Chapter 114: A Night Under the Stars.

Alessandro’s POV
I entered my car and ignited the engine, gripping the steering wheel tightly as Aurora’s words echoed in my head.
“I… I need to talk.”
There was something in her voice something fragile, uncertain. And it did something to me.
I didn’t hesitate. I had barely ended the call before I was already on my way.
The drive to the cinema felt longer than it should have. My mind was racing with questions.
Why had she called me? What had happened with Leonardo?
And more importantly… what did this mean for us?
I pushed the thought aside and focused on the road. Whatever it was, I needed to be there for her.
And nothing not even my own conflicted feelings was going to stop me.
I pulled up outside the cinema, scanning the area until my eyes landed on her.
Aurora stood near the entrance, her arms wrapped around herself as if she were trying to hold herself together.
The dim streetlights cast a soft glow on her face, but even from a distance, I could see the storm raging in her eyes.
I killed the engine and got out, walking toward her without hesitation.
The moment she saw me, her lips parted slightly, but no words came out.
“Aurora,” I said, my voice softer than I intended.
“What happened?”
She let out a slow breath, her fingers tightening around the strap of her bag. “I told him.”
I didn’t have to ask who she meant.
I stepped closer, searching her face. “And?”
She swallowed, looking away. “It’s over.”
A strange feeling settled in my chest. A mix of relief… and something else. Something deeper.
She turned back to me then, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.
“I don’t know why I called you, Alessandro. I just… I didn’t want to be alone.”
I held her gaze, my heart pounding. “You’re not alone.”
And for the first time, she didn’t argue. She just nodded.
And that was enough. For now.
I didn’t want to just take her home immediately. I knew she needed to clear her head, to breathe, to feel something other than the weight of everything that had just happened.
I pulled out my phone, quickly searching for places that were still open somewhere she could let loose, even if just for a little while.
A rooftop lounge?
A late-night arcade? A quiet drive with no destination?
Glancing at her, I saw the exhaustion in her eyes, but also the quiet plea for a distraction.
I made my decision.
“Come on,” I said, holding out my hand.
She looked at it, then at me, hesitant. “Where are we going?”
I smirked. “Somewhere that’ll make you forget, even if just for tonight.”
After a pause, she finally reached for my hand. And just like that, we drove off into the night.
We drove in silence for a while, the city lights flashing past us. I could feel her sneaking glances at me, probably wondering where I was taking her.
“Alessandro,” she finally spoke, her voice soft. “Where exactly are we going?”
I smirked but kept my eyes on the road. “You’ll see.”
Minutes later, I pulled up in front of a rooftop lounge. It wasn’t loud or crowded—just the right amount of people, music, and open space to breathe. The lights were dim, with a warm golden glow illuminating the place, and a small live band played in the corner.
Aurora glanced at me, surprise flickering in her eyes. “You brought me to a lounge?”
I shrugged. “Thought you could use a drink.”
She chuckled lightly, shaking her head. “And what if I don’t want one?”
“Then we’ll just sit, talk, and enjoy the view.”
She hesitated but then sighed, stepping out of the car. I followed closely behind as we made our way inside.
Once we settled at a table near the balcony, I leaned back in my chair, watching her as she took in the place. She seemed more relaxed now, but I could still see the thoughts weighing on her.
“Alright,” I said, tapping my fingers against the table. “Tell me what’s really on your mind.”
She looked at me, startled. “What do you mean?”
I arched a brow. “Come on, Aurora. I know you. You’re thinking about something.”
She bit her lip, looking down at her hands before sighing. “It’s just… everything. Leonardo. Us. You.”
She glanced up at me.
“I feel like I’m standing in the middle of a storm, and I don’t know which way to go.”
I studied her for a moment before leaning forward, my voice steady. “Then stop trying to figure everything out right now.”
She frowned. “What?”
“You don’t have to make a decision tonight, Aurora. You don’t have to have all the answers.” I held her gaze.
“Just be here, in this moment, with me.”
She exhaled slowly, her shoulders loosening a little. “And what if I can’t?”
I smirked. “Then I’ll just have to help you.”
I signaled the waiter, ordering two drinks. Aurora arched a brow at me but didn’t protest.
Tonight, she didn’t need to decide. She didn’t need to carry the weight of everything alone.
Tonight, I just wanted her to breathe.
Aurora took a small sip of her drink, her fingers tracing the rim of the glass as she stared out at the city skyline.
