Chapter 4: Unexpected news

RAYMOND’S POV

Three years had passed, and not a single day went by without the weight of my choices crushing me. I have to stop myself from going to Aurora Apartment to cry on her innocent door, she just disappear, at this point I had convinced myself I had no choice but to be the man I’d become—yes, I tarnsformed myeslf that cold, calculating, and heartless one. since I thought that was the only way to secure my future, or so I thought.

Sitting in my office, the walls seemed to close in on me. The Alpha King’s position, the title I’d sacrificed everything for, still felt so far out of reach. My father, Alpha Nicholas, continued to favor Silas, my older brother, the golden child who hadn’t even set foot in the pack for over a decade. Silas had abandoned us after completing his Alpha training, yet he was still the one my father spoke of with pride, as if the mere mention of his name brought honor to our family.

Meanwhile, I had to fight tooth and claw for even a shred of acknowledgment.

That’s why I’d done it. Why I’d rejected Aurora.

I told myself it was necessary—mating with Lilian, the daughter of a powerful Alpha, to bring strength and alliances to the pack. It was supposed to solidify my claim to the Alpha King’s position, and my Father will see me first and not silas this time. It made sense on paper: a strategic move, a sacrifice for the greater good. But no amount of reasoning could erase the sickening guilt that clung to me like a second skin.

Aurora.

Her name haunted me, even my wolf abandoned me for my action.

I’d loved her. No, I still love her, still so much in love with her. That truth carved itself deeper into my heart with each passing day. But I let ambition drown out my feelings. I told myself she was just an orphan, someone who couldn’t help me climb higher. I didn’t even tell my father about her, keeping our relationship hidden, as if she were a dirty little secret, I tried my best that nobody knows about my relationship with her, and I lied to her that" I'm just protecting you" , and she innocently believed my words.

And marking her? Goddess, what was I thinking? I had no right. I did it to keep her bound to me, to ensure that no one else could claim her even though I couldn’t openly claim her myself. It was selfish and cruel, and I knew it. But at the time, I didn’t care. I thought I could have it all—power, position, and Aurora waiting in the shadows.

But life doesn’t work that way...RAYMOND, YOU ARE A BEAST.

Three years. Three agonizing years since she disappeared. No one had seen her, no whispers of her whereabouts. It was as if the earth had swallowed her whole. And it was my fault. I drove her away. I’d stripped her of everything—her pride, her dignity, her hope—and left her with nothing.

I leaned back in my chair, staring at the ceiling as my chest tightened.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered into the silence of the room, though no one was there to hear it.

Lilian was a good mate on paper, the perfect partner to secure the alliances and power I needed. But there was no love between us. There never had been. She knew it, too. She wasn’t stupid.

She didn’t have Aurora’s fire, her stubbornness, her funny jokes, or dramatic dancing steps, that crack me up.

A knock at the door pulled me from my thoughts. “Come in,” I said, straightening my posture, donning the mask of the Alpha-in-waiting.

My Beta, Lucas, stepped in, a grim expression on his face.

“Any news?” I asked, though I already knew the answer.

He shook his head. “No sign of her, Alpha.”

I swallowed the lump in my throat and nodded, dismissing him with a wave of my hand. The door closed, leaving me alone with my torment.

Aurora was out there somewhere. I could feel it in my bones. The bond, though faint, still tugged at me, reminding me that she was alive. But where? Was she safe? Did she hate me as much as I hated myself?

I stood and walked to the window, staring out at the packlands.

I had everything I thought I wanted—status, power, a mate that made me look strong. But without Aurora, it all felt empty.

If I ever found her, would she even look at me? Could I ever make her forgive me? Or was I doomed to live with this regret, this unrelenting ache, for the rest of my life?

“Moon Goddess,” I whispered, my voice breaking, “if you’re listening…please, just let her be safe.

Four damn years since the day Aurora and I realized we were mates. That day used to be my greatest memory, but now it’s a constant reminder of what I threw away.

