How To Lose Your Billionaire Alpha Husband In 365 Days (Or Less)!-Chapter 27: Fragile Truce...

AIDEN’S POV

The moment I stepped into the house, her scent hit me like a punch to the chest.

Jasmine.

It wasn’t just the usual, familiar scent of her. This was something more intense and alluring. It filled the air with a deep warmth and a raw, primal quality that wrapped around my senses and made it hard to breathe.

I stopped dead in the middle of the hallway, my hand still on the doorknob, my pulse kicking hard against my throat. My chest rose and fell, struggling to keep the rhythm steady.

Fuck.

It wasn’t just her scent. It was... arousal; thick and warm, filling the room like smoke, wrapping around me and drawing me in with an undeniable force. It clung to me, seeping into my skin, making my body tense and my head swim.

I swallowed hard, my hands curling into fists at my sides. My wolf stirred under my skin, immediately becoming restless and wild, pacing in my chest. He pushed forward, snarling low, his desire radiating under my skin like molten heat.

"Don’t," I whispered to myself, grinding my teeth together. "Not like this."

But my feet were already moving... slowly, each one heavier than the last as I followed the invisible trail her scent had left behind. Each step was a battle, a war between my mind and my instincts.

Down the hall. Past the kitchen. Up the stairs.

Every inch closer felt like walking into a fire I wasn’t going to come out of unscathed. My heart pounded louder with every step, like a war drum beating in my ears, drowning out everything else.

By the time I reached her door, I wasn’t sure if I was breathing anymore. Her scent was stronger here, concentrated, flooding my senses until I could barely think straight. It curled around me, tangled with my own, making me dizzy with want.

My hand lifted without permission, fingertips brushing the doorframe. My palm pressed flat against the wood, and for a second, I imagined leaning into it, like it could anchor me. Like the solid barrier was the only thing keeping me from losing control.

She was on the other side.

And she had no idea what she was doing to me.

I closed my eyes, sucking in a shaky breath. My wolf pushed harder, clawing beneath my skin, snarling in frustration.

"Claim her. Mark her. Make her ours."

The feeling hit me hard, intense and overwhelming, a deep need that pulsed through my entire body. It coiled low in my gut, a pressure that wouldn’t ease.

God, I wanted to.

Every instinct in me screamed to barge into the room, take her in every position possible, claim her, sink my teeth into her, leave my mark on her neck, and tie her to me so no one could ever take her away again.

But I couldn’t.

Not like this.

Not when she still looked at me sometimes like she wasn’t sure if she could trust me again. Not when she still thinks I’m a monster. Not when there were still cracks in the foundation we were trying so damn hard to rebuild.

I leaned against the door, my forehead pressing against it. My jaw was clenched, and I felt tense all over, with aches in my tight muscles. My shoulders burned from holding everything in, from keeping myself locked down when all I wanted was to give in.

"You don’t even know what you’re doing to me, Jasmine," I murmured, voice low and rough. "You have no idea."

I could hear the slightest sounds coming from inside—sheets rustling, a gentle breath, the soft rise and fall of her chest. She was asleep, maybe even dreaming. Perhaps she was dreaming of me, given the scent lingering in the air.

I felt something twist deep inside me at the thought—a dark, aching satisfaction... and a hollow kind of longing. The mix of pride and guilt sat heavy in my chest.

"Not yet," I told myself, dragging in another breath. "Not until she’s ready."

Not until she chooses me.

I pressed my hand harder against the door for one last moment, feeling the solid barrier between us, then slowly pulled back.

Ace snarled in protest, still pacing, still clawing, but I forced it down. Forced it back. Forced my body to move away from the door even when every cell in me wanted to go inside, wanted to take, wanted to claim.

"I won’t rush you," I whispered hoarsely. "But damn, you’re killing me."

I turned away, hoping to go find something to distract myself, but stopped in my tracks when I heard the door open behind me.

