Chapter 3

"Aurelia, we're leaving," Kael said.

"Already?" Aurelia pouted. "But I don't want to leave Aria."

She looked up at her father hopefully.

"Can she come with us? Our house is big enough for all of us."

I expected Kael to refuse.

After all, he didn't know me.

I was nothing more than a stranger.

A stranger who had just been rejected by her mate in front of the entire pack.

To my surprise, he simply said,

"All right. She's coming with us."

Then he turned to me.

"No..." I said quickly. "I can't."

I forced a small smile.

"It wouldn't be appropriate. I don't want to impose."

He took a step closer.

The air between us suddenly felt heavier.

"You have nowhere else to go."

His voice was calm, but left no room for argument.

"You're coming with us."

I opened my mouth to protest again, but no words came out.

What was the point?

He was right.

I had nowhere else to go.

Aurelia immediately let go of her father's hand and slipped her small hand into mine.

She smiled so brightly that I couldn't help smiling back as we walked outside together.

A sleek black car was already waiting.

One of the staff hurried forward and opened the door for us.

As we approached, I noticed people staring.

I could only imagine what they were thinking.

No doubt I'd become the latest topic of gossip.

Let them talk.

The worst had already happened.

Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted Vera.

She was staring at me with wide, disbelieving eyes.

Or rather...

She was staring at me standing beside Alpha Kael.

Without acknowledging her, I climbed into the car.

I never looked back.

Aurelia sat between Kael and me throughout the journey, happily holding both our hands.

She chatted excitedly the entire drive.

"I can't wait to show you my toys," she said. "And my crayons... and all my drawings!"

I smiled.

"I can't wait to see them either."

I gently tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

Across from us, Kael spent most of the journey looking through something on his phone.

Even so, I caught him glancing at us from time to time.

The car came to a stop.

"We're here," Aurelia announced excitedly.

I stepped out and looked up.

I had expected a mansion.

What stood before me far exceeded my expectations.

Kael's home was enormous.

Elegant.

Beautiful.

Aurelia hadn't been exaggerating when she said it was big.

I was still taking it all in when she grabbed my hand.

"Aria, come on!"

Laughing softly, I followed her inside.

Several maids were already waiting to greet us.

As soon as Kael stepped through the door, they bowed respectfully.

He acknowledged them with a slight nod before turning to the woman who appeared to be the head housekeeper.

"Agatha," he said, gesturing toward me, "prepare a room for Aria. She'll be staying with us for a while."

"Yes, Alpha," she replied with a respectful bow.

"And Aurelia needs a bath. Have someone prepare it."

"Right away, Alpha."

Agatha reached for Aurelia's hand.

Aurelia looked back at me.

"You'll be okay, Aria?"

I smiled reassuringly.

"I'll be fine, sweetheart."

Her face lit up.

"I'll come find you after my bath! Then I'll show you my room."

"I'll be waiting."

She grinned before skipping away with Agatha.

Kael turned to me.

"You can sit over there," he said, pointing to one of the sofas.

"Agatha will come back once your room is ready."

I nodded.

"If you need anything, let her know."

With that, he turned and walked away, leaving me alone in the spacious living room.

About fifteen minutes later, Agatha returned.

"Miss Aria," she said politely, "your room is ready. Please follow me."

I rose and followed her.

After walking down a long hallway, we stopped in front of a door.

Agatha opened it.

I stepped inside.

My eyes widened.

The room was beautiful.

The walls were painted a lovely shade of purple, my favorite color.

A large bed stood neatly in the center of the room, with a vanity mirror beside it and a small bookshelf tucked into one corner.

"There are a few clothes in the wardrobe," Agatha explained. "I'm not sure of your size, but you can go shopping tomorrow."

I turned to her with a grateful smile.

"Thank you so much. The room is beautiful. I love everything about it."

She smiled politely.

"You'll have to thank Alpha Kael and Miss Aurelia. I simply carried out their instructions."

As she reached the doorway, she paused.

"Miss Aurelia's room is only a few doors away. I thought you'd like to be close to her."

With that, she quietly closed the door behind her.

I sat on the edge of the bed and looked around the room once more.

Everything had changed so quickly.

Just a few hours ago, I'd been rejected by my mate...

Humiliated before the entire pack...

And thrown out of my home.

I never imagined I'd end the same night with a roof over my head.

Much less in a room as warm and beautiful as this.