Chapter 1
“I want you.” Aurora whimpered softly.
“Tell me how much you want me, little wolf.”
“I want you so bad.”
She gasped when his lips grazed her ear, his breath making her shudder with need.
Henry watched her with pleasure-laden eyes, his hand coiling round her waist possessively. “You belong to me, Aurora. You're mine.”
…
In the moonlit world of werewolves, Aurora Rose Thompson was a stunning young she-wolf with a fierce spirit and a beauty that rivaled the moon goddess.
On her 18th birthday, the moon goddess paired her with the Alpha of her pack, Alpha Bishop Dawson, a union that seemed like a dream come true.
But behind Bishop's chiseled facade and commanding presence lay a sinister plot: he didn't want a mate and he despised the mate bond.
Two nights after they were mated, he cruelly rejected her and banished her from the pack.
Enter Henry James Robert, the most powerful and ruthless Alpha King who had been mateless for more than a hundred years. He saved Aurora from Bishop's banishment and took her back with him to the lycan kingdom where he ruled.
What he didn't expect was to fall desperately in love with her.
A deep passion bloomed between them until everything shattered one day.
Henry's dark secrets came to light, secrets he had managed to bury all these years. Hidden conspiracies arose, threatening to shatter the bond between him and Aurora.
The truth about Aurora's identity is revealed, and when Bishop discovered that she was now Henry's mate, he suddenly wanted her back at all costs.
Can their love survive the darkness of Henry's past and the treacherous forces that seek to destroy their bond? Or will the very thing that brought them together ultimately rip them apart?
Chapter 1: Hello Rose
"You deserve to die bitch!"
Aurora sucked in a deep breath seconds before her tormentor plunged her head into the river. The freezing water knocked the breath out of her lungs and she struggled with the hand that held her, trying to pull her head up.
Her tormentor, Estella, held her firmly under the flowing river. The three other she-wolves behind her laughed at Aurora's feeble attempt to escape, but did nothing to try and save her.
After a while, Estella pulled Aurora out of the river and smacked her across the face. Aurora fell back, her chest heaving as she tried to draw in deep breaths. Her face and hair were wet and she shivered from the cold.
Estella moved closer to her and gripped her hair in a tight fist, making Aurora cry out. "This is just the beginning Rose. If you don't reject Alpha Bishop, I will do more than drown you. I'll kill you, and no one would ever find out."
Aurora said nothing in response. She merely gritted her teeth against the pain of Estella's grip on her hair.
"Who would care to find out?" Renee, one of the other she-wolves asked mockingly. "No one cares about a worthless wolfless omega."
"I know, right?" Kristine added, flipping her short hair over one shoulder. "The moon goddess must have meant it as a joke to pair an omega with the Alpha."
"Can't we just kill her now?" Destiny, the third she-wolf asked eagerly.
Her eyes burned with envy as she glared at Aurora. She had always dreamed of being Alpha Bishop's mate. But all her dreams were dashed when the news went round that Aurora was mated to him. A common worthless omega.
"I'll give her one last chance to reject the Alpha." Estella said finally, shoving Aurora away from her.
Aurora coughed softly and pushed the wet hair away from her eyes. Her emerald eyes glared up at Estella defiantly.
"The only way I'll reject the Alpha would be in your dreams." She whispered.
A split second after the words left her mouth, Estella backhanded her again, splitting her lip.
"Then you'll die Rose." Estella whispered back viciously. "You will die a miserable death, just like your parents did years ago."
That was a sore spot and tears brimmed in Aurora's eyes. She bit her lips to stop the tears, but they spilled down despite her effort.
Witnessing the damage she caused, Estella smiled smugly and stepped away.
"Let's go girls." She said to the girls behind her. "She's not worth our time."
The four girls laughed heartlessly before walking away, leaving Aurora alone in the forest.
Hours went by and Aurora lay curled up against a tree, sobbing softly until she fell asleep. By the time she opened her eyes, it was dark. The sun had set long ago and there was a crescent moon in the sky, leaving eerie shadows in the forest.
She groaned as she got up, her entire body aching badly. She had to get home as quickly as possible. Her step-aunt Lydia would be livid.
She had left the cottage at dawn to do the laundry at the river. But then, Estella and her friends had found her and things had gone out of hand.
She sighed tiredly as she stepped into the river and washed her face. What was the worst that could happen? Lydia would probably give her a beating and starve her that night.
She couldn't wait to move into the Alpha's home.
Grunting softly, she hefted the three linen baskets filled with beddings and towels, and balanced it on her head.
As she returned home, her thoughts strayed over to Alpha Bishop, her mate. She still couldn't believe her pure luck when she found out she was mated to him.
Growing up as an orphan had been terrible for her. Her step-aunt used every opportunity to abuse her, blaming her for the death of her parents.
Aurora had felt so fed up with everything that she once considered taking her life. Fortunately, her best friend Penelope had stopped her in time, encouraging her to endure until she turned eighteen and found her mate.
