Chapter 56

Aurora’s POV

Today is already strange, and I haven’t even made it to work yet.

I wasn’t sure where I was when I woke up until I heard the cartoons playing on the TV and Sophie’s soft laughter. I hadn’t meant to sleep there last night, but I guess I fell asleep while talking to Sophie.

Then, there was the surprise room upgrade. The nurse came in right after breakfast and announced that Sophie would be moved to a VIP room on the next floor up due to a bump in the hospital’s mercy donations.

When I asked, the nurse simply stated that the fund was to make sure patients were comfortable and in good care. Though, I didn’t want to question it too much just in case they decided to give the generosity to someone else.

So, once Sophie got moved, I made sure she was comfortable before heading out to work.

Now, two thoughts run through my mind as I enter the office.

One: the sudden room upgrade was completely unexpected.

Two: this would be a long week.

The whispers that scatter through the room shouldn’t surprise me. Yesterday’s exhibition was surprising to everyone since Thorne doesn’t usually display his personal life like that.

“They’re definitely getting back together,” someone whispers.

“Oh, I’m sure about it. You don’t kiss like that if you’re staying apart,” another woman says.

A third woman giggles, “I’m sure Angeline is ecstatic. She’s loved Alpha Thorne for years and wouldn’t let an argument keep them apart.”

Steeling myself, I walk to my desk, check my to-do list, and glance at Thorne’s office. His blinds are open and there he is, sitting behind his desk and typing away on his keyboard while ignoring the blatant whispers about him and his ex.

Maybe Thorne doesn’t care that everyone is talking about him. If he did, he would certainly silence them. Does that mean they’re right?

Again, I shake the thoughts away and grab the stack of papers I need to make copies of for Thorne’s meeting with one of the pack leaders he’s meeting with later. I continue to ignore the whispers- or at least, I try to.

I can’t help but listen, especially when I pass a woman who says Thorne and Angeline went into his office to talk yesterday. Alone.

Nope. Nope. Nope.

I walk faster, hugging the files to my chest and quickly ducking into the quiet staff room to grab a cup of tea. Maybe drinking some calming tea while I make copies will be helpful.

The whispers continue as I make my tea and rush to the copy room. The tea is far too hot to drink right now, so I set it aside and load the first papers in the copier.

Starting the machine up, I suddenly wish that I had brought my headphones so I could block everything out with music. Sometimes, when I’m stressed or need to calm down, music helps. This would be the perfect time to plug in and block out the world.

I don’t need to know about Thorne and Angeline being in his office alone together.

“What are you thinking so hard about?”

Turning, I notice Ethan standing in the doorway, leaning on the wall with a smirk on his face. I’d been so lost in thought that I’m not entirely sure how long he’s been standing there. Was he just watching me?

Another creepy thought comes to mind.

Did he follow me in here?

“Ethan, I…”

I can’t very well tell him I was thinking about Thorne, so I lie, “I was doing the mental math for how many copies I need to make.”

Ethan hums, nods, and pushes off the doorframe to walk toward me. If he didn’t already freak me out a bit, I would think he was handsome. He has the classic good looks, like a clean cut, almost cliche prince from a fairytale.

“I wanted to ask you to join me for lunch today,” he says as he comes to a stop by my side. I notice him reaching out, but I subtly step away, dodging his fingers.

Honestly, I wish I could be surprised at his words, but I’m not.

“I’m sorry, Ethan. I already have lunch plans.”

I do not, in fact, have lunch plans, but I don’t want to eat with Ethan. I’ve already given him plenty of clues that I don’t want to be with him, yet he continues to approach me. I’ve been avoiding him, and I left in the middle of our last “date” with another man. Those should have been more than enough.

Ethan sighs and moves closer, “I’ve noticed you are always around Alpha Thorne.”

“Of course, I am,” I say, turning back to the copy machine. “I’m his assistant. It’s quite literally in my job description to be around him all the time.”

Ethan chuckles, “But I see the way you look at him.”

“And what way would that be?” I snap, growing irritated. Couldn’t he just leave me alone? I’m not really in the mood to deal with overbearing assholes today.

I feed another paper into the machine just as he says, “Like you want him.”

Silence fills the room as I mull over what he said. I’ve never been the best at hiding my emotions, but it’s a bit alarming that others can see how I feel about Thorne. It’s not good for me or Thorne if they guess what we’ve been doing.

And having my true feelings thrown in my face by a twit like Ethan is irritating.

When Ethan realizes I’m not going to answer him, he continues talking. Though, I wish he wouldn’t.

“You realize that an Alpha, especially one as powerful and connected as Thorne, wouldn’t want a human, right?”

I snap my mouth shut, grinding my teeth together to keep from screaming at this man. It’s always the same thing over and over. Everyone says the same damn thing: I’m human, which apparently means I’m useless and don’t have any real value.

Honestly, I’m so tired of hearing this from people who know nothing about me. Is it really that bad that I’m human? I’ve never done anything to these people, yet they go around acting like I’m worse than the dirt beneath their feet.

It’s ridiculous and tiring.

Without acknowledging or answering Ethan, I grab my tea, the papers, and walk toward the door. However, I’m only a few steps away before his hand is around my arm, yanking me back. My tea spill from the cup, the scalding liquid hitting my hand. I cry out, dropping the cup, which makes the tea splash onto my right ankle.

“Ethan!” I cry, trying not to cry from the burning in my hand and ankle.

Papers flutter to the ground around us, but he doesn’t let go of my arm.

“I didn’t mean to—”

I whirl around, dig my nails into his wrist, and glare at him, “If you don’t want to be reported for sexual harassment, I suggest you release my arm and get away from me.”

Surprised by my angry outburst, Ethan releases my arm. The moment he isn’t holding me, I turn and run straight back to my desk. I dig through the drawers for the first aid kit, trying to ignore the tears in my eyes and my burning skin.

Before I can find the kit, however, Thorne calls out to me, “Aurora, come here.”

Crap. He’ll definitely notice the red burns across my hand.

When I stop in front of Thorne’s desk, he grabs my hand, making me wince.

“What the hell happened?”