Aurora’s Pov
We had a good day, but that didn’t stop my mind from wandering back to Karen. How was she feeling? Had I made the wrong choice?
The questions haunted me, lingering like a shadow I couldn’t shake off. But Ryan’s presence beside me was a warm distraction. We spent the entire day together. We ate in the grand dining room, seated at a ridiculously long table that seemed unnecessary for the number of people living here.
After our meal, he took me on a tour of the mansion.
“Wow, this place is huge,” I marveled, my voice echoing slightly in the vast hallways.
“There’s nothing big about it. It’s normal,” Ryan said nonchalantly.
I rolled my eyes. “You’re such a killjoy.” I let out a light laugh.
Leila and Mira passed by us several times throughout the day, and every time they did, we exchanged secret giggles and knowing glances. Even Ryan seemed to take notice.
“What are you three whispering about?” he asked, leading me further through the corridors.
I smirked. “I told you before, it’s girl stuff.”
He stopped walking and turned to me. “So, we’re keeping secrets now?”
I raised an eyebrow. “Do you want to hear about my period?”
Ryan didn’t even flinch. “I want to hear everything about you.” His voice was low, serious, as his hands found my waist, pulling me closer.
A blush crept onto my face. “Yuck, I certainly can’t tell you that,” I teased, wrapping my arms around his neck.
He leaned in, his lips just inches from mine, but I placed a hand on his chest, stopping him. “Someone might see us.”
“I don’t mind,” he murmured, his eyes locked onto mine.
“Well, I do,” I said playfully, stepping away from his hold with a laugh. I was happy. Really happy.
Ryan suddenly dropped a bombshell. “I’m going to introduce you to the elders tomorrow.”
My heart stilled. Then, without warning, it started racing.
The elders? I wasn’t ready for that. What if they judged me? What if they saw me as unworthy of Ryan? What if-
“You don’t have to be scared,” Ryan reassured me, sensing my panic. “Nothing is going to happen.”
His words had an instant effect, calming the storm brewing inside me.
We spent the rest of the day together, wandering the mansion, lounging in the garden, stealing moments filled with laughter and stolen kisses. By the time night fell, exhaustion settled deep in my bones.
“You need to rest,” Ryan said, standing up from the garden bench.
I yawned. “Yeah, my eyes feel heavy already.”
“Let’s go back to the room,” he said.
I got up, but before I could take a step, he lifted me effortlessly into his arms.
I didn’t protest. I didn’t have the energy to. I simply held onto him as he carried me back to his bedroom.
Once we arrived, he gently placed me on the bed, watching as I got comfortable under the sheets. But he didn’t move. He just stood there, staring at me.
“Come stay with me,” I murmured sleepily.
Without a word, he walked around the bed and slid in beside me, pulling me into his arms. Wrapped in his warmth, I let sleep take over.
*****
When I woke up the next morning, the bed beside me was empty. I closed my eyes again, trying to gather enough strength to get up. But when I finally turned over, I was greeted by two grinning faces.
Leila and Mira.
I let out a small yelp. “You scared me.”
“Finally!” Leila said dramatically.
“We’ve been waiting forever for you to wake up,” Mira added.
My voice was still groggy. “How long have you been here?”
“Since the Alpha left,” Leila answered.
That caught my attention. “Ryan’s gone?”
Mira nodded. “He went to sort out some things. We don’t really know what exactly.”
“Oh,” I mumbled, rubbing my eyes.
Leila clapped her hands. “Enough talking! Get up. We’re going out.”
“This early?” I groaned.
“Yes! This is the perfect opportunity. We’ll tell Jaime to inform Ryan that we went to get fresh fruits,” Mira said mischievously.
“It’ll be much easier now that he’s away,” Leila added.
I sighed, knowing there was no arguing with them. “Fine, let’s get this over with.”
They practically squealed in excitement before dragging me out of bed. They undressed me and washed me up, something that still felt odd, but I had grown accustomed to their attentiveness.
When we stepped out of the bathroom, a new dress was already laid out on the bed. Another maid must have brought it.
They helped me get dressed, styled my hair, and applied a little makeup before we finally left for town.
We hopped from store to store, trying on endless outfits.
“No.”
“Nahhh.”
“Definitely not.”
Those were their responses to every outfit I tried.
Until the last one.
I stepped in front of the mirror and gasped.
Woah. I looked… stunning.
I turned to them. “What do you think?”
Leila and Mira nearly exploded.
“This is it.”
“This is definitely it.”
They were practically screaming. So dramatic.
I tugged at the fabric. “It feels like I’m not wearing anything.”
“Exactly,” Leila grinned. “That’s why it’s perfect.”
I sighed but didn’t argue. We bought the dress, not even bothering with the price. Apparently, being Ryan’s girlfriend meant everything came for free.
On our way back, we picked up some fresh fruits, just in case Ryan got mad about me sneaking out. At least we had a solid excuse.
As we headed back home, I couldn’t help but feel a thrill of excitement. It had been a long time since I had a carefree day like this.
But deep down, I knew the peace wouldn’t last forever.
Something was coming. I could feel it.
******
On getting back to the mansion, as I walked in, Ryan’s gaze hardened. His piercing eyes settled on Leila and Mira, a silent yet powerful disapproval evident in his expression.
“I was the one who told them to take me out this morning,” I quickly defended. “I needed fresh air.”
His jaw clenched, but he said nothing to me. Instead, he turned to them and uttered a single word, his voice as cold as ice.
“Leave.”
They hesitated, gripping the basket of fruits tightly, but they knew better than to defy him. Without another word, they bowed slightly and exited, clutching the clothes we had hidden beneath the fruit.
I took a deep breath and stepped closer to him. “Are you going to shout at me now?” I asked, tilting my head, testing the waters.
His gaze softened as he let out a deep sigh. “I would never do that,” he said, his voice dropping to a gentler tone. “Just tell me when you want to leave, Aurora. I definitely won’t stop you.”
I blinked at him in surprise, not expecting such a response. His hand cupped my cheek, his thumb brushing against my skin, before he leaned in and placed a soft peck on my lips.
“Are you okay?” he asked, his voice filled with something that almost sounded like concern.
“Yes, I’m fine. Why do you ask?”
He exhaled, his fingers sliding from my face to rest on my waist. “Because it’s time to meet the elders.”
My breath hitched.
The elders.
I swallowed hard, my mind suddenly clouded with doubts. What if they didn’t approve of me? What if they thought I was weak, unworthy? What if they-
“You don’t have to be scared,” Ryan said, as if reading my thoughts. “I’m right here.”
I nodded, trying to steady my breathing.
As we walked toward the meeting room, my heart pounded against my chest. My fingers were cold, and every step felt heavier than the last.
Ryan’s presence beside me should have been comforting, but the weight of what was about to happen made me anxious. He squeezed my hand gently, as if sensing my distress, but it didn’t do much to settle the storm brewing inside me.
The moment we stepped inside, nine pairs of cold, scrutinizing eyes fixed on me. The room was grand, with a long mahogany table at the center, where the elders sat in their high-backed chairs. The air was thick with authority, and I suddenly felt like an intruder in a place I didn’t belong.
I wished the ground would open up and swallow me whole.
Ryan stood tall beside me, his face unreadable, his presence commanding respect. He didn’t falter, didn’t hesitate as he spoke.
“This is Aurora,” he announced firmly. “She is my mate.”