The wind played with her hair, and for a moment, I just watched her watched the way the lights reflected in her eyes, the way her lips parted slightly as if she wanted to say something but wasn’t sure if she should.
“You’re staring,” she muttered without looking at me.
I smirked. “You make it hard not to.”
She rolled her eyes but I caught the small smile she tried to hide.
“So,” I leaned forward, resting my forearms on the table. “Are you going to keep overthinking, or are you actually going to try and enjoy yourself?”
Aurora sighed, swirling her drink in her hand. “I don’t know how to just stop thinking, Alessandro.”
I tilted my head, studying her. “Then let me help.”
Before she could ask what I meant, I stood and held out my hand.
She raised a brow. “What are you doing?”
“Dance with me.”
Her eyes widened. “Here?”
I glanced around at the small space near the live band, where a few other couples swayed to the soft melody. “Why not?”
Aurora hesitated, looking from my hand to my face. I saw the doubt in her eyes, the war happening inside her.
But then, slowly, she placed her hand in mine.
I pulled her up, leading her toward the music. She was stiff at first, unsure, but I held her close, guiding her movements.
“Relax,” I murmured near her ear.
She took a deep breath, and after a few seconds, she finally let herself fall into the rhythm.
The city faded. The noise in her mind, the weight in her heart it all seemed to disappear, even if just for a little while.
I held her closer, my hand resting against the small of her back. “See? Not so bad, is it?”
She looked up at me, her lips slightly parted. “No. Not bad at all.”
And in that moment, I knew I would do anything to keep her looking at me like that.
Aurora's gaze lingered on mine for a moment longer before she looked away, her lips pressing together as if she were trying to hold something back.
I could feel the tension between us, an unspoken understanding, something fragile yet undeniable.
She rested her head against my shoulder, and I let out a slow breath, closing my eyes for a second.
If this was all I could have, if this moment was all she was willing to give me right now, then I would take it.
The song ended, but neither of us moved right away. It wasn’t until the band started playing something more upbeat that Aurora finally stepped back.
“I should probably get home,” she said softly.
I studied her, trying to read what she wasn’t saying, but I just nodded.
“Alright. Let’s go.”
The drive back to the pack house was quiet, but not in an uncomfortable way.
She stared out the window, lost in thought, and I didn’t push her to speak.
When I pulled up in front of her house, she turned to me, hesitating.
“Alessandro…”
I met her gaze. “Yeah?”
She swallowed. “Tonight was… nice.”
A small smile tugged at my lips. “It was.”
Her fingers curled around the strap of her bag, and she glanced at the door before looking back at me.
“I—” She exhaled sharply and shook her head.
“Never mind. Goodnight, Alessandro.”
I could have stopped her, could have asked her what she was about to say.
But I didn’t. Instead, I just watched as she stepped out of the car and walked toward the pack house, the weight of everything unsaid hanging between us.
As soon as she disappeared inside, I leaned back against the seat, running a hand through my hair.
I was in deep.
And I wasn’t sure if I would ever be able to pull myself out.
I sat in my car for a few moments, gripping the steering wheel as I tried to sort through the emotions swirling inside me.
Aurora was slipping through my fingers, yet at the same time, I felt like she was reaching for me without even realizing it.
Did she even know how much I wanted her? How much I wanted to be the one she turned to when she was hurting, the one she chose without hesitation?
I exhaled sharply, shaking my head. I couldn’t think like that. Not now.
With one last glance at the pack house, I put the car in drive and pulled away to go and pack the car.
But even as I left, I knew I wasn’t really leaving her behind.
She was already in my heart.
And I wasn’t sure if I could ever let her go.
Just as I parked the car and stepped out, a figure emerged from the shadows.
Leonardo.
I tensed, my instincts sharpening at the unexpected encounter. He had been waiting for me.
He took a step forward, his eyes dark with accusation. "You were with Aurora, weren’t you?"
His voice was low, but there was no mistaking the barely restrained anger behind it.
I didn’t flinch. I didn’t even look away. Instead, I shut the car door behind me and met his gaze head-on.
"And if I was?" I asked, my tone calm but firm.
Leonardo’s jaw tightened, his fists clenching at his sides. "You know exactly what that means."
I exhaled slowly, already knowing where this was headed.
"What it means, Leonardo, is that Aurora makes her own choices."
His eyes flashed with something unreadable rage, hurt, maybe even desperation.
I waited for him to speak, but he just stood there, his breathing heavy.