Chapter 95: Love's Complications.

Aurora’s POV
I returned to my room that evening and couldn’t stop thinking about my conversation with Alessandro.
He had completely changed, and I wondered what could have caused the Almighty, cold Alessandro to have a sudden soft spot for me.
It didn’t make sense.
The same man who once treated me as nothing more than an outsider who barely acknowledged me unless it was to argue or challenge me was now looking at me differently. Speaking to me differently.
Like he actually cared.
I sighed, running a hand through my hair as I sat on the edge of my bed.
I shouldn’t be thinking about him this much.
But I was.
The way he looked at me earlier, the way his voice softened when he spoke… it made my heart race in a way that scared me.
Because I knew what it meant.
And I wasn’t sure if I was ready for it.
Shaking my head, I lay back against the pillows, staring up at the ceiling.
No. I couldn’t let myself fall for Alessandro.
Not when I knew how dangerous it would be.
Not when my heart had already been broken once before.
And especially not when he was Leonardo’s brother.
But as much as I tried to push the thought away…
I knew it was already too late.
Because no matter how hard I tried to deny it, Alessandro was already finding a way into my heart.
And that terrified me more than anything.
Just then, my phone rang, snapping me out of my thoughts. I grabbed it from my bedside table and checked the caller ID.
It was my friend, Annie.
I sighed in relief. Maybe talking to her would help clear my mind.
I swiped to the right, pressing the green button to pick up.
"Hey, Annie," I said, trying to sound normal.
"Aurora! Finally, you picked up. I was starting to think you were avoiding me," she teased.
I let out a small laugh. "No, nothing like that. I was just… lost in thought."
"Lost in thought?" she repeated, her voice filled with curiosity.
"Wait a minute… does this have anything to do with a certain brooding Alpha named Alessandro?"
I froze.
Damn it, how does she always know?
I froze.
Damn it, how does she always know?
"W-What? No!" I stammered, a little too quickly.
Annie gasped dramatically. "Oh my Goddess! It is about him! Aurora, you have to spill. What happened? Did he finally admit he’s madly in love with you?"
I groaned, flopping onto my bed. "No, nothing like that. It’s just… he’s different now. Warmer. And I don’t understand why."
Annie hummed. "Maybe he’s finally seeing what an amazing woman you are?"
I sighed. "I don’t know, Annie. This is Alessandro we’re talking about. He used to hate me. Now he’s acting like he cares, and I just don’t get it."
"Maybe because he does care?" she suggested.
I stayed silent.
Did he?
That thought alone sent my heart racing.
"Aurora, don’t overthink it," Annie continued.
"Maybe you should just go with the flow and see where it leads."
Go with the flow?
That was easier said than done.
Still, I couldn’t shake the feeling that whatever this was between Alessandro and me… it was only just beginning.
"Aurora?" Annie’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts.
"Yeah, I’m here," I mumbled.
"You totally spaced out, didn’t you?" she teased.
I rolled my eyes. "Maybe."
She laughed. "Okay, fine. But seriously, Aurora. If Alessandro is treating you differently, it’s for a reason.
Guys like him don’t just change overnight unless something or someone makes them want to."
I bit my lip, staring at the ceiling. "I just don’t want to get my hopes up."
"Aurora, when have you ever let yourself hope for anything when it comes to love?" she asked softly.
That made my heart squeeze a little.
She wasn’t wrong.
I had spent so long protecting myself, so long convincing myself that love true love wasn’t meant for me.
But now…
Alessandro was making me question everything.
"I don’t know, Annie," I admitted. "Maybe I’m just scared."
"It’s okay to be scared, Aurora," she said. "But don’t let that fear stop you from finding something real."
I sighed.
Something real.
Was that what this was?
Or was I just setting myself up for heartbreak?
"Aurora," Annie said, her voice turning mischievous. "Be honest. Do you like him?"
I opened my mouth to deny it.
To say no.
To tell her she was reading too much into things.
But the words never came.
