Chapter 66: Broken Bond

Aurora

I knew I was being childish—running out of the car like that—but I needed to get away and make enough distance between Wolfgang and me.

It was a bad idea to go eat dinner with him, to begin with. This stupid pull on the mate bond had gone crazy when I was with him alone in the car, and his intoxicating scent was driving me crazy.

I ran as fast as I could.

Away from the car. Away from Wolfgang. I wanted to be away from his intoxicating scent if I wanted to keep my resolve.

~“Rory, I think he is following us,”~ Rhea spoke, and that’s when I realized I was being chased.

I turned and saw Cronnos’s huge frame right at my tail.

~“Aurora, wait. Please stop and hear me out.”~

Wolfgang’s voice echoed in my head as I felt his heavy paws stomping right behind me, but I sprinted faster, trying to get away from them.

~“Aurora please!”~

He kept pleading in my mind.

“Go away! Leave me alone!”

I growled at him as I kept pushing forward away from him, but I suddenly lost my footing as a massive sack of bricks rammed me, causing me to tumble over. When I opened my eyes, Cronnos had me pinned down beneath him.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” I growled as I snapped my snout at him. “Let go of me!”

“Aurora, please. Calm down. Listen to me!” He tried coercing me, but I wouldn’t relent.

~“Aurora, be still,”~ Cronnos commanded in his alpha voice, and it had me frozen in the spot as I stared into the most intense blue orbs I’d ever seen.

They weren’t the usual baby blue, but a deep blue that resembled the depths of an unforgiven ocean. It was the first time Wolfgang’s wolf had addressed me in such a fierce tone.

He suddenly caught himself and lay down flat over me. His ears hung low as he looked at me with his big puppy-like eyes as he whined, trying to show me he was not going to harm me.

~“Forgive me for using my alpha voice on you, but please…listen to what this moron I call my human has to say,”~ he pleaded.

~“Aurora, let’s listen to what he has to say. Please,”~ Rhea pleaded.

I looked into his eyes, the same intimidating, fierce ones, but somehow I could trust them.

I knew Cronnos and Wolfgang were two different souls and wished to the moon goddess that my mate would have been more like his wolf instead.

~“They are, Rory. Let’s give our mate a chance,”~ Rhea said.

I nodded and saw as he wagged his tail content before lifting his weight from on top of me and giving me space so I could reincorporate myself.

“Listen, I know I’ve been a shitty mate to you and it’d take me this life and the next for me to win back your trust. You’ve been nothing but an incredible person, who is willing to give up her life for the people she loves.

“I was a complete fool not to realize that before,” Wolfgang spoke, and I could tell it was him because his eyes were back to the baby blue hue I’d come to know so well.

My heart swelled with excitement over his words, but I pushed it all down. I couldn’t believe him. What he said to Remus back then kept ringing in my head.

“Are you sure that’s the reason? There isn’t any ulterior reason?” I asked.

“Aurora, there really is no ulterior motive. Believe me,” he argued back. “What you heard was a misunderstanding. I would never dare to acknowledge you because of your powers. I acknowledge you because of you…”

“You’re lying, Alpha,” I seethed, but he shook his head vigorously.

“Give me a chance, Aurora. Allow me to prove that I am truly sorry and I only wish for your forgiveness. Nothing else,” he begged and whined.

“Prove? You want to prove to me you’re sorry? You’d have to do much more than simply beg for my forgiveness, Wolfgang,” I told him.

I wanted to believe him, I wanted to give him another chance, but I just couldn’t. He had hurt me too much.

He sat there dejected as he stared at the ground. His wolfy ears lay low as he seemed like a pup who just got scolded.

“Alright,” he said as he finally lifted his head, and his eyes showed determination before sprinting off to pack land.

“Hey! Where the hell are you going?” I shouted to him.

I couldn’t believe he would leave me out here after pleading for me to stay and listen to him.

“I’m going to give you proof!” he shouted as he kept on running in the direction of the pack land.

~“Let’s follow him!”~ Rhea shouted, making me jump out of my stupor before she sprinted behind Wolfgang.

Once we were within our territory, Cronnos let out a loud howl, and I knew he was calling out to Max, Remus, as well as the elders.