And she was glad she followed Penelope's advice. She still remembered the pull she felt at midnight, the moment she turned eighteen. The pull of the mate bond had been so strong and hard to resist.
And when she had followed that pull into the forest, she found Bishop waiting for her.
She remembered how her body had felt when he pulled her close and whispered one word.
"Mate."
It had been so magical.
But then, he suddenly turned and walked away from her without another word. Early the next day, one of the warriors came with a message from Alpha Bishop.
He wanted her to move into his home.
Another sigh escaped her and when she broke out of her reverie, she realized she was no longer in the forest. She was on the path that led to her home, the tiny cottage she would leave soon. Forever.
She was still lost in thoughts when the bushes at the side of the road ruffled suspiciously.
Aurora froze, her fingers gripping the baskets tight. Her emerald eyes glimmered in the dark, darting around wildly. She saw nothing, but the feeling of being watched settled on her and her heartbeat accelerated.
The bushes ruffled again and she screamed when a dark ferocious wolf suddenly lunged out and slammed into her.
She crashed to the ground, the baskets flying out of her hands and spilling the clothes on the dusty ground.
Her head struck a tree stump and for a moment, she thought she would pass out from the pain.
Struggling to open her eyes, she watched the dark wolf tower over her, eyes glowing eerie gold in the dark. It was larger than any wolf she had ever seen, and she knew instantly that this wasn't an ordinary werewolf.
It was a lycan.
And there were no lycans in Silver Dawn Pack. Where did this creature come from?
Aurora shut her eyes as the large wolf moved closer to her, its growls sounding like thunder. She could do nothing. She couldn't use the mind link yet. She had never shifted in her entire life, hence she knew she wouldn't be able to shift to protect herself.
Suddenly the wolf backed away, growling deep in its throat.
And Aurora watched in astonishment as it crouched and shifted.
The sound of bones snapping and reshaping filled the silent air and she drew in a deep breath when she saw him standing before her.
He was still clothed. Thick dark locks of curly hair framed his face, grazing the top of his brows. She couldn't see his face in the dark, but his eyes, those glowing golden eyes, stared at her intensely.
When he spoke, his voice flowed out like honey.
"Go home, little wolf. I don't like getting disturbed while hunting."
Before Aurora could think of something to say, he was gone. Like he had never been there.
...
It took a while for Aurora to get home, as she kept looking behind her to make sure she wasn't being followed.
Her mind wasn't at rest, and she just wanted to get home and forget about how terrified she had been a few minutes ago.
But there was something she couldn't just forget. The stranger's eyes, those eyes that seemed to stare into her soul.
The moment she got home, her step-aunt, Lydia pounced on her, demanding to know where she had been.
As the woman raised a whip to punish Aurora, a hard voice stopped her.
"Take your hands off her."
Both Aurora and Lydia were taken aback by the order.
And when Aurora turned around, she sucked in a sharp breath.
It was Alpha Bishop standing at the door of the cottage, his handsome face glaring at Lydia.
"Hello Rose. I'm taking you home with me. Now!"
Chapter 2: I never wanted a mate
Aurora slowly looked around the room Bishop showed her, her lips parted in surprise.
His home was enormous on the outside, but she never thought the interior would be equally large.
The room was larger than her aunt's tiny cottage. A huge bed occupied the middle of the room, thick duvets and pillows thrown carefully on it.
On one side of the room, the wall was covered fully with mirrors. On the other side, two windows overlooked the forest that surrounded Silver Dawn Pack.
It was simply exquisite.
She turned around shyly, only to see Bishop staring at her strangely.
"Thank you, for earlier." She murmured, referring to his interference when her aunt almost hit her.
"You don't have to thank me Rose." He brushed her gratitude aside. "It's my job to protect you."
Aurora gulped softly. He was acting so stiff and formal towards her. She had hoped he would be more open to her, but Bishop was acting like he was being forced to be with her.
"I hope you like your room." Bishop said after a while. "If you need anything, send for the maids. They will attend to you. Goodnight."
"Wait." Aurora stopped him when he turned to leave.
Bishop turned around, his gaze resting on her. "Yes?"
"I... I thought you would stay with me." Aurora stuttered. "We're mates, so I thought... I thought... "
She trailed off, unable to complete her words. How could she tell him she thought they would spend the night together in each others arms? Her face flamed as the thought flashed through her mind.
"Have you ever shifted Rose?" Bishop asked suddenly.
Aurora was taken aback by the sudden question. Moistening her lips, she answered.
"No I haven't. My aunt told me I'm probably a late shifter and..."
"So you have no wolf." Bishop stated, cutting her short.
Aurora fell silent, a confused frown creasing her brows. Before she could say another word, Bishop turned away again.
"Go to sleep." He said over his shoulder. "I have a very important guest around, so don't try coming out until morning. He doesn't like to be disturbed."
Aurora frowned, surprised at the rules. When she opened her mouth to speak, Bishop interrupted her again.
"Tomorrow I will introduce you to the pack. Also, there is something else you must know. But that will be tomorrow."
