The Ivory Queen
Chapter 32

***Aurora’s POV***

Kehlani and I freeze.

“Guess which two idiots just walked in wearing the dumbest disguises?” Rosalie says through gritted teeth.

I sigh. I knew exactly which two idiots. I sneak a quick glance behind me and lo and behold, Evan and Cameron were sitting a few tables behind us wearing large oversized hoodies and sunglasses, pretending to be interested in the menu. In any other circumstance, I would laugh, but I’m extremely annoyed.

I g***n. Why couldn’t Oliver, Wesley, and Carter just trust that we would be fine without them?

“I don’t believe this!” Kehlani sighs. “What are they doing here? We made it so clear that we didn’t want bodyguards!”

“How long do you think they’ve been following us?” I ask, visibly annoyed

“Probably since we left the training grounds,” Rosalie sighs.

Kehlani smirks at us. “I’ve got an idea. Grab your drinks ladies and follow my lead.”

We grab our stuff and follow Kehlani towards the boys with our drinks in hand. As we get closer, Evan and Cameron shift in their chairs and try their best to hide their faces. Idiots.

Just as we walk beside them, Kehlani dumps her drink on Cameron. I follow her lead and dump mine on Evan while Rosalie finishes them off by smearing the remainder of our cupcakes on their heads. They look stunned as Kehlani pulls out her phone to snap pictures.

“Smile boys,” she laughs. “I’m sure the mighty Alphas will want an update from you guys!”

After a bit of laughter on our part and a few curses from them, Rosalie turns serious.

“Now if you’ll excuse us boys, we’d like to get on with our day, WITHOUT YOU! We see you again and we’re castrating you!” Rosalie snaps.

And with that, she turns on her heel and starts to leave, Kehlani and I following behind.

Kehlani sighs. “So where are we going next?”

“You’ll see.”

—

I grow excited as we pull up to an Ice skating rink. I’ve never ice skated but have always wanted too. We grab our rental skates and hop on the ice. Kehlani’s never been skating before either so I hold her hand as we slowly make our way around the rink while holding onto the edge and laughing when ever one of us falls. Rosalie on the other hand has been skating since she was 4 and shows us her impressive skills, doing beautiful turns and jumps. She’s amazing.

Rosalie skates over and takes us one at a time around the rink, gently guiding us and showing us the simple movements. My clumsy self has a hard time grasping the concept of skating on a thin blade and I fall and trip multiple times. Despite this, I’m having a blast. It’s been a long time since I’ve had this much fun with friends. Kehlani seems to be enjoying herself as well, falling over and laughing uncontrollably at my silly antics. After a while, we let Rosalie go off to skate on her own while Kehlani and I continue to stumble around the rink.

After a couple hours of skating happily (more like slipping and clumsily clinging onto the edge of the rink), a familiar smell fills my nostrils, making my stomach drop. I turn to look at the main entrance of the rink and am horrified to see my sister, Mia, and her friends glide in. Before I can look away, our eyes meet and the smile on her face slowly fades.

I unconsciously tighten my grip on Kehlani’s hand as fear takes over and she flinches.

“Aurora what-“

A small whimper escapes my mouth, making her look in the direction I’m looking at.

“Who is that?”

“My sister, Mia,” I say, barely above a whisper, my body now trembling.

Kehlani waves over Rosalie who quickly obliges and appears beside her.

“We have to go, now!” Kehlani hisses, grabbing Rosalie’s arm for support.

Rosalie stares in confusion. “What? Why?”

Before Kehlani can answer, Mia skates in front of us, staring directly at me. There is a deep sadness in her eyes and I swear she looks like she’s about to cry.

“A-Aurora, c-can I talk to you, please?” she pleads quietly.

I’m shaking so hard and try to step away from her but forget I’m on skates and lose my balance, landing flat on my a*s. Mia offers her hand to help me up but Rosalie slaps it away and growls at her.

“Don’t you f*****g dare touch her!” she snarls as she stands in front of me.

Kehlani helps me to my feet and leads me off the ice. A few tears fall down Mia’s face as she skates towards us.

“Aurora, no te vayas {Don’t go!}!” She calls out. I freeze. “Por favor escuchame! {Please hear me out!}”

“Aurora don’t listen to her, sweetie. Let’s just go,” Kehlani insists, not wanting to see me get hurt.

I know I should hate Mia for letting my mom and brother abuse me for the past 5 years and doing nothing to defend me, but I just can’t. There was a time when she and I were inseparable. We were best friends. I have so many fond memories of us playing together and messing with Chava. It’s those memories that got me through all the pain and suffering I endured.