The sound of the door creaking open behind me made me freeze. My breath caught, and my pulse skipped.

I turned slowly, already knowing it was her.

Jasmine stood in the doorway, wrapped in a thin blanket, her hair mussed from sleep, her eyes heavy-lidded but sharp, watching me.

The soft glow from the hallway light caught the curve of her collarbone and the delicate line of her throat. She looked beautiful, fragile, and yet stronger than she even realised.

She didn’t say a word at first. Just looked at me like she could see straight through me, like she knew exactly what I’d been thinking on the other side of that door.

I let out a slow breath. "Couldn’t sleep?" I asked, my voice rougher than I intended.

She shook her head once. "I slept well."

We both stood there, no words spoken for some time.

She had no idea, but I was holding my breath to keep myself from inhaling more of that intoxicating scent radiating off her.

This is the right moment for me to nod and walk away.

But then, if I keep avoiding her, waiting for her to come around, what if she is also waiting for me to reach out to her?

That thought shifted something in me, and I quietly asked, "Want to talk?"

She stepped aside, wordlessly inviting me in. I hesitated for a beat—God knew I didn’t trust myself right now—but then I stepped inside, keeping my distance, settling by the fireplace as she pulled the blanket tighter around herself.

The flames were low, casting soft, flickering light over her face, painting shadows under her eyes. The room smelled like her—warm, familiar, intoxicating.

She sat across from me, cross-legged on the floor, and for a while, neither of us spoke. Just the crackle of the fire between us and the weight of everything we hadn’t said pressing down.

The silence wasn’t uncomfortable. It felt like a fragile truce, like we were both trying to hold the pieces together without letting them break again.

Finally, she broke the silence. "Tell me the truth, Aiden." Her voice was quiet, but steady. "Why didn’t you tell me? About the mate bond."

I dragged a hand through my hair, letting out a bitter laugh. "Because I was a fucking coward."

She didn’t flinch. Didn’t look away. Just waited.

I swallowed hard, feeling Ace shift inside me, restless again. "I thought... if you knew, you’d run faster. Or hate me more. I didn’t want to tie you to me with something you never asked for. I wanted you to choose me without the bond forcing your hand."

Her brow furrowed, lips pressing into a thin line. "You thought lying was better?"

I met her gaze, the burn of it sharp and unforgiving. "I thought it’d protect you from resenting me. I thought... hell, I thought I could fight it, that I could give you time and space."

She let out a quiet, bitter laugh. "And now?"

"Now?" I shook my head, looking into the fire. "Now I know it wasn’t my choice to make."

We sat in silence again, the words hanging heavy between us. My chest ached from holding it all inside.

Then she spoke, her voice softer. "Is there anything else I should know, Aiden? Any more surprises?"

Ace stirred violently at the question, his voice snarling in my head. "Tell her. Tell her about the curse."

"She’s barely holding it together," I argued silently. "You want to drop that on her now? After everything?"

"We almost lost her once. She deserves to know before she finds out another way," Ace pressed.

I clenched my jaw, forcing the growl down. "I’ll tell her. Just... not tonight. Not when she’s finally starting to trust me again."

I lifted my gaze to hers, steady, resolute. "No," I said quietly. "No more surprises."

A flicker of something passed through her expression—disappointment, maybe. Or relief. Or both. But then she gave me a tired smile.

"Well." She pushed herself to her feet, letting the blanket fall from her shoulders. "I’ll forgive you... if you treat me to dinner."

I blinked, caught off guard. "Dinner?"

She nodded, an almost playful glint in her tired eyes. "A big one. With dessert. And wine. And maybe you’ll tell me more about your world and... species."

"Like an interview, huh?" I asked with raised eyebrows.

"Call it what you want, but that’s my condition."

I felt a reluctant smile tug at my lips. "Not a problem." I stood, meeting her gaze. "Fifteen minutes to get ready?"