The Marred Bond

Chapter 3

"Eat a lot please, Aurora. I was really worried when I first saw you. I always bid farewell to a healthy chubby girl and welcome back skin and bones. This is not how you take care of yourself!", Her mother continued scolding until they reached airport. The moment cab stopped, Aurora pushed door open and literally jumped out to save her life from her mother's neverending list of complaints.

"Listen to her, Aurora. She cares for you.", Her dad said as he stepped out of the front passenger seat.

"I know, Dad. But right now I'm getting late.", Aurora said as she tapped her feet impatiently, waiting for the driver to put her luggage down from the boot of the car.

"She always does this. Wait until I'm no more, then you'll understand my worth.", Her mother chided dramatically as the driver tried to hold back his snicker. Aurora rolled her eyes and glared at the driver. He quickened his pace, hurrying to escape from this melodramatic family.

Her father paid the cab driver and after collecting the change they headed inside. She said her final good-byes to her sobbing mother and smiling father. Her mother is always so sensitive and emotional and her father is a jolly and kind man. Aurora loves them to infinity.

At the age of 23 Aurora had said her farewell to Orlando, her hometown and fled to Boston along with her highschool friend, Bella. She was always a good girl, straight A's and no detention record maintained until the end of her highschool. She wanted to become a reporter since the age of five and that dream remain constant. After highschool she chose journalism and mass communication as her major and pursued her higher education passionately.

After a month in Boston she met Hades at a coffee shop and that's how their relationship started. From small smiles, shy glances exchanged, to phone numbers. Late night conversations, fun dates and then she moved in with him after six months of their relationship.

For the first year their was a spark between them. They couldn't get enough of each other. But then slowly it all faded. In their busy schedules and in the rush of creating a beautiful future, they lost present. Although the distance was visible, it was intangible and so neither felt the need to remove it. And then Hades kissed his childhood best friend, dissolving the reminiscent of what was left. Aurora moved back to her apartment and decided to forget everything. But even though the heartbreak didn't feel so painful, the habit of having him all time around did made her uncomfortable and lonely. And she was more angry than sad. She knows their relationship was pushed to the farthest end because of their own selfish desires to create a strong career, but that doesn't clarify cheating. They could have talked, broken up mutually. But like this? The humiliation she felt when her colleagues saw them with her present there while he was sucking his best friend's face was like a slap on her face. She received many pitiful glances and some mean comments the next day. The rage she still feels for Hades is undescribable.

Love for her was always non-existent. She never believed in that s**t. But she loves reading romance novels, watching romcom, swooning over movie males and dreaming to have someone like them one day. But who is she kidding to? There's no one like that. While she cries over fictional couples, real life couples makes her gag. Like they are doing now.

"What are you doing? Stop."

"I'm touching my girlfriend! What's wrong in that?"

"Everything!", Aurora exclaimed. She was on the left end of three seaters while the couple beside her kept displaying their PDA shamelessly. "Look Romeo, take your Juliet to the washroom if you can't keep it in pants. But do not disturb me. I'll s*******r you if you don't stop this!", She growled and the man cowered back.

"I'm sorry.", He squeaked, scared of her murderous silver eyes. She looked ready to kill him and he cherishes his life more than his throbbing member's demands.

Aurora sat back satisfied, her chest heaving up and down as she tried to drown the loud snores of old man behind her and closed her eyes shut to catch some sleep.

After more two hours, she exited the cramped flight and collected her luggage before heading towards the terminal. Bella and Elijah were already waiting for her with a car.

"He is hot! He is so freaking hot! He's like an exotic candy which is only reserved for rich kids. There's no actor or model that can be compared with his looks.", Bella blabbed as Elijah placed Aurora's luggage in trunk before slamming it close.

"Who is he?", Aurora asked skeptically.

"Adrian freaking Lloyd!", She squealed gleefully.

"Okay.", Aurora mumbled. It's no secret that he his handsome, but the sudden fangirling attacks her friend is having in these days is seriously worrying her.

