~Ethan.
My cheeks hurt from grinning as I watched Aurora address the elders. Never had I imagined that Aurora, the Aurora I used to know, would ever have the courage to command such authority. Her voice was firm and bold, and the vibration of her voice forced the elders to lower their eyes from meeting hers.
When she addressed Harvey, the man who called her an imposter, I almost melted in my seat from blushing. Seeing Aurora was amazing but seeing a bold, confident and outspoken Aurora was thrilling.
Who or what made her strong? I bit my tongue as I realized the weight of my question. I wasn't the reason she was stronger, I had always been satisfied with her being on the sidelines, with her being a wallflower.
What was I thinking?
“... isn't that right, my king?” Her teasing voice came, distracting my line of thought and I blinked as I looked up at her to see a scowl plastered on her face.
First was the mocking tone, then a scowl. All I've done was sit and listen to her speak, I haven't even done anything to make her angry.
“Yes,” my voice barely came out as a whisper and I cleared my throat, “yes, she will start her work officially tomorrow. The doctor had a long night, and it would be best to let her rest today.”
Murmuring arose among the elders like I knew it would. I lacked the ability to make proper decisions at the moment not when thoughts of Aurora were filled in my brain.
“Since we have gotten a solution to the reason for our meeting, I guess we will have to end the meeting then.” Feet shuffled and chairs dragged against the floor as the elders stood up to pay their respect.
“Long live the king,” they chorused with a bow of their heads and I dismissed them with a wave of my hand as I heaved a sigh of relief knowing that the elders would no longer cause me stress on the issue of providing a doctor for the patients who had been affected by the plague.
My brows knitted as I saw Harrison holding Aurora's had and saying things that made her smile. With even knitted brows, I made my way to then but, Harrison began to take his leave before I could get to them.
Did I get jealous just now? I asked myself as I paused in my tracks.
It can't be. No. I shook my head and forced a spittle down my throat. I had no right to be jealous, Aurora was a married woman with a kid, if there was anyone to be jealous, it should be her husband, not me.
“I never imagined this pack backwards,” Aurora said as she approached me, stopping barely two feet away from me.
My heart skipped a million beats from her closeness to me. I had nothing from a distance that she was gorgeous but from this distance, I could say that she was ravishing. Her hair looked darker, her brows and lashes longer, her eyes, sparkler, and her curves, curvier.
I cleared my throat as I dragged my eyes back to her face, "care to carry me along?”
“I was just wondering where my sister was,” she pointed at the space next to my throne, “the throne for the Luna, not that it concerns me but, if my memory serves me right, I can remember that your mother used to occupy that position next to your father.”
“Oh,” I said and planted a fake smile to stop my anger from showing. How did I think she would not have noticed? Isadora was her sister, after all. I wanted to tell her that I had excused Isadora from attending any meeting because I didn't want her stressing over the affairs of this pack, I wanted to mention to her that Isadora was fine and was, in fact, taking a rest because she was carrying my child and heir to my throne but, I couldn't, regardless of whatever lie I told her, she was bound to find out during her stay in the palace.
I chuckled, “would you believe if I told you that this Ethan Balor is a rogue?”
She scoffed, “nope. Considering the fact that she is your mate, I wouldn't think so.”
Of course, she didn't just get more beautiful, she also got smarter. I crossed my arms against my chest to stop myself from digging my nails into my palms.
“Isadora, I suppose, has more important things to do than bother herself with the affairs of the pack.”
“Isn't the Luna supposed to be by her Alpha's side.”
I scoffed at her wittiness. Kudos, Dr. Rory, kudos.
How is your son?” I asked quickly to change the topic, and she pinned me a look. I noticed the way she looked at me whenever I asked about her son, like she was scared I was going to do anything to him, like she as scared I was going to…hurt him?
“He is fine, except from the fact that he has openly declared that he doesn't like you or his stay here, he is doing well.”
“Ouch, he said that? That he doesn't like me?”
“Not even a bit.”
I chuckled and nodded as I finally let myself meet her eyes. While I was excited at how beautiful they were, I was pained by the fact that I couldn't kiss them.
I had many things to say to her, I wanted to ask why she left without any words, why she wasn't there when I needed her the most. I wanted to know if she ever missed me, if she was thinking about me when she said 'I do' to the man she was married to. I wanted to know what she does whenever I crossed her mind.
“Aurora,” her name escaped my lips in a whisper, and I saw her eyes light up as they met mine.
'What happened to you?' I wanted to ask her, but I heard myself say, “thank you, for choosing to help my people.”
Like the savior I needed at the moment, Sam walked in and announced that the former king and queen were inviting Aurora for brunch
“Oh no, I would rather not be a bother.” She said to Sam.
“Come on, don't be polite, it's just brunch. I am sure they just want to thank you for accepting to come help our people.”
“I can't leave my kid alone.”
“I will send a maid to look after him if you are worried about his safety.
I coerced, and I saw her bite her lower lip for a moment, considering my offer. This was someone who would do anything I said without thinking twice, now she has learned to do things in a way she deems fit.
“Okay,” she said to Sam, whose eyes were beginning to bore holes in my face, but I paid him no attention and kept my eyes on Aurora.
“This way please,” Sam said and led the way out of the room, and I caught myself staring at Aurora as she walked out of the room.