The Ivory Queen
Chapter 53

***Aurora’s POV***

Salvador’s voice makes my skin crawl and I instinctively wince. Mia and I both freeze for a few seconds, scared to face him. I start shaking and Mia holds my hand to comfort me.

“What are you doing here?” she asks. “Did you follow me?”

He says nothing so we both finally replace the courage to look at him. There’s a smug look on his face as he leans against the tree, blocking our only way down.

“So this is what you’ve been doing all this time, huh, sis? Aurora saves your a*s once and you suddenly love her again?” he snickers. “How cute. You know, I knew you were lying when you kept trying to replace excuses to run off but I just thought you were sneaking off to meet some boy or something. But look at the surprise I found!”

He smiles coldly at me, sending shivers down my spine. “So how’s life been with the River Moon mutts, Aurora? I bet you milk the whole victim story, don’t you? Got all the Alphas wrapped around your little finger,” he laughs bitterly. “I bet you’ve sucked them all off and f****d-“

“That’s enough, Chava!” Mia snaps. “Respect your sister!”

“Sister?” He sneers, c*****g his head to the side and staring at us with an amused look on this face. “Oh come on, Mia. You and I both know she’s not our sister.”

I stare back at Mia with shock. She told him?

Salvador laughs, shaking his head. “What? You thought I didn’t know?”

“How long have you-“

“I’ve known for years. Heard Mom and Dads arguing about you all the time when we were kids. Dad told me not to tell and I kept his secret.”

I stare blankly at him. He’s known for so long and never told me?

“You know, I’ve missed you Aurora. We used to have such a good time together.”

Another shiver runs down my spine as several cruel memories come flooding back.

“Remember the supply closet in the laundry room? Remember how I’d lock you in there all night and project your biggest fears? Bloody Mary…Rogues…. Dad’s body…. Man that was fun! You were so afraid to face your crime and my Goddess did you scream!” he laughs hysterically with a crazed look in his eyes. “And just when I’d think you’d tired yourself out, you’d start screaming again!”

“You did what?” Mia asks, a look of horror on her face.

“Oh don’t act innocent now, Mia!”

“I never hurt her!” she retorts, but I can sense her nervousness.

“Oh but you did!” he laughs. “You sat back and watched as we tortured the b***h and then when she’d fall asleep, you’d have your fun with her.” He sets her gaze on me. “You see Aurora, your dear Mia here, would sneak into your room at night and give you nightmares. She’d f**k with your brain every night to make sure you never got a moments rest. Even in your sleep, she wanted to make you suffer. She’ll never admit it but I know she enjoyed every second of your pain. She wanted to make you pay for what you did!”

My heart sinks. I defended Mia against Oliver and Evan when they called her a monster. I thought she never hurt me….

Tears tug at Mia eyes and she grabs me frantically.

“N-no… Aurora please. I’m sorry,” she cries.

I slap her arms away and scoot further away from her. I fight back my tears and stare at her in disbelief.

She turns back to Salvador, fire in her eyes. “I was wrong to do that to her! She didn’t deserve-“

“Yes she did!” Chava snaps coldly. “She deserved it and more for what she did!”

“I didn’t kill him!” I cry, unable to bear this conversation any longer. “It was the Rogues!”

“Ah, yes the rogues. And you, the mighty healer, couldn’t save him!”

“I-I hadn’t shifted yet! I couldn’t-“

“Oh, how convenient! And so Dad died protecting your pathetic useless a*s, didn’t he? Does that not make you his true killer? Is it not your fault he’s dead?”

Tears stream down my face as I fill with guilt. He’s right…

“Hey, I just got a call from Rosalie. She’s having a little episode concerning the potatoes. Could you guys wrap this-” Carter stops in his tracks when he catches sight of Chava. “What the hell is he doing here?”

“He was just leaving,” Mia says climbing down the tree. She stands in front of Chava and shoves him back. “Let’s go, Chava.”

He raises his arms in surrender, a smirk hanging on his lips. He turns around and starts walking. “Enjoy your Thanksgiving, Aurorita,” he calls out sweetly. “I’m sure a murderer’s appetite can be quite intense.”

Carter snarls, making Chava chuckle with satisfaction. Mia and Chava disappear into Lluvia Blanca’s woods, leaving just Carter and I by the tree.

“What did he say?” Carter asks.

I can’t bring myself to tell him the truth, Chava’s words tearing at whatever trust I had left to give.

“N-Nothing,” I shrug, wiping away the tears on my cheeks. I look up at the grey sky to collect myself before climbing down. “So what was wrong with the potatoes?” I ask, forcing a smile.

Carter looks sternly at me. “Don’t change the subject. What was he doing here?”

“He-uh, he followed Mia here,” I say, taking a seat at the base of the tree and leaning my back against the trunk.

“And what did he say?”

I close my eyes and focus on my breathing, pushing away all the bad thoughts in my head. “It doesn’t matter. I’ll be okay.”

He sighs in defeat knowing he won’t get any more information out of me. “I don’t know how Oliver does it.”

