—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 to dry it off with a towel. I walked out of my room, as soon as I was done. I wanted to look for Margaret. I wanted to talk to her as she was the only one I could trust in this hellish place.
The Mansion was quite large. Larger than the house I grew up in. Descending the stairs, I could hear the sound of crackles coming from the fireplace. Surprisingly, there was no one there. About to turn back, a loud bang caught my attention. Intrigued, I followed the sound and found myself outside Hawthorne’s study.
I swallowed as I contemplated if eavesdropping on them was a good idea and the consequences of my actions, should Hawthorne find out that I indeed, eavesdropped on his conversation with his beta. I shook my head as I knew it wasn’t worth it. I turned to leave when suddenly, his beta spoke.
“You are only hurting yourself. You are aware that you are mated to her, aren’t you? What do you think will happen if she eventually turns twenty and discovers that you are her mate? Would you still hate her even then?”
I stilled. My lips quivering and yet, not a single word escaped. I was beyond shocked to learn that I’m mated to the one man that despised me so much! My heart thumped so hard that I feared that they would notice.
“How do you know all these?” It was Hawthorne and he didn’t denial the fact that I am his mate!
I could feel my head spinning. It was all too much for me to process. How can one be so cruel to his own mate? Was that even possible? I couldn’t stop the tears from falling.
“So what are your plans?”
My heart began to thump even faster as I waited in anticipation as to what Hawthorne’s reply to the question would be. For a moment, there was no response and my heart sank a little bit to think that Hawthorne had to contemplate on it.
“Nothing, she’s just here to produce an heir for me and as soon as that happens, I have no use for her anymore.”
I could feel my heart shatter. The pain was unbearable and I didn’t bother wiping away the tears. I turned as I heard light footsteps behind me.
Margaret stared at me, while clutching a basket of laundry. She had a look of pity on her face as she stared at me. She looked down after a while and nothing waiting for her to say anything, I brushed past her, heading for my room. Walking in, I banged the door closed and picking up a pillow, I buried my face into it and screamed.
There was no holding back, as I allowed the tears that had welled up in my eyes, flow freely. A gentle knock sounded, and the scent of hibiscus and honey announced Margaret’s presence. That was her natural scent and it was a scent that I would never forget. I did not bother to say a word but she didn’t seem to care, as she opened it anyways.
“How are you feeling dear child?” she asked but I did not listen but kept my face buried to the pillow. “I know you must have heard a lot of unpleasant things but I assure you that Master Hawthorne, is not who you think he is.” She spoke but again, I did not reply.
Even though I said nothing, I was annoyed by what she had just said. She dared to try and defend him, despite knowing all he had done to me?
“I understand how you…”
“What? How I feel?!” I yelled at her. “You have no f**king idea how I feel, Margret. I was constantly molested by my mate and beaten to a pulp for the slightest mistakes, while you stood on the sidelines and watched. Do you know what that feels like? Of course you don’t!” I blurted out, much to her surprise. Her eyes softened and I knew I had hurt her by my choice of words. “I’m sorry.” I apologized while she just nodded with a slight smile on her face.
“Take a rest, Aurora. You will need it, dear.” She said with a smile and walked out of the room, slowly closing the door shut.
Now, I feel a lot worse. I stood up and walked toward the dressing mirror. My hair was already a mess and traces of dried tears drew on my cheeks. All these, all because of what Hawthorne had said. No, there is no way I would let him take my child, away from me. I wasn’t going to be used and dumped by the streets to eat from trash and beg, much to the satisfaction of my stepfather.
I tore out a piece of paper from a book and began to scribble down some message. I would have to escape and hopefully, Hawthorne doesn’t find out and catches me. I wouldn’t dare to think of what he would do to me, if he did. After penning my message, I set the pen aside. Placing a vase on the paper, I positioned it so a portion of the message was visible.
Walking toward the window, my hand subconsciously rubbed on the crystal glass necklace Hawthorne had gifted me, two days after coming to his estate. I tried to take it off but hesitated. I couldn’t do it because I still loved him. I began to contemplate if what I was doing was right but the thought of him, taking my child away from me, woke me from my delusions.
Staring down from my room through the open window, I noticed that there were no guard around the vicinity. I wanted to jump but from such a height, I would only end up getting injured pretty badly. Luckily, a tree had grown right close to my window. As soon as I jumped for the tree, I missed a branch and fell to the ground. Luckily, except for a dislocated ankle, I was fine. And as if the moon goddess was in support of my escape, I had fallen over the other side of the wall. Before me, was the thick forest and the sturdy wall behind me. I turned to give one last glance at my window, before I turned and limped away to freedom.
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
“Hawthorne?”Ryan’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts. Glancing beside me, I could see the questioning look on his face. I turned to survey the scene: everyone was engrossed in conversations or dancing, while others were engaged in gambling.”“Yes?”“What are you going to do?' he asked. Staring ahead, I noticed the young lad sitting at the table with his friends. I closed my eyes, attempting to quell the impulse to approach and carry out what I had imagined.I spotted the lad's father engaged in a game of chess with some affluent individuals. After glancing at Ryan and then returning my gaze to the young boy, I approached him with purpose. Though I wouldn’t mind Killing anyone that would stand in my way, attacking the lad would only make the situation more difficult than it is.“Alpha,' the lad and his friends chimed in unison as they rose to their feet, yet my gaze remained locked onto the red-haired figure.“What’s your name?” I inquired softly, my hands discreetly concealed behin
—AURORA’S POV—Walking through the sea of intoxicated partygoers, I navigated the room with a tray of wine in hand, wearing an expression of discontent. I understood that this was a necessary means of surviving in this environment, yet the thought of being compelled to serve at Harrison's club didn't sit well with me.This was were most of the top dogs could be seen, drinking and flirting to their heart content. Someone approached me, a beta male. Selecting a glass from the tray, he held my gaze with intensity as I averted my eyes.I observed his lips moisten as he sampled the wine, all while keeping his focus on me. If I were less experienced or as innocent as I once was, I might have interpreted this as a simple appreciation for the wine's flavor. However, I knew better. As I began to move away, he seized my unoccupied hand, compelling me to come to a stop."What's your name?" he inquired, as I quickly scanned the surroundings, grateful that we were out of the