Kate sent back, knowing he would soon work out Aaron wasn't with her.

"Lucas is playing country music, not even the cross-over sort, think Loretta Lynn and George Strait variety. We're on our way to the lodge, long story short Luna is ready to make babies, and I'll be making my mate a wolf in the next few days. On top of that the mating thing seems to have infected your inner circle – Lexi has mated too. She is about to call the girls to tell them. Luna spent part of the day with the aunties and is being weird, so something big went down, and then on top of that I have too many unanswered questions with regard to the mission you and Aaron are on. Other than that Kate, everything is hunky dory."

"Yeah well just to add to your troubles, Aaron and I just had a huge fight and I think he's off with one of the cheap skanks from this shit hole. I would rather listen to Lucas play his country music than the continual sound of domestic arguments we've been listening to. Finally, I should mention I have a really bad feeling something is going to go really wrong this week and I wish I could be more, ahh clear, but we're going to lose a member of the pack Thorn, and I cannot see who, and I can't see how or when."

"Fuck. I'm giving you guys one more day up there and then you can start back to the lodge. The girls will be happy to see you. The surveillance equipment should pick up anything that woman has to offer. I'm not leaving you guys out there at risk."

"It's not here, and it isn't us."Kate then spoke quickly and off subject, "Thorn did you just tell Aaron to come back?"

"Of course not, I was going to catch up with you, then go give him hell when we were finished."

"Fine, I'll go unlock the door and let him in then. But if you got him to come back I wouldn't be letting him in."

Thorn heard the door open and then a loud gasp. He heard a thud and a crash. "Kate? Kate? Aaron?"

Then the unmistakable growl of his brother "I did not look at another woman. I was trying to work out what was off about her. I only went near her to see if she was human or wolf. She smelled so strongly of her addictions it was hard to get past that. She was human but she has spent a lot of time with a wolf. I followed her. I have a lead on Luna's dad."

"And why did you have to attack me when you came in the door. I did not give you permission to kiss me, or to run your hands all over me and break things."

"Shut up. I'm on a short fuse right now. Both of you sit down. Kate, does he smell of another woman?"

"No. He doesn't."She admitted.

"Then apologise to your mate. He kissed you, touched you, because you are the one he wants, he wants you to smell of him. He wants your smell on his skin. Fuck you two aren't getting any closer to sorting things out are you?"

"I apologise Aaron. I let my insecurity get the best of me," her pause was telling, "I like you kissing me too much, it's why I keep trying to stop you."

"I know you're sorry. I'm never going to cheat on you baby, I swear. I know you think I can't keep it in my pants, but I've never loved anyone else. Um, I mean, you know, I've never been in love before. This is not the same. I also know the kissing gets to you. You give in and cling to me every time, it is the only time you touch me. The only time you drop your guard. That's why I keep doing it."

"Okay, we can talk about this when our Alpha, and your brother, isn't listening."

"Good because I'm nauseous already. Now what was this lead?"

"This total junkie was doing a drug deal with a wolf. She got her supply and he didn't take any payment. Told her it would be the same deal as last time. She argued with him over the terms of the agreement. She was to find a girl, preferably a virgin and get her to him. In the past a virgin got her a three month supply. She claimed virgins were getting harder to come by and countered they were easily worth six months."

"She's trading children for drugs?"

"Yeah, it got worse. He then re-iterated two months for an 'impure' girl, he went up to five months for a virgin. She agreed and left. He got on the phone to someone he called Boss and said he would have some more for him soon but that one of his supply network was pushing for more drugs and was basically past her use by. He ended the call saying he would dispose of her body after she brought him the next one."

"You think the boss is Luna's dad?"Kate asked.

"Nah. The guy got off the phone and rang someone else. He called her Ma'am and said he was following her orders not worrying about the boss, and that he'd been keeping an eye on the bitch, but she was too far gone to worry about now. He then said he'd be disposing of one of the traders and thought it was time to get rid of that bitch Jolene at the same time. Jolene is Luna's mother Thorn."

"Okay so where did her dad come in?"