“I will listen,” I sniffle, my back turned to her. “But don’t come any closer.”

“Can we talk alone? Please?” she begs, her voice cracking.

“No,” Rosalie snaps. “She is not leaving our sight!”

Mia nods in defeat.

*Please note that the following conversion is being spoken in Spanish. Rosalie and Kehlani do not understand*

“I wanted to thank you for saving my life,” Mia begins. “You didn’t have to do that, especially after how I’ve treated you all these years.”

“I know,” I say quietly, trying hard to keep my voice from shaking. “But what else was I supposed to do? Let you die?” I scoff. “You may have stopped being my sister, but I never stopped being yours.”

“I’m sorry,” she continues. “For everything I let happen to you.”

I roll my eyes, the fear I felt being replaced by annoyance. “Why? Because I saved you?”

“No that’s not-“

“Do you still think I did it? Do you still think I killed him?” I ask coldly.

She goes quiet, but her silence speaks volumes. I feel my heart shatter into a million pieces. She’s not sorry, she just feels indebted to me.

“Then I think there’s nothing left to say,” I snap. “You don’t need to thank me either. It’s what sister’s are supposed to do.” As I take a step, her voice stops me in my tracks.

“I know you don’t forgive me and I don’t deserve it but I want you to know that I am sorry!”

“I don’t believe you!”

“I can prove it!” she shouts, making me turn to look at her.

“How?” I ask.

“Tomorrow. Meet me at the border near the large Oak tree at noon,” she begs. “Please just give me a chance. You can bring along someone if you want.”

I’m quiet, thinking it over carefully in my head. Could this be a trap?

“You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to. But I’ll be at the Oak tree tomorrow at noon. I hope you will be too,” she says and with that, she skates away, leaving me to my thoughts.

*End of Spanish conversation*

“Aurora, are you ok? What did that b***h say?” Rosalie asks, pulling me into a hug.

“Nothing important,” I mumble, still processing her words. “Let’s just go.”

—

We drive up to an a burger joint and order some burgers and milkshakes. I’m quiet during the meal.

“Do you want to talk about it?” Kehlani asks.

“I’m ruining the mood aren’t I?” I chuckle, forcing a smile. “I’m fine, just a little annoyed with her is all.”

“Want to know what always cheers me up?” Rosalie grins mischievously.

The next thing I know, were pulling up to a night club. A huge line wraps around the building but Rosalie walks right up to the bouncer.

“Ro baby, how you doin’?” He says, kissing her cheeks.

“Hey Peter!”

“Where’s Evan and Carter?” He asks, looking at us.

“At home throwing a hissy fit probably,” she smiles. “Let me introduce you to my girls, Kehlani and Aurora.”

“Welcome ladies,” he smirks, eyeing us up and down before pulling back the velvet rope. “Enjoy your night.”

As we walk in, I quickly grab hold of Rosalie’s hand.

“No offense, but your friend’s a creep,” Kehlani chuckles.

“Yea, I know. But Evan trusts him and he lets me in without carding me,” Rosalie shrugs. “Now who wants drinks?”

I shake my head. “I don’t do alcohol,” I gulp, remembering all of my mom’s cruel drunken episodes. At this point, I can’t even stomach the smell and the club is putting me edge. I try to act cool, however, not wanting to kill the mood.

“Club soda it is,” she smiles. “Kehlani?”

“Breast feeding, love. No alcohol for me,” Kehlani replies.

“Poo. I guess I won’t drink either. Ok, I’ll get the club sodas and meet y’all on the dance floor.”

“Alrighty,” Kehlani says, pulling me to the dance floor.

Kehlani begins to sway her h**s to the beat of the music. She smiles encouragingly at me and I decide to let loose. Despite it being a Wednesday night, the dance floor is packed. Rosalie replaces us relatively quickly and joins us.

Although the place reeks of alcohol, I manage to enjoy myself, focusing on the music and my friends. Rosalie grinds her butt against me and I grab her h**s to steady her. Kehlani backs it up on Rosalie and we become a line of carefree girls grinding and swaying. As the song changes, we regroup and move to the beat. It’s not long before I’m covered in sweat from dancing so much.

I laugh and giggle, completely forgetting all my troubles as the music blares through the speakers. Rosalie was right, this did cheer me up. Suddenly a group of human guys make their way over to us and ask to join. Rosalie and Kehlani raise their left hands to show off their wedding rings and shake their heads.

“Come on, just a dance?” One of them insists.