“Why are you summoning the others?” I asked.

“You’ll see,” he simply answered.

~I’ll see? That’s it? What does the pack even have to do with you proving yourself?~

~“Everything,”~ he said, and I mentally face-palmed myself for forgetting that he could read my every thought in wolf form.

Once we were at the mansion, he growled something at Remus, Aspen, Emma, and Max, who were at the door before rushing in to get some clothes on.

I wished I were able to hear their thoughts as well, so I could know what Wolfgang was planning to do.

I padded up to the steps and acknowledged everyone.

“You don’t happen to know the reason why Wolfgang has summoned us all, Lady Aurora?” Remus asked.

I could only shake my head before stepping into the house, Aspen and Emma following in suit.

I couldn’t help but notice the strange looks they all gave me.

“Come, Rory, I’ll loan you something to wear,” Aspen said as she led me to her room.

Once I got changed into some clothing, we all headed to Wolfgang’s office, where he was already waiting with the rest.

“So, what’s this all about, Wolfie?” Aspen asked as she went and sat down next to Remus.

Wolfgang was sitting in his chair behind his desk, his hands intertwined before his face, while Max, Remus, and the elders sat on the couch. Eleanor was also here, standing next to the chimney.

“I’ve gathered you all here on short notice for a very important matter,” Wolfgang spoke.

“I have decided that I, Wolfgang Fortier Gagliardi, will relinquish my position of alpha of the Blood Moon Pack, and hand it over to my second-in-command,” he said so casually with his usual stoic face.

All of us wore faces of shock at his sudden announcement.

“What are you talking about, Alpha?” Remus was the first to get out of the state of shock.

“Just what you’ve heard, Remus. I’m handing over the position of alpha to Beta Maximus Barone.

“I have realized that I am not fit to occupy this seat anymore,” he said as he looked me dead straight in the eye.

“Alpha Wolfgang, have you lost your mind? This is outrageous!” Elder Leto spoke.

“Now, now… Let us listen to him first. Why is it you consider yourself unfit to continue your role as alpha of the strongest pack in the northern continent?

“So far, you’ve done nothing but excel in everything: being the strongest alpha, gaining alliances with other packs, and assuring the safety of everyone in it.

“Why now have you decided to step down?” she asked as she sipped on a cup of what seemed to be tea.

“I failed to treasure and take care of the most precious thing the Moon Goddess had gifted me… My mate,” he said as he stood.

“That’s why I have decided to strip myself of the title of alpha, pass it on to Beta Barone, and become an omega. This shall be my punishment for what I had my mate go through,” he said.

“We cannot accept this.

“You are ALPHA GAGLIARDI FOR GODDESS’S SAKE!” the elders shouted, trying to reason with him, but it seemed that nothing would get through his thick skull.

“Alpha Wolfgang, please think this through more carefully.

“If we strip you of your title and name you an omega, you’ll be forced to do housework and field labor. You will no longer have access to the luxuries your title offers.” Remus also tried to reason with him, but to no avail.

He just shook his head.

“I’ve decided. This will be my punishment, and it still is little to what Aurora had to bear,” he said.

~“Aurora, are you listening? He is willing to give up everything for us! He loves us so much he is willing to give up his power for us!”~ Rhea cooed as she jumped up and down in excitement, but I was in complete shock.

“Is that it? Is this how you will redeem yourself for the pain you’ve caused my goddaughter?” Eleanor spoke, unimpressed.

I, on the other hand, was completely speechless. Was he really willing to give up everything for me?

“I know there is no way I could live up to being the proper mate Aurora needs, but this is the least I can do to prove how regretful I am for what I’ve caused her to go through,” he said.

He cast his eyes down in an act of submission, something no alpha did because of his pride, yet here he was submitting himself before his men, the elders, and myself.

My legs started moving on their own accord; I had no sense of what I was doing because my body moved inadvertently until I found myself standing before him. I had no idea when I even rounded his desk.

Everyone silently watched as Wolfgang and I stood before each other, none of us uttering a single word.

I guess they weren’t expecting the next thing I did when I slapped Wolfgang with all the strength I had in me.