Because deep down, I already knew the truth.
And that terrified me more than anything.
“I… I don’t know, Annie. I mean, he is Leonardo’s brother, and you and I both know that Leonardo and I had history.”
“Hmmm… yeah. I know. History where he broke up with you, saying he didn’t love you and wanted to marry that Lena bitch,” Annie said.
I sighed, staring at the ceiling. “I… just feel like it’s weird, you know? Going from one brother to another.”
“Uh… nah. I don’t see a big deal about it. Maybe Alessandro was your original mate, but you were blinded by your crush or feelings for Leonardo probably because he was nicer and more accommodating than Alessandro.
I mean, I would fall for the nicest person who showed me more care if I were in your shoes too.
But maybe now your heart has finally realized that Leonardo isn’t the one meant to take care of your heart and protect you, but Alessandro… just my take.” Annie said.
I bit my lip, processing Annie’s words.
Could she be right?
Had I been so caught up in Leonardo’s charm, in his warmth and easygoing nature, that I had ignored what my heart truly needed?
"I don’t know, Annie," I murmured. "It just feels… complicated."
She scoffed. "Love is complicated, Aurora. It’s messy, confusing, and never happens the way we expect. But that doesn’t mean you should run from it."
I sighed again, rubbing my temples. "It’s not that easy."
"Nothing worth having ever is," she shot back.
I stayed silent, letting her words sink in.
Was Alessandro really the one meant for me?
Had I been blind to it all along?
And if I let myself feel something for him… would it be worth the risk?
Because the thought of losing him of ruining whatever fragile connection we had was just as terrifying as the idea of loving him.
But deep down… I knew Annie had a point.
Maybe Alessandro was the one who was meant to protect my heart all along.
And maybe… just maybe…
I was finally ready to let him.
“I don’t know, Annie. I mean, I honestly still feel hurt about what Leonardo did to me.
I still remember the way he said those words that he didn’t love me.
But honestly, you should have seen the way he reacted when he saw me with Alessandro.
He was so… jealous.”
It felt strange, seeing Leonardo like that. After everything he had put me through, after telling me I meant nothing to him, he had the audacity to look at me that way?
Like he suddenly cared?
Annie scoffed.
“Oh, now he’s jealous? Please. Men always want what they threw away the moment they see someone else valuing it.”
I sighed, running a hand through my hair. “I just… I don’t know what to do, Annie.
A part of me still hurts, but another part of me…” I trailed off, unsure how to put my feelings into words.
“Another part of you wants Alessandro,” Annie finished for me.
I swallowed hard. “Maybe…”
“Maybe?” she laughed. “Aurora, I can hear it in your voice. You’re falling for him.”
I didn’t say anything because deep down, I knew she was right.
Annie sighed dramatically. “Girl, just admit it. You like him.”
I bit my lip, my heart pounding. “It’s complicated, Annie.”
“No, it’s not.” She huffed. “Leonardo threw you away like trash, and now he’s mad someone else sees your worth?
Screw him. And Alessandro? He’s been different with you, hasn’t he?”
I hesitated before nodding, even though she couldn’t see me. “Yeah… he has.
He’s not as cold as I thought he was. It’s like… he actually cares.”
“Exactly.” Annie’s voice softened. “Aurora, don’t let your past with Leonardo stop you from seeing what’s right in front of you. Alessandro might just be what you deserve.”
I swallowed the lump in my throat, my fingers tightening around my phone.
“But what if I get hurt again?”
Annie was quiet for a moment before she said, “Then at least you gave yourself a chance to be happy.”
I let out a shaky breath. Maybe she was right. Maybe Alessandro was different.
Maybe… just maybe… I was finally ready to let someone in again.
Just then, I heard a knock on my door.
“Um… Annie, hold on a sec. There’s someone outside my door. Let me go and check.”
I pulled the phone away from my ear and stood up, my heart beating a little faster for some reason. Who could it be at this hour?
Taking a deep breath, I walked over and slowly opened the door.