"He said to this ma'am person 'What the fuck did John see in her in the first place? He should consider himself lucky that you took him. Instead of still being a moody bastard.' You had already said Luna only knew her dad's first name."

"John."There was a pause in the communication, Aaron and Kate knew Thorn was composing himself and then bringing Luc into things.

"Lucas, Aaron has a lead on Luna's dad, the surveillance equipment isn't going to be enough though. There are more complications than the plot of Game of Thrones. Drugs, sex slaves, witches, wolves and a big mysterious nasty."Thorn quickly filled Lucas in.

Lucas joined the communication, reluctantly turning down his music.

Thorn continued to speak, now that Luc had tuned in. "We're going to need the full core to work this out and that means it's getting harder and harder to keep this from Luna, which I am not too worried about as we have an agreement in place and she's going to be a bit distracted which will help. However we're entering a very dark world, we already have Aaron and Kate in danger and neither are trained in anything like this. I want to pull them out as soon as possible and avoid putting any more of the pack in danger."

Kate zoned out of the conversation briefly as the men continued to discuss their thoughts and plans. She saw the image as clearly as she had in her dream last night. It was their third night in town. Yesterday Aaron had worked on the car to keep up appearances and Kate had spent some time talking to a few of the local women. They had returned to the bar last night and again today. Mason and Carl had installed the bug on the second night. It appeared anybody in the trailer park in the evenings was too out of it to pay any attention to any movements, and the idea of a meal with Jolene made both her an Aaron feel sick, so they had decided there was no need to get that friendly with her.

"Kate, you alright?" Aaron grabbed for her as she felt herself fall. "Kate?"

"Yeah, I'm fine, just having a moment."

"One of those bloody visions?"

"Don't worry about it. I'm fine."

"Yeah whatever." He lowered her into a chair. "Thorn we're going to have to wrap this up soon, Kate just had another vision and looks like she's about to pass out or throw up."

"Get her something sweet and let her have some peace, she'll be fine as soon as she works through what she saw."

"She does this all the time?"Aaron was grabbing a bag of candy and some fruit already. "Here, eat."

"Yes Sir." She said so sarcastically he thought she was about to refuse to eat. He was surprised when she tore open the bag of candy coated chocolate and began to drop them into her mouth.

"Well not all the time. But it was a bit scary the first few times we saw it."

Kate tuned in long enough to hear what Lucas and Thorn were saying. She did not like the way the conversation was going at all.

"Okay so Aaron watch Jolene. Kate stay safe. Tomorrow you guys will be out of there. Please keep your eyes and ears open."

"I'm not just going to sit in this flea infested motel room. I was sent here on a mission, and until both Aaron and I are relieved I will continue with that mission. I expected no less from you Lucas than to assume I wasn't capable of being an asset not having a penis, but I thought you knew better Thorn."

"Kate, I took it for granted you would know what you should do. While you are doing it, be careful."

"Thorn, I don't like her being here, I would like her to leave now. I can get her to the airport and I'll just tell everyone she left me."

"You expect to get near me again this year Aaron you will zip it right now."

"Tip Aaron, never think any of the inner circle are weak. Your mate has already completed one degree, has almost completed a second. She has gifts you can only dream of. She is fit and strong. She fights like a tiger."

"Sorry Kate. I just feel sick even thinking of losing you." There was a low growl and after a silence, "What the fuck was that for?"

"You didn't like it?"

"Baby, you can kiss me like that any time any place."

"Well at least you two have made some progress finally," Thorn laughed and both Aaron and Kate growled at him, "Okay I think the girls have stopped screaming in the back seat so that's our sign to end this. We'll be in touch tomorrow."

"Kate don't get pissed off with me, but has that ever happened when you're driving or, fuck, doing anything where you could be hurt?"

"I'm fine Aaron. You are not sending me home like a pup with my tail between my legs."

"Okay so you aren't going home. I get it. But you need to explain again why this girl matters more than your safety, and more than what we are here for."

