Chapter 107: A Change of Heart.

Aurora’s POV
After Leonardo left my room, I knew he must have sensed that something was wrong.
But I tried my best to hide it. I wasn’t ready to face my emotions not yet.
Annie’s words kept replaying in my head.
I had waited so long for Leonardo to choose me, to fight for me, and now that he had… why did it feel so heavy?
Why wasn’t I relieved? Why did I feel this deep, unsettling doubt?
I sighed, sinking onto my bed.
I should have been happy. I should have been overjoyed.
But instead, all I could think about was Alessandro.
I ran my fingers through my hair, trying to push the thoughts away. But no matter how hard I tried, they kept creeping back in.
Alessandro.
The way he defended me against my mother. The way he always stood by me, even when I didn’t realize I needed him.
The way he looked at me, not with expectations, but with understanding.
I squeezed my eyes shut.
This isn’t right. I love Leonardo. I’ve always loved him.
But did I still?
I let out a shaky breath and lay back on my bed, staring at the ceiling.
I needed time. I needed clarity.
But I had a sinking feeling that time wasn’t on my side.
I got out of bed and decided that maybe taking a walk would help clear my head even if it’s just a little bit.
I put on a light jacket and left my room quietly. The hallways were dark and quiet, except for some faint night sounds.
I walked outside without thinking. The cool air hit me, and I breathed deeply, hoping it would calm my mind.
But it didn't. I walked along the stone path to the training grounds, with the moon casting long shadows.
My heart felt heavy, and I didn't know why.Leonardo loved me. He chose me.
This should be everything I ever wanted.
So why did it feel like something was missing?
A sound behind me made me pause. I turned quickly, my heartbeat picking up.
And there he was.
Alessandro.
His piercing gaze met mine, his face difficult to read. He was leaning against a tree, arms crossed, as if he had been waiting for me.
“You couldn’t sleep either?” His voice was calm, steady.
I swallowed hard. “Yeah… just needed some air.”
He nodded, pushing off the tree and taking a few slow steps toward me. “You’ve been quiet since everything happened. I figured you had a lot on your mind.”
I looked away, suddenly feeling exposed. “It’s… a lot to process.”
Alessandro studied me for a moment before speaking again.
“You’re not happy.”
It wasn’t a question. It was a statement. One that sent a shiver down my spine.
“I…am…happy.”
Alessandro turned his head slightly, his eyes never leaving mine.
"Are you?"
His voice was quiet, but it carried weight.
I clenched my fists, feeling a sudden wave of frustration.
"Leonardo chose me. He stood up to his father, to the entire pack, for me.
How could I not be happy?"
Alessandro sighed, stepping closer.
"Because choosing you and loving you aren’t the same thing, Aurora. And you know it."
His words made my breath hitch. "That’s not true."
But it was, wasn’t it?
I had spent so long hoping Leonardo would fight for me, and now that he had, why did I feel so uncertain?
Alessandro's face softened, but there was something else in his expression something unreadable.
"You don’t have to prove anything to anyone, Aurora. Not even to yourself."
Silence stretched between us, the night air thick with tension.
Finally, I whispered, "Then why do I feel like I'm making a mistake?"
Alessandro exhaled slowly, then, without warning, he reached out, his fingers brushing against mine.
It was the lightest touch, barely there, but it sent a spark through me.
"You already know why," he murmured.
I sighed deeply as I realized that he was right. I already knew why I felt it was a mistake.
I wasn’t ready to let him choose me over his family. I had wanted him to fight for our love, but many times, he didn’t and chose duty over me and even chose to marry Lena.
But now…..now that he finally chose me….it all feels so wrong.
“I had wanted this for so long, but many times, Leonardo never came through for me and so I guess….my heart…stopped waiting for him,” I finished in a whisper, barely able to say the words out loud.
Alessandro’s expression didn’t change, but something light in his eyes understanding, maybe even something deeper.
“You learned to live without him,” he said quietly.
I swallowed hard. “I guess I did.”
The weight of my own words settled heavily on my chest. For so long, I had wanted Leonardo to stand up for me, to fight for our love.
And now that he had, why did it feel like I had already moved past him?
Why did it feel like my heart had already made its choice… before I had even realized it?
Alessandro took a slow step closer, his voice steady but gentle.
“So what are you going to do?”
I looked up at him, my emotions a tangled mess. “I don’t know,” I admitted.
“I just… need time.”
But deep down, I had a feeling time wouldn’t change the truth.
Because my heart had already chosen.
And it wasn’t Leonardo.
“It’s late, I have to go,” I said, turning to leave. But something made me pause. I turned back to face him.
“Thanks for standing up for me again, Alessandro. My mother… can be… so—”
“Selfish,” he finished for me.
I let out a small smile. “Yeah. Always blaming me for her own mess.”
“Well, now she finally has to face the truth,” he said. “Everyone knows she’s the cause of her own problems not you.”
I hesitated before asking, “Do you think Alpha John will really divorce her?”
Alessandro met my gaze. “He will. My father doesn’t make decisions lightly. If he said it, then he’s thought about it for a long time.
And he knows this is the only way to put an end to it.”
I nodded, letting his words sink in. A part of me felt relief, but another part of me… wasn’t sure what to feel.
Silence stretched between us for a moment before Alessandro spoke again.
“And what about you?”
I frowned. “What about me?”
He turned his head slightly, studying me.
“Are you going to keep pretending you’re happy with Leonardo?”
I opened my mouth to respond, but no words came out. My heart pounded.
He saw right through me, and I hated that he was right.
“I…” My voice faltered. “Leonardo gave up everything for me. His home. His family. He chose me.”
“But did you choose him?” Alessandro’s voice was quiet, yet firm.
I inhaled sharply, my throat tightening. That was the question, wasn’t it?
I turned away, suddenly feeling like I couldn’t breathe. “I should go.”
“Aurora.” His voice was softer now, almost hesitant.
I swallowed hard and looked back at him.
“If you’re not sure,” he said, his eyes holding something unreadable, “then don’t force yourself to be.”
I felt my heart squeeze painfully at his words.
Because deep down, I knew he was right.
But was I brave enough to admit it?
I turned away quickly, afraid that if I stayed any longer, I would break.
“I need to rest,” I muttered, more to myself than to him.
Alessandro didn’t stop me. He simply watched as I walked away, his presence stayed in the air like an unspoken truth.
By the time I reached my room, my thoughts were a tangled mess. I closed the door behind me, leaning against it as I exhaled shakily.
The words Alessandro had told me, kept coming back to me.
I pressed a hand to my chest, feeling the rapid beat of my heart.
You’re not happy.
You already know why.
His words echoed in my mind, refusing to be ignored.
I squeezed my eyes shut, willing myself to stop thinking to stop feeling. But it was impossible.
Leonardo loved me. He had finally chosen me. He had given up everything for me.
So why did I feel like I was betraying him just by standing next to Alessandro?
I moved to my bed, sitting on the edge as I ran my fingers through my hair.
My whole life, I had dreamed of this moment of Leonardo fighting for us, for me.
But my heart… my heart wasn’t where it used to be.
It had shifted.
And no matter how hard I tried to deny it, the truth was staring me in the face.
I wasn’t in love with Leonardo anymore.
A shaky breath left my lips as I whispered the words I had been too afraid to say.
“I love Alessandro.”
The moment I said it, a weight lifted from my chest. But with it came a new fear.
What was I going to do now?
Ensnared by My Stepbrothers' Realm
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