Chapter 59: An Unexpected Ally.

Aurora’s POV
After Leonardo left my room, I couldn’t sleep. I lay there, staring at the ceiling, my mind racing with a thousand thoughts that refused to settle.
What would happen from here on out?
Leonardo was engaged to be married to Lena. The woman who would stand by his side as his Luna, the one the pack would see as his equal. And me? What was I? Nothing more than a secret he intended to keep. A shadow in the life he was being forced to live.
Tears welled up again, but I didn’t let them fall. I was tired of crying, tired of feeling helpless. The pain in my chest was suffocating, the betrayal of being loved in secret cutting deeper than anything else.
Would this ever change? Would he ever stand up and fight for us? Or was I just fooling myself, clinging to a love that wasn’t strong enough to defy the expectations placed on him?
As the hours passed, the darkness outside my window began to lighten, signaling the arrival of dawn. But the ache in my chest remained, a constant reminder that my world was unraveling, and I didn’t know how to stop it.
I couldn't take it anymore. The stress and drama were overwhelming me. Staying felt like I was drowning, and I needed to get out to breathe.
I got out of bed, the decision forming solidly in my mind. I needed to leave the pack, even if just for a little while.
Somewhere far enough away to think, to recover from all this chaos.
I entered the bathroom, letting the hot water cascade over me as I tried to wash away the heaviness clinging to my soul.
When I stepped out, I dressed quickly, grabbing a small bag and packing only the essentials.
Without looking back, I left my room and made my way to Annie’s place. She was the one person I trusted completely, the one who would understand without judgment.
When I arrived, I knocked softly on her door, my heart beating in my chest.
Within moments, the door swung open, and Annie stood there, her face instantly etched with concern.
“Aurora, are you okay?” she asked, her voice gentle but firm.
I shook my head, unable to form the words. The dam I’d been holding back broke, and tears began to stream down my face.
Annie didn’t hesitate. She reached out, taking my hand and pulling me inside. She closed the door behind us, shutting out the world, and guided me to the couch.
“What happened?” she asked, her voice soft yet filled with worry.
I wiped at my tears, but they wouldn’t stop. “It’s everything,” I managed to choke out.
“Leonardo… Lena… the pack. I just—”
My voice broke, and Annie wrapped an arm around my shoulders, letting me lean into her support.
“It’s okay,” she whispered. “Take your time. I’m here.”
Her kindness only made the tears flow harder, but for the first time in what felt like forever, I didn’t feel so alone.
After a while, I pulled away from Annie’s comforting hug and reached for a tissue, wiping my tear-streaked face.
“Are you alright now?” she asked softly, handing me another tissue in case I needed it.
I nodded, taking the tissue from her. “Yeah… I feel a lot better after crying,” I said with a small, shaky smile.
“Good,” she replied, her tone gentle but firm. “Now, tell me what happened.” She adjusted her position on the couch, turning to face me fully, her concern evident.
I hesitated for a moment, unsure if I could bring myself to say the words. But this was Annie—my safe place.
“I was almost raped last night by one of the pack’s betas,” I finally admitted, my voice barely above a whisper.
Annie’s eyes widened in horror, her hands flying to her mouth. “Oh my God! Are you alright? Did he hurt you?” she asked urgently, her hands reaching out to check me for any injuries.
“I’m fine, Annie,” I assured her, holding her hands to stop her frantic movements. “He didn’t succeed.”
She let out a long sigh of relief, her shoulders sagging as she sank back against the couch.
“Phew… thank God,” she said, placing a hand over her chest relief still evident in her voice.
I took a deep, shaky breath and continued, my voice trembling as the memories came flooding back.
“So… after he was caught, he kept denying it. He said he didn’t try to do anything to me, that he came to my room to discuss some things, and that was all.
But when I tried to explain everything…” I paused, my voice breaking.
“My mother… my own mother… she said I was at it again.”
Annie’s brows furrowed in confusion. “At it again? What do you mean?”
