Chapter 80: Breaking Free.
Aurora’s POV
The drive back to the mansion felt so long. I kept thinking about my mom and her problem with drugs.
"Why can’t she just stop taking them?" I whispered to myself, staring out the window.
It wasn’t like this was the first time. She had promised so many times to stop, but she always went back to it.
I clenched my hands into fists on my lap, frustration bubbling inside me.
Next to me, Alessandro stayed quiet, his focus on the road. I glanced at him, wondering if he felt the tension, but he just looked calm.
“Do you think she’ll be okay?” I finally asked, breaking the silence.
He gave me a quick look before answering. “I don’t know, Aurora. It’s up to her to want to get better. We can only do so much.”
I nodded, but his words didn’t feel comforting. I hated that he was right. No matter how much I wanted to help her, she had to choose to help herself.
As we got closer to the mansion, my chest tightened. I didn’t know what to expect. Would she still be making a scene? Would she even want to see me?
“I just want her to try,” I murmured, almost to myself.
“She needs more than trying,” Alessandro replied, his voice steady. “She needs real help, and she has to want it.”
I bit my lip, holding back tears. My mother wasn’t just embarrassing me—she was hurting herself, and that hurt me too.
When we finally pulled into the driveway, Alessandro parked the car and turned to me. “Ready?”
"No, I wasn’t. But I nodded anyway. “Let’s go.”
I stepped out of the car and walked toward the main entrance of the pack mansion. As I entered, I felt the weight of countless eyes on me.
Pack members whispered to one another, their stares cutting into me.
I couldn’t shake the feeling of embarrassment it was obvious they all knew April was my mother, and the fact that she was a drug addict was a stain on her reputation as Luna and mine by association.
Before the shame could overwhelm me, Alessandro gently tapped my shoulder. His calm voice brought me back.
“Don’t worry about what they’re saying,” he said. “Focus on why you’re here. Let them think or murmur whatever they want it doesn’t matter.”
I nodded, his words giving me enough strength to move forward. With a deep breath, I headed up the stairs toward Alpha John’s office.
Alessandro followed closely behind, his steady presence keeping me grounded.
When we reached the door, Alessandro knocked before pushing it open. He stepped aside, letting me enter first.
Inside, my mother was seated in a chair, her posture slouched and her face pale.
She looked tired, like the fight had already drained her. Across from her, Alpha John sat behind his desk, his expression hard and stern. The tension in the room was thick.
I could feel his anger without him saying a word. His eyes briefly flicked to me and Alessandro before settling back on my mother.
“You’re here,” he said, his voice sharp, almost accusatory. “Good. Maybe you can talk some sense into her.”
My mother didn’t look up. She kept her gaze fixed on her hands, which were trembling slightly.
“Mom,” I said softly as I took a step closer. “Are you okay?”
She looked up then, her eyes bloodshot and filled with a mix of guilt and exhaustion.
“Aurora, I... I didn’t mean for it to get this bad,” she whispered.
Alpha John let out a harsh laugh, clearly unimpressed.
“Didn’t mean for it to get this bad?
April, do you have any idea what kind of damage you’ve caused?”
“Alpha, please,” I said, my voice firmer than I expected. “Let me talk to her.”
He leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms, but didn’t say anything else.
I turned back to my mom, kneeling in front of her so we were at eye level.
“Mom, you need help,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady.
“We can’t keep covering for you. You have to fight this, not just for the pack but for yourself.”
The moment my mother’s gaze hardened, I knew something wasn’t right. She wasn’t remorseful at all. Instead, her words cut through me like a knife.
“You’ve ruined my life,” she hissed, her voice trembling with anger.
“You ruined everything with your father, and now you’re trying to ruin my marriage with Alpha John!”
I froze, stunned by her accusation.
“What?
Mom, I didn’t do anything. You did this to yourself! You can’t stop taking drugs, and you won’t accept any help!”
Her face contorted with rage, and before I could react, she stood up and slapped me across the face.
The sting burned, and Alessandro immediately stepped forward, his voice firm.
“Enough, April!”
But I raised a hand to stop him, my palm still on my cheek.
“Don’t, Alessandro. It’s fine.”
He hesitated but stepped back, his eyes full of concern.
I turned to face my mother, my voice steady despite the tears welling in my eyes.
“I’m used to this. I’m used to you blaming me for everything. For cheating on Dad, for every failed marriage, and now for your drug addiction.
But you don’t get to blame me for this.”
She opened her mouth to speak, but I didn’t let her. “No. Don’t you dare blame me.
If you hadn’t cheated on Dad, maybe you’d still be with him. If you’d stopped taking drugs, maybe those awful ex-husbands of yours wouldn’t have taken advantage of you.
But you never listened, Mom. You’ve always been too selfish to see the truth.
“And now, you’re married to a good man like Alpha John, but instead of changing your ways, you’re still clinging to this toxic cycle.
That’s on you, not me. Fix it yourself.”
I turned on my heel and walked out of the office, slamming the door behind me. My heart was pounding, and I felt like I couldn’t breathe.
Leaning against the wall, I took a deep breath. It was the first time I had ever stood up to her like that, and it felt... liberating.
The door opened a moment later, and Alessandro stepped out. His eyes found me immediately, concern etched into his features.
“Are you okay?” he asked softly.
I nodded, a small smile breaking through the tension. “I’ve never felt this free before.
I’ve been carrying this weight for so long, all the pain and anger, and I’ve never stood up to her.
But today... I did. And it feels really great.”
Alessandro smiled, stepping closer and placing a hand on my shoulder. “You did great, Aurora. I’m proud of you.”
His words filled me with warmth, and for the first time in a long time, I felt like someone truly understood me. But the moment was short-lived.
Leonardo walked up to us, his face a storm of jealousy as his eyes darted between me and Alessandro.
“Get your hands off my woman,” he growled, glaring at Alessandro.
I turned to him, my anger flaring.
“Your woman?
I am not your woman anymore, Leonardo. You made it very clear that you and I were a mistake and that we’re done.
So don’t you dare come here acting like my mate, because you’re not.”
His eyes squeezed, and his voice filled with venom.
“So you’ve moved on from me to my brother?
Aurora, have you no shame?”
His words hit me like a slap, but I didn’t hesitate. My hand flew across his face before I even realized what I was doing.
“How dare you say that to me, Leonardo?” I shouted, my voice trembling with hurt and anger.
“How dare you!”
Tears stung my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. Without another word, I turned and walked away, my chest heaving with emotion.
I wouldn’t let him or anyone else make me feel small again. Not anymore.
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