Every year, I went to her apartment—the place that still smelled faintly of her even though she hadn’t lived there in years. It was my way of punishing myself, standing in that empty space, clutching bluebells—her favorite flowers—and pretending for a second that she was still there.

This year, I couldn’t even do that. The pack demanded my attention from sunrise to moonrise. I had barely slept for days, buried under reports about rogue attacks and failed alliance deals. My father’s expectations weighed on me like chains, and Silas—my perfect older brother—still hung over my head. He’d left the pack ten years ago after completing his Alpha training, but my father still saw him as the better choice to take over, so I still continue trying my best to impress my father.

So I’d done what I had to. Mating with Lillian, the daughter of a powerful Alpha, gave me leverage. She had the status I needed, and I knew my father couldn’t ignore the strength her bloodline brought to our pack. 

Back then, I let it happen, I know Lilian also seduce me, but because i also needed her, I let herr pull me to her world.

Today, I barely got through my tasks, snapping at anyone who dared cross me. Aurora was on my mind the entire time, and my frustration bled into everything I did. By the time I returned to the pack house, I was on edge,so tired.

But getting home, the dining room was a surprise. Candles flickered on the table, and the scent of roasted lamb filled the air. Lillian had gone all out. She stood by the table, smiling like she’d just won a prize. Her hair was styled perfectly, her dress revealing every curve.

“You’re home,my love” she said softly. “ Just us.” she added pointing at the table.

“I’m not hungry,” I muttered, shrugging off my jacket. I didn’t have the energy for this.

Her smile wavered, but she moved closer, her heels clicking against the floor. She placed a hand on my chest, her touch lingering. “Raymond,” she whispered, “you’ve been so distant. Let me help you relax.”

I stiffened. This wasn’t new. Lillian had always used her body as a weapon, and I wasn’t blind to her methods. Back then, I allow her seduce me because it suited my plans, but now... now it was just exhausting.

“I’m tired,” I said, stepping back.

Her expression darkened, but she didn’t let go. Instead, she stepped closer, her voice low and sharp. “You’re always tired, Raymond. You’re my mate. This is normal. Don’t you think I deserve more than this?”

Normal. The word made my stomach twist. There was nothing normal about this arrangement.

The only few times I’d had sex with her, I’d made sure I was drunk enough to forget who I was. I hated myself for it, knowing that every moment with her was another knife in Aurora’s heart, wherever she was. I had marked Aurora, and even if she was gone, I couldn’t bring myself to fully give in to Lillian. I was careful—too careful—never to let her get pregnant. I couldn’t risk that.

“Not tonight,” I said firmly.

Lillian’s patience snapped. “Not tonight?” she repeated, her voice rising. “You’ve been saying that for years, Raymond! Do you even care about me? Or are you just using me like everyone says you are?”

I looked away, running a hand through my hair. “Lillian, I never promised—”

But before i could finished my word. My head snapped to the side, Lilian just slap me..

“Don’t you dare lie to me!” she shouted, her voice filled with fury. Her chest heaved with anger, her eyes wild.

I stood there, frozen, as she stormed across the room. She grabbed a glass from the table and hurled it against the wall, the sound of shattering glass echoing through the room.

This wasn’t the first time she’d lost her temper. Lillian had a reputation in the pack house—staff members practically walked on eggshells around her, afraid of triggering one of her outbursts. Her anger issue is more like a crazy being. 

“You think I don’t see it?” she hissed. “You’re still hung up on that orphan girl. Aurora. You think I don’t know?!”

My fists clenched at the mention of her name. Lillian’s laugh was cold and bitter as she continued, “Well, guess what, Raymond? She’s not coming back. She’s gone. And you’re stuck with me.”

I turned to leave, not trusting myself to speak, but her next words stopped me in my tracks.

“For your information Alpha Mr Raymond, I’m pregnant.”

Pregnant.

The word echoed in my head, louder than the sound of the shattered glass. 

This couldn’t be happening.