The Golden Lycans (Ella) novel Chapter 8

8 /105

***Austin***

I try to stretch out for a fork, but I just can't get close enough. A dark haired she-wolf from my politics class is getting a little too much in my personal space.

"All I'm saying Aus, is that if you're ever up for some no strings fun, just come knock on room two twenty-eight," pouts Camilla Warnford, blocking my route as I stand there with my breakfast tray. Freya definitely had a point the other day, although I'd never admit it to her. This sort of thing was happening every day since Ava had been scooped up by Chase. Actually, it was multiple times a day. In fact, the more I think about it, it is happening a lot.

I had never given it much credence when I'd heard people mention it in the past, but perhaps I really was giving off some strange 'alpha vibe' that I couldn't control.

Regardless, it was getting quite annoying and I wasn't the sort of guy who enjoyed much attention. I sigh a little too loudly before I remind myself that I should at least try to be kind, regardless of how irritated I am right now.

"Uh, see the thing is, I'm just not into casual hookups. I'm really sorry. You are very pretty and I'm sure you're a great person, but I'm just not...looking for...anything," I respond awkwardly, trying my best to reach for a fork. Camilla leans back even further against the table, blocking my access, ignoring what I have just said, entirely. She tosses her long dark hair over her shoulder and looks up at me through her thick, eyelash extensions. I definitely preferred someone who looked more natural, those things looked ridiculous.

"Hmm, but you never know what you're looking for till you try, right? It's a full moon tonight Aus, just let your wolf take over for a night. Enjoy what I have to offer," she says boldly, pouting once more. This was getting so tiring.

I just wanted a fork.

I'll take over and let her know how pissed I am that she is preventing us from eating breakfast, Atlas growls to me, clearly annoyed now too.

I could always count on him to lighten my mood. I smile slightly.

"My wolf is only interested in sausage and black pudding, right now. I'm very sorry," I tell her, leaning dangerously close to her face in order to grab the cutlery from behind her. I raise my eyebrows at her and give her my best apologetic expression before going over to our table to start eating my breakfast.

I slowly chew a piece of sausage as I watch Chase and Ava sitting together a few tables over. They are smiling, laughing, giving loving touches here and there. I feel a little bit like a creepy ex while watching them, but I felt it was only natural given what had happened just ten days ago.

It took the edge off to see that they hadn't marked eachother-yet. Something told me that would probably change after tonight's full moon. I knew not many alphas could avoid the allure of a new mate once the next full moon arrived. Chase could be an ass sometimes but he was generally a good guy, but I was sure that if it was down to him they'd have solidified their bond by now. I realise as I put a piece of bacon into my mouth, that I really don't have any sort of lasting resentment toward him at all, or toward Ava for that matter. They didn't ask for it to happen the way it did.

"Oh come on Aus, you really need to move on," Ollie says to me quietly in annoyance as he takes the seat next to me. I sigh myself at Ollie's lack of empathy.

"Ols, it's quite literally been ten days. We were together for two years. But in any case, I'm actually fine. I just...I mean they could try to be a little more discreet, but I think I am over it," I mutter, taking a gulp of my coffee.

"I do have compassion. I'm just saying...there are at least a hundred fine women in this hall right now who would love to be on your arm...or uh..more accurately, another appendage of yours," Ollie jokes, sweeping his arm out in front of him across the hall grandly, as if gesturing to the masses. I can't help but laugh at him and his dirty humour.

"Uh huh, seriously dude, I get girls asking about you all the time now, man," says Dominic Long, one of our pack's younger gammas, "I'm like...hey girl, I'm available too. I too am a tall, dark and incredibly handsome guy who would love to show you a good time. But no. They only want to know about alpha Aus."

I chuckle a little awkwardly and clear my throat.

"I'm sorry guys, you know me, it just can't be anyone. I just want the one," I say quietly. The guys laugh heartily at me like they usually do and I sigh again. I didn't like talking to them about this sort of stuff for this very reason.

"You're still sticking with that, huh? This is your chance to have some no strings fun before you come of age, and you're seriously not going to take advantage of that? Do you want to have awkward moments with your mate in the future or be a seasoned alpha lover?" Ollie jokes, tucking into some bacon himself.

