Chapter 38

Aurora’s POV

“My love,” a rumbling, low voice says, and the Luna looks at her husband.

“Yes?”

“I think you’re frightening the human with too much enthusiasm,” the former Alpha says. His voice is quiet yet full of power, sending a shiver down my spine. He has the same commanding presence that Thorne has, except his feels more lethal somehow. Like an animal sneaking up on you before it pounces.

The Luna looks back at me, mistaking my heartache for being overwhelmed, and I’m okay with that. They’re being kind enough by not treating me like a dirty human, that I don’t need them to figure out my true emotions and thoughts.

They’re only being nice because they think I have no personal stakes in the matter. If they find out that I’m sleeping with Thorne, I imagine their responses to me would be very different.

If I must be the frightened human, so be it. It’s better this way.

“Right. I apologize. I’m just excited to get started,” the Luna says while patting her husband’s arm that’s around her waist. “And actually,” she smiles sheepishly and pulls a folder out of the large purse she was carrying. “I already thought of some ideas and would like your opinion since you’re already knee-deep in my daughter’s wedding plans.”

I never actually agreed to help, but what can I do? There’s no running from this. I have a feeling that my refusal would only cause me trouble, so I scoot a bit closer and look at the papers she lays on the table between us.

“I think blue and gold would be the centering colors of the wedding, since blue is commonly associated with Alphas and gold with higher ranks,” she states. Everything she has planned out so far is, as she said, planned around the two colors.

Decorations ideas, multiple flower choices, and even pictures of sample cakes are laid out in front of me.

“Since our pack is higher than the matched pack, we are in charge of planning,” the Luna tells me, which is news to me. “I’m not sure if you’re aware of this, but whichever pack is of higher rank is in charge of the proceedings, the payments, and the ceremony preparation. It’s how every werewolf mating marriage is carried out.”

“I didn’t know that,” I mumble, feeling like I should respond so she doesn’t think I’m ignoring her.

“We are going to choose between these three venues. Have you seen them before?”

I take a look at the options she presents, and they’re familiar. I point at the ones on the right, “These two are known to be the best wedding venues around, but this one isn’t well known. I wouldn’t choose one that is unknown just in case it has issues you don’t want to run into.”

She hums and tosses the paper aside, focusing on the two nicer venues. I’m not sure why she needs my help, but I can very clearly see the similarity to Ivy. They both seem to want to be in charge of the plans while also acting like they’re benevolent enough to let someone else help.

Is this how high ranked wolves act? I’ll admit that I’ve never really spent time around higher rank wolves since I’m human, but they can’t all be like Ivy and her mother.

I glance at Thorne’s father to find him already looking at me.

Quickly, I turn my eyes down and focus back on the plans as heat fills my cheeks. So that’s where Thorne gets his intense, searching gaze from. Jeez.

“What do you think? Which one is more regal, orchids or roses?”

Two images full of blue and white flowers are thrust in front of my face, and I have to pull back to see clearly.

“Most people believe roses are the traditional and perfect wedding flower,” I answer. I hope she can’t hear the disgust in my tone. Roses are pretty but too overdone, not that I care. I tell myself that I have no opinions on this marriage, and that I’m just doing this so I can get out of here sooner.

Our time continues this way. The Luna gives me options to choose from, asking my opinion and letting me help her plan. Again, I’m not sure why she needs me. She could have easily done this on her own.

It makes me wonder if she knows more than she lets on. Maybe this meeting is some sort of cover to get information out of me. I can’t imagine that the former Alpha and Luna of one of the strongest packs around would be stupid, so I also don’t think they would waste time.

Then again, I could be completely overthinking this. The Luna does seem to be excited about the wedding. She could have started this with the intention of putting it all on me, but she might have changed her mind now.

Sighing, I return my attention to the Luna as she pulls out a list of names, “These are the guests we absolutely have to invite. The Alphas from each pack we’re on good terms with need to attend, and we should probably add any of Thorne’s business partners. I can schedule a meeting with my son’s assistant for you to gather those names. Is two days from now good for you?”

I guess she doesn’t know, then.

Before I can respond, the doors I entered through earlier open, and Thorne steps into the room. My heart skips a beat and I glance at his parents. They didn’t say anything about him coming; in fact, I thought he wasn’t allowed to come. At least, that’s what Ivy hinted at when she told me to come here.

Thorne’s eyes sweep past me, to his parents before returning to me again.

“Oh, perfect timing,” the Luna beams. “Aurora, I would like to introduce you to my son.”

“Stepson,” Thorne corrects, and I nearly choke on the air. How awkward.

The Luna’s smile falters momentarily before it returns. I watch with uncertainty as the Luna introduces me to Thorne, and I don’t know what to say. Should I tell them that we know each other? Act like this is the first time I’m meeting him? Stay silent?

I don’t know what to do, so I just bow in respect like I’ve seen others do when meeting people of higher status than them.

Thorne, on the other hand, acts no differently than he usually does. He moves to my side, his eyes scanning the table full of wedding materials. I’m painfully aware of how close he is, and I look at his parents, wondering if they notice as well.

If Thorne isn’t careful, they’ll figure out that we know each other. I don’t want them to find out about our relationship, though, so I stay quiet and let Thorne take the lead.

“Stepmother. Father,” Thorne speaks curtly. “I have business to attend to, and I need my assistant, so I will be taking Aurora with me.”

Again, my heart nearly stops at his words. What is he doing?

The shocked expressions on his parents’ faces make me freeze, but it doesn’t last long. Their expressions return to calm and collected masks just before his father speaks, “I heard you took on a human assistant, but I didn’t realize it was this woman.”

I clutch the hem of my skirt.

Is all hell about to break loose?

“Yes. She’s quite adept at filing, organization, and keeping me on schedule,” Thorne says. I’m still holding my breath when he turns to me. “And speaking of schedule, I have a meeting to get to. Aurora, let’s go.”