Chapter 13

AURORA

When I opened my eyes, the first thing I noticed was that Ethan wasn’t beside me. The sheets were cold, his side of the bed empty, as though he’d never been there at all. A pang of disappointment crept in, and I felt a flush of embarrassment as I replayed the events of last night. I’d let myself believe, just for a moment, that maybe there was something real between us. But now, lying alone in the morning light, it was hard not to feel foolish. I tried to not have expectations, but it was hard when he held me in his arms like he did last night.

I got up, trying to shake the feeling of vulnerability that lingered. I washed up and dressed, mentally reminding myself that this was just an arrangement, nothing more. What had happened between us was part of our agreement, a way to fulfill the contract, and nothing else. As I stepped outside, I spotted Sarah, Ethan’s sister, walking toward me, her usual bright smile in place. She waved, and I forced a smile, trying to bury the disappointment that was simmering just beneath the surface.

“Good morning, Aurora.” she chirped. “Did you sleep well?”

I hesitated, then nodded. “Yes, I did. Thank you, Sarah.”

She tilted her head, her expression turning slightly curious. “Have you seen Ethan this morning?”

The question caught me off guard, and I tried to keep my tone neutral. “Actually, no. I was going to ask if you’d seen him.”

Sarah’s smile faded slightly. “Oh, then he must have left early this morning. He had a meeting to attend out of town which came up at the very last minute. I thought he would stay back until you were awake.”

My chest tightened, a mixture of hurt and disappointment settling in. I hadn’t expected him to stay with me all day, but I’d thought he’d at least stay to see how I was after what happened. But of course, he’d gone. Just like that. I reminded myself, once again, that this wasn’t a real marriage. I was here to fulfill a contract, not to fall in love. I was responsible for my own feelings. Not him.

Sarah seemed to sense my mood, and she gave me a gentle smile. “You know, Ethan’s been really busy, especially with everything going on in the pack. But don’t let that get to you. Besides, you’re staying with us now, so I thought maybe you’d like to see some designs I’ve been working on?”

I looked at her, grateful for the distraction. “Designs?”

She nodded, her face lighting up. “Yes! I’ve been working on some art pieces, and I was thinking since you’re staying for a while, maybe I could use a second opinion? My mother and Ethan are always too busy, so I could really use your perspective.”

The idea brought a small smile to my face, and I felt the heaviness in my chest ease slightly. “I’d love that, Sarah.”

“Perfect!” She grinned, grabbing her car keys. “Let’s go!”

We climbed into the car, and as Sarah drove us toward town, I let myself relax, letting go of the uneasy thoughts of Ethan’s absence. Soon, we pulled up to a small art showroom. Inside, the walls were covered with beautiful paintings and sketches, each piece vibrant and filled with emotion. I felt a sense of wonder as I took it all in.

“Wow, Sarah… this is incredible,” I murmured, turning to her with wide eyes.

She laughed, pleased by my reaction. “I’m glad you think so. Art is… well, it’s my escape. I haven't met a lot of people who understand it.”

I nodded, my own heart swelling as I remembered how art had been the only thing for me when I was back in my pack. It was painful, waking up every day and seeing my husband with another woman. It was a way to express my pain. But I never allowed anyone to see my paintings. I wished I had come with them here, but I was in haste.

“It’s my dream to be an artist too. I just never had the chance to really pursue it.”

Sarah’s face lit up, and she grabbed my hand excitedly. “That’s amazing. We’ll have to paint together sometime. I’d love to see what you can do.”

“I’d love that,” I replied, smiling as I glanced around the room again. For a moment, I felt like I’d found a piece of myself that I hadn’t realized I’d lost.

Sarah wandered off to the studio in the back, saying she wanted to grab some more pieces for me to see. As she disappeared, I wandered through the showroom, admiring the artwork on display. The colors and textures were all so vivid and inspiring. I used to smuggle my paints and brushes from local cheap stores because I was afraid that if I spent too much money on good supplies, Damian’s accountant might alert him.

Even though he really allowed me to do whatever I wanted with his money, I was scared of what my mother in law would do when she heard that I was spending his money. She really hated me and I was scared that if she found out I did something that genuinely made me happy, she would find a way to destroy it. Just then, a faint noise caught my attention. I turned toward the front door and noticed a small envelope lying on the floor, as if someone had slipped it under the door. I walked over, picking it up out of curiosity.

My heart stopped when I saw the words scrawled across the front: ‘To Aurora—from Damian.’

My first instinct was to leave it, to toss it aside and ignore whatever he had to say. But something held me back, and I felt my fingers tighten around the envelope. What could he possibly want now? After I had gone to the pack and had told him to leave me alone, he obviously did not freaking hear. Just as I was slipping the letter into my pocket, Sarah reappeared, holding a few canvases in her arms.

“I found these pieces I wanted to show you.”

I forced a smile, doing my best to hide the confusion stirring inside. “Oh, those look amazing." I said, joining her at one of the tables.

She began setting up the canvases, her excitement infectious. As she explained each piece, I tried to focus, to stay present, but my mind kept drifting back to the letter tucked away in my pocket.

“I’m so glad you’re into art too,” Sarah was saying, her eyes gleaming with excitement. “I’ve always wanted someone I could talk to about this. It feels like no one understands.”

I nodded, my heart warming at her enthusiasm. “I know exactly how you feel. Art has always been my way of processing things, I guess. It helps me make sense of everything. With everything that was going on back at my pack, it was truly the only thing I had. The only thing that kept me sane.”

Sarah gave me a knowing, sad smile. “You know, maybe that’s why you and Ethan get along so well. He’s got that same intensity, that need to express things in his own way. Even though he would not touch a brush.” She chuckled at that.

The mention of Ethan made my heart flutter uncomfortably, but I pushed the feeling aside, focusing on the artwork instead. We spent the next hour going through her designs, and for the first time since Ethan’s departure, I felt genuinely at ease. But as we wrapped up and prepared to head back, I couldn’t ignore the letter in my pocket. Why would he reach out to me now, after I’d made it clear that I wanted nothing to do with him?

When we were done, she set all of her things back and then she closed the studio. When we got in the car, I fell silent, my mind racing. Sarah glanced over, concern flickering in her eyes. “Aurora, are you okay? You seem distant.”

I forced a reassuring smile. “I’m fine. Just thinking.”

She studied me for a moment, then nodded, seeming to accept my answer. “Well, whenever you want to talk, I’m here.”

The kindness in her voice eased the tension in my chest a little bit, and I gave her a grateful nod. “Thank you, Sarah. I appreciate it.”

Just as I reached my room and was about to close it, I saw Jada approaching with a cup in her hands.

“Luna, I brought you some tea,” she said, her voice gentle.

I managed a weak smile. “Thank you, Jada.”

She got into my room and set the tray down, glancing at me with a hint of worry. “Is everything alright, Luna?”

“Yes,” I replied, trying to sound convincing. “Just a lot on my mind.” That was an understatement.

She nodded, giving me a sympathetic smile before she left. Alone once more, I took a deep breath as I brought out the letter from my pocket and read the contents.