Chapter 17
Venus POV
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After what Aaron did, I didn’t want to stay in Alpha’s house, but I had to, even though I had to bear the humiliation, the pity and those snarky remarks about Patrick Lawson’s daughters.
Aaron came by my side, looking apologetic, like he really wanted to speak to me and explain about it, but what was there to explain. He kissed Vicky on the day of our engagement. This was cheating and there was no way I could forget it. When we all proceeded towards the dining hall for lunch, he guided me to sit with him. He pulled my chair and when I sat on it, he took a chair beside me, which was to the left of Alpha Martin. Eric and Luna Marie sat on the right of the Alpha. Daddy and Gaia came to sit beside me and after them was an empty chair where I knew Vicky would come. As all others were taking their seats, I just could bear to sit next to Aaron, so I excused myself to go to the washroom.
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When I reached there, I couldn’t hold myself anymore. With a loud sob, I let out my tears. I leaned against the counter with my hands and lowered my head as tears continued to roll out of my eyes unbridled. Why was it that my heart was bloody fixed on the only wolf who was breaking it continuously? Why was it that the idea of having any other man in my life repulsed my wolf? And why was it I was finding it difficult to reject
Aaron?
Nothing made sense. Inhaling deeply, I attempted to rationalize my thoughts. I had to wear a fake smile to mask the chaos beneath the surface. Howsoever complicated the situation was, I needed to steel myself and put up a brave face.
washed my face with water and took deep breaths to calm down. Suddenly, the door opened and Vicky walked it with one hand bandaged.
She came to stand right beside me. As our gazes locked in the mirror, she smirked. “I told you, Venus, didn’t I? Aaron will never be yours. I will make sure that he rejects you. Initially, I warned you to cancel this marriage, but you chose to ignore my advice. You went ahead and got engaged.” She picked up my hand and twisted my engagement ring brutally in it. Gasping, I removed my hand from her. “Mark my words, Venus. This engagement ring is going to be on my finger soon. And then I am going to throw you out of this pack. In fact, I will make sure that Aaron throws you out of this pack! This is just the beginning. See how beautifully wrapped he is around my little finger? In a snap, I destroyed your moment.”
Fury consumed me. I couldn’t take anymore of her bullshit. “Vicky,” I said, crossing my arms. “You may try what you like, but you know very well that you can’t go against the wishes of Alpha, Luna and the Elders. This marriage will happen. And as for Aaron, I will fight for my love.”
“You bitch!” she shouted, trembling in rage. “You think you are very smart? I am going to make you crawl like vermin. You will see the hell that I will create for you. And you-” She stopped suddenly and started crying. “Oh Venus,” she cried. “Please don’t be angry with me. It wasn’t me who sent that photo. I don’t even know who clicked it.” She placed her bandaged hand on her head. “I have lost so much blood. At least have some pity on me. I am so sorry.” She started bawling. “If you like, I can go away, but my intentions are pure.”
Shocked by the sudden change in her behavior, I stared at her with wide eyes. However, when she looked behind me, I quickly turned my head to see what had caught her attention, and there stood Aaron. Goddess.
I just couldn’t believe that Vicky would play such games. She wasn’t what she portrayed in the beginning–a sweet, innocent girl. I couldn’t shake the feeling that every interaction with her was a carefully planned maneuver in a bigger game.
Aaron walked to both of us and a crease formed in between my forehead. I braced myself for the onslaught of his usual anger. In her presence, he never once supported me. Vicky touched him and said through her crocodile tears, “I was saying sorry to Venus. She is upset that I ruined her evening. But I swear, I only want the best for her.” She took a step towards him to hug him. “Aaron, you know it, right?”
I clenched my teeth, hating how manipulative she was, hating how my heart cried silently. Since I already knew the outcome of this incident, I turned to leave.
However, Aaron stepped away from her. He grabbed my hand to stop me. “Venus,” he said. “I had-”
I put my hand up. “Please Aaron. Feel free to carry on with your lovey–dovey relationship with her, I am leaving.”
Startled, he jerked his head back. Taking a step towards me, he said, “I had come to see you, not her. People are waiting for us at the table.”
Vicky’s mouth dropped to the floor as I blinked at him, surprise bubbling in me. She let out a whimper to attract his attention.
His lips lifted into a soft smile. “Come on, let’s go, Venus.” Saying that, he tugged my hand and then walked out of the washroom with our hands intertwined. I turned my head over my shoulder to see Vicky, and she looked like she was going to explode. Her face was red with fury and her hands were curled into tight balls as she glared at me. Refusing to let her ruin my moment, I watched at our joined hands as I walked with him, totally stunned at how things unfolded. My heart did a wild somersault inside.
