ALMOST KISSED

CHAPTER SEVEN

Aurora's POV

“Arthur.” I call with a calm voice.

He tousles his hair in annoyance, before walking into the room. I watch in silence as he goes over to my bed and sits on it. If he’s doing that, it means he’s not very mad at me and a simple apology will set things right between us.

"Ward and his gang. I couldn't fight them all. After you left, I tried to beat them up, but I was outnumbered and they dealt with me squarely. I had to sustain this.” He explains the last part, looking down at his sprained arm.

"Oh, Arthur, I'm so sorry for making you go through this. It was all my fault to begin with. I hope you forgive me." I cry as I face-palm myself, letting a few drops of tears fall down my face.

He drifts closer to me and uses his free hand to bring down my hand from my face. I let him hold them.

"Nothing is your fault Aurora. You tried to defend yourself and I blame you for nothing.” He says in his usual calm tone and I can feel the sincerity in his voice.

"Thank you Arthur.” I thank him as I struggle to wipe my tears away.

"Let's talk about you, Aurora. What happened to you after the incident at the cafeteria yesterday? Where did you go?" He questions, with his eyes not leaving my face. "I tried to mind link you, to know your whereabouts, but you kept shutting me out.” His tone is now serious and I feel so bad, but I cannot not tell him what happened.

I cannot tell him about my encounter with Alpha Carter, because I know he wouldn't hesitate to go after him.

"Aurora, you don't look okay. Tell me what exactly happened. What happened when you left the cafeteria?” He keeps insisting, but I don’t say anything.

I just stare at him blankly and later shake my head.

"Nothing happened. I only got involved in more shit with Chloe and her girls. They confronted me after I left the cafeteria and I was given some punishment to do and that was it." I don’t like the fact that I just lied to him, but I had to.

I can’t tell him I found my mate and he rejected me. I can’t tell him I got locked up in the scholl dungeon for twenty fours hours. He’s gonna want to attack Aloha Carter and that’s only going to cause more problems for the two of us.

"You worked punishment for one whole day?" He questions with a doubtful look on his face and I nodded my head.

"Aurora!"

My mother’s voice comes through just as I’m about to say something.

What am I going to tell her now?

I furrow my brows and look down at Arthur as I walk to the door. As I open it, I see my mother standing before me with a worried look on her face.

I take a frightened step backwards and bow my head down as I start fiddling with my fingers.

"Oh, goodness! Aurora. You are safe. I was worried sick about you." She cries as she walks over to and wraps her hands around my body.

I furrow my brows in confusion.

Wasn't she supposed to be mad at me or something?

I mean, I have been away from home since yesterday.

She then releases me and walks over to Arthur with a smile on her face and examines his arm. "Thank you so much for risking yourself for my daughter. Do not worry, you will get better soon.” She tells him calmly.

I am still confused. How did she know I was in any sort of danger?

What did Arthur tell her while I was away?

Because I know he will stop at nothing to protect me.

"I will leave you two now." she smiles at me, before exiting my bedroom. Once the door closes behind her, I look at Arthur, demanding an explanation.

"I know that look. Since you kept blocking my mind link, I figured out something was wrong. I had to come over to check on you. When I came and met just your mother, she asked about you and I had to lie. I told her you were with me when some rogues from an unknown pack attacked my place and I had to put my life on the line for you.”

His state looks exactly like what he just said, sad and I feel bad for him.

“I'm sorry Arthur. This should not have happened to you?" I apologize yet again.

"It's okay. I mean, friends are meant to protect each other, right?” He asks, raising his right brow and I smile widely.

"And I'm so lucky to have a friend like you.” I tell him, leaning over to place a kiss on his cheeks.

He suddenly turns his face to the side of my lips and our lips almost touch. I quickly jerk away from him with my eyes wide open in shock.

"I'm sorry." He apologizes almost in a whisper, with his eyes not daring to meet mine.

"It's nothing." I calmly replied.

The level of awkwardness between us now is exhilarating. This has never happened before.

"You still haven't told me what happened back in school. You don't look fine to me, Aurora. Something is wrong and you're not telling me. Come on , you can trust me with anything.” Arthur breaks the silence.

He has a serious look right now, I don’t know what else to say to him so he’ll let go of this topic once and for all.

"I already told you. I got into a fight with Chloe and her girls again and I was punished for it.” I lie yet again, almost yelling at him. I don’t know why he’s so adamant to know what happened. “Arthur, I'm sorry for yelling at you.” I apologize once I see the surprised look on his face. “But please don’t ask me about it anymore. Please.” I beg and he only nods his head and doesn’t say a word again.

Exactly what I don’t want.

I would have told him everything if Alpha Carter was not involved.

He has threatened me very seriously. I say what happened between us to anyone and my life and that of everyone around would be at risk.

I pace up and down the room, thinking of what else to do. Maybe sleeping will do me some good. I am very weak within, but I’m trying to stay strong and it’s taking a great toll on me.

"Oh, lest I forget. The king, Alpha Logan, is holding a royal banquet this weekend at the castle and you have been and you have been selected to wait tables at the event. I saw your name on the list.

"Oh, really! That is wonderful.” I exclaim enthusiastically.

It’s amazing how much one phrase has changed my mood from sad to happy.

I’m all smiles because that is going to be the perfect opportunity for me to step up my income.

But then, why would they choose me to wait tables?

I wonder as a frown replaces the smile on my face.

"What's wrong? You were happy moments ago?" Arthur asks when he notices the now worried look on my face.

Wait tables at the castle house.

Why do they want me there all of a sudden? My mother and I were forbidden from going anywhere near the castle.

The least thing I want now is to get into any sort of trouble and the castle sounds like a potential place to attract trouble on my side.

Going to work there is certainly not the best idea especially as Alpha Carter is going to be present.

Godness!

"It's nothing Arthur.” I lie again. “I just need some food. I am starving.” I tell him, leaning against the wall and clutching my stomach. I had to make my lie look real.

"Are you sure that's all?” He insists as he stands before me and lifts my chin up, using his index finger so I could look up at him.

My eyes meet with his eyes which have a dark shade of brown, somewhere between chocolate and black.

Totally dreamy.

I quickly avert my gaze and look to the side of my closet, avoiding his eye contact.

"Yes.” I whisper and swallow dryly. “That’s all. I will just go and get some food from the kitchen.” I say taking a step sidewards to escape his merciless gaze that’s almost boring a hole in my forehead.

I step to the side and before walking out of the door, I turn to look at him, with my eyes apologizing for my sudden rude behavior towards him since he showed here to check on me and also for putting him in trouble.

"It's fine, you should go get something to eat. I will see you in school tomorrow.” He says smiling but I can tell it’s a forced smile because it does not reflect the sad look in his eyes.

Nonetheless, I nod my head in agreement to what he has just said and step out of the room.

He follows after me and leaves through the back door and I lock the back door after he leaves.

I leaned my back against the wall as memories of all that has happened lately crossed my mind.

I have said this before and I’m gonna say it again, no one has to know what happened between Carter and I.

Not even my mother.

I let out a heavy sigh and dragged myself away from the door heading to the kitchen.

I need to eat before I die.