Chapter 121: A Date to Forget.
Alessandro’s POV
I was in my office when I heard murmuring coming from outside. The hushed voices, the way people were gathered it was unusual.
Frowning, I got up slowly and stepped outside to find a small group of betas whispering to each other.
Their expressions were tense, their eyes looking around as if afraid to be caught gossiping.
I furrowed my eyes.
"Hey, you. Come here," I ordered, pointing to one of the betas.
She flinched before quickly walking toward me, bowing her head.
"Sir, Alessandro."
"What’s going on? What’s with the commotion outside my office?"
She hesitated, shifting nervously on her feet.
"Um…"
"Speak!" I yelled, my patience wearing thin.
The beta flinched at my tone, but she finally spoke, her voice barely above a whisper.
"It's about Aurora, sir… Alpha John summoned her to his office."
My stomach twisted. "And?"
She glanced around before leaning in slightly.
"We heard that he ordered her to publicly break up with Leonardo.”
He told her to stay away from you and Leonardo for that’s the only way for her to stay in the pack."
A cold wave washed over me. Of course. Father was trying to control everything again.
I clenched my fists. "Did she say anything?"
The beta nodded her head.
“Yes, sir. She accepted to break up with Leonardo if he allows her to remain in the pack.”
I inhaled sharply, forcing myself to stay calm. Aurora had already been through enough. Now, father was trying to take away her choices.
“Get back to work.” I muttered, dismissing her.
As she hurried away. I knew what I had to do.
My thoughts were interrupted by Rafael’s voice.
“Hey brother.”
I turned to see Rafael leaning casually against the door frame, his hands stuffed into his pockets.
“Rafael.” I greeted, my voice tense. I wasn’t in the mood for small talk.
He stepped inside, closing the door behind him. “I heard you talking to the betas and wondered what you were discussing about.”
I exhaled sharply, running a hand through my hair. “It’s father. He wants to banish Aurora out of the pack if she doesn’t break up with Leonardo.”
“But wait a minute… he doesn’t know that Aurora and Leonardo has broken up.”
I nodded slowly. “Yeah, he doesn’t know and I don’t think she told him as well.”
Rafael frowned, his brows furrowing in thought. “So, he’s forcing her to do something he doesn’t know she’s already done?”
I nodded. “Exactly. But that’s not the problem, Rafael. He’s trying to be the heartless father we never liked while growing up.”
Rafael crossed his arms. “So, what are you going to do?”
I clenched my jaw. “I can’t just stand by and let this happen.”
He studied me for a moment before sighing. “Alessandro, I don’t think you should get involved. If father finds out that you’re getting involved, he won’t take it lightly.”
I knew he was right. Going against our father had consequences, severe one. But I didn’t care.
“I can’t just stand here and watch him try to destroy her. She deserves better, Rafael and if father decides to punish me, then so be it.”
Rafael ran a hand over his face. “I knew you were stubborn, but this?” he shook his head.
I walked out of the office, leaving Rafael standing there and headed to my father’s office.
When I got there, I took a deep breath and then knocked.
“Come in.” I heard my father call out.
I opened the door and walked in. Alpha John sat behind his big desk, looking at me with sharp eyes.
His face didn't show any emotions, but I could sense his authority.
"Alessandro," he said, putting down a paper.
"What do you want?"
I took a deep breath and stood up straight. "I need to talk to you about Aurora."
His face stayed calm. "What about her?"
I clenched my fists and tried to keep my voice steady. "You're forcing her to choose something she doesn't want to.
She and Leonardo are over. There's no reason to threaten her place in the pack."
Alpha John leaned back in his chair, studying me carefully. "Why do you care so much?"
I hesitated for a moment before answering. "Because she's important to me."
His lips pressed together. "I see."
There was an uncomfortable silence. Then he spoke again, his voice cold.
"Well, my decision is final and I don’t intend changing my mind about it.”
Just then, Leonardo entered the office, his eyes filled with anger.
******
After Leonardo’s discussion with father and father had agreed not to banish Aurora, I knew this wasn’t easy for him.
He still loved her even though they had broken up. Now, father was trying to take back control over his life.
“Are you alright, Leonardo?”
He shook his head. “If I tell I am, will you believe me?”
I shook my head. “I won’t.”
“I’m trying to understand why father is doing what he’s doing. I want to understand him that he is doing it for the pack, but another part of me feels that he trying to do it to redeem his reputation as the Alpha of the pack since I pulled that stunt at my wedding with Lena.”
I sighed, crossing my arms as I leaned against the wall. “You’re not wrong, Leo.
Father cares about the pack, but he also cares about power and appearances.
What you did at the wedding? That embarrassed him in front of everyone.
He’s trying to take control back of you, of Aurora, of everything.”
Leonardo ran a frustrated hand through his hair.
