Chapter 68

Aurora’s POV

I don't know how much more I can take. My eyes burn as I stare at my computer screen, trying to block out images of Thorne and Angeline going on cute dates together. It's all anyone can talk about right now. How cute they are, what a good couple they are, how they look perfect together.

For the past three days, the stories have been flooding in. My coworkers don't seem to want to talk about anything else, and I wish I had not forgotten my headphones. Not only that, but I wish I could move my desk.

Whispers filled the hallways, and I don't have to guess what they're talking about.

All of the romantic stories I've been hearing about Angeline and Thorne's past or too much. The first one, I heard while I was in the break room. One of my coworkers told me about how Thorne took Angeline on a romantic vacation for their first-year anniversary.

Apparently, they went to the beach and spent an entire week swimming, partying, and going on excursions around a private island. I left before the story ended because the women started talking about sex, and while I know all about Thorne and his sexual habits, I didn't want to hear any of it from Angeline's perspective.

Another story told about how the two of them would visit other packs, helping and mediating for the alphas. The women gushing over those stories continue to say how Angeline was the perfect Luna for Alpha Thorne because she knew her way around the packs and had worked well with him before.

That one made me feel a little bit ill because not even three weeks ago, Thorne had taken me to another pack for something similar. It wasn't exactly the same because I wasn't helping him. It was worse because I was there to satisfy his sexual needs, and I got hurt wall there. I'm pretty sure Angeline probably never got hurt while visiting other packs with Thorne.

The most recent story I heard was at lunch yesterday. One of the girls from the marketing team was talking about how she saw Thorne and Angeline out at dinner. She said they were kissing and looked to be having a very romantic dinner.

I don't know how many more stories I can listen to. Though, I'm pretty sure Angeline is the one sharing the stories around the office, since she's been here every single day to visit Thorne.

With each new story that surfaces, I find myself running back to my desk and burying my head in work. It's the only way I can figure out how to cope and handle the realization that Thorne is being pulled further and further away from me.

Now, I only leave my desk when absolutely necessary for fear that I'm going to hear another story about the “perfect couple.”

I don't even go into Thorne's office anymore unless he calls me in, which he doesn't do very much. It's almost like he's forgotten I'm here, and I wonder if he would notice if I just left. How long would it take for him to realize I'm gone if I just got up and walked out?

A few minutes?

A few hours?

With how Angeline is stealing all his attention, I feel like it would be even longer.

I sigh then finish retyping a document, clicking print and watching as the printer roars to life. Jealousy swirls within my stomach, turning it over and bringing back the nauseous feeling I've had a week. I guess I shouldn't say nausea; I should say jealousy.

The little green monster of envy and jealousy has been crawling underneath my skin. It's made its home in the middle of my chest or my heart used to be, and it won't go away. Not as long as Angeline is here, and I don't see her leaving anytime soon because she got what she wanted.

Thorne seems to have fully given in to Angelina's temptations.

“Aurora,” Ashley from calls down the hall. She hurries over to my desk and drums her fingers on the top of it excitedly. Her eyes are all on Thorne’s office window as she says, “do you think they're gonna get married?”

I want to throw up at the thought.

“Everyone said that the two of them we're well on their way to getting married when they broke up,” Ashley says. My chest tightens uncomfortably at her words, and I look up at her.

“Sorry, Ashley, but I don't have time to talk right now. Please get back to work.”

She looks at me like I'm crazy before huffing and walking away. I don't know what she expected because we're not friends, and I don't gossip in the office. I think she really just came over here to get a look at what is happening in Thorne’s office.

A few minutes later, Angeline leaves Thorne’s office. The little smirk on her face tells me everything I need to know. She's flaunting their relationship, purposefully shoving it in my face.

The little green monster rears its head, and I sigh.

“Aurora, please come to my office,” Thorne calls, and not meaning to, I jump up and rush into his office. Why am I so desperate for his attention that I run in at the slightest command?

Thorne looks up from his monitor and motions to the take out boxes on the table by the couch, “Would you mind cleaning the trash up for me?”

“Sure,” I say, lowering my head in disappointment. I shouldn't have expected anything else, and as I begin cleaning, my next words leave my mouth without permission, “Was your lunch good?”

Thorne nods and smiles, saying, “Yes. Spending time with Angeline isn't so bad after all.”

Thorne’s POV

It was a bold-faced lie that tasted like the worst thing I’ve ever eaten. Angeline is just as selfish, spoiled, bratty, and self-absorbed as she always was. Every moment with her made me want to gouge my own eyes out whilst sticking pins in my ears. I don't think I can take much more of her whiny voice. She's insufferable and frustrating, which are two of the reasons I ended our relationship in the first place.

However, I almost feel that she's worse now. Everything about her bothers me especially when she touches me. I get this heavy itchy feeling, and it makes me want to push her away. It's the exact opposite of the way I feel when Aurora touches me, which is a soft warm feeling… something I would like to feel now

Aurora stiffens at my claim, going completely still. It's like a switch flipped, and her usual bright and warm aura shrinks. Her face falls blank, and her eyes go hazy.

She turns to me fully, bows slightly, and says, “Excuse me.” Then, she leaves the office. Aurora's movements, her steps, are stiff and slow like she's trudging through sand. I watch as she moves to her desk and sits down, turning to the screen and staring blankly at the monitor.

Though, I still don't have a clear answer on her feelings, it's clear how she feels. The way she shut down tears at my chest and I realize how miserable she looks.

It's my fault.

I should have found a different way to figure out how she felt about me because of this, this lifeless, bleak woman in front of me, is not the Aurora that I know.