"She's only a kid and she doesn't even know what she is. Her mother, well I'm not even sure it's her mother, that bitch Jill, is so deep in this mess, and so high all the time, she was fucked by a wolf and doesn't seem to even realise he claimed her. There are at least four women here that have been claimed. They don't even seem to be aware of the marks they carry. But one of those wolves lost control this time and mated Emily's mother, Jill or not."

"Maybe she knows and agreed to the mating."

"Don't be an idiot Aaron. He didn't fall in love with her and rescue her from this life, he didn't mate her because he felt the pull. He did it because he wanted to breed her. I don't think she's the only one."

"Fuck, your mother is the only forced breeding I've heard of in the last hundred years. Are you telling me we're dealing with a bunch of wolves that are committing forced breeding left right and centre, and as a little side-line are dabbling in human trafficking?"

"How about we don't bring up my mother ever again? And yeah I think you just proved you are not an idiot after all. The trafficking is about power and income. The breeding is the something else."

"They're trying to build a pack? No that isn't it, or they would have rounded the women up. This is so fucking messy. This isn't a bunch of rogues Katie, baby this is so dark, and I am scared shitless you're going to get hurt."

"You seem to think just because you're a man I don't worry about you. There is just as much danger for you as there is for me Aaron. When this all goes down we will both be there. It's the only way to make it all work out. I'm going to save Emily. Aaron we're taking her back with us."

"We're taking her back? Baby, she belongs to another pack, they will claim her."

"I am not fucking leaving her with that pack. That pack that promotes rape, drugs and violent killing? Don't call me baby."

"We'll take her back. I'm sorry for calling you baby, after that kiss I thought we were getting somewhere."

"After that kiss we were. Then you tried to send me away. Then you tried to tell me to leave an innocent girl with a pack of animals."

"Yeah I fucked up again, don't act so surprised. I've been fucking up with you for years."

"I'm going to bed. It's your night on the couch." Kate headed to the bathroom holding a pair of cotton shorts and a singlet.

"Yeah, whatever."

"It isn't even funny anymore Aaron so stop saying it and then smiling like that, it makes you look like a moron."

"Yet when you end our conversations with 'whatever' I find it as sexy as your kisses. I'm going for a run."

"Is that what they're calling it now?" Kate let her insecurities rise again. She knew he had worked out exactly what she was implying when he moved towards her, fast, grabbing her before she even thought to escape. She gasped as he pinned her to the wall, kissing her deeply.

"Stop accusing me of wanting anyone else. I only want my mate. My mate that is wet and ready for me, yet hates me so much she keeps pushing me away even while she shoots me death stares and makes angry, jealous, nasty comments. My mate that smells so good and trembles in my arms while I kiss her, but then looks at me like she wishes I would die when I let her go."

"I don't want you to die. How can you say that? I've been trying Aaron, I am, but you rejected me, more than once. You've hurt me so many times. I'm sorry I'm now hurting you, I am really not trying to, I swear. I'm just so jealous and confused and fuck I don't know, angry."

"Because you know you deserve a better mate than what you've been stuck with. I get it."

"Clearly you don't. You don't get it at all."Kate pushed away from him and went into the bathroom and slammed the door. "Go run, and try and find your brain while you run."

"I haven't got any blood left to operate my brain." He growled as he adjusted himself and tore off his shirt before heading for the door. "Kate, please just give this a chance, I know I keep fucking up, but you don't know everything."

"I know enough."

"Like fuck you do." Aaron glared at the closed bathroom door, cursing to himself.

"How the fuck can I get through to her?"

"Show her. Let her see."

CHAPTER SEVEN

Kate had tossed and turned for three hours until she had heard Aaron come back. He never said a word just went in and had a shower then went to sleep on the couch. Morning came too soon and she was grumpy and tired. What she needed was some time catching up with Luna.

"Hey there chicky, how goes the wedding planning?"

"Well that seems to have given way to baby planning."

"Okay then, not sure why you can't multi-task but if you alpha types can only do one thing at a time..."

"Oh hush up. Anyway I'm more worried about you. Spill."

"Seriously Luna, I am okay I swear. Aaron is doing my head in but from what I understand that is normal for most couples. I have to be here, there's a girl. I have to help her. I know which one she is but I need to time this right."

