Chapter 4 ; He kissed me

Aurelia's POV

“The Alpha wants to see you in his office, Aurelia,” Eva—one of the Omegas—says the moment I open my door. “Immediately.” She rolls her eyes hard before walking off.

I stand there, frozen like I have just heard my death sentence. The Alpha has never wanted to see me ever in the past. I barely even exist to him; I can't even hold his cold gaze. No one can… not even his own children.

I need no soothsayer to tell me that this is definitely about yesterday.

I quickly change into a more appropriate outfit—a polo and jeans—then make my way out of the room, my chest hammering and my body trembling with every step I take.

I lift my hand and knock lightly on the door.

“Come in.” His voice is deep and commanding.

I take a deep breath, in and out, before I twist the knob open and step into the room.

And there he is.

The Alpha of the Dominion Sovereign Pack—the most powerful and influential pack in the North. His ruthlessness is compared to none. His pack progresses, the borders are protected, and his enemies tremble.

He is seated behind a mahogany desk, his eyes buried in the open laptop in front of him. His features are sharp enough to cut diamonds.

“Go—od mor—ning, Alp—ha,” my voice trembles despite how hard I try to control myself. “You—sent for me.”

The Alpha does not respond; he just closes his laptop and raises his head. He leans back in his chair, his hands clasped together in front of him, and his attractive, cold hazel eyes burn into me with an intensity that makes goosebumps rise on my skin and my pulse roar loudly in my ears like a war drum, his lips curling into a smirk.

That smirk though… it seems to say, I know the thoughts you have of me.

He swirls his chair around slowly. “What were you doing in my penthouse yesterday, Aurelia?”

…Aurelia…

Oh, fuck.

The way he calls my name like he owns me in ways no man should, and maybe he does, because the rate at which my thighs are trembling is alarming.

I part my lips several times, but no words come through.

He slams his fists on the desk, his gaze darkening. “What the fuck were you doing at my penthouse yesterday and even watching me…” He pauses, letting the rest of his statement hang heavily in the air.

I shriek with fear. “No, I wasn't the one, Alpha,” I lie, and knowing that is a dangerous move, I quickly continue, “I mean I—was the—one—but I did—mean—to—watch. I was taking a walk around the very beautiful penthouse when I walked past the pool and heard you—I thought it was the guards and—I…”

I pause when I notice his teeth gritted so hard like my words only anger him further.

So, I bow deeply. “I'm sorry, Alpha.” I decide to apologise because nothing I say will change the fact that I trespassed. “I won't do that again. I will never go to your pent—”

Before I can finish the statement, I am pinned against the wall across the room by my neck. His grip is not tight enough to hurt, but enough to make me submit to him completely, his Alpha energy and aura pressing down on me. His scent of musk and something darker, coupled with his expensive cologne, wafts into my nostrils.

“You don't mean to?” he repeats like that is the most absurd thing he has heard in a while. “Yet you stayed. You watched me…” His eyes trail down. “And your arousal was thick in the air. Just like now.”

He isn't lying. Even now, despite the fear, I can't stop the ache between my thighs, can't help the way my breasts feel heavier and fuller.

I press my palm hard against the wall, hoping it will open up and swallow me. There is actually no point living if the Alpha already knows I drip for him.

He tilts his face forward, his nose twitching as he breathes me in, his muscles flexing slightly.

“And you won't do it again?” He lets out a humourless laugh. “Liar,” he breathes out against my neck, and Goddess… it feels like his lips are somewhere far more sinful.

“I bet you have done something more. You've probably fucked yourself to memories, wished you were in her place…”

My eyes widen.

How does he know that I almost did it but I didn't. 

“I always know everything, Aurelia.” He trails his finger down my neck slowly. “Every single thing. And the fact that you're my son's mate…”

“He rejected me,” I cut in before my mind can catch up.

“Doesn't matter.”