“I don’t see I ring on you,” another says, grabbing my h**s and swaying them against his groin. “Wanna dance?”

I pry myself away from him “N-no.”

“She’s taken. Sorry fellas. We’re flying solo tonight,” Kehlani explains, reaching for me and pulling me close to her. “Goodbye,” she waves.

“Oh come on. We’re just trying have a good time.”

Rosalie walks over to the guy seductively and the smirk on his face widens. Rosalie wraps an arm around his neck and pulls him low. She leans into his ear. “We said …. No!” She slams her knee into his family jewels and he g****s in pain, falling to his knees.

“You b***h!” he g****s.

One of his friends tries to grab Rosalie but she quickly flips him over onto the ground, crushing his wrist in her grip. He cries out in pain and his friends look absolutely horrified.

She turns to back to the rest of the guys. “Anyone else?”

They boys shake their heads, grab their friends and scurry off. We go back to our dancing, playfully grinding our h**s against each other and having a good time. A few more guys try to dance with us but Rosalie has no problem turning them all away.

It’s after midnight when we make our way back to the house. As we pull up, five angry men stand at the door waiting for us.

“Uh oh, looks like the big bad wolves are mad at us,” Rosalie grins. “Oopsies.”

As soon as we come within 10 feet of the men, they lose their minds.

“You smell like Peter. Why the f**k do you smell like Peter?” Carter snarls.

“You took her to the night club? Rosalie what the f**k were you thinking?” Oliver snaps. He catches a whiff of me and he becomes angrier. “You danced with someone. I can smell him all over you. Who was it?”

Normally I would be terrified of him at this moment, but I’m beyond annoyed with him at the moment. The girls and I give him a bored look.

“This isn’t a f*****g game! Who was it?”

We don’t respond and walk to the living room with our things. They continue to bombard us with questions and we ignore them entirely.

“ARE YOU f*****g DEAF?” Oliver snaps.

“Where’s Rio?” I ask.

This infuriates him and I can tell he’s using every ounce of strength in him not to shout at me. It’s actually kind of funny and I laugh, irritating him even more.

“Rio!” I call out.

Kehlani and Rosalie join in and the men look like they’re about to lose their s**t. I hear the pitter patter of Rios paws run down the stairs and he jumps up to greet me. I pick him up and he licks my face.

“Who’s a good boy Rio? Huh Rio? Who listens to me and doesn’t go behind my back, disrespecting my decisions?” I coo at Rio, who happily wags his tail.

Oliver’s face darkens.

“Yea, who knows how to respect a lady’s wishes? You do Rio! Such good boy!” Rosalie k****s Rio’s head.

Carter glares at Rosalie.

“Aw if only all boys were as good as you Rio!” says Kehlani staring directly at the angry men.

Wesley narrows his eyes to slits at Kehlani.

“We sent Evan and Cameron to protect you! You had no right to dump your drinks on them and humiliate them as you did,” Oliver says bitterly.

“And you had no right sending them after us in the first place after we made it so clear we didn’t want bodyguards!” I retort.

“You are our mates, we had every right!” Wesley snarls back.

“Oh, so you get to make every decision for us and we just have to obey you?” growls Kehlani, crossing her arms over her chest.

“No but you can’t just go anywhere without telling us!” Oliver snaps, getting more and more frustrated.

“But we did tell you!” Rosalie argues. “We said Spa, Mall, food!”

“You never said anything about going to the night club.”

“That was punishment for sending these two after us!” Kehlani huffs, pointing at Cameron and Evan.

“You know what? This conversation is over. Grab your things, we’re going home,” Wesley snaps. He turns to Cameron and motions for him to grab Kehlani’s things.

Kehlani sighs. “I don’t believe this!” She turns to us and gives us a hug and k**s good bye before storming out, not waiting for Wesley or Cameron.

“Rosalie go to the room,” Carter orders.

“You can’t make m-“

“GO TO YOUR ROOM NOW!” Oliver commands in his Alpha voice.

She stares at him angrily but obeys his order. “I can’t believe you just did that!” She screams as she climbs the stairs. “f**k YOU, YOU STUPID ALPHA!”

We hear the door of her bedroom slam shut and Carter runs up to give her an earful. Oliver stares at me, his anger growing with every second. He orders Evan to leave. Evan gives me a scowl before heading up to his room.

“I’m going to bed,” I say storming past Oliver.

“This conversation isn’t over!” Oliver bellows as I continue to walk up to our room. “Who did you dance with?!”

