Chapter 44: Reluctant Journey

Aurora

To say I was angry was an understatement; I was pissed the fuck off.

~Why is Wolfgang so keen on making my life so miserable? I don’t want to be anywhere near him.~

~“Come on, it can’t be that bad. Besides, if it wasn’t for him, we wouldn’t have known where to begin with getting answers about your mother and what’s happening with us.”~ Rhea said as we headed home.

~“Yeah, but that doesn’t mean he should tag along,”~ I mumbled.

I opened the door and headed upstairs to my bedroom. I needed to lie down and take a nap. Ever since the night of the purple flames, I hadn’t been able to sleep.

Sleep had almost taken over when the doorbell rang.

“Damn it.” I forced myself out of bed and went downstairs, then opened the door.

“What?” I growled, but regretted it the moment I saw Max, Remus, and Aspen on my doorstep.

“Ooh, someone is grumpy,” Aspen giggled. She and Max looked at me as if I’d grown a second head.

“Sorry guys. I’ve had a long morning. What brings you here?” I asked them as I let them in.

“We saw you leave the mansion fuming, and we got worried. Is everything alright?” Max asked as we made our way into the living room.

“Oh, that. Wolfgang was what happened.” I rolled my eyes.

“What did he do now?” Max asked. I could see anger forming in his green eyes. Ever since the encounter at the hospital, he’d been very protective of me.

“It’s nothing serious. Don’t worry,” I reassured him. “It’s just that I need to make a short trip to Buckland, but he wants to come with me.”

“To Buckland? Why do you need to go there?” Aspen asked as she sat on the couch with her legs crossed.

“It was the village my mother grew up in. I was hoping I could find out if there are any living relatives of hers,” I said, giving them a half-truth.

Remus had said not to tell anyone about the things we’d discovered about the descendants of the moon.

“And why does he have to go with you?” Max scoffed.

“I think it would be the best,” Remus said. “He’s the alpha, which will grant her entry into other packs without a problem. And besides, he’s Aurora’s mate. It will be safer for her to be with him during this journey.”

I glared at him.

“But why can’t she be appointed a warrior or two as her bodyguards?” Max asked.

I was happy to hear that. He was right. A warrior could go with me.

“I know the alpha has given Aurora a rough time, but right now he is the best option. He is the strongest wolf in the pack, and her mate. The bond will make him overprotective of her, and that itself is enough to keep her safe,” Remus answered.

My hopes died as he spoke.

“Oh, a trip to another pack with your mate. How romantic. We should travel somewhere soon too, Remus!” Aspen cooed.

She hugged one of the sofa pillows and I rolled my eyes again.

“It’ll be very romantic, spending the next few days with a person who doesn’t even know how to smile, let alone make small talk without ordering me around or being bossy. Yay for me,” I said in a sarcastic tone.

“I’ll go along, then,” Max said.

“I’m sorry, Beta Barone, but the alpha has appointed you as the alpha-in-charge while he is away with Lady Aurora,” Remus said.

Max sucked on his teeth and mumbled some swear words.

“Look guys, as much as I hate the idea of spending time with Wolfgang, I need to go on this trip. So I have no other option but to accept that Remus is right, and there is no other option for now.”

I looked at the beta to reassure him. “But don’t worry, Max. I’ll be fine.”

“You seem very sure of yourself, Rory,” Aspen said with a sly smile.

“Oh, I have a newfound power,” I said, giving Remus a wink. He chuckled. Max and Aspen just looked at us, confused.

They left shortly afterward, and I was left alone with my thoughts, and Rhea’s constant yapping about how exciting this trip would be.

As if.

That night, I went to bed dreading the day that was to come.

What would happen between us on this trip? Would we become closer during all of this?

~No,~ I thought to myself. ~I have to stand strong.~

There was no ~us~, no ~together~. He made me suffer, and neglected me as his mate.

We had nothing to work on, no reason to bond.

The next day, I made my way to the village gates. I decided to pack only a duffle bag, containing a couple changes of clothes and the essentials.

As I reached the gates, I saw Wolfgang, Remus, Max, and Aspen standing there, waiting for me.

“There she is!” Aspen shouted as she saw me coming. “I thought for a moment you were still wrapped up in your sheets.” She linked her arm with mine.

“Oh, I was having second thoughts,” I said, loud enough for everyone to hear.

“I have contacted the alpha of the Silver Bow pack, and informed him that you’d be arriving there,” Remus told Wolfgang.

“He was pleased to know that the daughter of Gamma Rodrick and Rebecca would be coming.” He turned toward me and smiled.

“The journey to Buckland will take at least five days. You can go from here to Piermont, and from there you can take a train over to Buckland.” He handed some papers to Wolfgang.

“Wait. Why are we taking the train? We can go in our wolf forms, and it’ll take less time,” I said.

“We won’t shift unless it is necessary, Aurora,” Wolfgang said. He turned to his gamma. “Thank you, Remus.”

He then turned to Max, who had been quiet the whole time. “Beta Barone. I trust that it won’t be an issue for you to be the alpha-in-charge until my return?”

“No, sir. And I trust it won’t be hard for you to take good care of Rory,” Max responded in a monotone voice.

I could see Wolfgang’s jaw tick, but he remained passive. “I’ll take care of ~my mate~ with my life,” he said before turning and heading out the gate. “Let’s go, Aurora.”

I turned and gave Max a hug. “Everything will be alright. I’ll be back before you know it,” I said to him.

Then I said goodbye to Aspen and Remus.

I really hoped it would all be alright. At least for me.