Alpha Aidan's Rejection Chapter 110

TARA

　　The attack from the Stonewolves had become stale news. People freely went about their businesses now, so it was no hassle for me to go restocking Aidan's kitchen with foodstuff one week after everything happened. I had to admit, it wasn't easy feeding a man the size and stomach of Aidan, but what was a girl to do when he took care of her and their child with so much dedication?

　　Aidan could as well eat portions meant for me and Nadia combined and doubled, and he still wouldn't be satisfied. It was why the foodstuffs in his house never lasted more than two weeks without needing a restock.

　　His love for food was what made me conclude that it was why Aidan could not only whip up meals that could pass for a chef's standards, but could also make actual fancy meals!

　　Back to shopping.

　　I loved the activity's semblance of serenity, so this was a win win.

　　And since Nadia was with Esme for the Saturday afternoon, it was the perfect way for me to spend it.

　　With the trolley in hand, I strolled aisle by aisle, filling it with what we needed, veggies, snacks, protein, and all, but like the bug that she was, Kayla would never see an opportunity to rattle someone and not take it, so it was no surprise when our eyes connected and she strutted to where I was tossing Nadia's favorite chocolate brand into the cart.

　　Now, I was beginning to get pissed off.

　　"You do know how to take cues that are not so subtle, Kayla, yes? I mean, the one where I do not have any interest in breathing the same air as you?"

　　Kayla's usual charming but deceitful smile was not on her face today, telling me that she at least had the balls to open up to her nonsense.

　　"I came to speak to you, Tara," was all she said. With a straight face.

　　I scoffed. "So you followed me here? What do you want Kayla? And I don't mean that you should give me some petty reason because at this point, it's looking like that's all you've got. What do you want from me?"

　　Kayla's hand propped on her waist, shifting her weight to one foot, and she responded through gritted teeth. "You think this is all just some stupid game to me?"

　　Lifting one brow, I questioned her. "Isn't it, Kayla?" I snapped, her name drawing bile to the back of my throat, but that didn't stop ice from running through my words as I finally gave Kayla what she wanted. Indulgence.

　　I went on speaking, turning fully away from my cart now to her, ready for whatever she would throw at me.

　　Nobody knew this, only Aidan, not even Jenna or Esme, and certainly not Kayla, but I felt my wolf.

　　One week ago in my room when I tried to reach out to her for the first time since I got attacked by Kayla, I felt her presence within me, her fur pressing softly against my skin, her muzzle tickling the hairs on my arms as I called out to her.

　　So whatever Kayla had under her sleeves right now, she was going to meet resistance, even if not a fair match, yet.

　　"Right from the time you met me when I returned to Attica Pack, it's been one show of pettiness or the other. Sticking your tongue to a child? Really, Kayla? And now you're in my home, asking me to stay away from someone who hasn't laid any claims on you?" I questioned simultaneously. "Listen, Kayla, no matter how much you deserve it, and this is coming from someone who doesn't care for judgments, I am not going to be that woman to fight with you over something like this. You are simply not worth it," I finished, clasping my hands loosely in front of me with a lazy smile.

　　There.

　　I gave her a piece of my mind.

　　That must have gotten through to Kayla, or not, I didn't care, but she scoffed. Not her usual demeaning reaction, but this was laced with a bitterness that sounded so personal to her.

　　"Aidan. Is. Mine," she bit out, her voice low, but loaded with conviction.

　　Did this woman seriously not just hear me?

　　Before I could speak again, she did, beating me to it.

　　"You've always been privileged, Tara." That would have been the straw that broke my back, but not when she kept talking. "Never really faced any hardships in life at eighteen. But people like me…" she paused, voice wavering as she said the last few words, and my eyebrows drew together in confusion. "We've been through hell, Tara, do you hear me?"

　　"We've all been through hell. Everyone won't go through the same degree of pain, but you don't see others turn mean because of their pasts," I said. Kayla going through whatever she went through wasn't at all an excuse for the way she acted over the years.

　　Heck, hadn't she heard of the word "adulthood"?

　　"Not what I've been through," she bit out, the quiver, out of her voice now, and in its place, cold defiance.

　　Her show of emotion for that split second made me begin to wonder just how much life had hit Kayla that we didn't know about. There were things I'd gone through that nobody knew of, and this could be the case for others, her included.

　　It didn't make me pity or sympathize with her, but it was a strange realization.

　　Kayla spoke again, tearing me from my thoughts.

　　"Aidan came through for me and my daughter in a way no one had ever done before, putting not only a roof over our heads, but also giving us a protection that only a man like him could. I do not care what his feelings are for me, I only care about mine, and what I want," she said, dropping her head low but maintaining my eyes.

　　It was then that it made some sense to me.

　　Kayla, the woman who almost ended my life a decade ago on the night when she found out Aidan and I were going to have a child together- the possibility of a family- , had…real feelings for him.