Chapter 79
Chapter 79
Dimitri
I frowned when I saw Aurora’s face void of emotions as her earlier excitement seemed to completely fade away.
She wouldn’t even look at me as the two of us walked down the stairs, and I could tell that whatever happened, it happened with her mother; however, no matter how many times I tried asking, she wouldn’t answer. My mate just decided to enter a dark hole of thoughts, and the thing was, I didn’t even know what was bothering her.
“Aurora, I know that I have been asking for a while, but come on, I know you. enough to know that something is bothering you.” I said, looking at her. She looked at me for a second, and she shook her head at me as she gave me a fake smile. “Did she say something that bothered you?”
She looked at her mother for a second, and I could swear that she wanted to answer before she looked at the door as the elders‘ scent hit our nostrils. They were the last guests to arrive for the night, and I knew that it was something in their ‘traditions‘ and ways.
They would be the last to arrive as to be shown the respect that they ‘wanted‘ to have by the guests. Most would bow, and others would show their submission to them, and that was something that they both liked and wanted. It showed off their power over others and other wolves were reminded of their rank in comparison to the elders.
I smiled and opened the door for them, fighting back a frown when I noticed that Aurora didn’t take a step forward to approach them for a few seconds, clearly hesitating as if something was bothering her. She looked at me, and I was forced. to look away from her as the Lord Alpha entered. He was the first to always walk inside a place anyway, and that was something that proved his dominance against even the other elders.
Elder Jordan followed close behind before the others walked inside.
I shook the Lord Alpha’s hand, and I couldn’t help but frown when I noticed that my mate wasn’t by my side. Normally, especially with the way that he treated her, she would be more than happy to see him.
I looked at her and shook my head in question as the Lord Alpha studied her expression. She smiled and took a step forward, extending her hand to the elders to shake theirs after I did. And though I was quiet, I couldn’t help but notice how even elder Jordan that noticed something was wrong.
“Lord Alpha, elders, thank you for coming.” I said, choosing to dismiss her attitude. I wasn’t going to ask her about what happened in front of the elders. To say the least, I didn’t want them thinking that something was going on, but I knew very well that something was more than just a little wrong with my mate right
now.
Her mother looked at her from a distance, and I raised an eyebrow as I noticed. the same expression that she had tonight was the expression that she had on our mating night. It was not something that I liked, and considering the fact that Aurora wouldn’t even look at the woman, I knew that something bad happened between the two of them. Whatever it was, I knew that she wasn’t going to be willing to talk about it right now.
“Congratulations on your child, and we do apologize for not coming earlier.” The Lord Alpha said, distracting me momentarily. Aurora looked at him, her eyes studying his expression for a second as she listened to his words. “You know how our customs are, and we rarely do come unless invited to an official gathering.”
“I do hope that she was not hard labor on you.” He asked, smiling at Aurora who didn’t answer for a second too long. The fact that she was more than a little distracted bothered me, and the Lord Alpha frowned in confusion before she nodded and smiled. I had to admit, I couldn’t help but find myself wanting to go to her mother to question what happened between the two of them. Because I knew for fact that whatever it was, it happened between them in the dressing room after they left the nursery.
MESIN
“Do not need to worry, Lord Alpha. Dimitri was by my side through it all, and had it not been for Natalia, I don’t know what I would have done. But I know for fact that I was more than a little lucky to have the two of them by my side.” She looked at elder Jordan as she said her words, and though I knew that she was lying about it being easy on her. The two of us still agreed that we didn’t want anyone. to know that she suffered through it. Mostly because we didn’t want trouble rising between the elders, and I knew that if Charlotte heard of it, she was going to do what she possibly could to try and press on the topic.
Elder Jordan studied my mate’s expression, and though I normally wouldn’t have liked challenging elders, I knew the reason why Aurora was doing that right now. She was proving a point, and I could tell that the elder saw that.
“I take it that you and your beta’s mate have grown closer over the months.” She said, raising an eyebrow at Aurora who smiled. She looked at Natalia, giving her at quick wink to come before turning to the elder as she nodded.
