Chapter 14

Aurora’s POV

I went out to see Alaric.

He stood out, tall and strong, with an air that made most intimidated. Not I. I was his wife for nearly a decade, and had grown to view him as less of just an Alpha and more of a force of nature, one that I used to revolve my entire life around. I loved him, but now I wasn't so sure if I did.

His eyes met mine and I saw discontent in them, and a bit of anger. But underneath I could have sworn I also saw worry within them.

“Aurora, where have you been?”  he asked, his tone tight. “You didn’t come home last night.”

So that was why he was here.

I sighed.

“I had some overnight tasks to finish at the hospital,”  I replied.

“Overnight tasks,”  he repeated, his brows knitted slightly.

He didn’t sound pleased, but the events of my past life had made me used to it. With Seraphina around, he never even bothered looking at me before.

“Yes,”  I said. It wasn't like I could inform him of the fact that I was currently involved with purging the entire pack of dark energy, the same dark energy that invaded our home the second Seraphina had stepped inside. It was just asking for a quarrel.

I noticed some arriving staff glancing at us briefly before averting their eyes. Alaric didn't seem to notice, only keeping his gaze fixed on me.

“If you have anything to say, Alaric, do, or I could get back to work,”  I finally spoke, already exhausted from the day’s events. It was barely 8am and yet I felt like I had run a mile. The events at the morgue stayed at the back of my mind, a relentless reminder of how weak I really was.

“Aurora, what’s going on with you?”  He demanded. “You know it isn't proper for you to stay out late, much less leave the house without informing me.”

“I told you, I was working overnight. And the full moon is in two days. If I didn't work this hard, I wouldn't be able to attend to my duties then,”  I insisted. “Why are you making a big deal out of this? You have stayed out late plenty of times.”

“That’s different.”

“How?”  I demanded.

“You’re my wife, Aurora,”  he growled. I was thanking the goddess inwardly that no one was close enough to hear the anger rising in his tone. My body stiffened as he gazed at me, intensely glaring. Then he looked away. “You leave Asher alone at home-”

“Seraphina was there,”  I cut him off.

“Seraphina is NOT his mother. YOU are,”  He responded just as quickly.

A laugh bubbled up in my throat.

“Really, now you remember that Asher is our son. That I am his mother?”  I crossed my arms. “Dont forget how you blamed me for trying to give medication which was HARMLESS to our son two days ago? And you insisted Seraphina’s method was the best?”

Alaric’s jaw visibly clenched, like he was holding back words he couldn't bear to say. Words that could truly destroy our relationship.

The funny thing was, he wasn't aware that our relationship had already been broken from the start. He didn’t know that the moment he asked Seraphina to move into our home, that I had already given up on him, on US.

I exhaled, my chest aching, and it felt like my heart was breaking over again.

I softly said, “Look, Alaric, I don't want to fight. I don't want things to become public. Our duties come first for this pack, and we have to put up a united front. If you have a problem with the way I handle things, then you can let me know when I get home, in private. But not out here,”  I gestured to the empty entrance of the pack clinic. I was about to turn and walk away when I heard a sharp intake of breath behind me, and then he spoke.

“If what happened before is the reason for all this, Aurora,”  He sounded like he was forcing words through gritted teeth out in a hiss. “Then I apologize. But that doesn't mean you get to act like your work is more important than your family.”

I closed my eyes, keeping my back to him. My eyes prickled with tears, and I felt like I was close to breaking. Only the reminder of what could happen if I did, the thought of seeing satisfaction and triumph in Seraphina’s face, stopped me from letting my composure shatter completely.

19 days to go. Only 19 days. I had to wait for 19 days and let things take their natural course.

I had to pretend things were okay, pretend to forgive him just this once.

I turned and faced him again, smiling with a feigned look of warmth.

“Okay,”  my voice was low, a murmur. “But you have to promise me one thing, Alaric.”

He blinked, his dark expression clearing.

“What?”

“That you will put our son and our pack first, before everyone. Before even me, or yourself,”  I added the last part in a rush. His brows raised, and I saw the look of confusion on his face.

He couldn't understand why I was insisting on that, and I wasn't about to let him know that our time as a married couple was coming to an end anyway.

But in the end he nodded, and I smiled more genuinely. Because I knew that Alaric, even back in my previous life when I was sidelined by him and Asher, had done his best to be a good Alpha. Even then, he tried his best, and not even Seraphina’s manipulations could change that part of him. He had taken the role ofAlpha at a young age, before he even reached his majority, due to his parents' deaths. When we married he had told me, ‘My duties are to the pack first, and as my wife, you must understand that.’

“Very well,”  I exhaled. It was a hollow victory, “Thank you.”

I turned to leave once more but this time he called out, “You will return tonight.”

It wasn't a question, but a statement. Like he had already made the decision.

I didn't bother to refute it and simply went back inside to bury myself in the work that was equal parts distracting and exhausting.