Big Bad Wolves

Chapter 03

Aurora's POV 

What the hell was that? Why did I have that stupid dream? And why the heck was Kaelen standing there watching me?  

For a second, I actually wanted to cry in his strong arms and let him hold me but he was a douchebag and my sister's boyfriend. 

“What…what are you doing in my fucking room?!” I snapped at him.  

“You were screaming so loud in your sleep. I had to check if you were okay.”  

“I wasn’t!” I lied.  

“Then how come I heard you moaning my name?” he asked, “and why were your hands between your legs?”  

That was when I realized my legs were spread and I could feel the dampness on my thighs. 

He was right, I was soaking wet. 

I quickly closed them and jumped up. “Please leave…” 

But I didn't get to finish when he touched my face and murmured worriedly, "are you really okay, though? You feel feverish.” 

I was sweating alright, but my fever had nothing to do with my health but everything to do with that silly dream.

Being so close to him now, I could feel the mark on my wrist almost burning, making me long for his skin on mine. 

His touch was so gentle and knowing that he came just to check up on me because I was moaning in my sleep, goodness. Kaelen really hasn't changed. 

He was still as annoying and as attentive as ever. Unlike Sylvester, who knew nothing about my nightmares or the reason why I cried at night.  

Recalling my broken engagement, I jerked away, tugged down my pajamas sleeves and shoved him toward the door. “Don’t you ever come into my room again or I’m telling my sister!”  

Kaelen frowned but I didn't miss the fact that his eyes went lower. “I'm just worried about you, Aurora. Did someone hurt you?"  

“Get out!” I pushed him harder and slammed the door shut.  

I was so embarrassed I wanted to scream into my pillow. Why did I have that stupid dream? 

Now he'd taunt me forever. 

“I'm so dead," I cried out and punched my pillow a few times, frustrated as hell. 

This man was going to drive me crazy. 

The next morning I woke up tired but thankful that Kaelen wasn’t in the house. I had to leave this place and get to a hotel. 

I couldn't just sit around and watch them, I felt stupid for envying my own sister. 

He was so caring, cooking for her, holding her hands and being nice. Things that Sylvester could never do for me, no matter how much I sacrificed for our relationship. 

Blinking away the angry tears, I walked into the kitchen and Gina was already making breakfast, humming happily.  

“Morning, sis! How did you sleep?” she asked with a big smile.  

I remembered the dream and Kaelen in my doorway and felt my face heat up. “I slept… fine,” I lied.  

She avoided asking about my wedding, which I appreciated.  

“I just don’t want to talk about it right now,” I said quietly. “Maybe sometime in the future.”  

Gina nodded and hugged me. “Of course. I’m always here for you, okay?”  

I hugged her back. “Thanks, Gina.”  

Just then we heard a honk outside and Gina’s face lit up. “Oh, he’s here for our date!”  

I blinked. “I thought he left.”  

“Yeah, he did, but he came back. He’s so obsessed with me, he can’t keep his hands or eyes off me. It’s my day off and we’re supposed to go on a date.” She grinned. “Come along too!”  

I shook my head. “No, that’s okay. I don’t want to be a third wheel. Plus, I need to get a hotel, I can't stay here.” 

Not when I'd be seeing him shirtless every now and then. My poor heart wouldn't survive that.  

“You don't need a hotel, silly, you can stay here as long as you want." 

“It's…you…I just can't." 

Gina refused to take no for an answer. “Come on, we’ll talk about that later. But for now, you’ve been stuck in the house all day. It’s time for you to come out a bit. It’s going to be like a double date!”  

“It’s not a double date unless I have a date,” I said. “And right now I don’t. You two just enjoy your time.”  

But Gina wasn’t having it. “No, that would make me a horrible person. I can’t leave my guest in the house by herself. You’re my sister. Come on, it’s going to be nice.”   

“Just this once, and then I'm getting a hotel." 

Before I could refuse again, she pushed me into the room, picked out a dress for me, and basically dressed me up. We both got ready and headed outside. 

Kaelen was leaning against his car looking stupidly hot. He opened the door for Gina like a gentleman. After she got in the front seat, he turned to me.  

“Are you feeling better now?” he asked and I could see the genuine concern in his eyes.  

“What’s your business? Why do you care?” I snapped.  