"You have one of your dreams, or just a feeling?"

"Sort of both. I haven't seen her in the dream she is off to the side. I see what is happening and I know I have to intervene. I saw her yesterday and as soon as I did I just had this instant feeling. Luna I think she's meant to be with us."

"She's wolf?"

"Yeah, she doesn't know it, nobody here seems to know it."

"There's wolves there though, bad ones, how can they not know?"

"She's young, she's really timid and so quiet Luna. She seems so beaten by the world. I can help her. I can bring her home."

"She's not a stray puppy Kate, what if she doesn't want your help? Fuck what if she doesn't even know about..."

"She's going to find out. I saw it. They attack and she is hurt. Her wolf comes forward. She sees what they are, what they are capable of. She's terrified Luna, thinks she is a monster like they are. I will show her the good. I will show her what she can be."

"You've told Aaron this?"

"I tried, he only wants me out of here. Said she was not my problem that I should go, and when the team have a plan he will work with them and she would be fine."

"Your dream didn't change after the plan to send the team though did it?" Luna knew what Kate was saying. Her vision played out the same now as it had before. The girl was in danger.

"Thank God you understand all this Luna because I swear I'm going to hit someone soon. Hit him so damn hard. The dream was the same. Members of the team were already in the vision right from the start. Before Thorn even directed them to come. I knew they would be coming. I know they're almost here so it will either happen tonight or tomorrow night."

"You listen to me Kate, you pay attention to every single feeling and dream you have and you stay safe. Because if anything happens to you I will kill you, do you hear me?"

"I promise not even a broken nail."

"Are you going to take her on permanently? She'll need someone Kate, would you do that? Could Aaron handle that?"

"I can be like her sister and help her but no I couldn't take her on permanently, fuck I'm struggling myself. Aaron, as a father figure? You're joking right? Not even this century."

"He could surprise you Kate, don't rule out the next few decades."

"My mate doesn't hear me, he doesn't understand me, fuck he doesn't respect me at all, how did this happen?"

"Kate he is scared shitless right now, worried that you are in danger, and you haven't mated yet so he's only getting part of the picture. You know he will be perfect for you. You know you are two halves of a whole. Once you seal that bond he'll see you. He'll hear you. Once you and he are linked, he won't be able to do anything but respect you and love you."

"Are you saying I should just mate with him and see what happens?"

"I'm saying maybe it would help both of you. I'm also thinking the link would be damn handy for you both when you are in a dangerous position."

"We have a pack link. I can feel him. I can communicate with him."

"You know there's a huge difference. The alpha can communicate to all his or her pack. Family can communicate to family. A mate can feel and communicate at a different level. Your pack bond, it's barely words and definitely not feelings and thoughts. You know this more than I do. If you're not ready then don't let me bully you, but if you're are ready and you accept he is your mate, but you want to punish him for being a horny dog, or because he rejected you, let it go Katie. I know it hurt, but you need to let it go, because I've spent the day with my mate, watching Gem and Lucas, Lex and her fellas, and my friend you really cannot begin to understand the difference in all of us. I want that for you so badly. I want you whole. I want you and Aaron happy and safe."

"My alpha is telling me to go fuck and mark my man?"

"Not telling, gently suggesting you consider it."

"Yeah whatever."

"Don't..."

Kate ended the call and growled loudly. She stalked out to the car where Aaron, shirtless as usual, was leaning over the engine. If only he wasn't so fucking hot. If only every time she looked at him she didn't want to lick him. If only every time she smelled him she didn't want him to cover her in his sweat till she drowned in the scent of him. If only when he spoke it didn't vibrate through her body and send a rush of fresh juice to her panties. Fuck he was looking at her. He could smell her. He looked so cute with that nervous confused expression on his face. Fuck it.

She moved forward and before he could say anything she kissed him. She began to undo his jeans as she continued to nibble at his lip, and on his little indrawn gasp she found entrance for her tongue. She began moving back towards the room still touching him, tasting him. She growled in pleasure when his hands found her bottom and lifted her. She wrapped her legs around him as he now walked toward the room.