"Honestly, Aus, you do sound like a teenage girl," Dominic snorts. Ollie bursts out laughing and I roll my eyes. I knew it was actually pretty normal for most alphas to 'play the field' a bit but that just wasn't me. It was largely due to having a very old and very wise wolf spirit. Atlas was unusually level headed for an alpha wolf of his heritage, and I was pretty collected and focussed myself. Together we simply had excellent self control, which couldn't be said for a lot of other alphas my age. I had been with Ava for two years but I hadn't been with Ava, which deeply shocked my friends. As far as they were concerned, if I could, I should. I look back at her and watch her and Chase again for a few minutes.

She genuinely looks happy and he is clearly very caring toward her; more caring than I'd ever seen him be toward any of the other dozen girls I'd seen him with in the past.

Ollie is right, you really need to close this chapter. Get closure and move on, Atlas now interjected.

Great, I was getting accosted from all angles. I was annoyed at them all, but I knew they were right, annoyingly. I did need to move on from this situation entirely.

I know, you're right. Its time to clear the air and get some total closure, I reply.

Indeed. Talk to her. Don't make that moment be your last interaction. They will be our future allies after all, Atlas reminds me wisely.

...

I catch up to Ava and Chase at the end of breakfast just as they are leaving the hall.

"Ava, hey, could I please have a quick word?" I ask, feeling a little nervous and very much sounding as such. She shoots a quick glance at Chase before nodding at me with a smile, following me over to the navy sofas in the atrium. A few people whisper to each other as they spot us sitting down. I'm sure everyone knew what had happened, but I just tried to ignore the multiple whisperings over the last week or so. I was sure the human population probably found the situation a lot more dramatic, without any knowledge of what actually happened.

Sitting across from Ava now, my mouth goes dry and a pang of hurt hits me again as I open my mouth to talk. Before I can get any words out, Ava speaks.

"Aus, before you say anything...I am so deeply sorry that everything happened the way that it did. I've been so conflicted all week," she begins, fiddling with her fingers awkwardly on her lap, "I felt so cruel and so ashamed by how it happened. It must have been so awful for you. I really wish it hadn't happened in front of so many people."

She definitely seemed pretty apologetic about it. But she was a good person, so I hadn't expected anything less.

"Yeah, the timing was pretty...well let's be honest, it was pretty dreadful," I laugh. She laughs too for a moment. Her expression then softens as she speaks.

"I, like you, believed we were going to be mates, but I guess the moon goddess just had other plans for us," she says with a small shrug.

I nod slowly while staring at the floor, but then look up at her lovely face once more.

"Are you happy?" I ask. Her face thankfully lights up at my question.

"Oh, absolutely! Oh Aus, I hope you find your mate soon. It really is just incredible. I had no idea just how strong the bond could be. How much we affect each other, how much stronger we make each other. Everything just feels so intense," she says, her face and eyes full of excitement. Her expression then changes a little as if she felt she'd said the wrong thing.

"I don't say that to make you feel sad about what happened with us," she continues, "but I genuinely cannot wait for you to experience it. I just want total and complete happiness for you. You are one of the best people I will ever know, and you deserve someone truly amazing. You are going to make an incredible alpha someday, and your Luna is going to be an incredible woman, I just know it."

She puts her hand on mine and gives it a squeeze. I smile at her warmly and I realise that even though it had only been ten days, I really wasn't as upset about it as I thought I was. I was really glad I had spoken to her.

"You were always going to make an excellent Luna, Ava," I tell her truthfully, "Sapphire Lake has gained a very valuable and all-round good person."

She looks touched by my words.

"Thanks Aus, that means a lot. I know this isn't what either of us expected, but I hope we can still be friends. Sapphire Lake is a great pack and Chase and I would love for us to strengthen our existing relationship with the Golden Lycans, once you take over," Ava replies, tossing her glossy black hair over her shoulder.

"You'll have to wait a few years for that, my dad isn't quite ready to move on to being headmaster of the school," I laugh.

"Yes, I can't quite picture Leo sitting up there in the round office, he's definitely more of a practical, 'on his feet' sort of man," she agrees with a smile.