Betrayed By Two Alphas:Bound By One Fate

Chapter 25

Aurora’s pov

The fluorescent lights in the office restroom hummed softly as I stood in front of the mirror, touching up my lipstick. The day had already been long, and I was running on the last fumes of my energy. I just needed to look put-together for the final stretch.

The door swung open behind me. A group of girls walked in, their heels clicking sharply against the tiles. I caught their reflection in the mirror—three of them, all staring directly at me. My wolf stirred in my chest, ears pricked.

What do they want?

I turned around slowly, meeting their gazes head-on. “Is there a problem?”

The blonde in front crossed her arms, a nasty little smirk playing on her lips. “How are you Damon’s fiancée? I mean… look at you. You’re not even pretty enough to stand next to him.”

I blinked, glancing over my shoulder just to be sure. “Are you talking to me?”

“Who else is ugly in this room?” one of the others snickered. The group burst into laughter like they’d just delivered the funniest line ever.

I kissed my teeth and straightened my posture, offering them a faint, unbothered smile. “Don’t you think it’s a little rude to walk up to someone you barely know and say things like that?” I tilted my head. “I don’t know what gave you the impression that you could speak to me this way. But even if I weren’t with Damon, he still wouldn’t pick any of you. You’re not his type. Never will be. So maybe stop being mean girls and focus on whatever actually pays your bills here.”

One of them scoffed. “You’re deluding yourself too much for someone who was just a placeholder Luna.”

The others laughed again.

I laughed too—loud, genuine, and completely unbothered. The sound echoed off the walls, and their laughter died awkwardly, replaced by uncomfortable shifting.

“Yes,” I said, still smiling. “I was a placeholder Luna. Because I had the substance to step up and help save a pack. I did my duty. And somehow I still got a man as fine as Damon to fall head over heels for me.” I shrugged. “Isn’t that amazing? You’d understand if you could relate. But a man like him… he’s mine alone to keep.”

My wolf growled softly in my head. He’s Emmett’s man.

I know, I told her. Now shut up.

The blonde’s face twisted. “You don’t deserve him. It’s unfair.”

I let out a jagged laugh. “Are you the one who deserves him?” I looked her up and down. “Because last I checked, being ‘beautiful, pretty, and slim’ doesn’t automatically make you worthy of anything.”

She sneered. “At least I’m not fat.”

The word didn’t even sting. I simply raised an eyebrow. “You know I could get all three of you fired, right? This company doesn’t need bullies on the payroll.”

“My father has huge shares in this company,” the blonde shot back smugly. “I’m fine.”

I glanced at the other two. “And the rest of you? Are you fine too?”

Their expressions faltered. The confidence drained from their faces.

I shook my head. “You know what? I’m not even going to engage in this. You’re jealous. I get it. If I weren’t me, I’d probably be jealous too.” I winked at them, turned on my heel, and walked out.

The moment the door closed behind me, my smile dropped. The exhaustion hit harder.

I was halfway down the hall when I spotted Brandon. Just seeing him made a real smile tug at my lips. He lifted a small bag.

“Didn’t see you at lunch, so I brought you a roast beef sandwich.”

“You’re a gentleman,” I said warmly, taking the bag. “Thank you.”

He grinned and gave me a little nod before heading off.

Back in my office, the work was embarrassingly light. I finished everything in under ten minutes and spent the rest of the afternoon pretending to look busy, boredom gnawing at me.

Finally, it was time to leave.

Damon was waiting for me outside. As soon as we got into the car, I told him everything that had happened with the girls. His jaw tightened, eyes darkening with anger.

“Give me their names. I’ll have them fired by morning.”

I placed my hand on his arm. “Don’t bother. I’m fine. I just wanted to rant a little.”

He exhaled, still visibly upset. “You shouldn’t have to hold back. Tell me next time. I don’t want anything making you uncomfortable here. Ever.”

I couldn’t help smiling. He was so genuinely protective, so careful with me. It was easy to see why Emmett had fallen so hard for him.

When we got home, the familiar warmth of the house wrapped around me.

“I want to cook tonight,” I announced.

Emmett, who was already in the living room, immediately shook his head. “I love you, but please don’t. I barely survived the last time.”

I stopped, shocked. “You didn’t like my food?”

He winced, looking guilty. “You were so happy cooking for us… I didn’t want to ruin it or make you sulk. We have a chef, baby. Go get ready. Food will be served soon. Take a nice shower.”

I sulked a little anyway but eventually headed upstairs. In the bedroom, I peeled off my work clothes, letting everything drop to the floor until I stood completely naked. The cool air felt good on my skin. I was halfway to the bathroom when my phone buzzed on the dresser.

A notification.

I picked it up and opened the message.

It was from Liam.

He wanted to talk.

I stared at the screen, my thumb hovering over Liam’s message. The words stared back at me: “Hey Aurora, this is Liam. Can we talk? It’s important.”

My stomach twisted into a tight knot. Liam. Of all people to message me tonight. How did he even get my new number? I had him blocked everywhere.

My wolf stirred inside me, uneasy. A low growl rumbled in my chest.

Don’t, she warned. Not tonight.

I sighed and flipped the phone face-down on the dresser. Whatever Liam wanted, it wasn’t my business. He had a new fiancée now. I didn’t want him anywhere near me.

“f**k you,” I muttered, glaring at the phone like he could hear me. Then I headed straight for the shower.

The water poured down hot and strong, cascading over my shoulders. It washed away the sticky sweat of the workday and the nasty words from those girls at the office. I closed my eyes and breathed deeply. For a few minutes, everything felt peaceful. No jealous coworkers. No placeholder Luna comments. No surprise texts from my ex-husband. Just steam, silence, and the steady beat of water.

When I finally stepped out, I wrapped myself in a soft robe and reached for some casual clothes.

Downstairs, the dining table was already set. Damon and Emmett sat waiting, talking quietly about work. The moment I walked in, they both looked up. Damon’s eyes softened right away. Emmett gave me that crooked grin that always warmed my chest.

“You look better,” Damon said, pulling out my chair. “Did the shower help?”

“A lot.” I sat down and breathed in the smell of grilled steak and roasted vegetables. “This smells amazing. Thanks for saving me from another kitchen disaster.”

Emmett chuckled. “We love you, but we also love not calling the fire department.”

I laughed and flicked a napkin at him. The food tasted even better than it smelled — tender, juicy, and full of flavor. As we ate, the conversation flowed easily. I told them about my painfully light workload, and they shared stories from their day. For a while, the knot in my stomach loosened. Liam’s message faded into the background.

But after dinner, while we cleared the table, my phone buzzed again in my robe pocket. Another message from Liam.

This time, I opened it.

“Aurora, this is important or you want me to come find you.”

Even his text screamed arrogance. My fingers tightened around the phone.

Damon noticed immediately. “Everything okay?” he asked, his brows pulling together in concern.

I hesitated, then slipped the phone back into my pocket. “Yeah… just an old friend. Nothing important.”

He nodded. After we finished cleaning up, I went straight to my room. I sat on the edge of the bed and stared at my phone. The same question kept spinning in my head: Should I just go? Or was this a trap?