N/A: Here it issssssssssssss 

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~Ayan POV~

“Is this him?” An excited voice said before I was tackled from behind in a hug. 

“Ummmm, who are you?” I asked said stranger.

I was in a really weird situation and didn’t know how to feel about it. 

“Bunny, this is Henry Owen’s mate.” 

I look at my mate in slight surprise. “Who's Owen?” 

A tall man a few inches taller than Aithne steps forward. The power emitting from him left no doubt he was an Alpha. 

He was massive. I had to strain my neck up to look at him. 

“That would be me. Hi, I’m Owen. It’s nice to meet you.”

 Ahhh, the dots are connecting. The massive man— Owen, sticks out his hand in greeting for a shake. 

I take it. “Hi, I’m-“

“Ayan.” He interrupts. “Just about everyone important knows who you are.”

“Oh?’ Interesting. ‘What else do you know?” 

“Just the basics. I was there when y’all met. It was….” Owen, I dare say, got a little dreamy-eyed. “Beautiful.” 

“Oh, umm, thank you?” 

He smiled before remembering where his mate was. “Henry let him go. Unfortunately, not everyone is a tactile type of person.” 

The body— Henry released me from his iron grip, which was surprising because who knew  someone that small could have a grasp that damn strong. 

“Sorry.’ Henry said. “Sometimes I forget not everyone likes hugs.” 

I raised a brow and looked toward my mates. 

She just smiled and shook her head a bit. “Okay, okay, now that the greetings are finally out of the way. Ayan, as I told you earlier, Owen was stopping to be nosey—

“Nosey?”

Aithne shushes him before continuing. “As I was saying, he’s here to be nosey and whatnot, but ayan, where are your parents?” 

I blushed as we stood in the candy aisle rather than the produce section. “Well… see, the thing is I kinda got distracted and ended up here.” 

Ain’t no point in trying to front. 

“Mmmm, I like the honesty,” Aithne said. “Welp.” Aithne turns to Owen and his mate. “I’m over you, Owen please leave.” 

Owen stared at my mate with a ‘try again’ look. 

“I mean, I want them to stay,” I said. I mean, I did. Henry, even though he was a bit touchy. He seemed like someone I could be friends with. Plus, Aithne might be pleased with me for taking this step. “If that’s okay with you.” 

My mate sent me a funny look and sighed a little. “Yeah, if you want a bunny.” 

My heart fluttered a little at Aithne using my nickname. I really liked it when she used it. I’d half to make sure I told her as much. 

I couldn’t help it. I beamed at her and took a chance by leaning forward and sniffing her. 

God, it was intoxicating. I would cherish her scent till the end of my days. I used as much willpower and strength as I could muster and pulled away. 

I had only leaned forward half an inch, but it was a victory I would take with grace. 

“Had your fill?” An amused Owen said. 

Henry smacked his arm and sent him a look. Then, he stepped toward me, and I took a half step back on instinct. I wasn’t ready for another dive bomb. 

He smiled bashfully. “I promise I won’t touch you again without your consent.” 

I took his words with a grain of salt. Something told me he couldn’t go without touch for long, but still, I allowed him to take another step forward. 

He came closer and held out a hand. “Come with me.” 

See, I knew it. “And go where?”

“See, John. I told you we’d find them here.” A new voice announced. My papa

My dad grumbles while handing my papa a five while turning a corner on the isle. 

Everyone watch’s as my parents make their way down to us. My dad mumbling about not betting with my pa anymore. 

“Here for peach bites?” My papa asked smugly. 

I blush.. again. Will I ever stop because, at this point, I’m about to hit a world record of something. “nOo.” I squeak, then clear my throat. “I’m here for the Chamoy-covered peach bites.” Take that! 

Pa raised a brow. “Same thing.” 

My shoulders snag, and I admit defeat. 

My pa did a double take at the new additions standing behind me. 

“Summer, this is Owen and Henry, his mate,” Aithne said, saving my pa from mental checkout, trying to remember who all came to the grocery store. 

“Oh, it’s nice to meet you two. Owen, Herny.” 

Somehow I knew it was coming when Henry stepped forward and hugged my dad. 

He was a lot less forceful than when he all but tracked me. 

“Oh, shit, Owen baby, is that you?!!!” 

Everyone whipped their head to the new voice.

Evan Oh god. 

Evan walks over with bread in his hand that was held high in the air. “Boo boo bear, why didn’t you tell me you were here?!” 