“She has become the sister that I never had. Thankfully enough for that, I am more than happy with her being around.” Aurora said, looking at the elder whose eyes hardened. I knew that this wasn’t the response that she expected, but I also knew that both Natalia and Aurora wanted nothing more than to teach the woman a lesson after the way she treated my mate the last time they met.
“Hi, thank you all for coming. I do trust that you have been well.” Natalia said, choosing to play the role of the friendly human who wasn’t harmful. If only they knew how strong the woman was, I knew that even Elder Jordan wouldn’t be accepting her among wolves as much.
“You’ve been standing here for a while now, and I figured that I could call you in
for a drink. You know, Luna Aurora specifically chose all of them herself.” Natalia raised an eyebrow at the elders who looked at her as if she grew a second head. I knew that Ivan was mentally slapping himself at the way that his mate was acting, and though the elders normally didn’t like to be treated with the sarcasm that Natalia gave out; I knew that her being human was something that had them. letting it slide. They still knew who her father was no matter the fact of them not knowing how strong she was, and that had its own benefit to her.
“Yes, a drink would be refreshing, do you not agree?” Elder Jordan said, looking at Lord Alpha Sirius. He nodded, and I smiled, watching as Aurora looped her arm with Natalia’s. I knew that my beta’s woman could tell that something was wrong with my wife. She knew her well enough to understand her expressions, and I knew that if she saw it, then I was right with my suspicion.
“I take it that she has been worn out with the child? You know, being a first time. mother and everything might be a little difficult as she might fear doing something wrong or dealing with something in a wrong way.” The Lord Alpha stated, looking at Aurora as she walked with Natalia. Both women spoke, but the music dulled down whatever it was they were saying, and that was something that I was thankful for.
The last thing that I needed was trouble if she chose to say something that was going to be more or less offensive toward the elders right now.
“There was a light in her eyes that seems to be gone. And though it wasn’t as bright before, but now it seems to have completely faded now.” He said, and I had to admit, I couldn’t help but find myself frowning in confusion at his concern. Normally, elders would only care, especially in situations where relationships. were arranged, about how things were going to ensure the alliances didn’t break; therefore, for him to be concerned about her right now was not something that I understood. However, I had to admit, even Aurora’s gaze on him told me that something was going on, toward him, that she didn’t like. And whatever it was, I was determined to find out. But first, I was going to have to deal with the bullshit that her mother did.
“She is just a little tired. We did try to ensure that she is relaxed as much as she could, by we, I mean me, the maids, and nurses that are around the pack for the baby’s sake and hers. But she insists on being the one to tend to our baby.” I said, choosing to be vague with my response.
While it was true, I knew that Aurora wasn’t being exhausted, at least, she didn’t show that she was. The two of us were tending to our baby together and that was something that only brought us closer. But I want going to refer to that right now,
the least, I would rather that he believes that she is tired until I found out what was wrong.
to say
“I see,” he said, looking me in the eye. “And your relationship is going well?” His question took me off guard and I shook my head in question, waiting for an explanation to what he was asking. “You know, it was us who chose to wed the two
of you; therefore, if there is something going on, we can always interfere to fix it before things get out of control.”
“As you may know, you still have your duties toward the packs,” he said, and my eyes hardened as I felt my breath get caught in my throat.
“Our relationship has been well, Lord Alpha,” I said, keeping my eyes on his. “You needn’t worry about it.”
“It was a mere question to help out if needed. Considering the arrangement came from us, we didn’t want you to feel forced into something that you could not handle.” He said, and I took a deep breath before nodding.
“How about we go inside?” I asked, choosing to change the subject as it got on my nerve. The idea of him asking such a question when we were here to show off our daughter was absurd to me, and though I knew that Aurora and I didn’t initially start out as lovers. The last thing that I wanted was for anyone to be interfering with how our relationship went. And that was something that I knew the elders. understood right now. “You know, the girls would be waiting for us with the drinks, and I think that we have kept them waiting for a while now, do you not agree?”