Chapter 40

Aeson's POV

I sat down after a stretched silence, leaving Aurora’s question unanswered.

Her anger wrapped around me like a storm cloud. Even without looking up, I could feel her gaze drilling into me.

Every fiber in me wanted to stand up and tell her the truth—that the girl she considered a fling is my fated mate!

But I couldn’t say it. I couldn’t tell her. The words remained locked behind clenched teeth.

“Coward.” Tyson, my wolf, snarled in my mind. His disapproval was sharp.

“It’s not like that,” I tried to reason. But Tyson wasn’t listening. He was still seething over my earlier decision not to let him take control to mark Serena. I had been so close.

I closed my eyes, and the memory flooded back—the feel of Serena’s pulse beneath her skin, the delicate curve of her neck calling to me. My canines had protruded, aching to leave a mark on the spot I had claimed with my eyes. But then she had looked at me—those wide, trusting eyes—and I’d stopped.

My wolf growled. “You should have taken what’s yours.”

Before I could respond, Aurora’s voice shattered the memory.

“Have you lost your voice, Aeson?” She slammed the desk in front of me, the wood groaning under the impact.

I lifted my head, meeting her glare. Her eyes burned with rage, her lips pressed into a thin line.

“Tell me who the bitch is to you,” she demanded again, venom lacing every word.

I clenched my jaw, my hands curling into fists on my thighs. The way she degraded Serena made my blood boil. It would have been so easy to lash out, to give in to the anger simmering beneath my skin. But I couldn’t. Telling her that Serena was my mate—the only one I truly wanted—would only make things worse. Aurora wasn’t one to take rejection gracefully.

She was the daughter of an alpha I couldn’t afford to cross, and I knew how dangerous she could be when provoked.

My mind flickered back to the deal I had made three years ago. I had agreed to marry Aurora because her father had supported me in my battle against an opposing pack. My ambition had driven me to make that choice—a choice that bound me to a treaty I couldn’t easily break.

Back then, Aurora had captivated me with her strength, her agility, and her sharp mind. She had been my first love, or so I thought. But now, sitting across from her, I felt nothing. No spark. No connection. Just a suffocating emptiness.

And all I could think about was Serena.

Tyson’s voice was a low growl. “There was nothing likable about her. You agreed to the marriage for leverage. That’s all.”

I didn’t argue. He was right. I had been blinded by ambition, and I didn’t regret it. My father had always taught me that the pack came first, above everything else. Even above my own happiness.

“Yes, I loved Aurora once,” I admitted silently. “But I never intended to make her my Luna. I was waiting for my true mate.”

Aurora crossed her arms, her foot tapping impatiently. “Well? Are you going to answer me, or do I have to beat it out of you?”

The threat wasn’t idle. Aurora was a skilled fighter, and I had no doubt she would try despite knowing I will take her down and break her bones in a minute.

I exhaled slowly, forcing the tension from my shoulders. “There’s nothing to say,” I lied.

Her eyes narrowed. “You’re hiding something. I can feel it.”

I didn’t want things to escalate, even though Aurora’s suspicions were already brimming. Her anger simmered beneath the surface, waiting to explode. Against my will, I had to calm her down again.

“You’re overthinking this,” I said softly, keeping my tone measured. “Serena and her family are now members of the pack. Her father and mother are skilled Gammas—they can help with the pack’s training. It’s strategic.”

For a moment, her gaze sharpened, scrutinizing me. Then she leaned forward, her eyes narrowing. “I don’t give a shit about her parents,” she hissed. “That girl… I just don’t like her.”

I nodded as if I understood. It was easier than arguing.

Aurora leaned back, crossing her arms. “Listen, Aeson, I know you’re possibly drilling the holes of hoes in your pack when I’m away. And it’s good—you’re covering your tracks well.”

My eyes darkened. “You think I’m cheating on you?”

She chuckled dryly. “I know you are. The last time I visited, you rejected me. But I’m sure you probably ate another girl’s pussy and got too tired to indulge with me.”

Her words stabbed, and I turned away. “You’ve got it wrong.”

“I don’t need you telling me that,” she snapped. “I know what’s true and what’s wrong. Just because I’m not complaining doesn’t mean I’m okay with it.”

She stood and walked over to me, her gaze searing. Her hands slipped down my shoulders and trailed to my chest, her touch almost mocking. She lowered herself slightly, her face close to mine.

“You’re a man, Aeson. I’m sure chicks want to flock around you despite knowing you belong to me. And you just fuck them to get over your horniness.”

Her hand rose to my face, caressing my cheek. Her voice softened but dripped with menace.

“It’s fine. But just know that the day I catch you smashing another woman, I. Will. Let. Hell. Loose.” She kissed me—hard, possessive, and cold. When she pulled back, her smile was deceptively innocent. “I’m sure you know I’m capable of that.”

She winked and returned to her seat, twirling her hair like she hadn’t just issued a deadly threat.

Her words echoed in my mind, heavy and suffocating. But they couldn’t drown out the one truth I couldn’t ignore: Serena was my mate. And nothing—not Aurora, not my past, not even my own fear—could change that.

Aurora studied me for a beat, then crossed her legs. “Aeson, are you sure there’s nothing important you want to discuss with me now?”

I tilted my head. “Like what?”

Her mouth twitched. “Our marriage, of course.”

Suppressing a sigh, I rubbed my forehead.

She reminded me. “You said last time you didn’t want us to rush things.” Her lips tightened and she added. “Yes, and it upset me. It got me thinking that you either want to slow down our marriage or… you’re thinking of something worse. Breaking off from me.”

The room felt colder as her words hung between us. There was a brief pause before she continued. “But I overlooked that and assumed you just had a bad day. What about now?”

I inhaled deeply. “Aurora, our marriage… let’s halt it.”

Her laugh was bitter and disbelieving. “What?”

“Like I said the other day, I don’t want us to rush things.”

Her teeth caught her lower lip. She jerked up from her seat, glaring. “You’re so upsetting, Aeson.”

With that, she stormed out. Relief and dread mixed in my chest, but I didn’t want her to leave in a fury. A minute later, I stepped out of the pack house to find her standing in the driveway, talking to someone. My pulse quickened.

Hades.

And he was holding flowers. What the hell was he doing here?

“Wow,” Aurora drawled, her tone dripping with mockery. “I never thought I’d see you with a bouquet. Who’s it for? Me?”

I stepped up beside her, my presence making her gasp. She recovered quickly, chuckling. “I guess you came to give them to me as an apology for how rude you were last night. That’s fine. I’ll take it.”

She reached for the flowers, but Hades stepped back, his grip tightening. “No,” he said firmly.

At that moment, my gaze shifted to the picket gate a few yards away. Parked just beyond it was a car I knew too well.

Caiden’s car.

My eyes narrowed. On the lawn just beyond the gate, I saw him standing with Serena. She was facing him, her posture tense. When had he arrived? That fast bastard.

Aurora’s voice was a distant hum compared to the roaring in my ears. All I could see was Serena—and Caiden.