Chapter 88: Lost Love.
Leonardo’s POV
Alessandro was right. That was my opportunity to speak to my father and tell him the truth that I wasn’t interested in marrying Lena. But I just couldn’t explain why I decided to lie.
Was I more concerned about not disappointing my father than hurting the woman I love?
I stood there, my thoughts tangled, my chest heavy with regret.
Alessandro’s stare burned into me, filled with disappointment and something else I couldn’t quite place.
Pity, maybe. Disgust. I wasn’t sure.
I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms as I tried to make sense of what I had just done.
Why did I lie? Why didn’t I just tell my father the truth?
Because I knew the consequences.
Because I had spent my whole life living under his expectations, afraid of what would happen if I failed him.
Because Alpha Maverick wasn’t a man who tolerated failure.
I turned away from Alessandro, unable to face his judgment any longer.
“It doesn’t matter,” I muttered. “What’s done is done.”
“Doesn’t matter?” Alessandro’s voice was sharp, cutting through the tension like a blade.
“You just denied the woman you love, Leonardo. You threw her away like she meant nothing.
And for what? To keep father happy?
To keep up this ridiculous act of duty?”
I exhaled sharply, rubbing my temples. “You don’t understand, Alessandro.”
“No, you don’t understand,” he shot back.
“Lena’s not going to stop, you know that, right?
She wants you all to herself, and now that she sees Aurora as a threat, she’ll do whatever it takes to keep her out of the picture.”
I flinched at his words. He was right. Lena was relentless. She would make sure Aurora was gone for good.
And I had just given her exactly what she needed.
I had betrayed Aurora.
And now, I had no idea how to make it right.
With that, Alessandro walked away, leaving me standing there with my thoughts.
He had always been blunt, never sugarcoating his words, no matter who he was speaking to.
It was one of the most annoying things about him but right now, I couldn’t deny that he was right.
I clenched my fists, my jaw tightening.
“Lena,” I muttered under my breath, turning on my heel and striding toward where I knew she would be.
When I reached her, she was standing with her father, Alpha Maverick, locked in what seemed to be a serious discussion.
The moment they saw me approaching, they stopped talking.
Lena turned to face me with a smirk, while her father simply smiled, giving her a knowing look before stepping away.
I barely acknowledged his departure. As soon as he was gone, I wasted no time unleashing the anger boiling inside me.
“What the hell did you do, Lena?!”
She scoffed, tilting her head. “What I had to do to keep my man.”
I took a step closer, my glare sharp enough to cut. “I am not your man, Lena. And I never will be.”
She folded her arms, an infuriatingly smug expression on her face. “Well, I don’t think you have a say in that, Leonardo.
As far as I’m concerned, you have no choice but to marry me. So… accept it.”
My hands clenched at my sides, my nails digging into my palms as I tried to keep my temper in check.
"Lena," I said through gritted teeth, "you can force this marriage on me, but you will never have my heart."
She let out a soft, mocking laugh. "Oh, Leonardo, you still don’t get it, do you?"
She took a step closer, her eyes gleaming with satisfaction. "This isn't about love.
This is about power, about securing what’s best for our packs. And like it or not, you are a part of that plan."
I shook my head, disgust twisting in my gut. "You think trapping me in a marriage will make me yours?
That I’ll suddenly forget Aurora?"
I let out a bitter chuckle.
"You’re delusional."
Her smirk faltered for just a second before she masked it with confidence.
"Aurora is nothing compared to me.
She has no power, no influence, nothing to offer. You think your father would risk everything for a love story? You should know better, Leo."
I took a sharp breath, trying to control the storm inside me. "If you think I’ll just stand by and let you manipulate my life, you’re wrong."
She raised an eyebrow. "Really? What are you going to do about it?"
I hesitated, my mind racing. I had already lied to my father, denied my love for Aurora.
That moment had slipped away, and now I was trapped in Lena’s game.
Lena noticed my hesitation and smiled triumphantly.
"That’s what I thought," she whispered, brushing past me as she walked away, her scent lingering in the air like a taunt.
I stood there, my chest rising and falling with barely contained frustration.
I had to find a way out of this. Before it was too late.
*****
While walking towards the main entrance of the pack mansion, I saw Aurora stepping inside.
But she wasn’t alone.
My heart clenched at the sight of her, standing beside another man. He was tall, with a strong build and a confident stance, his presence too close to hers for my liking.
I couldn’t see his face as he was facing away from me. I wanted to run to her, to pull her into my arms and tell her how much she meant to me.
To explain everything, to beg for another chance.
But… I couldn’t.
I had ended our relationship. I had lied to my father. I had denied her in front of Alessandro.
And now, she was here moving on, as if I had never mattered to her.
Her laughter rang through the hall, soft and genuine, as she turned to the man beside her.
My fists clenched involuntarily. Did she already replace me? Was I that easy to forget?
Aurora’s eyes lifted, and for a brief moment, they met mine.
Her smile faded.
I saw it then the pain hidden beneath her bright expression, the hurt she tried so hard to mask.
But she didn’t stop. She didn’t say a word.
She just looked away… and kept walking.
And that was when I felt it.
The crushing weight of losing her for good.
Just then, a voice came from behind me.
"You’ve lost her, brother."
I turned to the familiar voice and saw Rafael standing there, arms crossed, a knowing smirk on his face.
"What do you mean?" I asked, my voice sharp.
He smiled again, tilting his head slightly. "Do you know who she was talking to just now?"
I shook my head. "No."
Rafael let out a small chuckle. "Brother… can’t you recognize Alessandro from behind? That was him."
My brows furrowed in confusion. "What are you talking about?"
He shook his head again, as if he couldn’t believe I was so blind. "Alessandro is in love with Aurora, brother.
And you—" he pointed at me "—you are the one who made him realize his feelings for her."
My eyes widened in shock.
"Son of a bitch!"
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