Chapter 111: The Battle for Her Heart.

Leonardo’s POV
“I’ll ask again. What is going on here?” my father asked, his voice authoritative.
“It’s nothing, Father. We were just having a small issue, but it’s nothing serious,” I replied, trying to keep my tone even.
My father’s sharp gaze swept over me, then Alessandro. His face remained difficult to read, but I knew he wasn’t convinced.
“A small issue?” my father repeated, his voice filled with skepticism.
Rafael nodded quickly. “Yes, Father. It’s nothing serious, I assure you. You don’t need to worry yourself over it.”
Alpha John stood there for a moment, his sharp eyes studying us. The weight of his gaze made my shoulders tense, but after what felt like an eternity, he finally turned and walked away without another word.
“Phew….” Rafael sighed in relief, running a hand through his hair.
Then he turned to Alessandro and me with a scowl. “If Father had found out that you two boneheads were fighting over Aurora, you know what he would have done.
Or worse, what he would do to her.”
That made my stomach tighten.
Rafael continued, his voice firm. “He might banish her from the pack, and I know damn well neither of you would want that.
So please, get your shit together.”
I clenched my jaw, Alessandro still standing there with that infuriating calmness.
But Rafael was right. As much as I hated to admit it, Aurora’s safety came first.
And if we weren’t careful, we could lose her forever.
I exhaled sharply, my fists still clenched at my sides. Alessandro smirked slightly, clearly unfazed by the entire ordeal, while Rafael shot both of us a warning glare.
“This is the last time I’m covering for you two,” Rafael said, crossing his arms.
“If Father finds out, you won’t just be dealing with him you’ll be dealing with the consequences Aurora will face too.”
I swallowed hard. The thought of my father punishing Aurora for our mess made my stomach churn.
Alessandro finally spoke, his voice infuriatingly calm. “You should listen to him, Leonardo.
If you truly care about Aurora, you’ll stop making this about your ego and start thinking about what’s best for her.”
I turned to him, my jaw tightening. “And you think you know what’s best for her?”
Alessandro’s smirk faded, his expression turning serious. “I think Aurora knows what’s best for herself.
The question is… will you respect her choice when she finally makes it?”
His words hit deeper than I wanted to admit.
Before I could respond, Rafael clapped a hand on my shoulder, giving me a pointed look.
“Drop it, Leo. Just go and spend time with her like you planned.”
I nodded stiffly, unwilling to continue this argument at least not here.
Without another word, I turned and walked away, but Alessandro’s words rang in my mind long after I left.
*****
While driving towards her school, I kept on thinking about her and asking myself if what Alessandro said was true.
Had her heart shifted from me?
The thought unsettled me. Aurora had always been mine.
No matter how much time passed, no matter what obstacles came between us, I had believed, deep down, that we would always find our way back to each other.
But what if this time was different?
What if I had already lost her?
I gripped the steering wheel tighter, my jaw clenching as frustration bubbled inside me.
No. That couldn’t be true.
Aurora loved me. She had waited for me, fought for me. And now that I had finally chosen her, why would she suddenly start slipping away?
Alessandro’s words echoed in my mind, his taunting voice fueling my doubts.
"That’s not love, Leonardo. That’s fear."
I shook my head, trying to push his voice away.
It didn’t matter what he thought. What mattered was what Aurora and I had.
I needed to see her, to remind her of what we shared.
As I pulled into the parking lot near her school, I took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm inside me.
I wouldn’t let my brother’s words shake me.
Aurora was mine.
And I wasn’t going to let her slip away.
I took a deep breath and grabbed my phone, dialing her number to let her know I was already at her school, waiting for her so we could go to the movies.
A new movie had just come out one I was sure she’d love. I wanted us to watch it together, to spend time like we used to.
Maybe afterward, we could hang out in a quiet spot, just the two of us, and reignite the spark that once burned so strongly between us.
I wasn’t ready to let her go.
The phone rang a few times before she finally picked up.
“Hello?” Aurora’s voice came through the line, soft yet cautious.
I smiled, gripping the steering wheel. “Hey, I’m outside your school. Just wanted to let you know I’m here so we can head to the movies.”
