Chapter 13: Thornless Roses

Aurora

Alpha Wolfgang could probably hear my heart beating wildly in my chest.

I could feel the magnetic force between us. A force that drew me toward him like an invisible string.

The mating pull was so intense.

“Thank you,” I said, noticing the sweet scent filling the room. I walked up beside him to admire the roses up close. I could feel the heat radiating from his body. “They’re beautiful.”

I peeked up at him, but he was as stiff as a board. He hadn’t said a word since I walked in.

“Sir?” Still no response. He looked like he was in deep concentration, taking slow, even breaths. “Wolfgang?”

I reached out and grazed my fingers against his hand. I gasped as fireworks shot up my arm, an electric shock of pleasure racing through my body.

~That~ got his attention.

He stepped away from me and leveled a terrifying glare at me.

“I told you not to misunderstand anything, Miss Craton.” He nodded at the flowers. “Those are simply to liven up the room. Nothing else. I will never see you as my mate. Understand?”

I was left speechless, tears welling up in my eyes.

~Why is he so mean to me?~

He stepped past me and walked toward the door, leaving me in shock.

“And don’t ever call me by just my first name again,” he added. “Understand?”

I nodded, trying to keep my tears in.

“I can’t hear you.”

“Y-yes sir,” I stammered.

And with that, he left.

I stared at the roses. They were carefully trimmed of any thorns...but Alpha Wolfgang might as well have left them on.

They couldn’t possibly hurt me any more than they already have.

***

I woke up to someone knocking on my door.

I didn’t even realize I’d fallen asleep after Alpha Wolfgang left.

“Come in,” I called, my throat raspy from crying.

“Aurora?” A maid I’d never seen before peeked her head into my room. “Mrs. Kala wanted me to tell you that dinner is ready...are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine,” I lied.

The maid walked inside and sat next to me. She placed a gentle hand over mine and offered a calming smile. “Maybe some food will make you feel better. Mrs. Kala told me you haven’t eaten properly all day.”

For some reason her words were very comforting. She had a very kind aura that put me at ease.

“My name is Faye, by the way. We’re going to be seeing a lot of each other from now on.”

“It’s great to meet you Faye...and thanks.”

“Don’t worry about it!” We got up and went down to the dining room, where Mrs. Kala was waiting with a hot plate of food.

“You didn’t have to prepare my meal, Mrs. Kala. I could have done it,” I said to the older woman.

“Oh, believe me, I had to. The alpha was not pleased when he found out you hadn’t eaten all day. He made it very clear that I was to make sure that you ate something.”

Her words took me by surprise.

~“You see?! He’s worried about us,”~ Rhea cooed.

“He wasn’t pleased?” I echoed Mrs. Kala, trying to make sure I’d heard her correctly.

As I spoke, I took a seat at the table in the dining area.

“Yes. He said he didn’t want you fainting tomorrow on your first day of work from starvation.”

~”That’s more like it,”~ I thought to Rhea.

There’s no way that Alpha Wolfgang cared about my wellbeing. He had made that crystal clear earlier with the roses.

I quickly ate dinner. Even though I didn’t have much of an appetite, I didn’t want Mrs. Kala to get into trouble because of me.

Afterwards I got ready for bed and laid down, trying to sort through my emotions.

~”He’ll come around,”~ Rhea said.

I closed my eyes, doubting that very much.

***

I found myself again in the clearing. It was dried and damaged.

I was lying in a pool of something. Something wet.

I lifted my hands to see a crimson liquid running down my palm. I was lying in my own blood.

A growl caught my attention. I looked over and saw the black wolf with blue eyes. He stood facing, his fangs bared.

But he didn’t move. It was like something had scared him.

I looked into his eyes, only to realize that he wasn’t looking at me, but something that stood behind me.

I turned and saw a light shining over the clear, calm lake.

~“Do not worry, young one. Things will change for the better…”~

A soothing voice echoed around us, causing the black wolf to bow its head and whimper.

~Beep! Beep!~

~Beep! Beep!~

My alarm went off, waking me from the bizarre dream. Still, I felt that everything would be alright.

I ran into the bathroom and took a quick shower, then headed to the huge closet and changed into my uniform.

It consisted of a white button-down shirt with long sleeves, a black vest, and black skirt that reached my mid-thigh.

Stockings and black shoes accompanied the outfit. And a little bow tie to compliment it all. I decided to put my hair in a ponytail.

By the time I was done, it was five-thirty a.m., giving me just enough time to head to the kitchen, get the alpha’s coffee, and bring it up to him before six.

When I got down to the kitchen, I was greeted by the sous chef, Tony, who was already busily chopping away at vegetables.

“Morning, Tony,” I said to him.

“Morning, Aurora. How was your first night in the mansion?” he asked as I crossed to the coffee machine.

“So far, so good,” I answered truthfully.

Aside from that strange dream, I’d had a good night. Especially after Wolfgang had sent me those roses.

I proceeded to prepare his coffee as he’d instructed. Black, with no sugar.

“Make sure that coffee is steaming hot. He likes it that way,” Tony advised. I took his advice.

By the time I was standing outside his door with the prepared coffee, it was five minutes to six. I tentatively knocked on his door.

“Come in,” I heard the smooth, velvety voice call from the other side.

I grabbed the doorknob and opened the door to find him casually sitting behind his desk, going through some papers.

I held back a gasp as I realized he had no shirt on, exposing his incredible eight pack. I quickly bowed my head and extended the cup I held in my hands.

~“OH MY GODDESS! AURORA, IF YOU DON’T JUMP HIM, I WILL!”~ my wolf squealed in my head. She was practically doing cartwheels.

I immediately blocked her out.

“Your coffee, sir,” I managed to squeak.

“Leave it on the desk. Then make the bed, and take the dirty clothes down to the laundry room. And don’t forget to bring the clean laundry back up,” he said all in one breath.

He didn’t even give me a side glance.

I nodded and turned around, fully looking at Wolfgang’s room.

It was the same color as his office downstairs. Blue walls with gold trimming.

His bed was huge and king-sized with a grand canopy, with velvet curtains hanging around it.

There was also a library, with many books. So he liked to read. Just like me.

There was a chimney with a huge TV hanging over it, and two doors on either side, which I assumed were the closet and the bathroom.

Just as I was about to leave, the alpha called out to me.

“Aurora,” he said. “Did you eat properly last night?”

“Yes, sir,” I said.

He got up from behind his desk and walked over to me. My face went hot as he towered over me, still very much shirtless.

“Look at me,” he ordered.

I obeyed, looking deeply into his eyes. I tried to ignore the butterflies fluttering in my stomach.

“S-sir?”

He searched my face for a moment before nodding to himself.

“Good, you look healthier. Now get to work.” He turned and sat back behind his desk, turning his attention to his papers.

I left his office in a daze.

~What was that about?~

~“He was worried about us!”~ Rhea said. ~“Isn’t it obvious?”~

My head spun.

It was like I was in a violent tug of war with my mind and my heart.

One second Alpha Wolfgang was cruel and cold, the next he’s worried about my wellbeing...but which one was the real him?