I open my eyes and look at him again. “What do you mean?”

“THIS!” he snaps, raising his arms to up with irritation. “You are the most evasive person I have ever met! You never want to talk about anything. You just bottle everything up and smile like you’re ok when you’re clearly not! It’s not healthy, Aurora. You need to talk about it, you need to let it all out.”

“There’s just no point in talking about it. It was about the past and you can’t change the past so why bother talking about it?” I sigh. “Besides, all it ever does is make you guys angry or sad for me.”

“Aurora-“

“It’s Thanksgiving, Carter! I would just like to spend one day without being reminded about what happened to me. I just want to eat and enjoy your guy’s company today, okay?”

“I’m telling Oliver.”

I exhale loudly. “Yeah, well he’s already mad at me so it doesn’t really matter at this point. He should be here soon.”

“Great,” he g****s. “He’ll hand me my a*s too then.”

Carter takes a seat beside me and I lean on his shoulder. We sit in silence. Fifteen minutes later, Oliver comes running in his wolf form. Carter and I get on our feet, bracing ourselves for a scolding of a lifetime. Oliver shifts, changes into some sweats, and storms towards us.

“Explain,” he snaps, crossing his arms and glaring at us.

I decide to speak for both of Carter and I since I know Oliver will be easier on me than him. “M-Mia wanted to w-wish me a happy Thanksgiving and chat for a bit… C-Carter was the closest person by…… so I asked him to take me.”

He snarls. “That doesn’t explain why you chose to not tell me!”

I wince as he raises his voice, so Carter steps in.

“It’s my fault, I forgot to tell you we were coming,” Carter says.

Oliver sighs, clearly annoyed with both of us right now.

“Please don’t punish him. He was just trying to help me,” I interject before Oliver becomes infuriated.

“Carter, go home. I’d like to speak with her alone.”

“Oliver-“

“GO!” he commands and Carter walks to car and drives off.

I look down at my hands and fidget with my sleeves as I wait for Oliver to scream his head off at me. But he doesn’t. Instead he pulls me into his arms and holds me. It takes me a few seconds to react to his hug, but I finally get my arms to move and wrap around his waist.

“I don’t want to fight with you anymore over this Aurora. I really don’t,” he sighs. “I know you are trying to make amends with Mia and that’s fine, but please don’t keep me in the dark about it. Especially when there are Rogues after you.”

I nod my head against his chest and hold him tighter.

“Chava was here.”

Oliver tenses up. “What!”

“He followed Mia. I just thought that you should know…”

“What did he want? Did you he hurt you? He didn’t hurt you, did he? Where the f**k was Carter?”

“Carter was in the car giving Mia and I some privacy and no, Chava didn’t hurt me. He just followed Mia. He wasn’t too happy to know we’ve been meeting here.”

“I don’t want you meeting here with Mia anymore. I don’t care that he didn’t hurt you, I don’t trust Salvador. I barely tolerate you meeting Mia as it is. If you two have something to talk about, tell her to come to the house. I’ll let the guards know to let her through.”

“Ok,” I say, remembering the little tidbit Chava gave me about Mia and my dreams. I don’t think I’ll be meeting with Mia anytime soon. “Can we go home now?”

—-

I spend the next two hours helping the girls in the kitchen and getting ready for dinner. I change into a long lacy dress and heels and do a light makeup look. The boys are practically drooling as they wait for us to finish getting ready. Finally, we have the boys set the table and carry trays of food to the dining room, while we finish cleaning up the kitchen. Rosalie bursts into tears when Carter and Evan place the forks to the right of the plate and the glasses to the left.

“No this is all wrong, you uncultured swine!” she screeches. “Forks always go to the left of the plate while the knives and spoons are on the right. And these glasses go there! DO IT RIGHT OR YOU DON’T EAT!”

I have to hold back laughter as I watch a terrified Evan and Carter scramble to fix the table settings.

“I love pregnant Ro,” Oliver whispers in my ear.

“I heard that!” she snaps. “And don’t think for a second I’m letting you off the hook Mister Alpha. Get your a*s moving and bring in the turkey!”

“Yes ma’am!” he salutes Rosalie and runs off to the kitchen.

I’m practically in tears as Rosalie continues to bark orders at the men, who keep looking to us woman for help. Of course, we offer none. Oliver fixes Rio a plate and sets it down by the dining table so he can join us for dinner.

Finally, we all take our seats at the table. I notice a little sadness in Oliver and Rosalie’s eyes as we look at the empty seats at the far end of the table where their parents and grandparents would have sat. I reach for both of their hands and give them a little squeeze.

“I would like to say a few words before we eat,” Katherine says and we all take each other’s hands. “I know this has been a very difficult year what with the rogue attacks and our Luna having fought for her life for four months, but we have many things to give thanks for. Our Luna is safe and in good health and our Alpha proved himself to be worthy of his title. We will be welcoming new life soon and I wish Rosalie and Carter nothing but the best in the life ahead of them. My Evan has a little sister to take of and I couldn’t be happier with the friendship they share. Rosalie and Oliver, I know you two are heartbroken regarding your parents but please remember the people in this room are your family and we love you very much.”

