Chapter 45

Asher pov

It was about getting to four years now, since Aurora ran away, and I hadn't heard anything from her. This past few years was like a battle between my heart and brain. My heart still wondered if she was okay, and my brain just wanted to concentrate and focus on my life in front of me.

I stood in front of the bedroom mirror, preparing for my meeting, with my expensive suit matching up to my muscular body, forcing a smile on my face. My brown eyes blurred. I took a deep breath, turning to Sophia, who was still lying on the bed, after coming late from her countless parties she had been having over the years.

I walked up to her, tapping her to wake her up. "Good morning, my angel," I said, still making an effort, despite her stubborn behavior on waking up.

"Oh...I hate you," she said, her eyes still closed, but her voice murmuring in anger. "How many times have I warned you not to wake me up?"

"I just want to tell you that I am about to leave for work, that's all," I said, feeling frustrated.

"And so? Is this the first time you're telling me?" she said, murmuring loudly.

I kissed her on the forehead, rubbing her hair. "Good, you just woke the hungry lioness from her sleep. Be ready, antelope, kissing f*e," she said, opening her eyes with a smile.

"I don't understand 'kissing f*e'?" I asked, looking confused.

"After all these years, I don't know why you find it difficult to understand me," she said, arranging her hair. "I'm looking beautiful for you every day, and you have to appreciate this beauty, sweetheart."

"What do you take me for? A bank?" I asked, my voice increasing with anger.

"I'm your luna, and you must take care of me. Are you sending the money now or not?" she said.

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Sophia, my luna, was asking me for money again. It seemed like no matter how much I gave her, it was never enough.

"Seriously, Sophia?" I asked, trying to keep my temper in check. "You're asking me for money again?"

She pouted, looking up at me with a sulky expression. "What's wrong with that? You're the alpha, it's your duty to take care of me."

I sighed, feeling a familiar bit of frustration. This was exactly why I had been distant from Sophia lately. Her constant demands for money and attention were exhausting.

"I'll send you the money," I said finally, trying to calm her. "But Sophia, we need to talk about this. You can't just keep asking me for money without any consideration for the pack's finances."

Sophia rolled her eyes, looking uninterested. "Whatever, alpha. Just send me the money." She said.

I shook my head, feeling a pang of disappointment. This wasn't the Sophia I had fallen in love with. The Sophia I knew was kind, caring, and thoughtful. This Sophia was selfish and entitled.

I turned to leave, but Sophia's voice stopped me, as she said. "Alpha?" 

I turned back, looking at her. "Yes?" I replied angrily

"Don't forget to send me the money," she said, smiling sweetly.

I nodded, feeling a bit of resignation. I would send her the money, but I knew that this conversation was far from over.

I left the bedroom, feeling a mix of emotions. I was frustrated with Sophia's behavior, but at the same time, I felt a pang of guilt. Was I not providing enough for her? Was that why she was acting this way?

I pushed the thoughts aside and made my way to the office. I had a meeting with the pack's finance team to discuss the upcoming budget. As I sat down at the conference table, I couldn't help but think about Aurora, as the thought just came into my head.

It had been four years since she left, and I still couldn't shake the feeling that I had lost something precious. I wondered what she was doing now, if she was happy.

The meeting began, and I forced myself to focus on the discussion. But my mind kept wandering back to Aurora, and the what-ifs that still haunted me.

Just as the meeting was wrapping up, my assistant walked in with a curious expression. "Alpha, I have some news," she said.

I raised an eyebrow. "What is it?"

"It's about your mother," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

My heart skipped a beat. "What about her?" I asked, my voice tight with anticipation.

"Your mother wants to see you; she is waiting for you in your office," my assistant said, and took a bow. I finished the meeting in a rush and went to see her.

I walked to the door of my office, holding the handle with my shaking hands, taking a deep breath, and closing my eyes to open the door. As I entered, she was already sitting in my chair.

"Good morning, Mother," I said, bowing my head to show respect.

She nodded, but her expression remained serious.

"What brings you here? You know this is office hours; you should have called to tell me to come home," I said, moving to the fridge to bring a juice with two glass cups.

"I'm fed up with you, telling me every day that you would. But you wouldn't come anytime I invite you," she said, her face fading in anger.

"It's not that I wouldn't come. It's just that I am always busy," I said, rolling my eyes in frustration.

"I'm not here to argue with you; I am here for something far greater than that," she said.

"So, what is it?" I asked, offering her a glass of juice.

"Son, I am beginning to get tired of you, and it is getting me frustrated. You know why? It's about that lady you kept as your luna, Sophia, or whatever she calls her name. Isn't she ready to get pregnant and get me a grandchild?" she asked, rejecting the glass of juice from me.

"Mother, what if the woman I truly want to bear my child is someone else entirely?"