It’s been weeks since I’ve been sold to Hawthorne and just few days left to turn twenty. To top the icing on the cake, I had just recently discovered that I was pregnant for him! I couldn’t bring myself to tell him, not just yet but I was hoping I could do so, tonight.
I clutched the tray of food in my hand, my legs shaking as I approached the dining table. Alpha Hawthorne seemed engrossed in a newspaper, unaware of my gaze. Along with Margret, three other maids also brought trays of steaming hot turkey. I stole a glance at him, feeling uneasy. I almost turned to leave, but his command halted me in my tracks.
“Wait behind, Aurora,” he said firmly.
Taking a deep breath, surprisingly not anxious, I turned around to face him. The other maids, including Margret, were dismissed. He walked towards me, standing close, and lifted my chin to look into his emotionless eyes. They were cold and distant.
“Go get dressed. I want you to be a presentable Luna,” he muttered, surprising me with his request. He let go of my chin, and my stomach knotted in response.
“Yes… my Lord,” I replied, unintentionally upsetting him.
He frowned, his lips quivering, and he gripped my chin again, this time more roughly. His frown deepened as he spoke with authority.
“Tonight, you refer to me by my name,” he commanded. I nodded, and as soon as he released me, I rushed to my room to get dressed.
Curiosity got the best of me, and I asked the three maids waiting in my room, “What are you doing here?”
“Lord Hawthorne instructed us before dinner to make sure you are dressed in it,” one of them replied, pointing at a light blue gown folded neatly on my bed.
I nodded and headed for the bathroom, soon getting dressed in the gown and applying light makeup. I wondered if this was all a test from Hawthorne and if I had somehow already passed, ready to become his Luna.
The maids led the way, and I followed closely behind them. Outside, I saw Hawthorne standing with three people, while four cars were parked neatly. When he saw me, he signaled me to come closer. As I stood before him, I felt the piercing gazes of his guests on my exposed skin.
“My lady,” a deep masculine voice spoke behind me. I turned to see Ryan, Hawthorne's beta, with a smile on his face. He took my hand and kissed it, looking pleased. I glanced at Hawthorne, surprised to find him indifferent to his beta’s gesture.
I withdrew my hand and gave a slight smile. The remaining two, apparently bodyguards, nodded in greeting. Hawthorne suggested going inside, and his gaze softened with concern as he looked at me.
“Aurora, are you alright?” he asked gently.
I stared at him for a moment, my voice almost a whisper as I replied, “I’m alright.”
I couldn’t believe it was all an act, just to deceive his beta into thinking we had something when we didn’t. Hawthorne took my hand, giving it a gentle squeeze.
“Alright then, let’s go in,” he said, leading the way with a hint of an affectionate act that I knew wasn’t real.
I nodded and soon, we walked back into the house, arms interlocked together. He led me toward the set table, with his beta following right behind us. He pulled out a seat for me and my jaw ticked as I took it.
“So, what brings you here, Ryan?“ He asked as soon as we sat down and I couldn’t help but get curious.
Ryan gave a slight smile. “The council wants to know when you will rule. They questioned your incompetence.“ He replied with much difficulty and I stole a glance at Hawthorne.
I would never had believed it, if I was told that there were people who did not fear the Alpha himself. He was not merciful, according to the stories I heard. His eyes were emotionless, as he listened to his beta talk.
“I need names.“ He ordered and I could feel my heart racing, for no reason. I had never seen this side of him before and it was terrifying.
“I’m sorry but I don’t have names. I don’t know who said what but your subjects, my lord…”
“What about them?“ Hawthorne inquired and Ryan swallowed, perhaps taking mental calculations on what he should say and how he should say it.
I subconsciously placed a hand on Hawthorne’s fist and he stared at me. He felt uncomfortable by my action and I knew. I slowly withdrew my hand while he took a deep breath.
“We will talk later but for now, let’s eat.“ He said and I sighed in relief. Soon, we began to feast but I could barely eat my food.
The thought of Hawthorne trying to use me, was sickening. He truly didn’t care about me at all. I could see Margret staring at me pitifully. She didn’t seem to support Hawthorne’s actions but she wouldn’t stand against him either, no one would ever dare to.
“You’ve barely touched your food.” Hawthorne spoke with a displeased look on his face while I stared at my food.