Aşi if that wasn’t enough, Aaron halted at the door. Without turning, he said to Vicky, “It would be better if you leave. I want this day to go peacefully now” And he continued to walk with me to the dining hall. When Alpha and Luna saw our joined hands, they beamed.
As soon as I sat down, I saw Vicky storming out of the dining hall with rage written all over her face I knew that this wasn’t over. Vicky had shown her true face. She was a viper in the sleeve.
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4:24 PM
Chapter 18
Chapter 18
Venus POV
The lunch got over amicably. But I knew that the Oak Pride pack was going to be rife with gossip about Lawson sisters.
In the end when all the guests left, father came to me and said in a low voice, “I’m glad that Aaron remained by your side all the while. But I have to warn Vicky.” He shook his head with a sigh, and I knew he was tired of her antics. “Let’s go home, chickee, and talk to her.”
I lowered my head and bit my bottom lip. “Daddy, I don’t want to go home.”
“Why?” he asked, bewildered. “You can’t stay here until you are married.”
“It’s not that,” I responded with hesitation, not knowing how to convey my feelings. “I” Damn it. What could I say? “I don’t want to stay with Vicky in the same house.”
My father jerked his head back. “Then where do you want to stay?” he asked, not liking my words. “I don’t want the gossip about you sisters to spiral out of control!”
I pursed my lips. “Daddy, can I stay in the cabin that you and mom used to go to for holiday? It’s only until I get married to Aaron. After that, I’ll come to stay with him.”
My dad became speechless. He had a pained look in his eyes. He cupped my cheeks and placed a kiss on my forehead. “I don’t want you to stay away. If anyone has to stay out, it is Gaia and Vicky.”
“No daddy,” I replied. I knew he had a chance at happiness with Gaia. How could I snatch it from him? “I want to stay there because that cabin reminds me of mum. Vicky is already hurting because of this conundrum. She would need both you and her mom. I guess this would be the best solution.”
My father closed his eyes, taking a deep breath in. “Okay…” he muttered. “But come back home now so that you may pack your things up.”
“Thank you, daddy!” I exclaimed, hugging him tightly.
“What is going on?” Luna Marie came to us with a smile.
My father chuckled. “Venus wants to live in our cabin at the edge of the woods. For now.”
“Oh! That’s a lovely place,” Luna said. “I’ll visit you sometime. It reminds me of your mother so much. Along with Aaron and Eric, you used to spend a lot of time in the nearby woods, playing hide and seek. Often, the three of you would return covered in mud.” She laughed, placing her hand on her heart. “Those were such beautiful days…” her voice trailed off and my father’s face turned sad.
“Sure, Luna Marie,” I grinned to lighten up the mood.
“But-” she said, picking up my hand. “Now that you are the future Luna of the pack, we will send some warriors to guard you there.”
“Okay,” I agreed.
Aaron came to say goodbye to us. He was looking exhausted, but when he kissed me on the forehead, I was surprised. A pale blush rose to my cheeks. “See you tomorrow,” he said softly. His phone started buzzing, and he took it out of his suit’s pocket. It was Nathan calling him. “I have to take this,” he said and walked away quickly
Home looked like I had come into a cemetery when we returned in the evening. There was a pin drop silence, and the air was thick with tension and misery.
The cabin was one of our many properties around the pack. It had all the amenities and so I bothered myself to just carry my books and clothes.
Next morning, daddy had to go early, but he had arranged for a driver to drop me at the cabin. In order to avoid Gaia and Vicky, I slipped out of the house at 6AM. When I reached the cabin, I was overwhelmed. Memories came flooding in. Of my mom and dad kissing each other as I watched movies or played video games. Tears threatened to spill out from my eyes. I walked inside, wiping them. Luna Marie had already sent two warriors for me already as guards. They bowed to me and helped the driver unload my luggage.
Loneliness enveloped me immediately, but at least I could breathe freely here. I took a bath and came downstairs to watch the live news as I made breakfast. I wondered if Aaron would visit me here as I spread peanut butter on my bread. However, my heart raced and my breath caught in my throat in pure panic when the news flashed a scene from the Tride Falls with the caption, “What is our future Luna doing?”
It was a video of me sandwiched and dancing between two boys without a care in the world. It changed to Aaron punching the boys, shouting. “She is my fiancée!”
Blood drained from my face. This wasn’t all. A photo of Aaron kissing Vicky just before our engagement flashed. The headline said, “It seems our future Alpha heir can’t control his emotions when it comes to Lawson sisters. Will he marry one of them and make the other his mistress?”
“Fuck!” I rasped, grabbing my hair and pulling them in frustration. This was a nightmare. The press was having a field day. Who could have leaked 1/2
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