He walked towards the door and yanked it open.
Still confused, Aurora hurried after him and grabbed his arm.
"But Bishop, I don't understa... "
"Don't touch me." Bishop growled at her. His eyes had gone black and the tips of his canines were visible. "And it's Alpha Bishop to you."
Aurora snatched her hand away, taking a quick step back. His eyes terrified her, and the way he behaved now was totally different from the night she found him in the forest.
"I'm... I'm sorry Alpha."
Slowly, Bishop's eyes morphed back to brown and he stepped through the door.
"I never wanted a mate." He muttered, loud enough for Aurora to hear, then he slammed the door shut.
Aurora stood rooted to the spot, listening to his receding footsteps. His words echoed in her head.
I never wanted a mate.
Bishop didn't want her. Then why did he bring her here?
Tears spilled down her eyes and she suddenly longed for Penelope. She needed someone to talk to.
Sobbing softly, she crawled into the large bed and buried her face in the pillows.
She had waited eighteen years to find her mate so he could free her from her step-aunt's abuse.
But now it seemed finding her mate didn't change a thing. Bishop stated it clearly. He never wanted a mate. He didn't want her.
After crying for hours, exhaustion took hold of her and she finally fell asleep.
...
That same night, Bishop couldn't resist the pull of the mate bond. Though he didn't feel the slightest attraction for Aurora, but her beauty appealed to him.
She was like a goddess.
He stared at the sleeping woman in his arms. The woman he loved, the woman that would be his Luna. If she discovered that he went back to Aurora's room, she would be livid.
But he couldn't resist the bond that connected him to Aurora. It was the reason why he hated it. He felt the mate bond was like a cage, binding you to someone against your will.
When he couldn't bear it anymore, he quietly got off the bed and slipped out of the room. Before he could stop himself, he was back in Aurora's room.
Aurora stirred and she opened her sleepy eyes. When she saw Bishop laying beside her on the bed, her eyes widened and she sat up.
"Alpha..."
"Sshhh." Bishop shushed her, pulling her into his arms. "I can't resist the bond pulling me to you."
Aurora watched him, her heart beating fast. Could it be that Bishop reconsidered his actions and wanted her now?
All the thoughts in her head disappeared when he pressed his lips on hers.
Letting him have his way, she lay back, soft moans escaping her as Bishop undressed her.
When he parted her thighs and thrust through her hymen, she bit her lips, her fists clutching the duvet tightly. The pain was terrible, but she tried to endure it.
Bishop didn't slow down as he kept pounding into her. The rush of pleasure he felt when he felt how tight she was overwhelmed him. Lifting her thighs slightly, he slammed repeatedly into her, his groans of pleasure filling the room.
Suddenly he stiffened and collapsed on her as his release washed over him. Rolling away from her, he lay on his back, breathing heavily.
Aurora lay beside him, her thighs throbing, her vagina hurting badly. She knew the warm liquid that trickled down her inner thighs was blood, but she was glad Bishop came back to her. She was glad he wanted her now.
She turned to face him, a warm smile on her face. But Bishop suddenly got off the bed and buttoned his pants.
"I didn't know you were a virgin." He said in a cold detached voice. "I never should have touched you."
"But I wanted you to." Aurora pulled the sheets up to cover her breasts, lifting herself on one arm. "Stay with me tonight..."
"I told you I never wanted a mate." Bishop snapped all of a sudden. "The moon goddess never should have paired us. I refuse to be a slave to the mate bond."
It was only then that Aurora realized what really happened. Bishop didn't come back because he suddenly wanted her. He came back because he couldn't resist the mate bond. She had never felt so used in her entire life.
Bishop watched her silently, his gaze lowering to the stained bedsheets.
"The maids will take care of the sheets tomorrow." He said finally. "Go to bed now. I will see you in the morning."
Without a backward glance, he left the room and slammed the door.
On his way back to his room, he paused when he saw his important guest in the living room.
"I thought you said you didn't want her." The man spoke, his voice flowing out smoothly.
"I don't." Bishop replied swiftly. "I just couldn't resist the mate bond. Which is why I never wanted a mate."
"What do you plan to do now?"
"She will remain in my home." Bishop responded. "But she won't be my Luna. It is better for her to know nothing can ever happen between us because I love another. So tomorrow, I will introduce her to the pack. And to the woman I love."
Chapter 3: I won't mark you
Sunlight filtering into the room the next morning roused Aurora from her deep slumber.
Her entire body ached badly, and the throbbing between her thighs was unbearable. Groaning softly, she sat up on the bed and stared at the stained sheets on the floor.
After crying her heart out the previous night, she had washed herself in the bathroom and removed the soiled sheets. She was still dressed in her Jean and blouse of the previous day.
Memories of what occurred between her and Bishop the previous night came back to her and she remembered the words he told her.
Not wanting it to spoil her mood, she blocked out the thought. It was another day. Maybe she would be able to get closer to Bishop and make him realize that the mate bond was a beautiful thing. He didn't have to be a slave to it.