“I’m filled.“ I replied him while forcing a smile. My heart felt heavy as I stood up. I was done with all of this. “Excuse me.“ I said to them and headed for the stairs.
***
I walked into my room, tears slipping from my eyes as I buried my face into the pillow. How foolish of me to have assumed that perhaps, he was beginning to love me or he had found out that I was with child, his child. I sat down, wiping away the streaks of tears on my face.
Someone badged into the room. It was Hawthorne and from his facial expression, I knew he was more than annoyed with me. He stood at the door, not moving at all with his eyes lingering on me.
I stared at him, my heart racing to the roof. Soon he walked toward me and in no time, he towered above me. He crouched, roughly grabbing my chin. His eyes, observed my face and I could feel the beads of sweats breaking out.
“Why did you refuse to eat?“ He questioned and I swallowed.
I didn’t feel it was necessary to reply him though as I had nothing to say. Instead, I closed my eyes shut, expecting a pain splitting slap on my cheek. However, I felt his hold on my chin tighten a little bit more.
“Aurora.“ He called and I slowly opened my eyes as I winced in pains.
“I was filled.“ I replied him as tears slipped from my eyes. I guess he didn’t buy my excuse because his hold got even tighter. “I’m…I’m pregnant.“
He stilled. He stared at his hand on my chin and let go. Standing up, he walked toward the door and with his back turned to me, he stopped.
“When?”
“Three days ago.”
He nodded and walked out of the door while I buried my head into my palm and began to sob.
—ALPHA HAWTHORNE’S POV— Sitting on a swivel chair behind my desk, I began to reminisce about what Aurora had said to me, oblivious of my beta who was giving me reports on the welfare of my pack. What Aurora had said had come as an unexpected surprise to me. I never expected that she would be pregnant. To say I wasn’t overjoyed would be an understatement. “Hawthorne.” My beta’s call had snapped me out of my thoughts. He had a deep frown on his, perhaps he realized that I was paying attention to what he was saying. I stared at him, not bothering to conceal my displeasure on his interference. “Can I ask something out of context?” he requested and staring at him, I could observe that he seemed serious. I leaned back on my chair and gave a nod of approval. “Do you love her?” I did not know why but his question had cut me off guard and in a way, infuriated me. However, I kept staring at him while he stared back. “Who told you that?” I questioned and he as well, leaned back on his seat
—Aurora’s pov—As I removed the dress I had worn to dinner, I gazed at the young woman in the mirror. A sigh escaped my lips, and she mirrored my action, her expression reflecting her heartache. It was hard to fathom that the woman before me was actually me.I unpinned my hair, letting it cascade down my shoulders like a waterfall, and a tear trickled down as I scrutinized my reflection. My heart pounded heavily, each beat deepening my misery. This was an unfamiliar feeling, one I never wanted to experience again.A few maids entered my room carrying more clothes. I let out a derisive snort, refraining from saying anything as they indicated I was to wear yet another dress, a mandate from the Alpha. Once they left, I stared at the pink, translucent gown through the mirror, hesitating. Well, at least he got my color right. I finally stood up from the chair and walked toward the bed, examining the clothes.Soon, I was dressed. My shampooed hair, dripped off water as I tried t
My lips trembled as I hobbled into the dense, dark forest, the excruciating pain in my ankle almost unbearable. My heart raced, and the distant howl behind me sent shivers down my spine. Panic surged within me as I recognized the sound – it was him.The moon had risen, its light piercing through the dense canopy of trees. A peculiar thought crossed my mind: if only I could shift, this ordeal might become less agonizing. Limping felt so utterly helpless. The awareness that he would inevitably track me down grew stronger, compelling me to take action swiftly, if I did not want to get caught.Soon, my ears picked up the sound of several howls, and my heart raced even faster. How fast were they? I wondered as I made my way further into the forest. Finally, I found a cave just ahead and quickly, I headed straight for it. As soon as I got to the cave, I hid inside, while silently praying to the moon goddess that I shouldn’t be found.A heavy thud echoed just beyond the cave entrance, and th