There was a brief silence on the other end. My heart clenched slightly.
“Leonardo… I—” she started, but then she hesitated.
A sinking feeling settled in my stomach. “What is it?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.
She exhaled, and I could almost picture her biting her lip, unsure of what to say.
“I don’t think I can make it today,” she finally said, her voice low.
My grip tightened on the phone. “Why not?
Aurora, we haven’t spent time together in so long. I thought—”
I stopped myself, taking a deep breath.
“I thought we were finally making things right.”
“I know,” she said, and I could hear the conflict in her tone.
“It’s just… I have a lot on my mind. I don’t think a movie is the best idea right now.”
A wave of frustration and desperation crashed over me.
“Is this about Alessandro?” I asked before I could stop myself.
She froze on the other end. I could hear it in the silence that followed.
“Aurora,” I pushed, my voice firm. “Is it?”
She let out a shaky breath. “Leonardo… I need time.”
Her words hit me like a slap. Time? After everything, she needed time?
I clenched my jaw. “Fine,” I said, forcing my voice to remain calm.
“Take all the time you need.”
Before she could respond, I ended the call, my chest tightening as I stared at my phone screen.
She was slipping away.
And I had no idea how to stop it.
I tossed my phone onto the passenger seat, my hands gripping the steering wheel so tightly my knuckles turned white.
Time. She needed time.
I let out a bitter chuckle. Was that just another way of telling me she was done?
That she had already made up her mind, but she just didn’t have the heart to say it?
Slamming my palm against the wheel, I cursed under my breath.
No.
I wasn’t going to let this happen.
Aurora and I had been through too much for me to just let her go like this.
I had made mistakes, yes, but I had finally stepped up. I had told my father about us. I had chosen her.
Didn’t that mean anything?
Taking a deep breath, I started the engine and pulled out of the parking lot. If she needed time, I would give it to her—but not too much.
Because one thing was clear to me now.
Alessandro thought he had a chance.
And I wasn’t about to let him take what was mine.
As I drove away from her school, my mind was upside down.
I had to be patient, but the thought of Aurora slipping through my fingers made my chest tighten.
Alessandro’s words rang in my head, taunting me.
"You didn’t do it for her, Leonardo. You did it for yourself."
Was that true? Had I only decided to fight for her because I was afraid of losing her?
I shook my head. No. I loved her. I always had. I just made the mistake of putting duty before my heart.
But I was ready now. I was all in.
My fingers tightened around the steering wheel. I needed to remind Aurora of what we had.
“To make her see that we belonged together.
I returned to her school, parked my car, and took out my phone to dial her number again.
She picked up the call, and before she could say anything, I spoke first.
“Listen to me, Aurora. Just give me a chance to show you that I want to make things right between us.”
There was silence on the other end.
My heart kept beating as I waited for her response.
“Aurora?” I pressed, gripping the steering wheel.
She sighed. 'Leonardo, I—'
“Please,” I cut in, my voice softer now.
“Just tonight. That’s all I’m asking for.”
Another pause, and then finally, she whispered, “Fine.”
Relief flooded through me.
“Okay, I’ll be waiting for you.”
I hung up, leaning back against the seat, exhaling deeply.
Tonight had to go perfectly. I would remind Aurora of what we once had.
And I wouldn’t let anything or anyone stand in my way.
As I sat in my car waiting for her, I ran my fingers through my hair, trying to push down the nerves creeping up on me.
This wasn’t just a date.
This was my chance to make Aurora remember.
To remind her that we were meant to be.
A few minutes later, I spotted her walking toward my car. She looked stunning, even in something as simple as jeans and a fitted top.
But there was something different about her something guarded in the way she moved.
I stepped out, opening the passenger door for her.
"Hey," I greeted with a small smile.
"Hey," she replied, sliding into the seat.
As I got back into the driver’s seat, I glanced at her, hoping to catch even a glimpse of the old warmth in her eyes.
But all I saw was hesitation.
I swallowed hard, gripping the steering wheel.
This night had to be perfect.
I had to make her see that her heart still belonged to me.
No matter what or who was trying to change that.