CHAPTER 5

AURORA

When I woke up again, I was alone in the packhouse. Well, not completely alone but Rowan and his mother had gone to my family home for the family dinner. I was shocked when the omega told me that. Rowan had never bothered to go to my family dinner since we got married.

In fact, the man had never set foot in my home since Vivian disappeared. Now, you can imagine how shocked I was to hear that he actually went. I thought he was just playing with me when he told me to ready so we could go together.

I was happy he went though, this year, he could be the one to answer their questions, to tell them why we didn’t have an heir yet. But who was I fooling? My parents would never ask him questions, in their eyes, their alpha was perfect, and I was the problem.

When I saw it was getting late, I made myself food and ate then went back to bed. “Aurora, this poison is dangerous, why don’t we go to the forest to get the herb. We won’t survive long if we don’t get it.” I wished I could, but I knew we were still being guarded.

“Did you see the warrior following us around when I went to the kitchen? Rowan asked them to keep an eye on me; they will not let me leave this packhouse without his permission.” Jess sighed. “I wonder why the Goddess gave us such a cruel mate.”

I didn’t answer as that didn’t require and answer from me, only the Goddess knew the answer to that. Í didn’t know when I fell asleep again but when I woke up, it was morning, and the sun was rising.

I sat alone by the window in my room watching the sunrise reminiscing about the sweet morning I had once shared with Rowan watching the sunrise. It was just few months after I returned home, Rowan and I were close back then. Maybe because I was the sister of his beloved Vivian. Maybe that was the only reason he was nice to me.

My thoughts were back to three years ago, Vivian was about to marry Rowan, but she suddenly came to me, complaining one day, "I don’t want to get married so young." She had pouted like a little girl, making herself look cute.

 "Why don’t you marry him instead? " She had said. Her words shocked me, and I quickly shook my head refusing. "No, no, you two are a couple. If you don’t want to marry him then talk to mom and dad about it"

Vivian laughed, "Haha, well, that’s true. You’re way too dumb to deserve him." She used like saying such hurtful things to me like calling me dumb or stupid. Then laugh it off as if she were playing. I never complained as well.

Although I thought Rowan was very kind and had feelings for him. I couldn’t do that to someone who was there for my parents when I couldn’t. Rowan had always been gentle with me, teaching me to type and use technology when he had time.

We spent a lot of time together, laughed and joked together. In fact, back then, Rowan spent more time with me then with Vivian. But I knew his heart belonged only to Vivian. I could only suppress my feelings and act as his friend.

Who would have thought that just three days before Vivian’s eighteen birthday, she would suddenly disappear, leaving a note that read, "What I owed my sister ten years ago, I now return," followed by a streak of blood, and then no word from her again.

From that day on, Rowan was a different person. He no longer cared for me; even the way he looked at me was filled with resentment.

My parents were no different. They blamed me for Vivian’s disappearance, even saying, "We should never have brought you back!"

The broke my heart into a million pieces. They never wanted me to begin with. Yet I still had to obey, marrying Rowan on my sister’s behalf to maintain the family’s status.

Jess my wolf warned me again, "You have less than twenty-four hours to live."

At that moment, an omega came to deliver a message: “Luna, you mother wants to see you, she said to hurry.”

I nodded then sighed trying to remain calm. I picked up paper and pen and wrote a declaration to dissolve her mate bond and a divorce agreement. When I was done, I took the papers and went to my parents’ house.

*****

When my mother saw me, hatred flashed across her face so sharply it almost stole my breath. I wondered, not for the first time, what I had ever done to deserve that look from her — her own daughter.

She pointed a trembling finger at me and barked, “Kneel! Tell me why you didn’t show up for the family dinner! Did you fight with Alpha Rowan again, you fool?”

Her voice was cold and sharp as a blade. I didn’t kneel. I didn’t even look away. I just reached into my bag and handed her the divorce agreement I had written the night before.

The color drained from her face. For a heartbeat, she said nothing — then fury twisted her features.

“You are going to be the death of me,” she hissed, her hand shaking as she held the papers.

She threw the documents onto the table, the sound loud in the quiet room. My father, sitting beside her, frowned and picked them up. When he saw the contents, his face turned crimson with rage. 

“What nonsense is this?” he roared. “You dare humiliate your husband, your Alpha? You dare humiliate us?”

He slammed his hand down on the table, making the dishes tremble. “You think you can just walk away from your marriage like a spoiled child?”

I said nothing. They won't understand.

My mother stood, the fury in her eyes almost feverish. “Aurora, do you understand what you’re doing? You’re bringing shame to this family. Do you think Rowan will let you go that easily? Do you think the pack will respect a woman who abandons her Alpha?”

“I’m not abandoning him,” I said quietly. “He already left me a long time ago.”

My mother scoffed. “Because you made him! Always arguing, always defying him. No man wants a wife who acts above her place. You had one job — to be silent, to obey, to bear him an heir. But you can’t even do that.”

I met her gaze. “I’d rather die than live like that.”

“Then maybe you should,” she spat. “Because you’re already dead to me.”

She shoved the papers into my father’s hands and gestured toward me. “Show her what happens to disobedient daughters.”

My father rose to his feet, veins bulging on his forehead. “You ungrateful child!” he shouted, lifting his hand. I turned my head away, bracing for the blow.

But it never came.

A hand caught his wrist in midair.

When I looked, Rowan was holding my father’s hand stopping him from hitting me. He and Grayson were in shorts and vest. Covered in sweat, I could tell they were just coming back from training. With a frown, he asked, "What’s going on?"