Aidan heard the from door close. It was only 5am but Alex had been leaving the house early everyday since the spectacle in his office, not returning until after nightfall. She had moved into the spare bedroom furthest from him, with barely a word passing between them for five days. He groaned, rubbing his unshaven face roughly and got out of bed. He hadn't slept properly since Alex had moved to the other bedroom. He longed for her. Her having the Alpha gene, or feeling the strength of the power that radiated from her when it was ignited, had thrown him off completely. He had not been prepared in any way and didn't know how to handle it. He had heard stories up and down over the years about females being born with the Alpha gene but he would never have assumed that his mate would be the one to have it. But he was also more drawn than ever to her. It was as though the mate bond was calling him even more strongly to her.

Aidan had been attending warrior training everyday now to enforce the new training from Black Mountain. He was furious with Kit's lies and tired of him disobeying orders to update the training. Kit's second, Nathan, had been in attendance at the training with Alex and Nolan so Aidan had tasked him with instructing the team. He was more than keen to get the work started. Kit had been suspended from training duties, being moved to administration tasks while Aidan deliberated on what to do with him. Marcus had stepped in to stop Aidan from ripping Kit's throat out in his office that day after Alex had forced him to reveal that he had lied. Aidan was disgusted with the man, but more disgusted with himself for so readily believing him over his mate.

The new pack member, Laura, had joined Lunar Ridge from Robbie's pack a few days previously. Aidan and Alex had gone to welcome her officially to her new home with her mate Dylan. Alex was clearly delighted for Laura to join them and from what he had heard, they had been spending a lot of their time together. His sources had informed him that Alex's campaign to provide training to females and children in the pack had stepped up and she had actually organised daily sessions for anyone who wanted them. The school principals had called Aidan to seek guidance on whether defence lessons for the children and teens was something that they should consider offering. Aidan had informed them, and any other leaders who had asked, that Alex had his full support for these ventures. And he strongly implied that they had better encourage people to go. Better late than never, he thought bitterly. He could easily have supported these initiatives earlier but his fear of reprisals from the pack had led him to deny his mate.

And then there were thoughts creeping into his brain that were starting to gain momentum and volume. Should he really be mated with Alex? Would this make his pack stronger or tear it apart? Should he consider rejecting the match and mating with someone less controversial? It tore him up to think this way but he also had to think of what was best for the pack. And perhaps what may be best for Alex.

They would be travelling back to Black Mountain the following day for the celebrations around Ronan and Alice's mating ceremony that weekend. At least they would be spending some time together, he thought. Ronan had extended the invite to Marcus and Kit also, and Aidan was forcing Kit to come along. This would allow Nathan time to really embed the new training methods without the possibility of Kit undermining him. Marcus would stay and run things in Aidan's absence.

Aidan was surprised when, later that evening, he found Alex loading a suitcase into her jeep. She turned towards him as she heard his steps approach.

'Hi', she said softly, in a reserved kind of tone. He hated how deflated she looked.

'Where are you off to?' Aidan gestured towards the suitcase and garment bags that filled the boot.

Alex closed the door of the boot as she answered. 'I'm driving home tonight.' Aidan tensed at her use of 'home' to describe Black Mountain and not Lunar Ridge.

'I think I need a night away from you to clear my head a bit,' she looked at him sadly, taking a breath to speak the piece she had clearly been practicing in her head. 'I think I've been very clear on who I am and what I want to offer this pack. But I don't know if you want the same things. I don't even know if you really want a mate. Or if you do, if I'm the right one for you. I was hoping you would come to talk things through with me after the fiasco with Kit but in not doing that, it kind of tells me that I'm not a priority for you.'

'But you haven't been around,' Aidan exclaimed. 'You're barely in the house these days and you're off doing your own thing during the day anyway. It's not up to me to track you down.' He knew he didn't have a leg to stand on. He knew exactly where she had been everyday but couldn't face her. He was embarrassed at his own behaviour but he didn't want to admit that either.

Alex remained calm. 'There's no point in arguing,' she said, 'It's clear to me that I don't really belong here. Have you even thought about how insane it is that I can't mind link the pack? Laura arrived a few days ago and you formally committed her to Lunar Ridge. Why not me?'

Aidan hesitated. 'No don't bother answering,' Alex spoke before Aidan had a chance to say anything. 'After Ronan's wedding, we can discuss what to do.'

'What does that mean?'

'You can decide if you want to reject me Aidan.'