Chapter 161: Saved
Aurora’s POV
"I couldn't believe what I was hearing. My voice shook as I spoke, still trying to process what he had just said.
“So… you did all of this? Just to prove you deserve me?”
Leonardo smirked, his eyes never leaving mine as he took a step closer.
“Yes, Aurora,” he said quietly, almost like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
“You see… when I really want something, I can do anything and I mean anything to get it.”
There was a calmness in his tone that unsettled me more than if he’d shouted.
Like he truly believed this was love.
Like he didn’t see how twisted it had all become.
“You betrayed your own father the Alpha of your pack.
You turned your own brother into your enemy. And now, you’re conspiring with a rogue to steal everything he built…”
I shook my head slowly, my voice breaking between anger and disbelief.
“All of this, Leonardo… for what?
To get me?
To prove you're worthy of a throne that was never yours to begin with?”
I scoffed, taking a step back, the disgust clear in my eyes.
“You really are pathetic.”
The words had barely left my mouth before his hand flew through the air.
Slap!
The sound filled the room and everyone fell silent. The slap was so hard it turned my head.
My cheek hurt and I caught my breath. Not just because it hurt, but because he did it.
I didn't think he would go that far.
But he did.
He stood frozen for a moment, wide-eyed as if he couldn’t believe what he’d just done.
Then he dropped to his knees in front of me.
“Aurora… I didn’t mean to—” he whispered, his voice shaking.
“You provoked me. You made me do that.”
He reached out to touch my cheek, but I pulled away. My reaction showed him I didn't want him to touch me.
I wouldn’t let him touch me. Not after that.
Just then, I saw the man who had chained me earlier standing in the doorway.
He had a creepy smile on his face and was watching us like it was a show.
Leonardo looked at the man briefly, then ignored him. He turned back to me, his voice getting harder as he stood up.
“You think Alessandro would’ve done any better?” he spat.
“He’s too weak, too emotional. He would’ve ruined everything. I did what needed to be done, for us.”
I stared up at him, barely recognizing the man I once thought I understood.
“There is no ‘us,’ Leonardo,” I said coldly.
He kept talking, his voice full of twisted belief.
“When I want something, Aurora, I fight for it. And I don’t care how many people I have to go through.
I will have what’s mine.”
His words cut deeper than any chains ever could.
After he finished speaking, a sound broke the silence.
Shouts.
Growls.
Chaos.
All coming from outside.
The man at the door, who had been watching with a smile, suddenly tensed up.
He turned his head as the sound of wolves fighting grew louder.
Then—
A door slammed open somewhere in the hallway. One of the rogue guards ran in, panting and wide-eyed, his voice shaking as he spoke.
“Sir!
The Shadow Pack they’ve launched an attack!
They’re outside!
They’re breaking through our defenses!”
The man at the door dropped his arms immediately, his entire body tensing.
“What?!”
He turned sharply to Leonardo, who stood calm and still, his face expressionless.
And then… Leonardo smiled.
The smirk on his face seemed different now - calculated and satisfied.
He walked over to me, unlocked the chain on my ankle, and it fell to the ground.
My eyes widened. “What are you doing?”
Before he could answer, the man barked, furious:
“You betrayed me, Leonardo?!
How dare you?!”
His voice was thunder. His face twisted in rage.
Leonardo stood slowly, calmly. His tone was cold now colder than I'd ever heard it.
“No,” he said simply, “I just chose the right side.”
The man's face turned red with anger, and he took a Threatening step toward Leonardo, his whole body shaking.
“You fool,” he snarled.
“I would’ve made you Alpha. You were this close. All of it power, control, the throne it would’ve been yours!”
He pointed a shaking finger at Leonardo, voice rising with fury.
“And you threw it all away for what?
For her?
You’re just like your brother!
Weak.
Pathetic.
You wanted the crown not to lead, but to impress a woman!”
Leonardo stood his ground, jaw tight, eyes steady.
“You’re right,” he said quietly, but firmly.
“I wanted power to win her… to prove I was worthy of her.
That’s why I followed you.”
He looked over at me briefly, then back at the man, his voice lowering.
“But I never wanted to be Alpha. Not really. Not like this.
Not by betraying everyone I love. Alessandro… he’s the real Alpha. Not me.”
His face twisted in anger, and he let out a low growl.
“You coward!” he bellowed.
He lunged at Leonardo, ready to rip him apart but he never made it.
CRACK!
The door burst open and Alessandro rushed in, punching the rogue in the jaw with incredible force.
The man dropped like a stone, crashing to the floor unconscious.
For a second, everything was still.
Then my eyes locked with Alessandro’s.
I couldn’t hold it in any longer.
Tears welled in my eyes and fell freely down my cheeks as I rushed toward him.
“Oh… Alessandro…” I whispered breathlessly.
“You came to save me.”
His arms wrapped around me tightly, protectively, as if he’d never let me go again.
“Always,” he murmured, his voice fierce and full of love.
“I’ll always come for you, Aurora.”
I buried my face in his chest, letting out all my emotions.
His scent, his warmth, his presence… it was all I needed to know I was finally safe.
Leonardo stood frozen a few feet away, watching us in silence. For a moment, I thought he might say something, but he didn’t.
There was no more fight in him. Whatever fire had driven him was gone.
Alessandro gently turned my face up, his eyes darkening when he saw the red mark on my cheek.
“Did he do this to you?” he asked, his voice low and dangerous.
I didn’t answer. I didn’t have to.
His jaw clenched tightly. A growl rumbled in his chest, and he took a step toward Leonardo.
Leonardo didn’t flinch. He looked down, almost ashamed.
“I deserve whatever’s coming,” he said quietly.
Alessandro’s hand balled into a fist at his side, but I touched his arm, stopping him.
“He’s not worth it,” I whispered, my hand gently touching Alessandro’s arm.
Alessandro's eyes softened as he looked at me, then shifted back to Leonardo.
The air was thick with tension. Finally, Alessandro nodded and lowered his fist.
Leonardo spoke up, his voice calm but firm.
“I had to do it to make my uncle think I'm on his side,” he explained.
“Everything I did it was the only way to get close enough to protect you, to stop him from going too far.”
He met my eyes.
“I’m sorry, Aurora.”
The fighting still raged outside.
Alessandro looked at the unconscious man, then at me. “We need to leave,” he said.
I nodded, wiping away tears. Leonardo spoke up, his voice rough.
“I'll stay. Just keep her safe.”
Alessandro didn't respond, but pulled me close and led me out of the room.
As we stepped into the chaos, I held onto the one thing that mattered most. My freedom
And him.
Alessandro.
My Alpha.
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