“Kathy you can’t do this to me! You know I’m emotional right now!” Rosalie weeps and Carter leans over to k**s her cheeks.

“Thank you Kathy and everyone else for being here. It’s been a rollercoaster of a year but I’m happy. I have my mate and my family with me and that’s all that matters,” Oliver says, grabbing my hand and kissing each finger.

I hear Evan gag and Katherine subsequently smacks him over the side of the head. Everyone begins to dig in and I watch as the room fills with laughter and joy.

…Dad died protecting your pathetic useless a*s…Is it not your fault he’s dead?

I close my eyes and count to ten as I try to calm myself down. I don’t realize I have a death grip on my fork until Oliver reaches over to squeeze my hand.

“Are you alright?” he asks, his eyes fill with concern.

I force a smile and reach for the tamales. “Yeah, I’m fine! Just got a little emotional there, that’s all. It’s so nice to see everyone so happy!”

I quickly look away to peel my tamale but I can feel his stare. I pile on some mash potatoes and turkey on my plate before reaching for the homemade salsa.

…She enjoyed making you suffer…she wanted to make you pay for what you did… Is it not your fault he’s dead?

I gasp and jerk my arm back, accidently spilling the entire salsa bowl all over myself and my plate. Everyone stops and looks at me.

“I’m sorry. I’m such a klutz,” I apologize, pushing my chair back to stand up. “I’m gonna go change real quick. I will be right back!” I say with extra cheerfulness.

Oliver reaches up to grab my sleeve. “Aurora, what’s going on?”

“Don’t worry about me. Eat your food,” I chirp and run off upstairs.

I hear the pitter patter of Rio’s paws follow me and I fight back my tears as I reach the room. I close the door behind Rio and look up at the ceiling, refusing to let the tears fall. I run to the closet and take off my dress and slip into a cute purple blouse and jeans.

“Don’t cry, don’t cry, don’t cry,” I mutter to myself as I fan my eyes.

There’s a lump in my throat and my heart is pounding. I feel the walls closing in on me and I want to scream. A few tears manage to escape my tear ducts and make their way down my cheeks as a small sob escapes me. Rio whines and whimpers as he senses my growing anxiety. I try to take several deep breathes when I suddenly hear the door burst open and Oliver’s scent fills the room.

“Baby, what’s wrong?” he asks, his voice trembling. “Why are you-“

I take a few steps away from him and force a smile on my face. “O-Oliver I just need few minutes…” I pant. “I-I’ll be fine, just give m-me a few-“

He doesn’t let me finish, pulling me into his arms and holding me tightly. I sob into his chest, grabbing fistfuls of his shirt and letting my sorrows out.

“Tell me what’s going on? Why are you crying?” he asks, upset to see me crying.

“I-I don’t deserve this! I-I killed him! He’s d-dead because of me. It’s all my fault!” I cry, my entire body shaking with every sob.

“Baby you’re not making any sense! What happened?”

“Salvador… he said I killed dad and he’s right. I killed him and I don’t deserve to be happy!”

“No, that’s not true at all! You were just a kid! You didn’t kill him,” he tries consoling me. He grabs my face and brings it up to his, forcing me to look into his eyes. “You of all people deserve to be happy.”

I shake my head, denying his kind words. “No, no, no-“

He nods his head. “Yes, yes you do baby. You deserve to replace peace and to live your life happily, nena. Emiliano made a choice to protect you, to give his life for you because he knew you were worth it. You are worth dying for. Don’t let Chava or anyone else fill your head with lies. You did not kill Emiliano and you did not deserve what your family did to you. Moon Goddess works in mysterious ways and she let you live for a reason. She brought you here to me for a reason. Don’t question it. Just live. Live for Emiliano. Live for you. Please.”

He k****s my forehead, sending warmth throughout my body. Another sob rolls through me and I wrap my arms around Oliver’s neck. I let Oliver hold me until I finally calm down. Rio wedges his body in between and licks our faces.

“I’m sorry, I’ve ruined everything today…” I hiccup, stroking Rio’s head.

“No, you didn’t. This has been the best Thanksgiving ever. I’ve got my girl in my arms and my family sitting downstairs. That’s all I need,” he says, wiping my tears. “Now take a few deep breaths and lets go finish our dinner. Rosalie made her pies especially for you and it would be a shame if Evan and Carter ate them all before you got a taste,” he chuckles, kissing my nose.

I take a moment to collect myself, putting some eyedrops in my eyes to hide the redness from crying before I follow Oliver back downstairs. Evan gives my hand a squeeze as I take my seat.

“You okay there?” he asks.

I nod my head. “Yeah, I was just a little overwhelmed. But I’m okay now. Oliver helped me realize I am exactly where I’m supposed to be.”

Evan raises his glass. “A toast to our brave Luna and our mighty Alpha!”