The Ivory Queen
Chapter 14

***Aurora’s POV***

We head for the dining room and replace it empty.

“After yesterday’s fiasco, you and I will be eating alone from now on,” says Oliver.

“Oh.”

We take our seats and an omega serves our food. Today, we are having croissants with strawberry jam, sliced bananas, boiled eggs, bacon, and potatoes. As we eat, Oliver tries to explain some of the pack business ventures but I quickly lose interest and just smile and nod.

Suddenly, I hear the clicking of heels behind me. Oliver’s body tenses and I hear a low growl rumble in his throat. I turn around and see the most gorgeous woman I’ve ever seen in my life. She looks like she’s straight out of a magazine. Her black hair is parted down the middle and is curled to perfection. She’s wearing an incredible grey pant suit that hugs her figure just right and a pair of black pumps. Her blue eyes pop against her perfect brown smokey eye makeup and she wears a burgundy shade on her full lips.

Rio, who had been playing happily underneath the table, rushes out to Adeline and starts barking at her.

“Oh what a cute puppy,” she says with a slight hint of annoyance in her voice.

“Rio, stop it!” I say, pulling Rio into my arms.

“What the hell are you doing here Adeline?” Oliver snarls.

Adeline ignores Oliver’s question and puts her full attention on me. A smile that doesn’t reach her eyes hangs on her pretty lips, sending chills down my spine. I don’t like the way she’s looking at me.

My wolf growls at her. b***h

Rio snarls at her.

I shrink back in my seat and lower my head. I hate myself for being so weak, but years of abuse make it difficult for me to look a stranger in the eyes. My reaction seems to please her and her smile darkens.

“Are you deaf? What are you doing here?” Oliver growls.

“Calm down, Oli. I just came to pick you up for today’s meeting. I want to send a message of unity between our packs to the board members. Then I realized this would be the perfect opportunity for me to meet your mate,” she says.

Oli?

The way she says it lights a fire in my stomach and ignites a jealous rage inside me. I want to tear her apart, but I just sit quietly in my seat.

“Oh my apologies, sweetie. I realize I’ve yet to introduce myself. I’m Adeline Perrault ,” she says extending out her hand to me.

I take it politely. “Nice to meet you. I’m-“

“Aurora Montenegro, who could forget such an-” she pauses, searching for the right word, “interesting girl with your background. I’ve heard so much about you!” she says, her smile never faltering. “Oh and by the way, Oli and I’s relationship is strictly business now. You have no reason to get jealous.”

What does she mean by their relationship is strictly business now? Did they have another, more intimate relationship before?

I give a questioning look to Oliver, but he’s too busy glaring daggers at Adeline.

“Oh, it seems I’ve said too much,” she says tauntingly. “Oli, stop glaring at me. I meant no harm. I thought she knew.”

I can’t stand my thoughts anymore. I have to know. “Knew what?” I ask.

“Why, that Oli and I dated of course,” she says blatantly. “Our families had hoped we would be ma-“

“That’s enough Adeline!” Oliver roars.

My stomach drops. She’s his ex?

Adeline looks back at him innocently. “Oli, I-“

“Go wait in the car!”

Adeline doesn’t move.

“Now!”

Rio barks in agreement.

Adeline smiles at me, making my skin crawl. “It was nice to meet you,” she says before turning to leave.

When Adeline is out of ear shot, Oliver turns to me and begins explaining. “Aurora, it’s not a big deal-“

“What isn’t a big deal? The fact that your business partner is you ex and she clearly still has feelings for you? Or that your family wanted her to be your Luna but instead you chose me and now they won’t even speak to you!” I shout.

“I made my choice and I have not regretted it for one second, Aurora,” he retorts. “You are my Luna and she will only ever be a business partner.”

“A business partner who still calls you by her pet name for you,” I snap . “Oli,” I add in a mocking tone as I get up from my seat. I place Rio on the floor and begin to walk away.

“Aurora, wait!” he yells, reaching out to grab my arm.

I slap his hand away but wait to give him a chance to speak.

“I know I should have told you about Adeline. I was just afraid that you wouldn’t understand,” he says. “Yes, our families have had a business partnership for decades and had hoped we would be mates to strengthen our ties. Six years ago, they sent her from France. And yes we dated and hooked up from time to time. But all of that ended the day I took over as Alpha. She wasn’t my mate and she never will be. Adeline and I are just partners and nothing more. I can’t change that, Aurora. It would jeopardize our pack relations. I can’t change how my family views our relationship nor can I stop her from having feelings for me. But I can show you that you are the only girl I want in my life. I just want to be with you.”

I stay quiet, processing all the information he gave me. I sigh with annoyance when I realize he’s right. We can’t control how others behave or feel about our relationship. We can only control ourselves. I walk over to him and wrap my arms around his neck. I pull him close and give him a quick peck on his cheek.

“I just want to be with you too,” I whisper. Then my face turns ice cold. “But the ‘Oli’ situation stops. Immediately.”

“You got it,” he smiles at me and I resist the urge to poke his dimples. He leans his face towards mine and k****s me softly on the lips. I pull away with a huge grin on my face.

“Mr. Artaud, I believe you have a meeting to get to,” I say releasing myself from his arms.

