Chapter 94: The Heart's Desire.

Alessandro’s POV
“What the fuck is wrong with you, Alessandro?!” I yelled at myself as I covered my head with my duvet.
“Why are you dreaming about Aurora this way?"
I groaned, squeezing my eyes shut, but the vivid images of the dream refused to fade.
My heart was still racing, my body reacting in ways I didn’t want to admit.
This wasn’t the first time it had happened, but it was getting worse.
Aurora.
Why her?
She was Leonardo’s ex. The woman I once considered nothing more than a nuisance in my life.
And now, my subconscious had decided to betray me in the worst way possible.
I sat up, running a hand through my hair in frustration. I needed to get her out of my head.
This wasn’t right. I couldn’t afford to be thinking about her this way, especially not now.
Throwing off the duvet, I climbed out of bed and headed straight for the shower.
Maybe cold water would help wash away the thoughts lingering in my mind.
But as the freezing water hit my skin, I knew deep down this wasn’t going to stop.
I was in trouble.

The cold water did little to help. My body cooled, but my mind stayed hot with thoughts of Aurora—her voice, her scent, the way she looked at me last night. Damn it. I slammed my palm against the shower wall, trying to shake it off.
I couldn’t do this.
I wouldn’t.
She was off-limits.
Stepping out of the shower, I wrapped a towel around my waist and walked back into my room.
The morning light came through the curtains and made the room a little brighter.
I sat on the edge of my bed, rubbing my hands over my face.
I needed a distraction.
Training. That would do it.
I threw on some workout gear and headed to the pack’s training grounds.
The air was cool and fresh. The sun was just starting to come up over the trees. Some warriors were already training, but I didn't feel like talking to them.
I walked over to the punching bag and started throwing punches left, right, jab, uppercut. I let every ounce of frustration pour into each strike.
"Rough morning?"
I turned to see Rafael watching me with an amused expression.
"You have no idea," I muttered, going back to the bag.
He chuckled. "Judging by the way you're attacking that thing, I'd say a woman’s involved."
I froze for half a second before recovering.
"Mind your own business, brother."
He smirked. "Ah, so I’m right."
I ignored him and kept hitting the bag, but Rafel wasn’t the type to let things go easily.
"Let me guess, Aurora?" he pressed.
My fists clenched, and I hit the bag so hard it swung back violently.
Rafael whistled. "Yup. Definitely Aurora."
I shot him a glare. "I don’t want to talk about it."
"Of course you don’t," he said, crossing his arms.
"But you’re gonna have to, eventually."
I exhaled sharply. He wasn’t wrong. But right now, I wasn’t ready to admit what was really going on in my head.
I needed to get over this fast.
Because if I didn’t, I knew there’d be no turning back.
And that scared the hell out of me.
I turned to him and then decided to ask him a question.
“Um, Rafael… if you dream about a lady and in the dream you guys had sex what does it mean?”
Rafael raised an eyebrow at me, clearly amused. "First of all, why are you asking me this out of nowhere?"
I ran a frustrated hand through my hair. "Just answer the damn question, Rafael."
He smirked.
"Alright, alright. Well… usually, it means you're thinking about her a lot.
Maybe you're attracted to her, maybe there's something unresolved between you two."
I frowned. "Unresolved?"
"Yeah. Like feelings you haven't admitted to yourself yet." He shrugged.
"Or maybe you just really want to sleep with her. Simple as that."
I groaned, turning away. "That’s not helpful."
Rafael chuckled. "Oh, but it is. Because based on your reaction, I'd say you’ve got it bad, my brother."
I scowled at him. "I do not."
"Right. Keep telling yourself that," he said, crossing his arms. "But let me give you some advice, figure out what you really want before it eats you alive."
His words stayed in my mind as I threw another punch at the bag, harder this time.
Because deep down, I already knew the truth.
And that scared me more than anything.
“Come on, brother. Let’s go and have breakfast, I’m starving,” Rafael said, clapping me on the shoulder.
I sighed, trying to push the thoughts of Aurora out of my head.
“Yeah… let’s go.”
But even as I followed him out of the training room, I knew this wasn’t the last time she’d invade my thoughts.
While we were walking towards the dining hall, Rafael spoke.
