Chapter 6: She's Hot

RAYMOND POV

The food in front of us was fresh and steaming. I couldn’t help but notice the maid had gone out of her way to serve Silas’ favorite dishes. I guess that was under my father’s instruction. Now that Silas was back, he was acting like he was fully recovered, sitting up and talking as if he hadn’t looking like a corpse all this while.

The only reason he was asleep now was because the doctor forced him to take his treatment. Otherwise, he would’ve stayed up all night, staring at Silas like he might vanish the moment he closed his eyes. So annoying.

I stabbed my fork into my food, unable to stomach much, before breaking the silence. “So, who would’ve thought you’d find your way back here after abandoning everyone in the pack?”

Silas glanced up, his expression calm but his tone sharp. “Abandoning?” He let out a bitter laugh. “You really think that?”

I scoffed, dropping my fork with a clatter. “Then maybe you should start explaining why you were gone for ten years. Not even a local letter, not a single word. And now you’re here, and Father’s treating you like some kind of king. I can’t believe it.”

Silas leaned back, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. “Are you upset about that, Raymond? Is it jealousy I hear?”

His words hit me like a punch to the gut. My jaw clenched as my anger boiled over. I pushed my chair back, ready to lash out, but before I could get a word out, the door creaked open and look at the direction of who walks in and the clang of my fork hitting the plate startled me, but I didn’t even realize I’d dropped it. My gaze was locked on her—Aurora.

She wasn’t wearing that long, loose gown anymore. No. Now, she had on a mini dress, short enough to make my throat go dry. The way it hugged her curves—God, she’d changed. She’d put on weight, but in all the right places. Her hips, her thighs, her calves—they all seemed to scream for attention. And she wasn’t wearing a bra. Her nipples stood firm against the thin fabric of her dress, daring anyone to look.

And then, what the fuck, A damn tattoo on her wrist.

When did she get that? Since when did she become someone who wore tattoos, or clothes like this? This wasn’t the Aurora I remembered. This was someone else entirely.

She walked in like she owned the room, every step making my pulse hammer harder. I rubbed my face, pretending it was to see clearer, but really, I couldn’t stop staring. She sat beside Silas, leaned in, and whispered something in his ear. The way they exchanged words, quiet and easy, sent a jolt of anger through me.

She shifted in her chair, and her body moved with her—her breasts bouncing slightly, her glowing skin catching the light. And was that a waist bead I saw beneath the sheer fabric of her dress? What the hell? When did she start dressing like this? When did she start… looking like this?

I was so fixated I didn’t even notice Lilian walk in until she was right beside me. Her fingers pinched my arm, snapping me out of my daze. I jolted, blinking as reality crashed back in.

“Raymond,” she hissed, her voice sharp and low.

I swallowed hard, forcing myself to focus. But my eyes betrayed me, sneaking glances at Aurora. She wasn’t even looking at me—like I didn’t exist. Like I was invisible.

I clenched my jaw, trying to ignore the fire raging inside me. How did she manage to affect me like this? How did she look so effortlessly… perfect? Where did hell as she been?, How the hell did she meet Silas?, and they already had a grown up child together…

I kept my focus on my food, pretending not to notice how my thoughts were in chaos because of Aurora.

Then Lillian spoke.

“Aurora, at least we should stop pretending we don’t know each other,” she said, her voice sweet but edged with something else. “We’ve all been wondering where you’ve been all this while. And now that we’re a family, we should at least forget about the past, right?”

Her words were directed at me as much as Aurora, but I refused to look up. I kept my eyes glued to my plate like I hadn’t heard a word.

Silas broke the silence. “She told me everything.”

That made my head snap up. She told him? So Aurora had explained it all to Silas, and apparently, he didn’t even care.

“I think we should just forget anything from the past and focus on the present,” Silas continued, his tone calm and firm. “This should be one big family. And Lillian, you and Aurora should get along until we leave the pack.”

“Of course!” Lillian said quickly, her voice dripping with false excitement. “We should get along. I can’t wait for my baby to meet Liam and give him a little brother.”

I froze. Did she just—

Aurora’s voice broke through my spiraling thoughts. “Wow, you’re pregnant?”

Lillian nodded, her hand briefly resting on her stomach. “Of course, we’re expecting a baby.” Then she turned to me, smiling that fake smile of hers.

“Since we’re thinking about the best name to give our child, maybe we can name him after you, Silas,” she said smoothly. Then she looked directly at me. “Right, Raymond? Right, babe?”

The words hit me like a slap. I opened my mouth to respond, but the food in my throat betrayed me, choking me. I coughed violently, water spilling from my mouth as I tried to recover.

