They stood by a waterfall that Aurora had never seen before. She looked around in awe—mesmerized by how beautiful the place was and how she’d love to spend time here alone or with her friends… or Blake. He freed her hand so she’d wander around the paradise-looking place. Her heart felt at ease being here. It felt so cool and welcoming at the same time. She could see herself staying here the whole day without getting tired. She could see herself swimming in the cool water. Drinking straight from the coconut or the pineapple that she spotted by the end of the water. “This is where I met Larisa, my late wife,” he began. She looks at him, her heart dropping to the soft sand. She walked back to where he was standing right by the water. His head was down, looking at his reflection in the water. She has never seen him this down. It was very unlike Kendrix to be sad. He was either smiling or laughing. He never seemed to let anything get to him. He was carefree… blasé. “I came out here on
It has been two days or three days—she had stopped counting at the third day so it has to be four days. It’s been four days since she last had that deep conversation with Kendrix. It’s been four days since she last saw him, since she last saw Blake…She only had two days left until the time was due and her father was going to give her away—to Kendrix. She didn’t know why she wasn’t upset about the idea anymore. Not because he told her everything she needed to clear her doubts. Blake wasn’t willing to come meet her parents, by the looks of it. If he wanted to, he would’ve come knocking on her door by now. But it’s been four days and he hasn’t showed up. He probably won’t show up. If only Max was here, he would’ve told her what to do. He would’ve given her the advice she needs and the encouragement she needs to keep going. But here she was in her room, lying in the pool of her own misery like she always did whenever she felt defeated. If Max was here, maybe he’d tell her to let go of
By the time she reached the gates, raindrops started their ravage on the earth, ripping cruelly at the ground and whistling angrily through the trees. She fights to breathe from the ice-cold rain dropping on her. And by the time she was standing in front of Umbris Pack gate, she was drenched in rain and shivering all over. She placed both her hands on the gate and tried to push it. It didn’t budge. “Hello?” She yelled out. She doesn’t know whether she’d be heard from the loud rain dropping from the sky and thunderstorm. She breathes out and smiled when one of the gate keepers appeared. He looked at her for a moment. “Who are you? And why are you here?” He asked vigilantly as he stood alerted. Aurora closed her eyes and opened them for the countless time. She was shivering and gasping for air. She knew she was definitely going to catch cold if she wasn’t under the sheets any moment from now. “I’m here to see Kendrix. Tell him it’s Aurora. Aurora from Scuris Pack,” she retorted, fig
She freshened up and sauntered out of the room. He was in the kitchen, making waffles as he conversed with someone she couldn’t make up who it was. “I don’t believe she’s here. Where is she?” She heard them say and if she wasn’t mistaken, that was Zack; Kendrix beta. She walked into the kitchen and he almost jumped when he saw her. He looked down on the hoodie she was wearing and averted his gaze to her face. “Good morning, Aurora. Pleased to see you here with us,” he said, beaming at her. “Morning,” she mumbled, returning the smile. Kendrix dropped a plate off waffles on the table and drizzled a vast amount of chocolate syrup. “Hope you like chocolate,” he said as he handed a fork to her. “It’s my favorite,” she replied excitedly and dug into her breakfast. Zack excused himself and left the two of them. He settled down beside her and drizzled enough amount of chocolate syrup on his waffles. He took a bite of it and sighed. He wasn’t good at cooking but his waffles would make you
Kendrix looked at him and threw him a quizzical look. He knew what he meant and who he was referring to. He just wanted to make sure they were on the same page before he makes a comment. “My daughter, she hasn’t brought anyone home and she hasn’t said anything about it. I think this is a good sign,” he explained briefly. “Oh,” Kendrix said only, shrugging it off. But his heart speaks otherwise. It leapt like it was about to jump out of its place. He wanted to smile so badly but he suppressed it. When they made that agreement with her father, he was afraid she’d bring someone home. He was afraid the guy she’d bring home was Blake. It should be anyone but Blake. It should be him. Yes, he’s that selfish and yes, he wanted Aurora all to himself. He believes she is worth more than being his wife but he also believes that he’s the right man for her, protect her and love her. “How did she even end up at your place the other day?” Anakin shoots the question out of nowhere. Kendrix didn’t
She furiously threw another stone into the water, the urge to scream out loud was still fighting to spew out of her. She curled her hands into a fist as she walked back and forth. Why was she angry? It was obviously because of Blake. Who else would she literally be upset about? Not Kendrix, that’s for sure. He was her least problems now. He wasn’t even a problem at the beginning. And the last time she saw him was when she ran into him at the gates while he was waiting for her father. It was as if telling her the truth about him made him want to ghost her now that she always wanted to run into him. Maybe this was one of the things she could consider Kendrix a problem—she wanted to see him, if not every day but eight times a week. If that’s even possible. She kicked a rock and it went right into the water. “Quit throwing things in there, you’re making the clear water not so clear anymore.”Aurora rolled her eyes before she even turned to see the owner of the voice. “Why are you her
When she turned around, her heart jumps into her throat when she sees him standing a few feet in front of her. “Oh God, you scared me.” She placed a hand on her chest to stop it from escaping its place. “I’m sorry about that. Didn’t mean to scare you,” he said. It almost looked as if he wanted to laugh. She heaved a sigh and rolled her eyes, turning around. He looks at her retreating back and smiled. He knew she was trying to hide her red, puffy eyes. “I’m sorry,” he said again. “How long have you been standing there?” She asked. She’d throw herself into the water if he heard her crying over a guy that she doesn’t know whether he wants her or not. “Not enough to know why you were crying.” She closed her eyes tightly and scoffed softly. She turned around again to face him. Her eyes boring into his tired looking one. Her eyes soften immediately when she noticed how he looked tired and it seemed like something was bothering him. “Looks like we both need some therapy,” she said, fol
She grunts softly, applying another layer of powder under her eyes but it was still obvious how exhausted she was and how her dark circles were evident. She breathes out calmly, trying not to breakdown for the incalculable time that day. Tonight was a big night—it was her father’s forty fifth birthday and she needs to look presentable for the guests that were already out there at the backyard having fun. She exhales again, smoothening her dress and taking a look at herself one last time before stepping out of her room. It was time to plaster that fake smile. She walks to the back door through the kitchen and stepped out. The backyard was more crowded than she expected it to be. She looks around, searching for her friends. She spotted them by the food stall, having a drink and laughing about something. She squeezed through the crowd as she smiled and exchanged pleasantries. Several elegantly-dressed guests were already milling around, each with a cocktail in hand. “Having a drink