Chapter 22: Unseen Power

Wolfgang

I was stunned, rooted to the spot where I stood.

When Aurora glared at me, I swore I saw her eyes turn a shade of purple, just for a moment. The room was suddenly flooded by an incredible force I’d never felt before.

“I’ll take her up to her room,” Max said.

I nodded. “Mind link with Aspen and Mrs. Kala. They’ll know how to comfort her.”

“Yes, sir.” Max took hold of Aurora’s arm and helped her up to her feet. “Come on, Rory.”

They exited my office and I crumpled down to my chair. What the fuck had just happened?

“Alpha Wolfgang…?”

I had forgotten that my gamma was still in the room with me. I turned to face him and was surprised to see a look of shock plastered on his face.

“Did—Did you feel that? A moment ago, Miss Craton’s aura increased incredibly. I’m still overwhelmed. And her eyes…”

He took his glasses off and wiped them with shaking hands. “I’ve never seen any wolf eyes that color.”

I turned to look at the now-empty space where Aurora had sat just moments ago.

“Her entire shift is something beyond normal,” I told my gamma, recalling the white-furred, purple-eyed-she wolf I’d encountered that night at the lake.

“What do you mean? You’ve seen her shift?”

I nodded.

“Yes. Her fur shines as white as snow and her eyes are like amethysts. I’ve been looking into the meaning of it, but so far I’ve only found a book that talked nonsense about—”

“~The Descendants of the Moon~.” My gamma finished the sentence. “I’ve only read about it, but could it be possible?” Remus paced back and forth.

“Come on, Remus. You can’t possibly believe such a fairytale as ~the daughters of the Moon Goddess~. It’s impossible.”

I stood and walked over to the minibar to pour myself a glass of whiskey.

Even though my wolf senses wouldn’t allow me to even feel the buzz, I needed the strong-tasting liquor right now.

“Until today, I thought it impossible as well, but after what I just witnessed, I cannot doubt it. What do we know about her predecessors?” My gamma asked, declining the glass I offered him.

I downed mine in one gulp. “Her father was the late gamma, Rodrick Craton,” I started but he cut me off.

“Yes. I know that. I meant on her mother’s side. What do we know about her?”

“There’s not much info about her.” I walked back over to my desk and opened one of the drawers, pulled out Aurora Craton’s files, and handed them to my gamma.

He took them and eyed each paper one by one, then lifted his gaze to me. “Tell me something, alpha. Is this the reason why you wanted to keep her close?”

I was taken off guard.

~“That, and because she’s our mate,”~ Cronnos said sarcastically in my mind.

“Yes,” I told my gamma. It wasn’t a lie, technically, but he didn’t need to know about the mating part.

He looked back down at the papers, as if pondering something, then nodded.

“Very well. I’ll see what else I can pull up on her mother, and let you know. For now, go take a bath and get some rest, alpha,” Remus said.

He turned and left the office. I drained another glass of whiskey down before deciding to call it a night, then headed upstairs to my room.

On the way there, I came across Mrs. Kala, who was stepping out of Aurora’s room.

“How is she?” I asked.

“She fell asleep, poor child. She’s left with no one now. Unless she finds her mate. I fear this child will be a wreck.” Mrs. Kala looked sadly at the closed door.

“Aspen and Max are in there with her. They said they’d keep her company for the night. Praise their hearts for being so nice to that child.”

I stood there, staring at Aurora’s bedroom door.

Mrs. Kala was right. Aurora was left alone. All thanks to this endless battle.

“She has the next three days off. Please inform her.” I started to walk to my room when the older woman spoke once more.

“Alpha Wolfgang, may I dare to ask…what are your intentions toward Rory? She is a sweet child, and doesn’t deserve any more pain than what she’s been through.”

I stared at her, asking myself the same question.

What ~were~ my intentions toward her? I didn’t want her as my mate, but I didn’t want to reject her either, so what was my plan with her?

As the alpha, I should just mark her, and claim her as my luna. If I kept this up, I’d become weak, which would cause the pack to become vulnerable as well.

“I have no intention with that woman,” I finally said. I walked past Kala and headed to my room.

“Whatever you say, sir,” she answered before walking down the corridor.

I turned to look once more at Aurora’s door, and couldn’t help picturing her crumpled on her bed, tear stains on her cheeks.

I imagined her curled up in my arms as I comforted her.

I dismissed the thought and walked into my room, discarding the stained shirt on the floor.

I went into the bathroom and took a shower before throwing myself on the bed. I hoped for sleep to take over quickly, so I could forget about the events of the day.

I hadn’t realized how exhausted I was until I was woken by a light knock on the door. I looked at the clock placed on my bedside table and realized it was already six in the morning.

Usually, I was up at four-thirty for my morning workout, and was ready at six when Aurora brought my coffee.

The knock brought me out of my dreams, and I shouted for whoever it was to come in.

Aurora walked in with the usual cup of coffee in her hands. Her eyes seemed hollow, and devoid of any rest.

“What are you doing here?” I asked her.

“I…I brought your morning coffee, sir,” she answered, not making eye contact.

“I mean what are you doing working today? Didn’t Mrs. Kala inform you that I gave you some days off?”

“I decided to work, sir. It’ll help keep my mind busy,” she said, standing at the foot of my bed.

I knew what she meant. When my father had died, I’d drowned myself in work to avoid thinking of the pain of losing him.

I sighed, trying to get the depressing thoughts out of my head. “Fine. You can take the laundry. Don’t worry about the bed.”

She nodded and proceeded to the bathroom.

A few moments later she emerged with my dirty clothes, but stopped in her tracks when she saw the blood-stained shirt lying on the floor.

Pain crossed her face as she looked at the garment.

I jumped out of bed and quickly grabbed it. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to have you see this again.” I told her sincerely.

“You…you really carried her all the way to the hospital?” she asked, finally looking me in the face.

“I did what I could. I’m sorry it wasn’t enough.”

She shook her head as tears threatened to fall from her beautiful gray eyes.

“Thank you…” she whispered before turning and leaving the room.

I couldn’t help the warm sensation that formed in my chest.

Why did I feel this way? It was just a simple thank you.

Still, it was enough that I was elated the rest of day. At least I’d been able to aid my mate in some small way.

This was getting out of hand. I had to do something, and quickly, before I completely submitted to the mating bond.

I still didn’t believe in the descendants of the moon, and I sure as hell didn’t believe that Aurora could offer much to this pack.

I had thought that humiliating her more would help me hate her more, so I could reject her quickly.

But every time I came close to those innocent gray eyes, I lost all sense.

I had to do something, and fast.