“I didn’t dance with anyone! He came up behind me and wanted to dance but Rosalie got rid of him and his friends.”

“So there were more guys after you?”

“No! We were just dancing with each other. They asked us to dance and we turned them down. We handled it. We’re not as helpless as you make us out to be!”

“You know what? I don’t care. You are never to go to the night club again. In fact, you’re never going anywhere with Rosalie and Kehlani ever again! You’re done. From now on, Evan goes everywhere with you!”

“You can’t do that!” I snap.

“Watch me!”

“No! That’s not fair! I spend every day with you or Evan. And I’m not complaining, I love being with you, but you guys are boys. I can’t talk to you about my girl things and this is the first time I actually have girls to talk too! So the one time, the ONE TIME I get to spend some alone time with my friends and check out the city,” I fight my tears and try my best to calm my voice. “You go behind my back and send Evan after me! Do you not trust me?”

“I do trust you! I just wanted to-“

“TO WHAT?” I shout. “To control me? I’m not a child Oliver. You don’t get to make decisions for me!”

“That’s not the point!”

I’m at my wits end and all the anger I have piled up inside me spills out. “No, the point is that it seems that you are the only one who can make decisions around here and what I want doesn’t matter. You don’t want me to use my healing powers, you don’t want me to go hang out with my friends, and you accept a challenge when I begged you not to!”

“So that’s what this is about, isn’t it? You’re acting out because I accepted the challenge? You don’t want me to fight for you?” Oliver asks. “Do you want me to give you up?”

“I don’t want you to lose your father!” I blurt out, angry tears staining my cheeks. My voice is so weak. “I don’t want you to lose your family like I lost mine.”

Oliver’s face softens and he pulls me into his arms as I sob, unable to hide my fears any longer. “I already told you, you are my family. You are my entire world. I love you so much Aurora and I am willing to die for you if I have to. I will not give you up without a fight and I certainly won’t settle for anyone that isn’t you. If my dad can’t accept that, what else can I do?” He asks quietly, lifting my chin and wiping my tears.

“I’m so scared,” I whimper. “I can’t lose you. I can’t.”

My heart starts pounding like crazy, the fear consuming me and I hyperventilate as a panic attack takes over. Oliver sits me down on the bed and grabs my face.

“Aurora breathe. Just breathe.”

“I can’t!” I pant.

“Look at me. Aurora just look at me. I’m right here, baby. I’m right here. Just breathe,” he says calmly, rubbing circles on my back.

I take deep breaths, gulping for air as tears stream down my face. Slowly, my breathing begins to regulate and I lean into Oliver’s shoulder and sob.

“You’re ok, nena. It’s going to be ok,” he murmurs, digging his fingers into my hair and kissing my head. I breath in his scent and a calm washes over me. “I love you, Aurora. It’s going to be ok.”

“I love you too,” I reply, burying my head in his chest. “Please….. don’t die.”

He chuckles softly in my ear. “I promise I won’t.”

“Pinky swear?” I ask, pulling back from him and holding up my pinky.

He raises an eyebrow at me.

“I mean it, Oliver. Swear to me that if something happens and it looks like you’re not going to win, you’ll forfeit.”

“No-”

“You have too!”

“No! I’m not doing this!”

“Promise me! Promise me you won’t leave me alone. I’ve already lost a lot of people, I can’t lose you too,” I sob. “Please, promise me you’ll forfeit.”

He hesitates and I push him away from me so I can get up to leave. “I need to go,” I say, wiping my tears and looking for my coat.

“Aurora stop-“

“Promise me!” I snap, holding out my pinky. “You have to pinky swear!”

He swallows hard and locks his pinky with mine. “I swear I’ll forfeit if it doesn’t go my way. I promise I won’t leave you alone.” He leans down to k**s our pinkies and wipes away my tears. “But I won’t need to,” he smiles.

“Thank you,” I sigh and he presses his lips against mine, melting away my fears. No matter what happens at the challenge tomorrow, I will not lose him.

Oliver helps me remove the finger splints and we start getting ready for bed. I hop in the shower to rinse away the sweat and stench of that guy off my body.

As I brush my teeth, my mind drifts off to Oliver’s challenge. I know Oliver is strong, but his strength alone doesn’t guarantee his victory. David was one of the many who helped train him so he probably knows all of Oliver’s tricks. He’ll need to be smart during the challenge and move differently.

I send a few prayers to the Moon Goddess before I crawl into bed. I hold Oliver tightly, letting his scent lull me to sleep and praying this isn’t my last night in his arms.