—ALPHA HAWTHORNE’S POV— Leaving paw prints with every step, I dashed into the woods, convinced she had taken refuge there. Coming to an abrupt halt, I gazed up at the full moon and let out a howl. The call of an Alpha. Before long, several howls echoed in response. Emerging from the woods behind me, a group of wolves sprinted forward and came to a stop. Yet, none dared to stand beside me except one—my beta. “You are going to have to spread out with them, that way, we can find her faster.” I mind linked him as his brown eyes remained fixed on me. Without delay, he turned towards the other wolves, transmitting my command to them. Soon, they dashed off in a different direction. The sound of dried leaves rustling underfoot and the snapping of twigs echoed through the air as they moved. However, one wolf did not move. It wasn’t Ryan but a guard. He was the only one that had stayed behind, the only one I wanted to stay behind. “Go, if you find her, howl for me.” I mind linked and soon,
—AURORA’S POV—I inhaled the crisp morning air, accompanied by the cheerful melody of chirping birds. The sun shone brightly, casting its warm glow. My legs had fully recovered, and three days ago, I successfully underwent my first transformation. I felt an overwhelming sense of joy upon realizing that I held the position of a beta wolf.My usual black eyes, had taken a brown color. Diego, the stranger who had saved me that night, was equally happy to have another beta with him. Though, unlike most shifters, I found it hard to shift willingly. All my senses were completely heightened which was a relief. I couldn’t sense any bond, perhaps, Ryan was right and it was only difficult to , due to the distance.Diego entered the living room, carrying a bag in his hand. Today, we were scheduled to visit Alpha Riel’s manor. During my time living with Diego, I came to realize that he was not only kind-hearted but also exceptionally loyal, prioritizing the welfare of those around him. I was take
“Aurora, he is here.” Monica announced, and from the tone of her voice, it was evident that she was feeling anxious. I didn’t respond, instead, I continued to gaze at the dressing mirror. I found myself lost in thought, pondering about Hawthorne’s well-being and contemplating what he would do. How might he respond upon discovering that his partner sought refuge with a rival pack, carrying his unborn child? My right hand subconsciously rubbed my stomach as I observed it in the mirror. It had only been two weeks since I had joined Monica at the Orphanage, assisting her with the children. “Aurora!” she called once more, this time her voice carried a higher pitch. Her tone reeked of increased anxiety, effectively jolting me out of my thoughts. “Just a moment!” I yelled in reply, simultaneously applying lip balm to my chapped lips. After smacking them together, I gave my hair a gentle brush. Staying in the Manor for a few days, I had come to understand how the system worked here. To su
—ALPHA HAWTHORNE’S POV—As I stood before the mirror, fastening my cufflinks, I stole a momentary glance at my reflection. The eyes staring back at me held an air of indifference. My jaw ticked as a knock sounded on the door.I refrained from responding, and once more, the knock echoed through the room. This time, I cocked my head to the side. “Come in.” I uttered, my gaze fixed upon the mirror before me.Margret walked into the room. Although I couldn’t see her as she stood behind me, her scent was something I would recognize. I turned to stare at her, trying my hardest to conceal my emotions as I didn’t want to appear weak before my servant.“”My lord,” she uttered with a tinge of panic, her head bowed as her gaze fixated on the floor before her.“Speak.”“Lord Ryan has arrived,” she declared, and I acknowledged her statement with a subtle nod, my expression revealing no surprise. His presence was expected, as he was due to provide updates on the search for my mate’s where
Noticing my bewildered expression, she smiled and then let out another sigh. “Well, my relationship with him isn’t as flawless as people might assume.”“He’s your mate?” I inquired while sipping my wine. She nodded hesitantly, then sighed and turned towards the bartender. “Seems like I’m destined for a gay guy,” she commented with a sad chuckle, gazing off into the distance.I glanced at the young man once more, our eyes meeting briefly before he excused himself. He approached us and inclined his head in my direction. His neatly trimmed black hair and cleanly shaven beard gave him the appearance of a true gentleman, radiating both elegance and humility, in my estimation.“Alpha Hawthorne, it’s a pleasure to meet you,” he said, extending his hand for a handshake. I accepted his gesture as Sharma smiled, although her smile seemed tinged with pain. “I’m Lucas, and this is my fiancée,” he introduced, and I nodded in understanding.“It’s a pleasure meeting you too, Lucas,” I replied, my ga