“But at what cost? Aurora has lost so much already. And now, she’s being forced to sacrifice more just to stay here.”
I could see the pain in his eyes, the weight of the choices pressing down on him.
He still loved her, that much was obvious. But love alone wasn’t enough to change their reality.
“You know what he told her, right?” I asked carefully.
Leonardo’s jaw clenched.
“Yeah. She has to stay away from me.”
I hesitated before speaking again. “And what if she doesn’t?”
His eyes snapped to mine, filled with uncertainty.
“Then father will banish her.”
Silence fell between us, heavy and suffocating.
Leonardo let out a bitter laugh, shaking his head. “It’s like no matter what I do, I keep hurting her.”
I placed a hand on his shoulder.
“You’re not the one hurting her, Leo. Father is. And if we don’t do something, she’s going to lose everything.”
His face hardened. “Then we won’t let that happen.”
I nodded, determination settling in my chest. “We need a plan.”
*****
After my discussion with Leonardo, I went over to see Aurora in her room.
I stood there in front of her door, contemplating whether to talk to her or just walk away.
After all, the last time we spoke, I had expressed my feelings for her.
Would she feel uncomfortable around me?
I took a deep breath, my hand hovering over the door. A part of me feared rejection, feared that she would push me away, not because she didn’t care, but because of everything happening around us.
Before I could second-guess myself any further, I knocked.
Seconds passed, and just when I thought she wouldn’t answer, the door creaked open.
Aurora stood there, her eyes widening slightly when she saw me.
“Alessandro,” she breathed, surprise evident in her tone.
I swallowed hard. “Hey. Can we talk?”
She hesitated for a moment before nodding, stepping aside to let me in.
I stepped inside, my eyes searching the room. It was dark with only the soft glow of a bedside lamp casting shadows along the walls.
Aurora looked exhausted, as if the weight of everything was pressing down on her.
She closed the door behind me and folded her arms across her chest.
"What is it, Alessandro?" Her voice was quiet, guarded.
I hesitated for a moment before sighing.
"I heard about what happened with my father," I said, watching her closely.
"About his… conditions for letting you stay in the pack."
Her lips pressed together, and she looked away. "Then you know I didn't have a choice."
I took a step closer. "Aurora, you shouldn’t have to go through this alone.
He’s forcing you to cut off ties with Leonardo just to stay here. That’s not fair."
She let out a dry laugh, shaking her head.
"Fair? Nothing about my life has ever been fair, Alessandro.
I was banished with my mother from my father’s pack because my mother cheated on my father and since then my life has never been the same.
And then when my life was looking like it was becoming something normal, it all fell apart again."
Her voice cracked, and I saw the pain in her eyes the kind that never fully goes away.
I clenched my fists at my sides, hating that she had suffered so much.
"Aurora..." I started, but she shook her head.
"I loved Leonardo," she continued, her voice barely above a whisper.
"I thought I had finally found a place where I belonged, someone who truly cared about me.
But in the end, I was just another pawn in a game I never asked to play."
"Aurora, listen to me," I said firmly.
"You have more choices than you think. You don't have to accept this."
She scoffed.
"And what would you have me do, Alessandro?
Run? Where would I go?
I have no family, no allies outside of this pack except for Annie." She looked up at me then, her eyes filled with frustration.
"I don’t want to be alone again."
I exhaled sharply, feeling the raw honesty in her words. "You’re not alone," I said, my voice softer now.
"You have me."
She stared at me, her face difficult to read. The air between us felt thick with emotions neither of us knew how to handle.
"Alessandro…" she whispered, shaking her head as if trying to push away a thought.
I took another step forward, gently placing a hand on her arm.
"I mean it, Aurora. I won’t let him control your life like this. If you need me, I’ll be here. No matter what."
For a long moment, she didn’t speak. Then, finally, she exhaled and gave a small nod.
"Thank you," she said, her voice barely audible.
I nodded in return, knowing that no matter what happened next, I wasn’t going to let her face this alone.
"Then let me take you out for a while," I said.
She blinked. "What?"
"A date," I clarified.
"Not as a way to pressure you into anything, just... something to cheer you up.
You’ve been through so much, Aurora. You deserve a break, even if it’s just for a little while."
Her lips parted slightly, as if she wasn't sure she had heard me right.
"A date?" she repeated slowly.
I nodded.
"Nothing serious. Just you and me, away from all of this away from the pack, from my father, from everything weighing you down. Even if it’s just for a few hours."
She hesitated, glancing away.
"I don't know, Alessandro... What if—"
"There are no 'what ifs' right now," I interrupted gently.
"Just say yes. Let me help you forget about everything, even if it’s just for one night."
She looked at me, her eyes trying to understand mine. For the first time in a long time, I saw something different in her eyes not just sadness, but also uncertainty and curiosity. Then, after a long silence, she breathed out slowly.
"Okay," she whispered softly.