Boo boo bear? What the hell.

Once he got closer, Evan threw the bread in my parent’s cart, grabbed Owen’s arm and turned around, dropped, and stuck his ass out as he came back up. 

What. The. Fuck. 

Everyone was shell-shocked, a whatever the fuck just happened. Well, everyone except Owen, Evan, and henry. 

Henry rolled his eyes and smacked Evan hard on the arm. “I told you to stop doing that. Your gonna scare people off with your weird behavior.” 

Oh? I’m guessing this is nothing new? “I’m guessing this is a regular occurrence?” I asked, voicing my thoughts. 

Owen laughed. “Yeah, Evan, here is my best bud.” 

“Best bud? What kind of name is that?” Evan said in a fake disgusted voice. “I’m your whore!”

Wow

Evan!” Henry hissed. 

“Yeah, it’s time to go,” I said. 

“You’d be right, Ayan. But, sweet pea, do you have everything you need? Ayan you? Aithne you? Everyone else?”

A chorus of yes went around the group. 

“Aye! Don’t be prudes! Owen, my bro, y’all won’t get our bond.” 

Everyone ignored Evan except Owen, who shook his head and patted his back before grabbing Henry's hand and walking away. 

We all quickly made our way to the self-checkout, where everything was scanned, bagged, and put back in the cart. 

Everything had settled and became mellow by the time we made it out the doors. 

All the couples were walking side by side, including Aithne and me. 

I tried to get her attention discreetly. I wanted to talk with her before we all went our separate ways, as I didn’t know if she would go with Owen or us. 

I slowed down and attempted to get her attention. “Psst. Psst. Aithne.” 

She stopped and looked my way. Success!! 

“I wanted to talk to you before we got in the car.” 

“Aye, we'll catch up!” She called to the group walking ahead. 

“Don’t be too long; I wanna get these groceries home,”  Papa called back. 

“Okay!” I said. 

I looked back at my mate. “I’m sorry about my brother. He tends not to think before he speaks.” 

“It’s okay.” Aithne said, laughing. “The whole ordeal was funny, and it was clear neither Owen nor Henry had a problem with it. I’d say they were used to it.” 

“Yeah, now that I think about it.” I agreed, “but I also didn’t know my brother knew Owen. I don't know my brother's friends.”

“It’s okay, I didn't know either. But, as I said, nobody was mad.” 

“Yeah….”

Is that all you wanted to talk about?” 

“No.” I cleared my throat, building the courage on what I wanted to say next. “ I need to know something before we go any further.” 

“I’m listening.” 

“Do you plan to continue our relationship? Our bond?”

I could tell I shocked her with my question, but I needed to know before I threw my all into this. 

“Right before we got to the store, you were determined to make our relationship work.” She tilted her head. “What changed?” 

I gulped. “I… I saw the way Darius looked at you.” 

A look flashed over her face before it went Blank. “Ayan, what look?” 

“I… I .” My inside twisted thinking about it, and my eyes started to well. “Look, just tell me if you want to be with me because I I.” I began to heave a bit. 

The thought of losing my mate to another… but before I descended into a state of panic. Aithne grabbed my face. “Ayan, look at me.” 

I met her eyes, mine starting to blur because of tears. 

She stared deep into mine for a while before she leaned down and kissed me. 

I moaned as a multitude of flavors exploded in my mouth. 

She tasted like warmth and cherries. It was the most delicious combination. 

I kissed back with urgency, stepping closer, stepping closer, but before I could deepen the kiss Aithne pulled away. Breathing heaved, leaning her forehead against mine. 

“Yes.” I breathe, reaching for her lips again. I needed another taste.  

But Aithne pulled back before I could, standing to her full height. 

“I don’t want it too far. We’ve done enough today.” 

I nodded. “Yeah.” 

“Ayan, I choose you and only you.” 

“Okay.” 

“Okay.” She smiled. “Let’s head back; we have everyone waiting for us. 

She held out her hand, and I took it. 

“Let’s go.” 

I smiled, my fingers going to my lips as I recalled our kiss. 

She kissed me. 

She chose me. 

N/A: Okay, I'm on a roll, lol I finished this in a day today, to be exact, lol. Me and a couple of friends sprinted, and shit, I forgot how helpful it is. Okay, anyways, tell me what you thinkkkk

I hope you enjoyed love yalll byeeeeee