Lillian’s smug face only made it worse. My anger boiled over. I shoved back my chair, stood abruptly, and stormed out of the dining room without a word.

I needed air. I needed space. I needed to figure out how the hell my life had turned into this mess.

*****

The old building was my escape. Tucked away on the edge of the pack grounds, it had been abandoned for years, but it still held some of the things we used as kids. I stepped inside, my anger bubbling over. My eyes landed on the drum set in the corner, dusty but still standing strong. Without a second thought, I sat down, grabbed the sticks, and let everything out.

Each beat matched the pounding in my chest. The anger, frustration, jealousy—I slammed it all into the drum. It was the only thing that calmed me, even just a little. But no matter how hard I hit, her face wouldn’t leave my head. Aurora, laughing with Silas. Aurora, ignoring me like I was nothing. And then Lillian, sitting beside me, acting like she owned me.

I threw the sticks down and stood, my hands shaking. This wasn’t working.

I stepped out into the cool night air, trying to clear my mind. As I walked back toward the pack house, something caught my eye. Aurora. She was walking alone, her figure lit up by the faint moonlight.

Before I could stop myself, I was moving toward her. My steps quickened, and as soon as I was close enough, I grabbed her arm.

“What the—Raymond!” she gasped, trying to pull away.

I didn’t say a word, just dragged her with me. She struggled, her hand tugging against my grip, but I didn’t let go.

“Let me go!” she hissed, her voice sharp.

I didn’t stop until we were far enough away, outside the main house, where no one could see us. Finally, I let her go.

Aurora spun around, furious. “Raymond, are you mad? What the hell was that?” she snapped, glaring at me. “Why would you just drag me like that? Am I your cow or some kind of bush meat you can haul around?”

I stared at her, breathing hard, my fists clenched at my sides. She looked so angry, but all I could think about was how close she was, how her scent was driving me insane.

I didn’t know what to say. All I knew was I couldn’t stand seeing her act like she didn’t care. Like none of this mattered. Like I didn’t matter.

Aurora turned to leave, and something inside me snapped.

“Aurora, will you stop this?” I yelled. “You vanished out of the blue—over four years ago! And now you’re back? With my brother? And a child? What the hell is going on?”

She froze but didn’t turn back. I kept going, unable to stop.

“Do you even understand what this means? I’ve been here, day and night, thinking about you, blaming myself for what happened, wondering if I’d ever see you again. And you—” I laughed bitterly. “You just went off, found another guy, slept with him, had a child, and now you’re back? You don’t even care, do you? When I’ve been tormenting myself all these years, you—” I looked at her, my voice shaking. “Your whole style has changed. Short dresses, tattoos… Is this the same Aurora I knew?”

She finally turned to face me, her expression cold. Then she laughed.

“Don’t you think you look ridiculous right now?” she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “You searched for me? You looked for me? Are you serious?”

“Aurora—” I started, but she cut me off.

“Do you not remember?” She raised an eyebrow. “You rejected me, Raymond. You. So don’t stand here acting like a victim. I have every right to live my life, and that’s exactly what I did.”

Her hands moved to her shoulder as she pulled her dress down slightly, revealing the faded mating mark I gave her years ago.

“This?” she said, pointing to the mark. “You did this to hold me back, didn’t you? To make sure I couldn’t move on. But guess what?” She smirked. “I found a high spiritualist who broke the bond. Whatever power this mark carried—it’s gone. I’m free, Raymond.”

Her words hit me like a punch to the gut.

“And yes,” she added, her voice sharp, “I had a child with another man. Unfortunately, the Moon Goddess has a sick sense of humor because I didn’t know he was your brother. But now that it’s out, it doesn’t matter. It’s done. So get the hell out of my sight, Raymond.”

I clenched my fists as she turned to walk away again.

“Oh, really?” I shot back. “You moved on, huh? You think you’re free? I couldn’t even touch another woman for four years, Aurora! Four years! Do you know how hard that was for me?”

She spun around, glaring at me. “But Lillian managed just fine, didn’t she? She jumped straight to the Moon Goddess and now has a child in her belly, right?”

I felt my chest tighten. “Yes, she’s pregnant,” I admitted, my voice low. “But it was a mistake. I didn’t plan for that to happen.”

“Whatever,” Aurora snapped. “Raymond, just let me be. Focus on your own life and leave me alone. You’re nothing but a part of my past. I’ve moved on. Just accept being my brother-in-law in this present life.”

She turned to leave again.

“I won’t let you go!” I shouted, my voice desperate.

But before I could do anything, another voice echoed from behind me.

“Then I’ll make you let her go.”

I froze, my body stiffening as I turned around. Silas stood there, his eyes blazing with fury.