Chapter 40

Thorne’s POV

Who, indeed.

In my twenty-seven years, I’ve had plenty of time to think about marriage and mating. Something so important can’t be left to quick decisions and lustful thoughts. Take my parents for example, they were chosen mates- which means they chose each other instead of waiting for their fated mates.

Because of this, their marriage ended horribly. Through my childhood, their love turned sour and eventually imploded. I remember lots of arguments, clashes in the balance of not only their romantic relationship but also in their leadership roles, and a lot of time alone where they began separating from each other.

Then, they cheated. During moments of anger, each of them strayed, finding someone else to warm their beds and their hearts. Eventually, they divorced and mated with others. My mother moved to another pack with her new mate, and my father found Ivy’s mother to mate.

I’ve never asked whether these new mates were fated or chose because as I watched them tear our family apart, I grew to not care.

All I knew was that I wouldn’t follow their broken path. I wouldn’t have a relationship full of hate and vitriol like theirs. When I marry, if I marry, it will be for love and forever. I won’t let things be ruined like they had.

It’s why I haven’t thought of marrying anyone yet. It’s why I won’t marry the woman Ivy’s mother is trying to match me with. I have no intention to follow through with the plans she’s making, and she knows this.

I’ve had several conversations with my stepmother about how I wouldn’t go on arranged dates or accept a woman she chose for me. Though, if today is any indication, I guess my words won’t stop her from continuing with her plans.

She’s still trying to control my love life with the excuse that being mated and married is part of an Alpha’s duty.

However, Aurora’s question brings unintentional images to mind.

“Who do you want to marry?”

The picture of Aurora in a flowing white dress, surrounded by flowers and my pack, pops into my mind. No hesitation. She’s the first person I think of, and I’m stunned. More imaginary scenarios fill my mind. Aurora picking out wedding flowers. Aurora with a smear of wedding cake icing on her nose. Aurora with my mark on her neck.

I shake my head.

Originally, I entered into this agreement with Aurora, meaning for it to be temporary. It wasn’t supposed to get so… so real. I don’t think my wolf is right when he says she’s my fated mate. He can’t be. She’s human and so different than I am.

My wolf has to be wrong, even if I do find myself thinking about Aurora all the time. When she’s not at my side, I think about where she is. When she’s close, my eyes are on her. I wonder what she’s thinking about when she’s only feet away from me, working at her desk.

Am I going crazy?

My dreams are even plagued by Aurora. Her beauty, her smile, that beautiful hair, her kindness… the way she looks when she’s spread out beneath me in the throws of passion.

Every bit of her clouds my mind and calls to me. She’s like a siren who sings for me and me alone. Except she’s human.

Aurora stares up at me, waiting for an answer that I can’t give her. I don’t want to admit that I’ve developed real feelings for her, so I stay silent.

Aurora’s POV

The faraway, distant look in Thorne’s eyes tells me he’s not fully here with me right now. So, I wait patiently. I would love to be able to read his mind right now, to see what he’s thinking so hard about, but all I can do is wait.

The admission that he wouldn’t marry the woman his parents are trying to set him up with was surprising. It instantly made me wonder if he had someone else in mind.

A strong, handsome, and powerful man like Thorne must have women around him all the time. As much as I hate to think about it, he probably has a woman he likes- a woman who isn’t me- and the thought churns my stomach.

Here I am, letting myself get lost in him while he probably has plans to move on soon. He has never said anything to me about another woman, but that’s not so strange. Who would want to tell their mistress about their real-life relationships?

No one. That’s who.

Sighing, I look up at Thorne again, and the silence is all too telling. He will probably end up marrying the woman his parents picked out or someone equally as impressive, with a similar status as him, because that’s what’s best for his pack. It would be for the best, I guess.

He has a lot more to gain from marrying a werewolf heiress than he would marrying a weak human like me.

So, to help get this conversation over with, and to make him feel less cornered by my sudden question, I speak up.

“As long as you tell me when you get engaged or start a relationship, that will be enough for me,” I tell him, swallowing down the protest that tries to climb out of my mouth. “I don’t want to be a side piece if you are in a relationship.”

I’m no homewrecker, and he needs to know that.

Thorne continues his silence, but his eyes are brighter, more present than they were moments ago. The attention makes me a bit anxious, so I put a few feet of air between us.

“How about dinner? I’ll make something and you can relax while I cook,” I tell him, needing something- anything- to do. If I have to stand here under his scrutiny any longer, I might just run and hide.

Like always, I’m not sure what he was looking for as he searched my face, and neither am I brave enough to ask. Sometimes I wish I were fearless and could ask anything that comes to my mind, like other people do.

But early on, I learned to keep to myself. Growing up while being ridiculed just for being human and weak tends to do that to a girl. You learn to stay in your corner. You learn that what you think or say isn’t as important as others, so you stay quiet to maintain the peace.

“I’d like that,” Thorne finally says. “I also want you to tell me everything that happened with my stepmother. I want to know if she treated you badly or said anything offensive.”

His words and the soft placement of his hand on my back are unexpected, and they counter every thought that just ran rampant through my mind.

Thorne wants me to talk?

When we first started this relationship, he didn’t care to ask my opinions or about my feelings, and now… my eyes find him sitting at the bar. Now he wants to know if I was offended by his stepmother.

A little tingle of appreciation flitters through me as I think about this change. Instead of staying quiet like I normally do, I begin explaining everything that happened at his parents’ house while I prepare dinner.

Maybe whatever time we have left together won’t be so bad.