Chapter 25: Cold Decision

Aurora

I was on my way to Alpha Wolfgang’s office, to deliver his eleven o’clock coffee. I was about to knock on the door when I heard voices.

“Are you sure about this decision, sir?” It was Gamma Bowman’s voice.

“You don’t have to rush in choosing your luna. You can wait until you finally find your mate, sir.”

Choose a luna? Has the alpha finally realized that we should be together?

I knew I shouldn’t be eavesdropping, but I looked around to see if anyone was coming, then stuck my ear closer, trying my best to hide my aura.

“On the contrary, Gamma Bowman. It’s high time the alpha chose someone as his luna, since he has not found his mate.”

That was one of the elders' voices.

“He has to present a luna to the pack, in order to ensure that there will be offspring to continue the Fortier Gagliardi lineage.”

“He has until he’s thirty, Elder Aldo. I’m sure the pack will understand if he hasn’t found his mate yet,” Remus said.

“We are at war! There’s no time to wait!” said Elder Leto.

“Enough!” Wolfgang’s voice boomed through the door, hushing everyone else. “My decision is final, Bowman. I’ll marry Tallulah Wilhelm, and announce her as the pack's new Luna.”

I staggered back, losing my balance and clattering the coffee mug against its saucer.

The office fell silent for a moment. A moment later, the door opened, and Wolfgang’s icy-blue eyes stared down into mine.

“You…” He started but I cut him off before he said anything else, pushing the mug and saucer before him.

“Your coffee, sir.” I said, avoiding eye contact.

“You’re late.” He grabbed it from my hands with a growl, then took a sip.

“It’s cold. Make me another one.” He shoved the mug back into my arms, making it spill over my blouse.

“Ri—Right away, sir,” I muttered. I turned around and left.

I walked away quickly, trying to get as far as I could before allowing the tears to flow down my cheeks. Once I turned a corner, I crumbled to the floor and began crying my heart out.

~“Don’t cry, Aurora,”~ Rhea said, trying to comfort me.

~“He’s going to marry Tallulah. He is going to announce her to the pack as his luna. He’s never going to acknowledge us as his true mate.”~

I buried my head in my knees, when I felt someone approach and kneel beside me.

“Rory…are you okay?”

I looked up to see Max’s concerned face. He took my hands and helped me to my feet.

“What happened?” he asked, looking at the coffee stains on my shirt.

“I…Alpha Wolfgang’s coffee was cold, so he asked me to bring a new cup,” I said, averting my eyes from the beta’s concerned ones.

“Did he throw the cup on you?” he asked.

“What? No, I…I tripped, and it spilled on me,” I lied. I didn’t want to make the alpha look like a bad guy to his friends.

“Don’t lie to me. He threw it on you, didn’t he?” Max said, anger clear in his voice.

“Y—Yes sir. But it was an accident,” I said. But I couldn’t look Max in the eyes. I couldn’t convince him of the lie.

Max held my hand tight, his other hand ducking under my chin to raise it. “Listen to me Rory. You don’t have to put up with any of this.”

He looked into my eyes. “Even if he’s our alpha, you don’t have to be treated that way.”

“I know that, but I have no choice—”

“Yes, you do! You can renounce ~him~, whenever you feel like! Leave the leader’s house, and make your own life!” he was almost shouting.

I flinched and looked down.

“Look…” he said more softly. “I know you have feelings for Wolfgang.”

I looked up at him in shock. “You do?”

He chuckled. “Yeah. You haven’t been doing a good job at hiding it.”

I looked down in shame, but he lifted my head once again, forcing me to look into his eyes.

“It’s a shame your feelings aren’t directed elsewhere,” he said. A small smile came across his face.

“Elsewhere?” I asked, not understanding.

“Look. You should know that you’re a very beautiful young lady. And one day, you’ll find your mate. A person who will cherish you unconditionally.”

His smile widened. “At least I would, if I were your mate.”

He gave a little laugh. “Just look around. Give someone else the opportunity to really love you, the way you deserve. And quit bothering yourself over Wolfgang. He is not even worth it.”

“Is that so?” echoed a deep, velvety voice.

Shivers ran down my entire body. Max and I turned to see Alpha Wolfgang glaring at us, at Max holding my hands.

I pulled my hands away quickly.

“I thought I ordered another cup of coffee, maid,” the alpha growled. “I expected you to deliver it immediately, not out here fraternizing with my beta.”

“I’m sorry, alpha,” I squeaked, nervously playing with the skirt of my uniform. “I’ll get it right away, sir.” I said.

I began to walk toward the stairs, but was stopped when he took a firm grip on my arm.

Tantalizing sparks erupted where his hands held me.

“Don’t bother. I don’t want it anymore. Come to my room. I need my dirty laundry picked up and carried downstairs to be washed.”

He dragged me with him, taking long strides toward the staircase.

I winced in pain.

“You don’t have to pull her like that! You’re hurting her,” Max shouted.

The alpha halted in his tracks.

“And you, Beta Barone. Next time you try flirting with the maids, make sure it is not while they’re on duty, and under MY orders!” he growled.

Then he continued pulling me along with him. I tried my best to keep up with his pace.

We made it up to the fourth floor. He let go of my arm, allowing me to walk at my own pace while he trailed behind me.

But as soon as I made it to my room, he opened the door and pulled me inside.

I staggered and tripped on clumsy feet. When I tried to sit up, I heard a click as the door locked.

I looked up to see the alpha glaring down at me. Shivers ran down my spine at the thought of what he could do to me.

He took a step toward me, and then another. I scrambled away from him in fear until I felt my back hit my bed.

“Get up,” he growled.

I hesitated, then obeyed. I stood before the alpha, shivering in fear.

I didn’t dare look him in the eye, so I kept my eyes on the floor as if it was the most interesting thing in the world.

