Unfinished Business

Aurora’s POV

The door creaked open, and Aria stepped inside. “There you are,” she said, her voice sharp and accusing. “Your mate sent me to get you. The feast is about to start, and you’re …”

I guess some things never change. She’s still my mate’s watchdog in this life, too. But that’s about to change, not for the better for her.

Her words stopped mid-sentence as her eyes swept over the room and landed on Alpha Darius, who was standing at the far end of the room, leaning casually against the counter without a care in the world.

“Good evening, Alpha,” Aria stammered, her sharp tone shifting immediately to a polite one. “I... I didn’t see you there.”

Alpha Darius smirked, the corner of his lips curling up. He looked unbothered, as though Aria hadn’t just caught us in a compromising situation. The fact that he was in the ladies’ room alone with me. 

“Evening,” he answered.

Aria cleared her throat awkwardly and mumbled, “I will... um, I’ll wait for you outside.”

I masked my face so as not to show the embarrassment I felt, and I turned to give her a small nod as she hurriedly stepped out, closing the door behind her.

As soon as she was gone, Alpha Darius pushed off the counter and took a stalking step toward me, his face hard and his voice low and dangerous.

“Your mate, huh?”

Not fazed by the obvious anger in his voice, I turned back to face him, keeping my tone even. “You heard Aria. My mate is waiting for me.”

I was about to step out the door when his hand caught my arm. His grip was firm but not enough to hurt. The sudden contact sent an unwelcome spark up my skin, but I forced the feeling away. His next words sent a wave of passion through me.

“This is not over, little wolf,” he muttered in my ear, his breath hot against my skin.

I shrugged his hand off. “We’ll see about that, Alpha.”

His low growl echoed after me as I walked out the door.

As I climbed the stairs, I found Aria waiting with her arms crossed, a big grin plastered across her face. “So,” she began in a teasing voice, falling into step beside me, “you and the big bad Alpha Darius, huh?”

Though her tone was carefree, I felt a hint of jealousy seeping through her words. The devil in her can’t help but rear its ugly head. Before, I’d been blind to her antics, but now my eyes were clear.

I didn’t even glance at her as I said, “It was nothing. We just happened to meet there.”

Aria’s grin widened, and she leaned in with a smirk on her face. “Is that what we’re calling it now? ‘Meeting there’?”

I resisted the urge to roll my eyes to say, “Not everyone is a slut like you.” But sure, let her think whatever she wanted. 

Engaging in petty, childish banter with her was pointless when I had bigger things to worry about. Tonight’s engagement announcement.

“Sure,” she added with a knowing smirk, “we’ll see if it’s really nothing.”

Suddenly, she paused and her eyes narrowed as they raked over my dress. “Wait, what happened to your dress?”

I ran a hand down my dress, allowing a smirk to tug at my lips. “Oh, this? I had it remade.” I glanced at her briefly, my tone turning sharp. “I couldn’t quite pull off the slutty look. That’s more your style, not mine?” 

The insult hit its mark, and Aria’s mouth fell open like a fish out of water, her face reddening with shock.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” she demanded.

I smiled sweetly, tilting my head back. “Oh, nothing at all.” 

Without waiting for her response, I turned and continued down the stairs, leaving her speechless.

As I approached our table, I slid into the seat beside Alpha Kieran, my so-called mate. “What took you so long?” he asked in a soft, sweet, and caring tone. However, his voice no longer deceived me.

I met his gaze briefly and muttered, “Female stuff.”

“Is it that time of the month? Have you taken care of yourself?” he whispered into my ear with a soft, caring voice.

I flinched at the sudden contact. Unlike before, when I had always cherished the sparks and his thoughtfulness, now all contact with him irritated me and filled me with anger. I knew it was all lies and deceit.

From the corner of my eye, I could see my best friend, Aria, shooting invisible daggers at me from across the table. Probably jealous of the attention showered on me by the powerful men in the room since I walked in. But too bad for her; she should get used to being in the shadows. In the past, she basked in their attention, in the spotlight, while I sat humiliated. Not this time.

I knew it was only a matter of time before his mistress, Aria, would spill everything on him. At this point, I don’t care.

The dinner began, and the hall filled with polite chatter and the clinking of glasses. I kept my focus on my plate, though I was acutely aware of Alpha Darius’s gaze from across the table. He didn’t even bother to hide it, his teasing glances and the occasional smirk when our eyes met, making it clear he enjoyed toying with me.

Then, without warning, Alpha Darius stood from his seat and made his way toward me. The entire room seemed to pause for a moment, every eye trained on him as he casually slid into the chair next to me.

As the host Alpha, he was meant to sit at the head of the table, taking a seat next to me would raise a lot of questions I didn’t want to answer.

I mumbled my greeting and went back to eating my food. I didn’t understand his sudden interest in me. In my past life, we never talked, except for that one fateful night.

“You’re ignoring me, little wolf,” he observed, amusement colouring his tone.

I ignored him, taking a sip of my wine, but I could feel the growing stares in the hall. 

Mira was practically vibrating with irritation, and Kieran’s jaw tightened as he glanced between Darius and me.

Good. Let him stew in it.

Everything was going perfectly until Kieran leaned close, his breath hot against my ear. “We should announce our engagement,” his voice dripping with love and adoration, placing his hand on mine.

The words hit me like a slap. My grip tightened around my glass. I could feel the heat rise in my chest, the anger, humiliation and betrayal I was suppressing rose to the surface. But I forced myself to breathe slowly to keep from snapping at him.

“No,” I answered firmly.