The Alpha's gaze drops to my rising and falling chest, and suddenly, he takes a step back like I burn him. “But don't forget what I am to you, so don't you dare crave what you can't have or…” He scoffs bitterly. “Even take.”

“Yes, Alpha.”

That is all I can manage.

He is back on his chair again; his movements are too fast, almost unreal. I can barely catch them.

“Now leave,” he commands, his voice harsh like I am nothing but a problem he has tolerated for too long. “And don't forget to stay off my paths.”

I swallow hard. “Yes, Alpha.”

I turn and walk out of the room with shaky legs, clicking the door shut behind me. I do not stop until I am completely out of his side of the palace, then my legs give out and I lean against the nearby wall, panting hard.

The son wants nothing to do with me, and so does the father. Even though I have predicted it, his rejection still hurts. My eyes sting with tears.

“Look who wants to desperately be Luna,” Juniper—the Alpha's daughter—sneers behind me.

I quickly blink away the tears and push myself off the wall.

She stands in front of me, her nose flaring in disgust, arms folded tightly across her chest. She has always hated me; she thinks I stole her place as the Alpha's only daughter and took her brother's attention because Jasper has always treated me better than her.

Her laughter rings out. “I saw those videos. I wish I was there. Isolde was kind enough to let you go, but Goddess knows if I was there I'd have stripped you naked because you are nothing but a low-life whore.”

I clench my fists tightly, but I say nothing, and I don't intend to. I try to pass, but she steps in front of me.

“Go away, Juniper. I'm really not in the mood for this.”

She ignores me and begins sniffing me. “You bitch… your arousal is everywhere. Are you still dripping for my brother? You haven't learned your lesson, have you?”

My heart slams violently.

Yeah, I'm dripping, but not for your brother.

I bet she'd kill me if she learned who owns my body now.

“Juniper!” Jasper calls.

I look up to see him standing at the entrance of the corridor. We hold each other's gaze briefly, something I can't quite understand flickers in his eyes before he quickly looks away.

Juniper turns towards him with a practiced smile. “Yes, big brother,” she answers, her voice carrying a hint of fear.

“I told you to stop bothering her, didn't I?” His voice is hard.

“Yes. I'm not bothering her. I was just—”

“Enough! Leave!”

She hisses at me quietly before walking off, her foot stomping the floor.

Jasper starts walking towards me in slow, deliberate steps and at that moment, I realise I still feel something for him. My heart skips slightly, but it is only a matter of time. Soon, I will train my heart to forget about him completely.

He stops in front of me, his nose twitching slightly.

“You know you don't have to do that." I roll my eyes, hating the fact that he is still acting like he cares after humiliating me publicly. “I can take care of myself from now on.”

I try to walk past him, but he grips my wrist. “Oh, pookie…” he says softly, almost pleading. “Are you still angry at me?”

I try to break free from him, but my strength is nothing compared to his. “No, I'm not. I just don't want anything to do with you anymore.”

“Please, Aurelia. Just give me a chance to explain.”

“I have nothing to hear from you.” I tried to pull away, but he caught my wrist and dragged me against him.

My breath caught as my chest collided with his. He was so close that I could feel the warmth of his breath against my face. His eyes searched mine, and for a moment, I hated how my heart still reacted to him despite everything he had done.

“Let me go,” I whispered.

But he didn't.

“The truth is…” His voice dropped, and the look in his eyes suddenly changed. The arrogance I was used to seeing was gone.

“I love you, Aurelia.” He swallowed hard, his gaze never leaving mine. “God, I love you so much that I don't even know what to do with myself anymore.”

For a second, I forgot how to breathe.

Of all the things I had expected him to say, those words were the last.

Before I could recover, he cupped my face and leaned in.

Then, he planted a deep kiss on my lips. My eyes widened.

No. This couldn't be happening.

I should have pushed him away. I should have slapped him for daring to touch me after everything.

But I stood there, frozen, as he kissed me deeply, my heart pounding wildly in my chest.

And the most terrifying part? I felt something stir inside me.