Healing The Ruthless Alpha novel Chapter 52

"This is crazy," Aristo said but he was grinning as he spoke. "Cahir is going to run mad, I am certain of it." He laughed. It was clear from the way he kept laughing and grinning that he was excited about this.

"Do you get a kick out of annoying him?" His giddiness was infectious.

The idea of leaving the pack for a bit had come out of nowhere three days ago and I hadn't expected Aristo to be so supportive. I hadn't seen Cahir since then because I went back to sleeping in my room and Asena was giving me the silent treatment now.

"Cahir? He's the most aggravating person ever. I'm not going to miss this opportunity to watch him freak out," Aristo grinned.

"I'm not trying to make him freak out," I muttered. "I know he'd never agree that's why I'm doing this secretly."

I didn't have to ask Cahir because I knew he would say no. He was the reason I felt trapped. The person who didn't even want me to venture somewhere as close as the pack houses would ever approve my vacation.

"Yeah, but he is still going to freak out when he finds out you're gone." There was no dimming Aristo's smile or dampening his spirit.

"I'm leaving him a note. Besides, I'm not sure he cares about me that much." I shrugged. If he freaked out, it would be because I dared disobey him, not because he missed me or something. Shit, that thought stung.

"Why would you think he doesn't care about you?" Aristo lost his grin. It was rare to see him with a serious expression. The way he looked at me then made me remember just whose Beta he was.

"It's the things he does." I made a face. "Hey, I hope you aren't going to tell him where I am no matter what!" I exclaimed. He was Cahir's beta. His duty was first to his Alpha before me so he could rat me out anytime.

"He'd slit my throat if he ever finds out I helped you so no, I'm not going to tell him I know anything but don't change the subject." He gave me a stern, reprimanding glare that had me cowering. "Why do you think Cahir doesn't care about you?" I shrugged in response.

If Laura didn't understand how I felt when I mentioned the things Cahir did and how they made me feel irrelevant and hated sometimes, then I didn't expect Aristo to understand as Cahir's best friend. I was prepared for him to be more nosed than Laura.

"Sia, you don't understand just what you do to Cahir." He sounded like Laura. "More than anyone else, I understand how Cahir can be a controlling, high-handed prick but that's the only way he knows how to care for his own."

"He told me Alpha Blood has functioned fine without a Luna so there was no need for me," I blurted out. Aristo's eyes widened for a second before he burst into laughter. I rubbed my forearm, feeling self-conscious as he laughed until he doubled over, almost falling to the ground.

"I'm sorry," he wheezed, coming back up, "he's so good at everything except handling women and he'd never admit it!" He laughed some more. "That idiot really said that?" I nodded, feeling even more self-conscious.

Was it okay for him to call the Alpha an idiot? They may be best friends but the power dynamic between them was still clear. Cahir would not appreciate being insulted even if it was a joke from his best friend.

"Look, I know that man better than anyone else, so trust me when I say he did not say that to make you feel useless. That's Cahir's way of telling you to rest. He has shouldered the responsibilities of both the Alpha and Luna for five years and for you, he is willing to continue. You should be happy!" He exclaimed with another chuckle. "Pack work is long and tedious. I'd kill for someone to shoulder some of my responsibilities too!"

I'd thought of many reasons why Cahir would say that to me and while I considered that, I found it hard to believe. He made sure to confine me to the house after that!

"You're the Luna and if you say you want a vacation, you should get a vacation. That's the primary reason I'm agreeing to help you do this," Ariosto continued.

"What? Not because you want to annoy Cahir?" I teased and he laughed.

"No, that's just a side benefit. You looked miserable when I saw you three days ago so I agreed to risk my neck. Aggravating Cahir is too risky to do for fun." Whatever his reason for helping me was, the important part was that I was getting the help I asked for so I was grateful.