A knock on the door made her jerk and she sat up further on the bed, hoping it was Bishop.
"Come in." She called out softly.
The door opened and two maids walked in. One held a bucket and a rag, while the other held clean clothes and underwear.
"Miss Rose," One of the maids spoke, her voice crisp and sharp. "The Alpha wants you to change into these and meet him in the dining hall."
"Thank you." Aurora nodded politely, taking the clothes out of the maid's outstretched arms.
The other maid walked towards the sheets and lifted them. She gasped when her gaze fell on the bloodstain.
"Is... is that blood?" The first maid asked, her nose wrinkling with distaste.
Aurora blushed deeply, feeling embarrassed. She knew instantly that the maids knew what had transpired. The way they stared at her said it all. Their mocking gazes judged her.
Looking away from them, Aurora walked into the bathroom to wash herself. Soon she would be Luna of the pack, she thought. And those maids would definitely plead for her forgiveness.
...
An hour later, she stepped out of the bathroom, dressed in a pretty white dress. It was exactly her size and she was pleased that Bishop knew the exact size she was.
The room was empty, but she noticed that the sheets and duvet had been changed.
She walked towards the door and grasped the handle, taking a deep breath. It was time to meet Bishop and hear what he had to say.
They would have a quiet breakfast, and he would ask for her forgiveness.
Of course she would forgive him. He was her mate, and she was already falling in love with him.
Smiling shyly, she opened the door and stepped out. There was a short corridor that led to a grand flight of stairs, and she began to descend it slowly.
The moment she stepped into the dining hall, she wished she had never left her room.
Bishop wasn't alone. There were at least five other people seated around the table, having breakfast.
Bishop sat at the head of the table, an amused smile on his face. On his right side, a man with thick curly locks of dark hair sat silently, eating slowly. His hair was so thick and full that it grazed his perfectly arched brows. His head was turned away so Aurora couldn't see his face clearly.
But that wasn't what bothered her.
On Bishop's left side, a pretty red haired woman sat, speaking in a high pitched voice. Bishop seemed amused by what she said because he kept smiling at her.
The woman had freckles scattered over her nose. Her eyes were light green, and it reminded Aurora of a garden snake. The woman had her hands wrapped tightly around Bishop as she chatted, and occasionally, she would take a bite out of whatever food Bishop placed in her mouth.
They looked so intimate, like the perfect couple.
Aurora suddenly felt self conscious. She couldn't stand another woman touching her mate. As she made up her mind to return, Bishop raised his head and spotted her.
"Rose." He called out to her, his voice formal as usual. "Join us."
Unable to disobey her Alpha, Aurora walked towards the table with trembling feet.
"Good morning, Alpha." She bowed her head slightly.
The dining hall fell silent as the red head ceased her incessant chattering. Only the clink of cutleries scraping against plates could be heard. Aurora noticed that the three other men who sat at the table didn't pay her the slightest attention.
It was obvious that they were Bishop's beta, gamma, and delta. His trusted warriors.
"Sit down." Bishop's voice jarred her back to the present.
Obediently, she slid into the chair beside the other woman and slowly served some food into her dish.
Her eyes remained lowered. She felt so exposed that she would have preferred to eat in her room.
As she ate, Aurora could feel the other woman glaring at her occasionally. She didn't know why, nor did she understand why this woman was latching unto her mate.
After the maids cleared the table, Bishop cleared his throat and began.
"Rose, there are a few things I want you to know before I introduce you to the pack." He said. While he talked, his hands gently stroked the arms of the woman who was still latched unto him.
Aurora noticed it and quickly averted her eyes. Her heart was pounding fast within her again and she didn't know what to expect.
"Like I told you last night, I don't want a mate. And I mean it." Bishop continued. "I despise the mate bond and I will not be a slave to it. But I can't reject you, because I know it will hurt you greatly. It wasn't your fault you were mated to me."
Aurora tried to control her breathing as she listened.
"So you will only be my mate in name, but not my Luna." Bishop broke the news to her. "I won't mark you. You will live in my home."
"I don't understand..." Aurora whispered, trying hard to hold back her tears.
"Amelia is the woman I love." Bishop continued heartlessly, gesturing to the woman beside him. "She has my heart, and she is going to be my Luna. So I want you to respect her as you would respect me."
Despite her efforts, Aurora's tears spilled down. She wiped it quickly, not wanting the other shifters to think she was weak.
"Why are you doing this to me?" She whispered. How could she stay in the same home with her mate, knowing fully well that he loved another woman?
Before Bishop could reply, Amelia cut in. "Baby, you're the Alpha." She purred softly. "You shouldn't let lowly shifters challenge your decision, let alone one without a wolf. Whatever you say should be obeyed."
Bishop smiled at her, and when he turned his attention back to Aurora, the smile disappeared.
"This discussion is closed." He said sharply. "I will intriduce you to the pack as my mate, but not my Luna."
Suddenly the man with curly hair pushed back his seat and stood up.
