Chapter 79: A Difficult Truth.

Alessandro’s POV
I sat down in my office, my mind a whirlwind of confusion. I couldn’t stop thinking about the dream I had with Aurora.
This was the second time I had experienced something like it, and honestly, I wasn’t ready to accept the implications.
“Aurora, my mate? That’s... crazy!” I muttered to myself, running my hands through my hair.
The images from the dream were still fresh in my mind the way she looked at me, the way her presence had felt so right.
I couldn’t deny that there was a pull, something deeper than mere attraction, but I refused to entertain the thought.
And now, Leonardo had called me to go and check up on Aurora.
Why is it getting uncomfortable? I thought.
Am I interested in her? I shook my head immediately, trying to push the thoughts away.
“Nope. That can never happen.
She’s Leonardo’s woman or was Leonardo’s woman…” The thought trailed off as the reality of the situation hit me.
Aurora had been through so much already, and I didn’t want to complicate things for her, especially with her connection to Leonardo.
I couldn’t allow myself to become another complication in her life.
But no matter how hard I tried to shake it off, the uneasy feeling remained. Something’s not right.
I adjusted my shirt and paced around the room, trying to focus on anything other than the storm growing inside me.
I had promised Leonardo I’d look after Aurora, but was I crossing a line by getting too involved?
The more I thought about it, the more the line between duty and something else began to blur.
No. She’s not mine to want. But why did it feel like everything I did was pulling me closer to her?
When I arrived at Annie’s place, she greeted me with a smile and stepped aside to let me in.
Weird... I thought, my mind racing as I walked through the door. There was something in the way Annie acted that felt off, but I couldn’t place it.
"Um... Is Aurora awake? I came to check up on her," I asked, trying to keep the conversation focused.
Annie nodded, though her smile seemed a bit forced. "Yeah... she is, but you know... still heartbroken over what your brother did. But she ate the food you brought for her."
I smiled, grateful that Aurora had at least eaten something, though the mention of her being heartbroken made my chest tighten.
"Please, sit. I’ll go and inform her that you’re here," Annie said, her tone light as she gestured toward the couch. She then turned and headed towards a room I assumed was Aurora’s.
I took a seat, but my mind wandered, wondering what Aurora was feeling now. Was she truly okay?
Aurora walked into the room, and I couldn’t help but feel a pang in my chest. She looked like she hadn’t showered in ages, her hair unkempt and tangled, and her face swollen from crying.
The sight of her like this was more than just heartbreaking. She was utterly broken, and I didn’t know how to help her, but I had to try.
I stood up, feeling awkward as I thought about what I could do to make her feel even a little bit better. Then an idea struck me, and I felt the need to act on it.
"Hey, how about I take you out?" I suggested, even though I wasn’t really used to this kind of thing.
I didn’t know if she’d be up for it, but I’d promised to be there for her, and I had to keep that promise.
Aurora looked at me, hesitant. "I don't know, Alessandro... I don’t think I’m in the mood to go anywhere."
I could see her struggle, but before she could say anything more, Annie stepped in, encouraging her.
"Aurora, you need to get out of here. Staying locked up in your room crying over someone who’s already moved on... it’s not going to do you any good."
Aurora hesitated, clearly torn between her emotions and the offer of a distraction.
She glanced at Annie, then at me, and after a long pause, she sighed.
"Fine. I'll give it a try." Aurora finally agreed, her voice quiet but resigned. She turned and walked back into the room, presumably to freshen up.
I sank back into the chair, a small smile tugging at the corner of my lips. I was doing this for Leonardo, right?
But as I sat there, I couldn't deny the truth what I was doing was for me too. I was starting to care more about how Aurora was really feeling, rather than just keeping my promise to my brother.
As I sat there, I couldn't help but feel a strange sense of anticipation. I hadn’t expected this my role as her support had begun to feel more personal than I ever intended.
I had promised Leonardo I’d look out for her, but now, in this quiet moment, I realized how much I cared about her well-being.
How could I not? There was something about her vulnerability that tugged at me, something deeper than I had first recognized.
*****
The door to the room opened, and Aurora stepped out, looking a little more put together.