“What did you think you were doing with my beta?” he finally said. His voice was calm, but still sent chills down my spine.

“I don’t know what you mean, sir,” I answered, still unable to look at him.

“Don’t play dumb with me, Aurora,” he seethed. “You were flirting with him.”

I looked up at him in confusion. “Excuse me, sir? I’d never—”

He raised a hand to silence me. “Quit the act. I know what you’re up to.” He glared at me.

“You were flirting with him, weren’t you? just like with the other males around the mansion? Only that this time, you aimed higher. You thought that gaining the beta’s attention and favor would make me jealous.”

“No, sir. You’re mistaken, I—”

“Let me tell you something, Aurora,” he snarled. “I am a territorial person. And I don’t like people touching what’s mine.”

His icy blue eyes were hot with anger. “I may not have accepted you, but I haven’t rejected you either. You’re still my mate.”

He turned to leave. “I don’t want to see the beta—or any other male—touch you, or even come close to you, ever again. Got it?”

“That’s unfair, alpha…” I murmured, feeling tears begin to roll down my cheeks.

“Is it now?” he, turning halfway to look at me with a smirk on his face.

“Yes. You tell me that I cannot see or talk to other males, yet you prance around in front of me with Tallulah. You won’t let me leave but you make my life a living hell!”

Tears poured down my face. “Why do you treat me this way?”

He stood there, just staring at me without giving me an answer.

“Well I won’t listen to you this time! I’ll do as the beta suggested, and take love from someone else, who is willing to love me back!”

My anger had taken over my fear.

“Is that so?” He took a step toward me, trying to intimidate me, but I stood my ground.

“Yes,” I answered defiantly.

“Very well. You leave me no other choice.”

With that, he grabbed me and planted a voracious, demanding kiss on my lips.

I was taken completely by surprise.

I struggled in his grip for a moment, but it was no use.

Eventually, I gave in. It was like my body was craving it.

He broke the kiss, and I gasped as he trailed his lips down my neck, nipping every inch of it.

He grabbed my shirt and ripped it open, sending the buttons flying to the floor.

He continued kissing down my neck and collarbone. At the same time, he expertly unhooked my bra, exposing my chest.

I shivered as he took one in his mouth, playing with the other with one hand.

I moaned, burying my hands in his silky hair. He kissed me again, more insistently, then pushed me back, making me fall onto my bed.

Wolfgang pulled his shirt over his head, revealing his firm chest and marked abs.

He crept over me on the bed, then claimed my mouth in his once more, nipping and tugging at my lips.

I felt his tongue flick out to graze my lip, begging permission to enter my mouth. I obeyed.

His tongue explored every inch of my mouth, as his hands tugged at my hard nipples.

He raised up and knelt between my legs. He undid the side button of my skirt and pulled it off, leaving me in my pantyhose, which he tore away, along with my panties.

I gasped and tried to cover myself, but he grabbed my hands and held them over my head, leaning down to whisper in my ear.

“Don’t…” he growled in a husky tone. Then he claimed my mouth once more.

I felt his hand begin exploring between my legs and I moaned into his mouth, earning a groan from him.

He continued tantalizing me, inserting a finger into my opening.

I gasped at the sudden pressure I felt between my legs.

“Oh Goddess…” I moaned as he tortured me.

I held onto his broad shoulders, trying to ground myself. I looked into his eyes and saw that they were a shade darker than their usually icy hue.

They were half-lidded with lust; his delicious mouth parted as he breathed heavily.

I managed to free one of my hands from his grip and reached out to grasp his hard cock.

He went tense as I continued to massage his erection over the fabric of his pants.

We both were panting by now. I gasped as he inserted a second finger, quickening his movements.

The pressure in my center grew more intense, and suddenly I felt as if an explosion had erupted from within me.

I arched my back, gripping his as he thrusted in and out of me.

It took a few moments before the euphoria started to recede.

I laid back on the bed, trying to catch my breath. Then I heard him unbuckling his belt and unzipping his pants.

“I can’t take it any longer,” he said. He rolled a condom over his shaft and placed himself between my legs.

He pushed his erection inside me, making me jerk at the sudden pain. I gripped onto his shoulders, digging my fingers into his flesh.

He was motionless between my legs, looking down at me. “I’m going to start moving now.”

I nodded and braced myself for more pain. He started moving slowly.

I felt a sharp pain, but with each thrust the pain was quickly replaced by pleasure.

I moaned louder, feeling that pressure build within me once more.

Wolfgang continued thrusting, kissing and nipping at the nape of my neck.

I couldn’t think straight anymore. My mind was in bliss. I could feel our bodies merging into one.

I felt the explosion go off once again within me, and I screamed in delight.

Then I felt a sharp pain on the nape of my neck, right where Wolfgang had been kissing me.

We both laid there, panting, trying to catch our breaths. Wolfgang’s head rested on my chest. I laid flat on the bed, looking up to the ceiling.

I could still feel that stinging sensation in my neck. I raised a hand and touched the side of my neck, feeling something wet.

I lifted my hand and saw blood staining my fingers.

Wolfgang got off me and rose from the bed. He picked up his pants and put them on, then grabbed his shirt and shoes off the floor.

I looked down at the blood on my hand. The blissful sensation I’d felt moments ago was replaced by sadness as I realized what had happened.

“Now if you try sleeping with another man, they’ll know you belong to me when they see that mark,” Wolfgang said as he walked out of my room.

I wrapped the blanket over my body, then I stood and walked into the bathroom.

I inspected my neck in the mirror. My eyes went to the crescent moon scar that now adorned it.

I was his. His property. He’d marked me as his own.

Now I’d be nothing more than a piece of meat.

I’d never be anything more to him than something to use and push aside whenever he felt like it.