"Is everything okay, Alpha?" Bishop asked, getting up quickly. His eyes were filled with respect and fear for his guest.
The man with curly hair appeared furious, like something had pissed him off. Without giving Bishop a reply, he stormed out of the dining hall.
"I wonder what ticked him off" Amelia whispered, her lime green eyes following the man until he was out of sight.
Aurora on the other hand didn't have time to wonder why Bishop addressed the other man as 'Alpha'. Her tears were threatening to flood out.
"Excuse me, Alpha." She said and fled back to her room.
...
After crying for hours, Aurora lay spent on the bed, her eyes red and puffy from weeping.
Where could she go? She had no family. She would rather die than go back to her step-aunt.
Her head turned weakly towards the side when someone opened the door and stepped in.
It was Amelia.
Aurora got up, wiping her eyes as the woman stood before her.
"Still crying?" Amelia asked scornfully. "You know, one would think Bishop would have chosen you because you're pretty enough to look at. Too bad looks aren't enough. You're a worthless wolfless bitch, and I wish Bishop would reject you and banish you from the pack."
Aurora felt her blood boil with rage, but she remained silent. She didn't want to give Amelia the satisfaction of riling her up.
But Amelia had other plans.
She suddenly moved towards Aurora and slapped her unexpectedly. Losing her temper, Aurora attacked her, scratching at her face until blood flowed.
Amelia's screams of pain echoed through the house.
And when Bishop burst into the room, he saw Aurora standing over Amelia, one hand wrapped around her throat.
Chapter 4: I reject you
Slap!
The harsh sound of a slap echoed round the room and Aurora's head snapped back with the force of it.
"HOW DARE YOU?" Bishop roared, his eyes black and furious. "HOW DARE YOU LAY YOUR FILTHY HANDS ON AMELIA?"
Another slap landed on her face and her lip split. She collapsed to the floor, blinded momentarily. Tears burned behind her closed eyelids and she wished the ground would open up and swallow her. She didn't deserve what she was getting.
From where she stood, Amelia grinned maliciously. Her plans had worked perfectly well. All that was left was for Bishop to reject Aurora.
But Bishop didn't do anything of the sort. Instead, he called for his guards, his voice loud and powerful.
Two of the warriors rushed into the room and bowed before him.
"Lock her up in the dungeon. And starve her!" Bishop ordered, his eyes glaring at Aurora. "If she is to remain in my home, she must learn from her mistakes."
The guards dragged an almost unconscious Aurora away towards the dungeons.
After they were gone, Bishop took Amelia into his arms and gently wiped the blood off her face. Her wounds were healed already, as werewolves had fast healing abilities.
"Are you alright, love?" He asked worriedly.
Amelia played her part well, nodding piteously. "I'm fine. You came just in time. I was so scared..."
"Why did you approach her?" Bishop asked, taking her out of the room.
"I just wanted to let her know we could be friends." Amelia lied. "I didn't want her to feel alone. Even if she won't be your Luna, she could use a friend. I had no idea she would attack me. I guess she hates me for being with you."
"Don't say such things Amelia." Bishop stopped in the hallway and placed his hands on her slender waist. "You're the only one I love, and nothing can change that. Not even the mate bond. If Rose can't accept that, I don't care."
He lowered his head and kissed her, his hands moving down to cup her buttocks and press her against him.
"But... Baby..." Amelia moaned, biting her lips as Bishop kissed down her throat. "I don't feel safe with her here with us. Why don't you just reject her? She's useless to you anyway. I could be your second chance mate."
Bishop didn't answer. Instead, he lifted her and carried her back into Aurora's room. There he undressed her and bent her over the bed, taking her from behind.
Mercilessly, he slammed into her, her cries of pleasure bouncing off the walls of the room until they both soared over the clouds of repeated orgasms.
...
Aurora remained in the dungeon till dusk, lying in the same position she had been ever since the warriors pushed her into the cell.
The smell of death and decayed flesh filled the air. The walls of the dungeon were old and covered with dead leaves. Bones littered the floor, as if prisoners had been left to die in there and rot.
However, Aurora didn't care for any of that. As she lay there, she wept, questioning the moon goddess for pairing her with a monster like Bishop Dawson.
It would have been better if she had been mateless as well as wolfless. Why did the moon goddess have to ruin her life?
Hours went past until the creaking sound of gates swinging open caught her attention. She raised her head weakly, watching as two different guards unlocked the cell and dragged her outside.
When they shoved her to the ground in front of Bishop's home, she realized that the entire pack members had been summoned.
There was a large crowd gathered in front of his mansion, and when she was brought in, the whispers began.
Aurora heard words like, 'wolfless', 'omega', 'orphan', 'worthless', 'badluck' and so many others as the people regarded her with scorn. Estella and her three friends were among the crowd, glaring at her hatefully.
No one had ever really liked her. She had been shunned by jealous rivals because of her great beauty.
It was only Penelope that had remained her friend.
Just then, she heard Penelope call out to her. Her voice was filled with so much pain and sadness.