I swallowed hard, my throat tightening.
“She told me that I’d done it before that I’d lied before and now I was doing it again.
As if this was some… some twisted habit of mine.”
Annie gasped, her eyes filling with anger on my behalf.
“I couldn’t bring myself to explain,” I continued, my hands shaking as I clenched the tissue in my lap.
“My hands were trembling, my words refused to come out. I felt so… helpless.” I paused, blinking back fresh tears.
“But when I saw Leonardo, I thought… finally, my man, my mate, would take my side. I thought he’d believe me, fight for me.”
My voice cracked as the tears I’d tried so hard to hold back spilled over again. Annie’s hand immediately found my shoulder, squeezing gently in reassurance.
“It’s okay, Aurora. You can tell me,” she said softly.
I nodded, trying to steady myself enough to go on. “But when I reached him and told him what happened, my mother spoke up to stop me.
She told Leonardo not to believe me, that I was lying, that the beta didn’t force himself into my room… but that I let him in willingly.”
Annie’s jaw tightened, and her grip on my shoulder grew firmer, her outrage evident.
“And the beta… he lied too,” I continued, my voice trembling with anger and despair.
“He told Leonardo that he didn’t try to do anything, that I’d made it all up. I could see the doubt in Leonardo’s eyes, Annie. He didn’t know who to believe.”
Annie’s lips pressed into a thin line, her eyes blazing with protective fury.
“That’s disgusting, Aurora. Both of them your mother and that beta how could they?
And Leonardo… he should’ve known better. He should’ve trusted you.”
Her words were like a balm to my aching heart, but the pain of Leonardo’s hesitation still lingered.
“I thought he would fight for me,” I whispered, my tears falling freely now. “But he didn’t, Annie. He didn’t.”
Annie pulled me into another hug, her arms wrapped tightly around me as if to shield me from the pain.
“I’m so sorry, Aurora. You didn’t deserve any of that,” she said, her voice trembling with emotion.
“None of it.”
For a moment, I let myself collapse into her embrace, grateful for her warmth and understanding.
It was a stark contrast to the cold indifference I had felt from the very people who were supposed to protect me.
After a few moments, I pulled back slightly, wiping my tears with the tissue she handed me.
“I just didn’t know what to do or say at that moment… and then someone I never expected came and defended me,” I said softly.
Annie’s eyes widened slightly, curiosity flickering in them.
“Someone defended you?” she asked, leaning forward.
“Who?”
I hesitated for a moment, the memory of that unexpected moment replaying in my mind.
“It was Alessandro,” I admitted softly, my voice tinged with disbelief.
“Alessandro?”
Annie repeated, her eyebrows shooting up in surprise.
“The same Alessandro who’s always been… well, let’s just say, less than kind to you?”
I nodded slowly. “Yes, him. I didn’t understand it either. He just walked in, looked at the situation, and… he took my side.
He told them they were wrong to doubt me. He even called out the beta for lying and demanded that they take me seriously.”
Annie’s mouth fell open slightly. “Are you serious?
Alessandro stood up for you? I mean, of all people…”
“I know,” I said, shaking my head. “I didn’t know what to think. It was so unexpected, but… in that moment, it meant everything.
He stood up for me when no one else did not my mother, not even Leonardo. Just… him.”
Annie tilted her head, studying me closely. “And how do you feel about that?”
I let out a small sigh, leaning back against the couch. “I don’t know, Annie. I don’t know why he did it.
He’s never shown me kindness before. Part of me wonders if he has some sort of hidden agenda, but… another part of me wants to believe it was genuine.”
Annie nodded thoughtfully. “Well, regardless of his reasons, it sounds like he was there when you needed someone the most.
Maybe you should talk to him, try to understand why he stepped in.”
“Talk to him?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.
“You think that’s a good idea?”
She shrugged. “It couldn’t hurt. At the very least, it might give you some clarity. And right now, Aurora, I think you need all the clarity you can get.”