Promise you I'll never leave your side

'Cause I'm telling you you're all I need

A myriad of thunderous thoughts weighed heavily upon the Were-King's mind in the wake of the Ark's sinking, his family had been, perhaps, not tolerated as well as he might have otherwise. It had been hours before he had finally found that reassurance he'd required from his father, sleep thankfully, only following in the aftermath, even if it was fitful and broken up by periods of striking awakeness. It was early in the morning when Aiden finally found a hint of true rest, the Were-King hardly moving as the warmth of Mira's slender figure eased into his side and nestled within the crook of his shoulder. For hours he was lost to that blissful oblivion, the wee hours in the morning promising reprieve from even the nightmares Risque was so oft to infect him with and God, how Aiden had needed it to face the rough road ahead of him. His world, after all, had been torn apart and he was left with the broken pieces of his whole pack's lives to mend. It was sometime late within the morning, or perhaps even early afternoon, when the Alpha finally stirred, that life slowly bleeding back into those once relaxed limbs.

Sleepily those long lashes fluttered open ever so slightly, the Alpha contemplating, for a vague moment, merely rolling over and returning to that sweet sleep. It was the soft sensation of fingertips against his skin that eased him further into the waking world. The sweet brush of Mira's lips against his knuckles prompted a soft grunt of acknowledgment from his lips, even if Aiden was hesitant to allow himself to be dragged from that once peaceful slumber. A gentle yawn left his lips as Mira shifted within his arms, the young woman curling against him as she turned to face him. The vibrancy of his emerald gaze turned down towards her as her voice muttered those tender 'good mornings'. He was well aware of the way her chocolate locks fell so easily around her caramel features, spilling onto her nearly bare shoulders. "Morning." He uttered back only to watch as the young woman stretched out her fit physique. How Aiden wished to simply remain in those bedsheets with her as if he could chase away responsibilities that came with repairing their lives! It was a tempting proposal, though one that was forgotten in the wake of that teasing soprano lit.

How peculiar that word sounded as it fell from her lips. Boyfriend. He'd never thought he would allow anyone to call him by such a title again, not after his fling with Samantha had ended so spectacularly bad. Still...Mira was hardly anything like the fae girl, a fact she reminded him of unknowingly with every moment she spent at his side. He listened in silence to her carefully pitched question, her voice trailing off with such distinct care to leave that open space for Aiden to fill in. A soft breath left his lips as Aiden reached up with his free hand, nestling it behind his head and that wealth of unruly brunette locks. "....Mira...." He started softly, his gaze briefly turning from her, "....look, now that my family isn't staring you down...you don't have to say yes. I'm a shit boyfriend and..." His tongue brushed over his lips as he considered just how to finish that sentence. Slowly, that striking hue returned to her golden irises as Aiden finished that sentence. "...and you deserve better than I can ever give you." God, how true those words were. Aiden was...entirely aware of all those secrets he kept from her, all those dark and twisted paths his life pushed him down, ones she certainly did not belong on. He was aware of how dangerous it was to love him, the things that could be done to her if any from his mistress' club discovered her existence. It was a mercy to give her an out, an escape before things went too far...got too messy. After all, her safety and wellbeing was his greatest priority, even if it was in the arms of another man...as much as he abhorred the idea of it.