Chapter 162 New family

Chapter 162 New family
Aurora's POV

The palace was quiet, shrouded in the stillness of the night. After a long day of dealing with court politics and the aftermath of Alexander's betrayal, I found myself unable to sleep.

Hunger gnawed at me, and I decided to make my way to the kitchen for a late-night snack. The corridors were dimly lit, and the soft padding of my footsteps echoed off the stone walls. As I approached the kitchen, I heard the faint clink of glass and hushed murmurs.

Pushing the door open gently, I was surprised to see Lilian sitting at the kitchen island, a bottle of whiskey in front of her. Her usually composed face was flushed, her movements unsteady as she poured herself another glass.

"Li?" I called softly, my concern mounting. Lilian, Caden's daughter and my best friend, looked almost drunk, a state I had rarely seen her in.

She looked up, her eyes widening in surprise. "Aurora?" she slurred, trying to focus on me. "Is it really you?"

I rushed to her side, my heart racing with worry. "Lilian, what's going on? Are you okay?" I asked, placing a hand on her shoulder.

She blinked a few times, as if trying to clear her vision, and then recognition dawned on her face. With a sudden burst of energy, she jumped up and threw her arms around me.

"Aurora! I've missed you so much!" she exclaimed, her words slightly muffled against my shoulder.

I hugged her back tightly, relief flooding through me. "I've missed you too, Lilian. I'm so sorry I haven't seen you since we got back. Things have been so chaotic."

Lilian pulled back slightly, her eyes glassy with unshed tears. "I know," she said, her voice quivering.

"But...but you betrayed me." She pushed me away, her expression shifting from relief to hurt. "You mated with my father and didn't tell me. I suspected it, but you didn't say anything. How could you, Ro?"

Her words hit me like a punch to the gut. I opened my mouth to respond, but no words came out. The pain in her eyes cut deep, and I struggled to find the right thing to say.

"Lilian, I..." I started, my voice faltering. "I never meant to hurt you. It all happened so fast, and I didn't know how to tell you. I was afraid of how you'd react."

She shook her head, tears spilling down her cheeks. "You're my best friend, Aurora. I should have been the first to know. Instead, I had to piece it together myself. Do you have any idea how that felt?"

I reached out, but she flinched away, making my heart ache even more. "Lilian, I'm so sorry. I didn't handle this well at all. You're right, you deserved to know. I was just so overwhelmed by everything."

She took a shaky breath, her hands trembling as she picked up the whiskey bottle. "I've been drinking to forget, you know? To forget how my best friend betrayed me. To forget how my father is now with you, and I wasn't even part of that conversation."

"Lilian, please don't do this to yourself," I pleaded, taking the bottle from her hands and setting it aside. "You're so important to me. Your father and I... it wasn't planned. We were fighting the mating bond but it didn't work. I'm sorry."

She looked at me, her eyes searching mine for any sign of deception. "I just... I just need time to process this, Ro. I need to figure out how to deal with the fact that you're with my father now. And we grew up together and..."

"I understand," I said softly, reaching out to hold her hands. "Take all the time you need. Just know that I love you, and never wanted to hurt you. You're my best friend, and I value our friendship more than anything."

She nodded slowly, squeezing my hands. "I know you didn't mean to hurt me. It's just... a lot to take in. But I'll try to come to terms with it."

I pulled her into another hug, feeling her relax slightly in my arms. "Thank you, Li. We'll get through this together, I promise."

It would take time to mend the rift between us, but I was determined to make things right. No matter what, I wouldn't lose my best friend.

I held Lilian close, feeling the tension in her body slowly dissipate. As much as I wanted to keep comforting her, I knew there was more she needed to know. More truth that might hurt but was necessary for her to understand everything.

Taking a deep breath, I gently pulled back to look into her eyes. "Lilian, there's something else I need to tell you. Something important."

She looked at me, her eyes still red from crying, but there was a glimmer of curiosity and apprehension. "What is it, Aurora?"

"Lucas was my first mate," I said, watching her reaction closely. "He rejected me on my eighteenth birthday. That's why I left the pack back then."

Lilian's eyes widened in shock. "Lucas? My brother Lucas? Lucas?!"

I nodded, my heart aching at the memory. "Yes. He thought I was weak because I didn't have a wolf then. He didn't think I was worthy of being his mate, so he rejected me. I was devastated, and I felt like I had no choice but to leave."

Lilian's hands flew to her mouth, her eyes filling with tears again. "I had no idea, Ro. He never told me."

"I didn't want to hurt you," I continued, my voice soft. "And I didn't want to cause any trouble between you and your twin. You both mean so much to me. I thought it was best to keep it to myself."

She stared at me, her expression a mixture of sadness and understanding. "That must have been so hard for you. To go through that alone."

"It was," I admitted, my voice trembling. "But then I came back and found out I have a second chance mate. Caden showed me a different kind of love, one I never thought I'd find. It was unexpected and overwhelming, but it felt right."

Lilian's eyes softened, and she reached out to squeeze my hand. "I can see how much you care for him. And I believe you when you say you didn't mean to hurt me. It's just a lot to take in."

"I know," I said, squeezing her hand back. "I'm so sorry for keeping all of this from you. I just wanted to protect you from the pain and confusion I went through."

She nodded slowly, her gaze thoughtful. "I appreciate that, Ro. I just wish things could have been different. But I understand now why you made the choices you did."

We sat there in silence for a moment, the weight of our conversation settling between us. Finally, Lilian took a deep breath and gave me a small, tentative smile. "Thank you for telling me the truth. It means a lot."

I smiled back, relief flooding through me. "Thank you for listening, Lilian. I promise, no more secrets. We'll face everything together from now on."

She nodded, her smile growing a bit stronger. "Together."

As we embraced once more, I felt a sense of peace. The path ahead might still be complicated, but with honesty and love, I knew we could navigate it. Lilian was more than a friend; she was family. And the family stood by each other, no matter what.