CHAPTER 7

Aurora POV

Several days passed. I still didn’t see Darius face to face. He was always out first thing in the day and came back very late. I could hear the loud thumping footsteps when he climbed up the stairs late at night. 

My heart beat faster when his footsteps became louder. I will look at the door with anxiety if tonight is the night he will enter my room. He had a separate bedroom adjacent to mine. This helped me know the time when he will return to his room down to the exact minute. I held the tip of my very comfortable duvet, secretly wishing he would one day see me before he slept.

“Why do I feel this way about him? I barely even know him.” I mumbled to myself. Yet, subconsciously, a part of me knew deep down this was my second mate, and we were bound together. 

“He can’t ignore me forever.” I pouted to myself. Another night passed as I heard him open his bedroom door to sleep for the night. Another night, I consoled myself to sleep due to the disappointment. 

I eventually got used to his emotionally distant nature and even slept off without waiting for him. I gave up on any hope of any connection with him and for us to know each other more deeply.

“I’m just a breeder sold to him out of obligation,” I mumbled quietly to myself. I distracted myself by reading magazines and watching late-night shows to while away time. This became my daily routine that continued for several weeks. It became my new norm.

This continued until one odd night, I was lucky enough to still be awake watching TV when I happened to hear his usual footsteps walking up the stairs. I continued surfing channels, but instinctively, I felt I should hear his footsteps to his room. I quietly reduced the volume of the TV and listened keenly to his loud thumping. 

As he reached his door, I could hear him fidgeting with his keys to open his huge wooden doors. After it made a clicking sound signaling it had opened, the door made a creaking sound as he pushed it ajar. I let out a wry sigh as I turned back to focus on my TV shows. However, I noticed he has not slammed his door as he usually does, which piqued my curiosity.

I adjusted myself on the sofa facing the TV in anticipation of what would happen next. My breath was stuck in my throat. “Could this be the night?” I asked myself. I shook my head in disapproval, yet I remained hopeful as I watched the door closely. Suddenly, I saw the doorknob of my room gently turn clockwise, signaling someone was trying to enter. I wiped the sweat beading on my forehead as I bit my lips. A wave of anxiety washed over me as I continued to watch the door with all my ounce of seriousness.

Just as it was about to make the clicking sound to enter, it stopped halfway. I felt like standing up and rushing to the door. But I quickly remembered my manners and restrained myself from indulging in my desire. Suddenly, it felt like he had a change of heart and released the doorknob. Seconds later, I heard the slamming of his door with a thunderous sound that unraveled my bleeding heart.

I let out a deep sigh as I slumped on the sofa to continue surfing channels. When it was getting late, I tried to force myself to sleep on my comfy bed, but tonight sleep was far away from me as the doorknob incident kept replaying in my head like a horror movie.

The next day, I got out of bed with an unquenchable resolve to get some answers. I could no longer swallow the thought of neglect. I needed some closure to ease this tension building between us. It brought back painful traumatic memories of how I was treated before by Alpha Damon. Now, I need to make sure history is not repeating itself with Darius. 

I woke up very early and got dressed. I wore a body-fitting blue gown that accentuated my figure. It was among the set of gorgeous dresses brought to my room by the palace workers. I rushed out to wait for Darius at his front door. I already knew the time he usually came out, so I got there a few minutes earlier to catch him on his way out. Minutes later, his door was wide open. The masculine husk scent swept me off my feet. It overwhelmed all my senses as I almost forgot what brought me there initially. I snapped out of my daze, I was captivated by the brown suit and a black t-shirt neatly tucked in, giving him a distinguished look. I froze in admiration, enjoying the handsome view in front of me.

“Do you need something, Aurora?” Darius had a puzzled look on his face. I regained my composure quickly and cleared my throat.

“Cough..yes, I have a question for you, my Alpha. Do you find me repulsive?” I asked in a formal tone. It was offensive to question an Alpha, but I couldn’t suppress the isolation and avoidance.

His eyes widened in shock. He had a cold glint in his eyes as he stared at me. “ Why do you think that, Aurora?” He said in a sharp tone. His demeanor changed after my question, so I had to tread lightly to avoid irritating him even further. Luckily, he doesn’t allow anyone into his inner chambers, so it was just the two of us. Yet, I didn’t want to overplay my hand.

“Forgive me for my bluntness…my Alpha. I dare not question you. I only ask if in any way I may have offended you to pls grant me another chance to make it up to you.” I replied in a calm voice. 

He gazed at me for some seconds before letting out a deep sigh. His dark eyes softened. He gently moved away, avoiding any physical contact with me as he shut his door behind him. He walked out without even looking back. Moments after he went down the stairs. My knees could no longer hold my weight as I slumped on the bare ground in self-defeat.

I was more confused than ever about what I could do to change his mind about me. Yet, I remained optimistic about my ability to redeem myself in his eyes.