Aurora weakly raised her head and stared in the direction of her friend's voice. She saw Penelope standing beside her parents. The latter wanted to run towards her, but she was held back.
Gradually, the whispers decreased as Bishop stepped out, Amelia beside him as usual. Soon there was complete silence.
"Members of Silver Dawn Pack," He began. "You have all been summoned here for a reason. As you all know, the Alpha King arrived at our pack few days ago, and as soon as alliances are formed, he will return to the lycan kingdom."
There were a few murmurs and whispers and silence reigned again.
"But then, a night ago, I found my mate. Rose Thompson." Bishop continued coldly. "You all know how I feel about the mate bond. I despise it. Hence, Rose will not be my Luna. Earlier today, she commited a grave offense by attacking the woman I love, your future Luna."
He gestured to the guards to lift Aurora up. One pulled her hair and yanked her head backwards, so her face could be seen.
Aurora winced inwardly from the pain, but she kept a straight face. There were no tears this time.
"Rose, before the entire members of this pack, you will go on your knees and plead for forgiveness from your future Luna." Bishop stated icily. "Only then will I consider giving you a mild punishment."
Aurora smiled, a small smile devoid of any emotion. She would rather die.
Her eyes hardened and her temper flaired. She spat suddenly at Bishop. "You challenge the moon goddess so boldly, treating the mate she has chosen for you this way. I will rather die that apologize to that witch you call your Luna."
The crowd let out a loud gasp at Aurora's defiance.
Bishop's anger mounted and he smacked the side of her head with his fist.
Aurora felt her body slump and her head slammed on the ground. Her vision blurred and she was on the verge of passing out, but the warriors dragged her to her feet again.
The moment Bishop started speaking again, her eyes flew open with fright.
"I, Alpha Bishop Dawson, reject you worthless she-wolf, Rose Thompson as my fated mate and Luna. And from this moment, I banish you from the Silver Dawn Pack."
Aurora felt her heart cave in as colour drained from her face. The harsh words struck her like daggers, echoing painfully in her ears.
She couldn't believe it. This couldn't be happening.
She looked up at Bishop, her eyes pleading with him to take it back.
He didn't. All she could see in his dark gaze was disgust. Pure disgust, the kind she hadn't seen before.
Hardening her heart, she parted her lips and spoke.
"I, Aurora Rose Thompson, accept your rejection." She said, her voice bitter. "But I curse you, Bishop Dawson. I curse you on this day. This pain you have caused me will come back to you a thousand fold..."
"Silence her!" Alpha Bishop snapped at the warriors holding her.
"ENOUGH!" A powerful voice thundered suddenly, instilling fear in the crowd.
Aurora raised her head weakly and her gaze connected with intense golden eyes.
They were the same eyes she had seen the night she was almost attacked by that lycan.
It was Bishop's important guest, the Alpha King.
Chapter 5: Release her
"ENOUGH!" A powerful voice thundered suddenly, instilling fear in the crowd.
The entire shifters fell into a deathly silence the moment Alpha King Henry stepped out from the mansion.
Aurora raised her head weakly and her gaze connected with intense golden eyes, the same eyes she had seen the night she was almost attacked by that lycan.
She couldn't be mistaken. Although she hadn't seen his face that night, but his eyes... she knew she couldn't be wrong.
Bishop spoke of an important guest earlier. Could it be that this man with the hypnotic eyes was the Alpha King?
She watched him walk towards her. The crowd moved back, fear and respect visible in their eyes. Even Bishop stepped aside, his head bowed slightly.
Henry stopped before the guards holding Aurora, his gaze dark and terrifying.
"Release her." His voice sounded calm, too calm, but everyone knew it was the calm before the storm.
The guards promptly let go of Aurora, and she collapsed to the ground.
"Alpha Henry," Bishop ventured out, his head still bowed with respect. "I apologize if this scene has caused some disturbance to you. I assure you, this girl will be dealt with..."
"You rejected her, did you not?" Henry brutally cut him short. His gaze was still pinned on Aurora who had began to shiver on the ground.
When Bishop didn't give him a reply quickly enough, he turned and glared at him.
"Did you not?"
"Yes, Alpha. I did reject her." Bishop answered quickly. "But it was in a moment of anger. I surely didn't mean to..."
Besides him, Amelia looked on in shock and annoyance. She didn't understand why Bishop would say something like that.
"Save your breath." Henry turned away again. "You've made it clear to these people, that the woman you plan to marry is the one beside you." He didn't even spare a single glance at Amelia as he spoke.
"Yes Alpha." Bishop nodded.
"Very well." Henry made up his mind. "From this moment, the girl is no longer a member of your pack. She will return with me to Ashidore."
"But Alpha..." Bishop tried to protest, but Henry had already walked away, leaving everyone staring after him.
Suddenly annoyed at the turn of events, Bishop ordered his beta and gamma to take Aurora away and prepare her to leave with Alpha King Henry.
The other shifters who had hoped for Aurora to be punished severely, left in disappointment. They couldn't fathom why the Alpha King would spare a worthless omega like Aurora.