“Ms. Montenegro, they can wait,” he murmurs, pulling me back.

“Ew. That’s disgusting. Please stop that. Like now,” Evan gags.

Hearing Evan’s voice, I run out of Oliver’s arms and into Evan’s.

“Hello Satan,” I laugh as he lifts me into the air and spins me around.

“Hey you,” Evan says.

Oliver tenses at the sight of our embrace and I quickly step away from Evan. I fidget with my fingers and brace myself for Oliver’s rage.

Oliver, however, does nothing. “Evan, I’ll be gone all day. You’re in charge,” he sighs.

“Yes sir,” Evan salutes Oliver and winks at me before we all march out of the dining room with Rio close behind.

I watch Oliver walk out the front door towards the b***h waiting for him in the car. I can feel the rage burn inside me as he gets inside and they drive off. Evan and I head to the game room.

“So what’s the plan?” I ask trying to distract myself.

“Well, Eric already found homes for the puppies so he’s dropping them off as we speak. Oh! How about we take this little guy for walk? I can show you around River Moon and you can meet some of our members.”

“Um I don’t know. Things didn’t exactly go well yesterday when I met of some of them at brunch, ” I say nervously. “They all think I’m – Never mind,” I say, shaking my head.

“Listen, I-I know you went through hell at your old pack, but you don’t have to be afraid here. You’re not alone anymore. You matter to us,” he says softly.

I feel hot tears in my eyes but I quickly turn around to wipe them away. He’s seen me cry to much already.

“You umm- You remind me so much of my dad,” I say forcing a smile. “He used to always know what to say to try to make me feel better.”

“Do you miss him?”

“All the time,” I whisper. “He was a gamma, like you.”

“I heard he was an silver wolf!”

“Mhmm. Strongest pack member of Lluvia Blanca,” I say with pride. “The Alpha could never command him. Dad just had this power that radiated from him. He could have taken over the pack if he wanted to but he wasn’t ambitious. He just wanted to be with his family. Thanks to his strength and abilities, however, the Alpha accepted him into the pack when he first arrived from Mexico. He became the first outsider to become a gamma in Lluvia Blanca.”

“What was his gift?” Evan asks with great interest. My face darkens a little at the mention of his power. “Oh, I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to pry. This is clearly a touchy-“

“No, it’s okay. He was a healer,” I say matter-of-factly. “Dad saved a lot of lives,” I add quietly. “But like any healer, his powers meant he-“

“He would heal almost as slow as a human,” Evan finished.

“Yeah,” I nod. “He couldn’t use his own powers on himself.”

“So the night he died…”

“There was no way he could have recovered,” my voice was trembling. “He just b-bleed ou-out,” I cry.

Evan collects me in his arms as I cry softly at the vivid memory of my father’s death.

“I’m so sorry,” he whispered. “I’m so, so, sorry.”

I don’t know how to respond. I’m so used to being blamed for my father’s death. No one’s ever felt sorry for me. They just hated me.

“It’s not your fault, you know that?”

I’m stunned. Does he believe me?

“You don’t think I killed him?”

“There’s no way you did it. Anyone who says otherwise can go to hell,” he smiles. “It’s so obvious that you loved him more than anything. I can’t imagine you doing it.”

I can’t control my emotions. Someone actually believes I’m innocent!

“Thank you. You have no idea how much your words mean to me,” I say as I hug him. I stand on my tippy toes and move to k**s his cheek softly but he moves his head and I accidently k**s him square on the lips.

We both turn red and step away from each other.

“Whoa there, I know I’m hot but damn!” he teases.

“I-uh. I didn’t-“

A slow clap interrupts my rambling. I turn toward the source and see a grinning Erin standing at the entrance of the game room. Her eyes are fixated on me.

“Well, I gotta say, Aurora, you sure do get around. First Andrew, then Oliver, and now Evan? My word, you’ve only been here two nights and you’re already sucking on the gamma’s face?” she sneers. “Poor Oliver should have known better,” she sighs. “Sluts never rest.”

I feel my stomach drop at the mention of Andrew’s name and I instinctively hide behind Evan.

“You would know, Erin,” Evan spits back.

Erin’s face darkens with anger.

“What the hell are you doing here, anyways? You were banished from this house, remember?”

“Oh, I came to pick up a few things I forgot to take with me. And to see a few friends,” she replies with a smirk. “Oh, what’s the matter witch? Cat’s got your tongue?” she asks me.

I’m silent, quivering with fear. Evan reacts immediately.

“GET THE HELL OUT!” he shouts. “NOW!”

I flinch at the sound of his angry voice. Erin yawns with boredom.

“You sure love to play the victim, don’t you Aurora? Got everyone wrapped around your little finger? No matter. I know exactly what you are, Witch, and sooner or later, your little façade will come crashing down. Until next time. Tootles,” she says coldly. She turns and walks out the front door.

“You okay, Luna?” Evan asks with concern in his voice.

I know what you are, Witch…

“Aurora?”

“Huh? Yeah. I’m – I’m, uh -” I stutter. My heart was racing. I nod, unable to speak. Up until now, I had completely forgotten about the vines.

Am I a witch?