“Are you scared you’re going to see him again?” He didn’t wait for Avielle to reply before he added, “You don’t have to worry, I made sure not to invite anyone from High Mountains pack.” Relief flooded her, yet she tried not to show it on her face.
“You didn’t have to do that for me Zaden.
But I appreciate it though, I really do.” She would have much preferred it if he could have stopped anyone from Obsidian coming in, but then directly mentioning Obsidian would definitely expose her.
“Great, then I’ll see you tonight.” “No…I mean, I still can’t.
I just…” “Ava, you’re thinking this too much.
How about this, take it as an official welcoming into this pack, this is your home now right, you’re gonna have to build some connections here and I’m the only one who can help with that.” Avielle had run out of reasons at this point.
What could she possibly tell him to make him give up on trying to bring her with him to the ball?
— “Something just arrived for you, Elle.” Avielle had just dropped her bag tiredly on the sofa after returning home that evening.
Aunt Sarah’s expression looked tense, it made Avielle frown and follow her upstairs, “What is it, Aunt?” Avielle stopped in her tracks as he entered her room, there was a clothing rack sitting in her bedroom with three dresses hung on them.
Beautiful ball gowns of three different designs.
“This is why I warned you to try to stay away from the alpha, he won’t stop until you go with him to that ball.” “I tried to stay away, but he wouldn’t leave me alone.” Avielle sighed, grabbing a note sitting on her bed.
[Pick your favorite, I’ll send a car to come get you tomorrow night.] “I don’t know why he’s pursuing you so persistently.” “Aunt, I’m not that unattractive am I?” Avielle humored with a smile.
“Of course not, he’s obviously pursuing you despite your pregnancy because he finds you very attractive.
But what makes it confusing is the fact that any sane man wouldn’t do that when the woman in question is carrying another man’s child.” “I know what you mean, and I think you’re right.” Avielle said, watching her aunt with a trace of sympathy.
The woman looked pale, and she had evidently lost some weight too.
Was this because of her?
Her aunt must be so much more worried about her than she thought, or was there something else?
There were several times she had walked in on her aunt talking to someone over the phone, but the woman would dismiss it as her talking to her old acquaintances.
“Aunt Sarah, leave that, you look tired.” Avielle took the clothes she was folding from her and forced her to sit down.
Aunt Sarah sat by the bed wearily, “It’s just…
I’m scared for you Elle.” Avielle’s heart skipped a beat.
Aunt Sarah was a very strong person, Avielle had never heard her openly show her fear before.
Avielle knelt in front of her, holding both her hands.
“Aunt we’re going to be okay.
I’m sorry for letting you go through this, I know you’re having a hard time too…” Aunt Sarah shook her head, “No, don’t apologize Elle.
You’re like a daughter to me.
I let your mother down by not finding you sooner, I’ll be here with you even if we have to walk through hell.” Avielle smiled gratefully.
“If the alpha wants you at that ball then you should go, if you continue to refuse it will raise suspicion.
But I want you to guard your heart, one alpha broke it, we don’t want another one doing it too.” Avielle nodded in understanding, “Don’t worry aunt, I’m not that stupid.
I won’t go through the same thing twice.” Avielle had learned her lesson, she didn’t need a man in her life and she didn’t plan to fall for one.
Her words brought a smile to Aunt Sarah’s face, “That’s my girl.
You’re just like your mother, she’s strong and undefeatable.” Avielle swallowed a bitter lump at the mention of her mother.
She looked away, avoiding the conversation.
Talking about her parents reminded her of how she lost them and her whole life became a nightmare afterwards.
Aunt Sarah caressed her hair, “I pray to the goddess that you won’t relive my past Elle.” Avielle’s eyes swung up to her in confusion, “What happened in your past?” Avielle realized she knew little to nothing about the life her aunt had lived before they saw each other again.
“My husband…ex husband cheated on me too.” She said standing up to walk towards the window, looking out into the distance but Avielle could tell she was just hiding her pain.
“My heart was broken but unlike you, I didn’t leave, I couldn’t.
I had to live everyday seeing a man who once loved me shower that love on another woman, but…
maybe he had enough of me, one day he kicked me out but he took our daughter.” “Why haven’t you told me any of this?” Avielle’s heart broke for her aunt.
It hurt to know that her aunt had been through something as painful as what she’d gone through as well.
“Because I didn’t want to burden you with my story.” “You could never be a burden to me Aunt Sarah.” Sarah smiled warmly, but her eyes soon turned bitter as she continued.
“My ex husband cheating and kicking me out of our home isn’t the worst part Elle, what hurts the most is the fact that he kicked me out of my own pack and took my rightful position as alpha.
I’d married him out of love, not from a mate bond, he had nothing then, but coming into our home I had no idea he manipulated my father into believing I was the bad guy and with my own father’s trust he gained all the power and position he’d ever wanted.
Then he no longer had any use for me.” She could feel the fury and vengeance from aunt Sarah radiating in the air.
“That’s horrible.
He didn’t only take everything away from you, but even your own child as well.
You never got to know your own daughter?” Avielle asked brokenly.
She couldn’t even begin to imagine the amount of pain that must have caused her aunt.
She touched her stomach subconsciously.
Kyrian would come here tomorrow, what if he did the same to her too, take her children and leave her with nothing?
A bright flare of anxiety surfaced in Avielle’s sharp blue eyes.
“No, I never met her, I only saw her dead body.” Avielle gasped in shock.
“She died at fifteen, she was just a child…he only let me see her after she was gone.” Avielle hugged her when she started to sob.
Feeling hatred for a man she’d never even met.
“I’m so sorry you went through that Aunt Sarah, but you don’t have to worry about me.
I’ll never let anyone take away my pups.” The sheer power and determination that oozed out of Avielle’s voice almost frightened her, but she knew that was how she felt.
If Kyrian ever tried to, Avielle knew she would go to any length, she would wreck havoc upon him, she would destroy everything and anything to stop him from taking her babies.
For a brief moment, without Avielle even noticing herself, her dark blue eyes flashed violet.