He shrugged with a nonchalant face although his eyes remained on me worriedly. “I don't want you getting Gina worried.”  

“I can take care of myself, Kaelen.”  

“Yeah, of course you can,” he said with that annoying grunt, then got into the driver’s seat.  

The whole drive Gina just stared out the window and they both didn't speak until we arrived at the restaurant, he led us to the corner table and we gave our orders. 

He pulled out the seat for her like a perfect gentleman.

“Thank you,” she said with a casual smile. 

“It’s not a problem,” he replied, then turned to me. “I just wish your sister would tell you what's wrong with her.”  

Gina sighed. “Yeah, that’s a long story. I’m just trying to cheer her up.”  

Kaelen glanced at me curiously. “Well, maybe she doesn't like sharing things with people that care about her."  

Gina giggled. “What? That’s my sister, you’re so silly!”  

“No, your sister might be hiding something you know, maybe she's hurt and…” 

I had enough of him poking into my life.   

“You know what? I’ve had enough of this nonsense.” I grabbed my purse, stomped out of the restaurant and walked down the street fast, trying to get away from them.  

I didn’t even realize I was crying until the tears hit my blouse. 

I felt like a hormonal teenager. If I didn’t know better, I would have thought I was pregnant with all these stupid emotions.  

I turned into an alley nearby so I could avoid the main road and the stares at my tears. . 

Big mistake.  

It was darker than I thought. I was about to walk out through the other end when I bumped into someone.  

“Oh, I’m sorry,” I said quickly.  

A deep voice answered, “You should look where you’re going, pretty.”  

I looked up and saw a rough-looking guy. “Yeah, I know, sorry.”  

He grabbed my arm. “Were you crying?”  

“No.”  

“Oh, I know when a female is crying. And you smell like you’re in heat too, little werewolf,” he started sniffing the air. “What happened? Boyfriend broke your little heart and left you feeling hot for him? I could take care of that heat for you.”  

He got closer. 

“Let go of me!” I slapped him hard.  

“I don’t like being hit, bitch. You’re going to pay for that.”  

He grabbed me tighter and tried to touch me. I struggled helplessly, trying to get his filthy lips from his face. 

It was pointless because this man was twice my size and with male werewolf strength. 

Suddenly, a figure flew out from the corner of the alley and threw the guy off me.  

I looked up in shock to see that Kaelen had the werewolf by the collar and punched him hard in the face. 

The guy scrambled up and ran away before Kaelen could deliver another punch. 

Kaelen turned to me worriedly. “You okay? Did he hurt you?”   

He reached out to touch where my blouse was torn, but I stepped back. “Let go of me.”  

“Why are you so stubborn?” he growled. “He could’ve hurt you if I hadn't followed you. Why didn’t you use the main street?”  

“Because of you!” I shouted tearily. “You always make me cry. Why do you hate me so much? What did I ever do to you? Is it because I begged you to take my virginity? I’m sorry, okay? I was a child and I thought it would make Sylvester love me. Clearly I was wrong.”  

I didn’t even know when I started crying harder. 

“Hey… I don’t hate you.”  

“Yes you do. You’re always teasing me and making me cry. You called me ugly duckling. I know I’m not pretty. I know I’m fat and no man wants me and I’ll probably be miserable and single—”  

“Shut up, Aurora.”  

Before I could say anything else, he pulled me close and took off his shirt, wrapping it around my shoulders protectively.  

For a second I felt my wrist burn and I gasped, pulling away, stunned at how nice and rough his calloused hands felt on my shoulders. 

I jerked away, rubbing my wrists as I felt the slight tingling. 

"Where does it hurt?" He asked tenderly and grabbed my arms to inspect. 

But I knew what he'd see and I quickly pulled away. 

"Aurora, don't lie to me if you're injured," he said softly, "I want to see it." 

His blue eyes were fixed on mine and his breathing was still a little raspy down the fight with the wolf. 

I could almost hear his heart racing, as loudly as mine. 

That was when I saw Gina standing at the entrance of the alley, staring at us with wide eyes.  

“Gina,” I whispered, pulling away from him at once. “I…I need to get my things, I'm moving to a hotel now.” 

I needed to get my life in order, get a job and get rid of Kaelen before I made another huge mistake.