Amelia was beyond livid. Though she loved Bishop, but her eyes had been set on Alpha King Henry for a while. The only reason why she never acted on her obsession for him was because of the secrets shrouding him.
Henry never spared anyone, and certainly not an omega. Why did he suddenly show an interest in Aurora? It disturbed her greatly and she complained to Bishop.
"I don't understand why he wants to take her with him." She snarled angrily. "The bitch clearly disrespected you. She should be punished here, and not spared. Talk to the Alpha, he needs to understand that we have our ways of doing things here..."
"Shut up Amelia!" Bishop snapped at her. "How dare you speak about the Alpha King in that manner?"
"But..."
"It seems you don't really know who Alpha Henry is." Bishop shut her up again. "He's the Supreme Alpha, Alpha King of all Alphas. I am merely a pawn beneath him. I serve him, and so do the other shifters. Whatever his orders are, we follow it without complaint. So I would advise you to watch your mouth and watch the way you speak about him!"
He pushed her out of his way and hurried after Alpha Henry.
While all these were happening, Aurora couldn't hear a word of what was being said. There was a loud persistent ringing in her ears, and her head felt like it was splitting in two.
When she managed to crack open her eyelids, her vision was blurry. Black spots danced before her eyes and she slowly slipped into unconsciousness.
...
When Aurora opened her eyes again, she was no longer sprawled on the ground in front of Bishop's mansion. She was in a strange moving vehicle.
She tried to sit up but her entire body exploded with pain. Groaning softly, she lay back down and shut her eyes.
Suddenly a deep voice broke the silence.
"Hang in there," the voice said. "We will arrive soon."
Aurora tried to open her eyes, to see the owner of the voice. It sounded vaguely familiar, and she tried to recall where she had heard the voice before.
But her head was spinning again and the persistent ringing was back. A dull ache throbbed behind her eyelids and soon, she slipped into unconsciousness.
Henry watched as she passed out again. He knew there was nothing he could do to ease her pain. She would just have to hang in there, like he told her, until they arrived at Ashidore, the Lycan Kingdom.
He leaned back against the luxurious leather seats and let out a deep sigh. They were inside a fancy carriage, pulled by six large vicious wolves. The distance between Ashidore and Silver Dawn pack was three days ride and Henry wanted to return as quickly as possible.
As the carriage sped on, his mind went back to the moment he first saw Aurora.
It was that night when he had been hunting. Her scent had slammed into him like the sweetest of nectar, and the urge to have her had been so strong.
But when he realized that she was Bishop's mate, he killed whatever urge he had. He never messed with another man's mate. Women didn't appeal to him, unless he wanted to bed them. He discarded them the moment his pleasure ended.
So why did Aurora appeal to him? During breakfast the previous day, why had he been so furious when Bishop made it clear that he didn't want her? And why had he stepped in to save her when Bishop banished her?
He hated feeling this way. He hated the flutter he felt in his heart whenever he started at her. Her hair, like the finest of golden silk, made his fingers itch to touch them. Her bewitching emerald eyes enthralled him. Her scent threatened to make him go insane.
Why was he feeling this way, after more than a hundred years of being without a mate?
There was only one way to stop those strange feelings. He needed to distance himself from Aurora. He had done her a great deed by saving her from Bishop's banishment.
Now he had to push her away again. The moment they get to Ashidore, he would send her away to another part of the kingdom, where he would never cross paths with her again.
He couldn't make the mistake of falling for her, especially when she was an omega. The secrets he harbored couldn't be revealed.
He was doomed to be alone for eternity, and he planned to keep it that way.
But when his gaze fell on Aurora again, the flutter in his heart returned.
And he hated himself for it.
Chapter 6: Don't touch her
The carriage arrived at Ashidore two days later, on a cool afternoon.
The guards stationed outside the large golden gates noticed the fancy carriage being pulled by six vicious wolves, and they knew immediately that the Alpha King was back.
One gave an order and the majestic gates were pulled open. The wolves pulled the carriage through the gates and as quickly as it had been opened, the gates were shut tight again.
Ashidore, the Lycan Kingdom, was magnificent and grand. A large castle stood in the middle of the kingdom, shimmering like jewels in the late afternoon sun.
All around the castle were smaller houses and cottages, where the people of Ashidore lived. Right before the castle was a large water fountain, with water sprouting out of the statue of a howling wolf.
The kingdom was bustling with activities and as the carriage drove past, some of the shifters bowed respectfully.
The wolves slowed to a stop, bringing the carriage to stop in front of the castle.
Henry turned and looked at the young woman beside him. She was still unconscious, even after travelling for three days straight. She must be in so much pain, he thought.
The carriage door opened suddenly and Henry finally tore his gaze away from Aurora.
"Welcome back, Alpha." The butler, David, bowed deeply. However, he froze when he saw the unconscious woman inside the carriage.
His eyes widened and he looked sharply towards Henry. It was rare to see a woman with the Alpha, but an unconscious one? Was she dead?