Her hair was combed, and her face, though still marked with signs of recent tears, had a softness to it. She wasn’t smiling, but she wasn’t as broken either.
I stood up, offering her a small but encouraging smile. "You look better," I said, though I wasn’t sure if it was the right thing to say.
She gave a small, almost imperceptible nod. “Thanks, I guess. But, I still don’t know if I’m ready for this…”
I could see the doubt in her eyes, but there was something else too perhaps a spark of hope that maybe, just maybe, getting out would help.
I stepped closer, careful not to crowd her. “Look, I get it. You don’t have to pretend like everything is fine.
But you can’t keep hiding away either. Just a little fresh air, a change of scenery. We don’t have to talk about anything you’re not ready to. Just... come with me.”
She stared at me for a moment, her eyes searching mine, as if trying to find a reason to stay or a reason to go.
After what felt like an eternity, she let out a breath. “Alright. I’ll go. But I’m not promising anything.”
"That’s all I’m asking," I said, relieved.
Annie, standing nearby, smiled encouragingly. “I think it’s a good idea. Sometimes getting out is just what you need.”
Aurora gave a half-hearted smile, the first one I’d seen in a while, before she nodded and made her way to the door.
As we headed out, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was changing between us.
For the first time, I wasn’t just trying to keep a promise for Leonardo. I was starting to care about Aurora in a way I hadn’t planned on.
Maybe this wasn’t just about helping her get over my brother. Maybe, in some strange way, it was about us finding a way to heal together.
I decided to take Aurora to a nice, quiet place, hoping it would help her forget about her heartbreak for a while. I wanted her to smile and have fun again, even if just for a little bit.
We spent some time there, enjoying the peaceful atmosphere. After a while, when it had become quieter, she spoke up.
"I never thought I’d be sitting here with you, talking like this," she said, sounding surprised. "You’ve always kept your distance, giving me the cold shoulder."
I smiled lightly, feeling a little guilty. "I never meant to make you feel that way," I said softly.
"I just didn’t want to do anything that might ruin my family's reputation, especially with everything going on.
But I guess, after everything that’s happened, I realized something."
She looked at me, curious.
"I spent so much time trying to prove to my father that I was worthy to be the next Alpha," I admitted, frustration creeping into my voice.
"But no matter what I did, he always saw Leonardo as the best choice to lead the pack."
There was a long pause. Aurora just stared at me, processing my words. I hadn’t expected to tell her this, but for some reason, it felt good to finally say it out loud.
I looked at her, waiting for her to say something, but she just gave a small smile. "I guess we both have our struggles," she said quietly, her voice soft.
I nodded, feeling a little lighter. It wasn’t much, but it felt like we had shared something real, something different.
For once, I wasn’t just the cold guy trying to prove himself. I was just Alessandro, and in that moment, that was enough.
Aurora stood up and said she needed to use the restroom, so I sat there alone, waiting for her.
Her bag was left on the chair where we’d been sitting together. As I sat there, my mind wandered, trying to process everything that had happened so far.
Suddenly, her phone began to ring. I looked at the screen, unsure whether I should pick it up.
At first, I didn’t want to invade her privacy, but when I saw the caller ID, my heart skipped a beat.
It was Leonardo. I wasn’t sure why, but something in me compelled me to answer.
Without thinking, I swiped the phone and placed it to my ear.
“Hello?” I said, my voice hesitant.
There was a brief silence on the other end before Leonardo spoke.
I tried to steady myself, feeling a little strange answering for her, but then, I couldn’t help but wonder what he wanted.
After a few minutes, Aurora came back. I hadn’t planned on telling her about her mother, April, and what had happened, but deep down, I knew I couldn’t keep it from her. She had to know.
“Aurora…” I started, my voice unsure. "Your mom… she’s in trouble."
Aurora’s face instantly went pale, and I could see the worry in her eyes. “What happened? What’s going on with her?”
I took a deep breath. "She's using drugs again, Aurora. It’s bad. The whole pack knows now."
Her eyes widened in shock, and she looked at me, almost pleading for reassurance.
“We need to go to the pack,” she said quickly. "We need to check on her now."
I nodded. “I’ll take you there.”