Chapter 88

Aurora’s POV

Two days of hiding in the house was too much. I can’t take any more. If I stayed there any longer, I would go crazy.

I was practically tearing my hair out trying to find something to do while Thorne came to work like normal.

But no more.

As inconspicuous as possible, I slip into the office. Though, it doesn’t take long for me to realize that I’m not as sneaky as I think because everyone is staring at me. Everywhere I go, people watch me, stare at me, and glare.

They whisper, not even trying to hide the disgust in their gazes. I try not to let it bother me as I work, but it grows and gets worse throughout the day. Two women shove me into the wall in the copy room, Ivy and Jackson laugh when I walk by, men stare at my boobs when I’m near them… it goes on and on.

They don’t matter.

I try to remind myself of that, but the whispers continue.

Whore.

Slut.

Gold digger.

“You shouldn’t have come in,” Thorne mutters when he pulls me into his office at lunch. I shake my head, trying to hold back the tears that pool in my eyes as his arms circle me.

“I didn’t think it would be this bad,” I whisper, laying my cheek against his chest. A strong, steady heartbeat thumps against my ear, and I just let myself stand her and listen.

“I’m sorry. I’ll make sure things are cleared up,” Thorne says softly. “Until then, don’t let them get to you. You’re an amazing woman who doesn’t deserve to be dragged through the mud like this. You’re my beautiful, kind, loving, and wonderful mate, and nothing they say will change that.”

Nodding, I let myself soak up his attention while I can because soon, Thorne pulls away and tells me he has to go to a meeting.

We part ways, him off to his meeting and me down to get lunch. I let Thorne’s words play on repeat in my mind as I ignore the whispers around me. They don’t matter. The only opinion that matters right now is Thorne’s.

If he says he’ll take care of things, I trust that he’ll take care of things.

All I need to do is stay calm and do my job. That’s it.

“Found you.”

A hand wraps around my arm, yanking me back and dragging me down the hall. I tug on my arm, but Jack’s grip is too tight.

“Let me go,” I hiss, but it doesn’t stop him from dragging me outside. “Jack, I’m warning you—ah!”

He shoves me down the alley next to our building, and I collide with the wall. My skin scrapes against the brick, making me gasp.

“What is your problem?” I snap, turning on Jack.

“What do you mean? I’m just trying to have a conversation with my ex-girlfriend,” he says, shrugging. Then, he’s on me, pinning me to the wall. “But, if you want, I can make you my problem again. Wouldn’t that be better than hearing all these awful things about you and Thorne? You’re the talk of the pack, Aurora.”

I shove at Jack’s chest, but he doesn’t budge.

I’m so sick and tired of not being able to fight against every problem that comes my way.

“If you want, I could give people something else to whisper about,” Jack says while sliding a hand up my thigh. My skirt catches on his fingers, and he smirks. “It’ll be like old times, just with more fun.”

“Get off me!” I shriek. “This is your fault, isn’t it?!”

“What do you mean?” He asks, pulling at the hem of my skirt. “Oh,” he gasps. “Do you mean the contract? I’ll admit that I knew you and Thorne were sleeping together, but if I’d known you would spread your legs for a few bucks, I would’ve been happy to oblige.”

His hand brushes along my inner thigh, and I throw my head forward, slamming it into his nose.

A crack sounds, and Jack stumbles back as blood gushes out of his nose. He curses and glares at me, “What the hell?!”

“Don’t touch me, Jack. I’m not yours anymore!”

He laughs, “Oh yeah?” His hand flies forward before I can dodge it, and his fist collides with my cheek. I fall back into the wall, and stars dancing in my vision, and before I can move, an arm shoves against my neck, pinning me to the wall again, “Who do you belong to, then? Thorne?”

“Yes,” I gasp, “Thorne is my mate.”

“Someone like you doesn’t belong with Thorne,” Jack growls, pushing me further into the wall like he’s trying to shove me through it. “Angeline, on the other hand… she belongs with Thorne.”

I spit in his face, clawing at his arm until I draw blood.

“You’re bringing nothing but trouble to our pack, you know,” he says, acting like my attacks don’t bother him. “No matter what you do, the pack won’t accept you as Thorne’s mate. Neither will his parents. Want to know why?”

When I spit in his face again, Jack grabs me by the hair and yanks my head up. I gasp, reaching up to stop him, but his grip is too tight.

“Thorne is set to be married in less than two months to a woman that his father has chosen,” Jack hisses. “When that happens, you’ll be kicked to the curb like the worthless little human you are. If I were you, I’d cut my losses and leave.”

He leans in, licking his lips appreciatively as his eyes move down my body, “Or you could always come back to—”

I slam my knee into his balls, growling, “I’d rather die,” before I take off running to my car. My entire body is shaking as I climb into the car.

Jack is nowhere to be seen, which is good. However, I can’t go back inside, so I send Thorne a quick message that I’m not feeling well, and I head home. I’m sure he’ll understand that something is wrong, but I hope my message prompts him to come home quickly.

By the time he does get home, I’m freshly bathed and bandaged, and it’s the first thing he notices.

“What happened?”

“I had a run in with my ex,” I mutter, wrapping myself around him as he sits on the couch and pulls me into his lap.

“Jack? What did that bastard… he hit you?” The snarl that surges through Thorne’s body sends vibrations into my body, and I nod.

“He did, but I gave as good as I got.”

“I’ll rip his hands off,” Thorne growls, jumping to his feet with me still in his arms.

“Don’t,” I say, grabbing his face, “At least, not yet. I… he said some things that I want you to clear up.”

Thorne sits back down and nods, letting me know he’s listening. I explain what happened, keeping Thorne’s face in my hands to keep him calm. When I finally bring up the marriage, he stiffens.

“Jack said you’re going to marry someone in less than two months.”

“I’m not marrying anyone other than you, especially not the she-wolf my stepmother has chosen,” he growls. “I’ve been trying to convince them and the pack elders to accept you as my mate. It’s taking more time than I thought, but I won’t give up. You’re my mate, and I won’t be with anyone else.”