"Alpha..." He stuttered timidly. "Is she...?"
"She's still alive." Henry replied curtly. Without another word, he got down from the carriage and turned towards the opened doors of the castle.
But as David moved to carry Aurora out of the carriage, Henry froze. He turned around, watching David place his arms around her.
A scowl settled on his face, creasing his brows. He didn't want David's hands on her. He didn't want anyone else touching her.
"Don't touch her." He growled out.
David snatched his hands away and took two quick steps backwards. He bowed his head and apologized.
"Forgive me, Alpha. I merely wanted to bring the lady in."
Ignoring David, Henry reached into the carriage and pulled Aurora into his arms. Her head rested perfectly on his shoulder and his arms cradled her close. Her body was so right against his, so warm and alluring.
Cursing himself inwardly for having such thoughts, he turned and walked through the doors, leaving David staring after him in wonderment.
Two maids rushed towards Henry as he began to ascend the grand flight of stairs.
"Welcome back, Alpha." They curtsied, head bowed respectfully.
"Prepare the largest room in the North wing." Henry ordered, walking past them without a glance. "And get me the healer. Immediately."
The maids rushed off to carry out his orders while Henry continued towards his room. He knew he said he would send Aurora away, but he couldn't leave her that way. Her wounds needed to be treated first.
Arriving at his room, he kicked the door open and strode towards the large king size bed. Moving carefully, he lowered Aurora on the bed and stood back staring at her.
She looked like hell. Her lips were chapped and pale. Her entire left eye was bruised and the blood around it had turned purple. Her chest rose and fell weakly as she breathed.
Henry stared at her for so long, lost in thoughts, until the door to his room creaked open. He didn't need to turn to know who it was.
It was Tyler, his beta and best friend.
Tyler walked up to where Henry stood and his brown eyes widened when he saw Aurora.
"Goddess above," He said out loud. "Where did you find this poor creature?"
Henry sighed, but made no attempt to answer Tyler. He had a lot on his mind.
When Hendy remained silent, Tyler looked towards him with a frown.
"Is everything okay?" He asked.
"Yes." Henry replied quietly.
"Did something happen at the Silver Dawn Pack?" Tyler asked next.
Henry nodded and clasped his hands behind his back. His eyes never left Aurora's bruised face.
"What happened?" Tyler prodded.
Irritated with the endless questions, Henry turned and frowned at Tyler.
"When did you become so talkative?" He asked.
"I am merely shocked, just as everyone else is." Tyler replied with a shrug. "I haven't seen you hold a woman that close in the last fifty years."
Henry rolled his eyes and finally turned away from the bed. He walked over to the mini bar in the corner of the large room and poured himself a shot of whiskey.
"Well, the least you can do is tell me who she is." Tyler continued.
"I will." Henry downed the drink in one large gulp and poured another. "Just not now. Later."
Before Tyler could respond, a young man rushed into Henry's room.
"I came as quickly as I could Alpha." The man said, bowing respectfully.
"Were you being chased?" Tyler asked, arching a brow. "Why did you barge in like that?"
"Forgive me, beta Tyler." The man apologized. "Forgive me Alpha. The maids told me a woman was dying, and I rushed here as fast as I could."
"That's alright, Kaleb." Henry waved his apology aside. Then he pointed his chin to the bed where Aurora lay. "She was badly hurt. Tend to her, and do whatever you can to make sure she heals quickly."
"Yes, Alpha." Kaleb bowed. He waited for Henry and Tyler to leave the room before moving towards the unconscious woman.
He had a lot of questions about the woman and how she got hurt, but he knew he wouldn't get answers until later. A part of him suspected that it was the Alpha that hurt her, and he wondered why he seemed so worried moments ago.
First he brought out some wool and dabbed liquid on it, before carefully wiping off the dried blood on Aurora's face and lips.
Then he began to tend to her wounds.
...
"Admit it, you care for this woman." Tyler said as he tried to keep up with Henry's long strides.
"Don't be ridiculous." Henry scoffed. "I merely want her to be taken care of. I plan on sending her away."
"Why?" Tyler questioned.
Suddenly, Henry stopped and faced him. "Do not forget, Tyler, that I am your Alpha. You shouldn't question my decisions."
"And you shouldn't forget too, that I am not just your beta." Tyler replied. "I am your best friend, Henry. Your most trusted warrior. I deserve to know why you suddenly brought an unconscious woman back with you."
Henry stared at him for a while, his face devoid of emotion. Then he let out a deep sigh.
"Fine, I'll tell you everything." He said. "But you must promise to keep your mouth shut. No one else must know of her presence here."
"Of course." Tyler grinned. "Is she your new mistress? You aren't the one that hurt her, right?"
Before Henry could respond, David rushed down the stairs and hurried towards him.
"What is it?" Henry demanded, his thoughts going to Aurora instantly.
"You have to hurry Alpha." David said urgently. "She's having a panic attack."
Henry instantly marched up the stairs and hurried into his room.