“You know, you’ve changed, Alessandro. The mighty Alessandro has fallen deeply in love with a woman and is seeking my advice… I’m shocked.”
“Shut up,” I muttered, rolling my eyes.
He just smiled, clearly enjoying himself.
We reached the dining hall, and as soon as we stepped inside, the aroma of freshly baked bread and sizzling bacon filled the air.
The long wooden table was already set, Gabriel was sitting and eating when we walked in.
I took a seat, grabbing a plate and piling on some eggs and toast, but my appetite wasn’t really there.
My mind was elsewhere.
Rafael leaned in, smirking.
“You know, Alessandro, if you keep spacing out like this, people will start thinking you’re sick or something.”
I shot him a glare. “I’m fine.”
He chuckled. “Yeah, sure. Fine. That’s why you nearly walked into the door earlier.”
I ignored him, taking a sip of my coffee. But even as I forced myself to focus on breakfast, Aurora’s face kept flashing in my mind her and the fucking dream I had about her.
Damn it.
Rafael nudged me with his elbow. “You should just admit it. You like her.”
I sighed, placing my fork down. “Even if I did, it doesn’t matter.”
His expression softened. “Why not?”
I clenched my jaw. “Because it’s complicated.”
Rafael studied me for a moment before shrugging. “Love is always complicated, brother.
But it’s worth it.”
I didn’t respond. I couldn’t. Because deep down, I knew he was right.
And that scared me.
“How is it worth it, Rafael. She was Leonardo’s ex mate and now I’m interested in her. Don’t you think that means I betrayed my brother?”
Rafael sighed, setting his cup down and leaning back in his chair. “Alessandro, let me ask you something did you steal her from Leonardo? Did you force her to leave him?”
I frowned. “No, of course not. Their bond broke on its own.”
“Exactly,” he said, crossing his arms. “She’s not his mate anymore. Whatever they had, it’s over. You didn’t betray anyone.”
I ran a hand through my hair, frustrated. “It doesn’t change the fact that he still loved her.”
Rafael scoffed. “Did he? Really? Because from what I remember, he treated her like she was nothing.
And now that you’re interested, suddenly he wants to claim her again?” He shook his head.
“That’s not love, Alessandro. That’s possession.”
His words hit me harder than I expected.
I knew Leonardo. I knew how he was. He never valued anything until he lost it. And Aurora… she was never his priority.
But that didn’t mean I could just take what he let go.
Right?
I sighed. “Even if you’re right, it doesn’t matter. She might not even feel the same way about me.”
Rafael smirked. “Yeah? Then why are you dreaming about her every damn night?”
I glared at him, but he only laughed. “Face it, brother. You’re falling for her. And from what I’ve seen… she might just be falling for you too.”
My chest tightened at his words.
Because the scariest part?
I wanted to believe him.
I didn't respond right away. Instead, I stared at the untouched plate of food in front of me, my appetite completely gone.
Falling for her?
That thought alone was enough to send my mind spiraling.
I had spent years building walls around myself, convincing everyone including myself that I didn’t need love. That I didn’t want it.
But Aurora… she was different.
Rafael nudged my arm, snapping me out of my thoughts.
“Come on, Alessandro. You know I’m right.”
I sighed.
“Even if I do like her, it doesn’t change anything. She probably still sees me as the arrogant asshole who made her life miserable when she first got here.”
Rafael chuckled.
“Oh, don’t get me wrong, you were an asshole. But people change. And from what I’ve seen, she sees that too.”
I wanted to argue. To deny it. But deep down, I knew he had a point.
Aurora wasn’t just some passing distraction.
She was the one person who had gotten under my skin in ways I never thought possible.
And that scared the hell out of me.
Before I could respond, the doors to the dining hall opened, and as if the universe itself was taunting me, Aurora walked in.
She looked stunning even in something as simple as leggings and a hoodie.
Her golden brown hair was pulled into a messy bun, a few loose strands framing her delicate face.
She smiled at someone across the room, completely unaware of the way my entire body tensed at the sight of her.
Rafael noticed. Of course he did.
His smirk widened as he leaned in and whispered, “You’re so screwed.”
I glared at him, but my eyes betrayed me as they found her once again.
And as much as I wanted to deny it…
I knew he was right.
I was so screwed.