Aurelia’s POV
I make my way back to the room, hoping–trying–to see my best friend again. I need this. I have so much on my mind that I need to release. It should have been me in her place. She never deserved any of what happened.
As I walk, my thoughts are consumed with how I’ll speak to Callum. I keep replaying the words in my head, trying to find the right ones.
When I reach the doorway, I inhale deeply. I half–expected him to storm out and drive me away by now -but he hasn’t. Maybe he wants me there. I try to comfort myself with that thought, even though I know it might be a lie.
“Yo It doesn’t matter,” I whisper to myself as I push the door open gently.
Inside, I spot Joy pacing the room.
“Hey,” I say, my voice trembling slightly.
She turns and her face lights up with relief.
“Aurelia!” she exclaims, rushing over to embrace me. “I thought something awful had happened to you. I was terrified.”
I wrap my arms around her, holding her tighter.
“I’m sorry. This is all on me. I didn’t realize–I swear I didn’t.” My voice trails off; there’s nothing more I can say that will make it right.
“It’s okay. What matters is that you’re alright,” she murmurs, squeezing me once more before releasing
her hold.
Then I hear his voice.
“What are you doing here?”
I don’t need to look at him to understand his mood. The anger is thick in the air, almost tangible.
“I…” I hesitate, letting go of Joy. “I just needed to see-”
“I told you to stay away from her!” he shouts, and I flinch. I’ve known him to be distant, but this fury is new to me. His rage is so intense, I actually step back in fear.
“Callum, she only came to see me,” Joy says, moving in front of me protectively, shielding me with her body.
“And I don’t want her near you!” he snaps. “She’s the reason you’re in this condition! I know it stems from the fight you had. What’s next? If I hadn’t shown up, would she have finished you off?”
The words pierce me deeply. It hurts–more than I imagined–to hear that he could think of me like
that.
“Callum!” Joy shouts, staring at him in disbelief. “How could you even say that? You know she’s not capable of something like this.”
10.42
30.05.
< Chapter 20
“Seriously?” He lets out a snort as he glances at me, then turns back to her. “You’d rather be with someone who doesn’t even have a scent? Someone who hides who they are?” For wolves, scent means everything. It’s how you recognize someone instantly.
She doesn’t respond. And truthfully, I can’t say anything either. I may not possess all the abilities they do because of my wolf’s condition, but I do grasp how crucial scent is.
“I care about her, alright? If I didn’t, I wouldn’t even be here. And talking like I’m invisible? That’s just awful.”
“Aurelia, I’m sorry,” Joy says, trying to defend him. “He’s probably just feeling overwhelmed.”
“Overwhelmed?” I snap. “You might be mates, sure, but do you even understand what I went through? I stood there and watched you collapse. Me! Not him!” I hate how the tears return so easily.
Without another word, I storm off to my room, slamming the door shut behind me. I just wish every thing could go back to how it was, I think as I curl up on the floor, which oddly feels more comforting than my bed.
I awaken to the sound of someone knocking on my door. Slowly, I push myself off the floor.
I really have to stop doing this, I think while stretching out the stiff, aching parts of my body from sleeping in such an uncomfortable spot.
When I open the door, Ma’am Nola stands there, holding a small cake–and for some reason, that makes my heart skip.
I think I’ve reached my limit with cakes. I definitely don’t want to see another one anytime soon.
“Hello, dear. Joyce and I planned this for you. Sorry it’s late–it was supposed to be a morning surprise, but errands got in the way,” she says as she steps inside the apartment. “Happy eighteenth birthday,
sweetheart.”
“Nolie?” I blink, confused, looking from her to the cake. “You put a cake on the table this morning. Joy and I already had some.” But the puzzled expression on her face suggests something else entirely.
She clearly has no idea what I’m talking about.
“I didn’t leave anything out, Auri,” she replies, using the nickname she gave me. “I had a friend of mine bake this. I just picked it up.”
I stare at her, holding my breath, feeling like this must be a dream. That’s the only explanation that makes sense to me.
“Sweetheart,” she says gently, peering into my eyes as if trying to read my thoughts, “can you tell me what’s going on?”
A wave of fear crashes over me.
“I’m scared, Nolie,” I admit, my voice trembling. “I just want things to feel normal again. Every single day feels like a new disaster is waiting to unfold. I’m exhausted.” Tears stream down my cheeks again. This birthday is nothing like the one I imagined just weeks ago.
“Sweetheart,” she says, setting the cake down on the side table before wrapping her arms around me. “You can talk to me. I’m here to listen.”
It’s the second time today I’ve heard those words. First from Thalric, now from her.
“Everything’s going to be okay, you know. One day, you’ll find someone who’s meant just for you,” she reassures, her voice trembling with emotion.
“But why?” I cry out. “Why wasn’t his love strong enough to stay? Why did he keep me close only to belong to someone else?” I rub the tears from my cheeks with angry swipes. “It’s because I’m weak.” At this point, everything I’ve been holding in starts to pour out.
“And then there’s my friend. The one I believed would always stand beside me–she turned her back on me. And now, I can’t even allow myself to be angry because the guilt of her being poisoned–because of me–won’t let me.” She quietly pulls a tissue from her purse and hands it to me. I take it, grateful, and keep talking.
“They think I don’t notice, but I do. Ever since the mating season, people have treated me differently. I didn’t ask for any of it.” Memories of the way people’s behavior shifted toward me flood my mind. I tried so hard to ignore it, to bury it all deep down. But now, I can’t hold it in anymore.
“Darling,” she says softly, her eyes full of sympathy. “You know I’m not going anywhere, right? No matter what happens, I’m always here for you.” She gently lifts my chin so I’m looking into her eyes.
I lean into her embrace. “Thanks, Nolie. I know I can always count on you.”
She smiles. “Now, how about we try some cake?”
I give a small nod, hesitant despite her warmth. The events of the morning still weigh heavily on me.
“Can I … maybe have the first bite?” she asks, smiling sweetly.
“Of course, love,” I reply, returning the smile. “You always enjoy going first.” I don’t tell her the real reason why.
If the cake is poisoned, I couldn’t live with myself if she ate it. I’d rather be the one to take that risk.
So I do. I take a bite, smiling as she watches me closely.
“Would you like to sing for me?” I ask, hoping to delay things, just in case the cake starts to affect me.
Nolie finally heads to her room, worn out from everything that’s happened today. I lie on the bed, waiting for sleep to come.
Knock knock knock.
I glance at the door, confused. It’s late–too late for visitors.
Knock knock.
“Who’s there?” I call out. No one answers. Just another knock. I get up and walk over to the door.
“Theron?” I whisper, stunned. We haven’t spoken. I didn’t get the chance during the whole Joy situation, and definitely not after he woke up from his migraine.
“Happy birthday,” he says, his eyes on me and a grin stretching across his face.
I could almost swear that headache hit him harder than he’s letting on–but I bite my tongue. I’m not looking to spend another night locked in the cellar.
0.10 13
Chapter 20
“Would you like to take a walk?” he asks. I glance his way… the fall and blackout clearly knocked a few screws loose.
“Umm… I’d rather not.”
He blinks, clearly taken aback by my refusal.
“Please? Just a walk, I promise.”
I let out a breath and give a reluctant nod. Might as well get it over with.
“Alright.”
His expression lights up, and he steps aside to let me exit the room.
This is going to be painfully embarrassing.
