Chapter 35: Hidden Motives.

Aurora’s POV

I watched as Alpha John tore into Alessandro, humiliating him in front of my mother—our Luna—and Leonardo.

I could see the anger on Alessandro’s face, but I knew it wasn’t just his father’s insults that got to him.

It was the fact that Leonardo and I were standing there, witnessing it all.

As the tension settled, Leonardo’s hand brushed against mine. His voice broke the silence. “Let’s go back inside. We haven’t finished what we started.”

He gently tugged at my hand, leading me back upstairs, but I couldn’t resist one last glance over my shoulder.

Alessandro and Marcus were lifting my drunken, disgrace of a mother, helping her up to her room.

Alessandro turned to look at me, and for a split second, our eyes met. I quickly averted my gaze, not wanting to add to his humiliation.

Back in my room, Leonardo closed the door softly behind us. “So... Aurora,” he began, but by then, I had already slipped into the bathroom.

“Aurora? What are you doing in there?”

“I’m not feeling well,” I lied, curling up on the cold bathroom tiles. “I don’t think we can finish what we started tonight.”

“Oh... are you okay? Do you need me to get anything?”

I shook my head, even though I knew he couldn’t see me. “No, I’ll be fine. I just need some rest. I’ll see you tomorrow, Leonardo.”

He hesitated. “Alright...” His voice carried a note of disappointment, but I couldn’t bring myself to care. Not after everything that had happened tonight.

I heard the soft click of the door as he left. I got up slowly and turned the shower to blistering hot.

The cold from the bathroom tiles had seeped deep into my bones, but the steaming water helped chase it away.

When I finally emerged, wrapped in a towel, I took a handful of aspirin, hoping to ease the tension gripping my body.

I was drained, physically and mentally. All I wanted was to curl up in bed and forget this day ever happened.

“God, I’m exhausted,” I muttered, collapsing onto my bed and pulling the covers over me. Just as I was about to drift off—

*Knock! Knock!! Knock!!!*

I groaned, rubbing my eyes. “Who is it?”

“It’s me, Rafael. Open up.”

I checked the time. It was already past 11 p.m. With a sigh, I threw on a robe over my nightgown and dragged myself to the door. I took a deep breath before opening it.

“Hey there, stepsister.”

“Rafael, what are you doing here so late?”

“Ssssh... You don’t want to stir up more trouble tonight, do you?” he said with a mischievous grin.

I furrowed my brow in confusion, but before I could respond, Rafael had already stepped inside. I closed the door behind him.

“So, what brings you here?” I asked, still confused as he made himself comfortable on the couch by the window.

“I heard about Lena crashing your alone time with Leo again. Figured you might need some company.”

I stared at him, even more confused. “Wait... how did you know?”

He smirked, clearly proud of himself. “Oh, stepsister, I know things. Lots of things about this pack. I’m the master of information.”

I rolled my eyes. “Oh right, I forgot. The all-knowing Rafael.”

He nodded, satisfied, and I let out a deep sigh as I sat down on my bed. Rafael heard it immediately.

“So... you alright?”

I nodded at first, but Rafael’s skeptical look made me pause. He had a way of seeing through any lie, his gaze alone pulling the truth out of people.

“Spill.”

I sighed again, finally giving in. “It’s Alessandro. He sent Lena to the hotel, and she interrupted... our moment.”

Rafael raised an eyebrow. “Your moment, huh?”

“Yes, Rafael. Our moment,” I snapped, frustration building as I stood up and began pacing around the room.

“It’s like, every time Leonardo and I try to... be together, something or someone interrupts us.”

I stopped pacing, feeling the weight of the realization settle on my shoulders. “Almost like the universe doesn’t want him to mark me as his mate.”

Rafael waved his hand dismissively. “Oh, please. That’s ridiculous. It’s not the universe stopping you.

It’s someone who doesn’t want the two of you to be together.”

I paused, my mind catching up to what he was saying. “Alessandro.”

Rafael nodded. “Exactly.”

I stared at Rafael, processing his words. “Alessandro… why would he care? He’s made it clear that he hates me.”

Rafael leaned back, crossing his arms over his chest, the smirk on his face still intact.

“Hate is a strong word, Aurora. And let’s not forget, hate and obsession sometimes look the same.”

I shook my head, dismissing the thought. “No, it’s not that. He just doesn’t want Leonardo to be happy. He’s always been jealous of him.”

Rafael chuckled darkly. “Jealousy can be a powerful thing, especially between brothers.

But I’ve been watching him closely, and I don’t think it’s Leonardo he’s angry at. It’s you.”

My stomach twisted uncomfortably. “Me? Why would Alessandro care about what I do with Leonardo?”

Rafael stood up and started pacing, mimicking what I had been doing earlier.

“Think about it, Aurora. He’s been sabotaging every moment you two try to spend together.

Every time Leonardo gets close to you, Alessandro is there—creating chaos, making sure it doesn’t happen.”

I wanted to deny it, but the truth in Rafael’s words struck me hard. Alessandro had interfered countless times, always under the guise of protecting the pack, his family, or some other excuse that conveniently kept Leonardo and me apart.

“That doesn’t make sense,” I muttered, shaking my head. “Why would he care about us?”

Rafael stopped pacing and looked at me with a knowing smile. “Maybe because he’s trying to protect you.

Or maybe… he’s trying to protect himself.”

“Protect himself?” I repeated, confused.

Rafael shrugged. “Think about it. You’re supposed to be the Luna, the mate of the next Alpha.

Maybe Alessandro doesn’t want that. Maybe he’s trying to control something he can’t admit.”

I blinked at him, trying to piece together what he was implying. “You’re saying Alessandro wants me for himself?” The thought seemed absurd, but Rafael’s words lingered.

“Or maybe he just doesn’t want you to be with Leonardo. Either way, he’s involved, and it’s not out of some brotherly concern.”

Rafael’s gaze softened for a moment as he looked at me. “You’ve always been in the middle of their rivalry. Maybe more than you realize.”

I sat down heavily on the bed, my mind spinning. Alessandro had always treated me with disdain, with cold indifference or outright anger.

But now… the idea that there might be more to his actions, that he was somehow entwined in my life in a way I hadn’t noticed, unsettled me.

“I don’t know what to think,” I admitted quietly, burying my face in my hands.

Rafael sat next to me, placing a hand on my shoulder. “Don’t overthink it, Aurora.

Alessandro’s complicated, and so is this whole situation. But you’re strong, and you’ll figure it out.”

I looked up at him, offering a small smile. “Thanks, Rafael. For always being honest with me.”

He grinned, standing up and heading toward the door. “That’s what I’m here for, stepsister. Just… be careful. With Alessandro, with everything.”

“I will,” I promised, watching as he left the room, closing the door behind him.

Once he was gone, I let out a deep breath and collapsed back onto the bed.

Alessandro?

The idea of him being involved in my life in any way other than his constant interference felt wrong, but I couldn’t shake Rafael’s words.

There was something there. Something I wasn’t seeing.

And the thought of what it could be sent a chill down my spine.

Blegh!