"You don't understand! I saw him! Like in real!", Bella screeched, shaking Aurora's shoulders.

"Wait! How?", Aurora swatted her friends hands away as her sleeves slipped down.

"You know it's the annual function tomorrow, right? And it's always organized here in Boston-"

"Shall we continue this in car?", Elijah interrupted. The two girls immediately entered. Aurora turned towards Bella, curiously waiting for her monologue to unfold.

"Okay, so he landed a day ago in Washington DC. They did their lunch and speeches and all that s**t there. Today morning he fled here and then met the civilians at Fenway Park. I swear I died a little and came back to life when I saw him entering with his bodyguards. He's so f*****g perfect. Like you'll feel as if you're watching some Greek god. He walked up to stage and then gave a short speech followed by our president. And then smiled. He smiled. Oh my God! His smile is like....... Like..... I don't know.", She deadpanned disappointedly at the end. "But it's beautiful. I'm so excited for tomorrow. We'll get to see him so closely.", She mumbled to herself shifting her gaze out of window. Aurora chuckled. Her best friend has always been a crackhead.

A gorgeous crackhead though. Since the freshman year Bella had boys around her like some nectar attracting bees. With dark brown hair falling past her waist and flawless shiny skin, her crystal and calm blue eyes contradicting her buoyant personality. She is like a magnet that attracts every male around.

While Aurora was always an average looking girl. Literally. Apart from her silver eyes, there's nothing that she calls beautiful in herself. It's not that she hate herself. She admires her other traits but her body features are not one of them. She has moderate breasts and ass. Her hair, natural ginger red. She doesn't have a zero figure or a deadly hour glass figure that can drive men mad. She carries some fat under her belly, nothing noticeable but it was there. She had dealt with acnes in her teenage years and over come them. She is normal. Like every other girl. And she is happy with herself.

But who likes normal girl? No wonder Hades kissed his best friend. She was much more beautiful than Aurora. Beautiful curves, blonde hair, smart and quirky. Not to forget kind and giving. Aurora was always selfish. She has always put herself first before anything else. And even though sometimes this trait of her angers her, she can't do anything. She loves and cherishes herself so much that anyone having the power to hurt her is pushed away before they can make a place in her life. This is not outcome of some nasty break up or something, she was like this since birth. She is her first choice. And everything else comes next.

The car halted in front of her apartment building and Aurora took her leave after bidding them goodnight.

The familiar scent of her apartment gave her a different kind of solace and she basked herself in the warmth of it. She headed to her bedroom after putting up her hair in a messy bun and unzipped her luggage. She carefully removed the dress that she has to wear tomorrow for the night and then unpacked every other stuff.

After shower she studied herself in mirror. She is dieting since few weeks for tomorrow's night. And she can see the results now. Her belly fat has reduced considerably and will definitely not catch eyes tomorrow. The dress is little tight on the lower side so she can just hope for someone to not stare at her. Otherwise it'll be noticeable.

After brushing her teeth she decided to skip dinner and call it a night. She lied that she ate when Clair, her mother, called to check on her.

"I hope tomorrow goes well.", She mumbled to herself before closing her eyes and slipping into deep slumber.

••••••••

"The car will be ready to take you at 7:00.", Secretary of President Josh White, said as he opened the door to King Adrian's suite courteously.

"Okay. Good night.", Adrian smiled at the sweating secretary before he entered inside along with his Beta, Damon. The two Deltas preferred to stay outside with other bodyguards for security measures. The whole hotel was under security surveillance, with hundreds of guards and city cops sacrificing their sleep for the safety of King Adrian.

"Your tuxedos are ready and are right now in your bedroom. There are ten options, you can select any one of them.", Damon said as he handed a glass of water to his tired Alpha.

Adrian took it gratefully before he loosened his tie and opened the two first buttons of his crisp white shirt. He sat down before downing the full glass, rendering it empty.

"Do you need anything else, Alpha?", Damon asked Adrian shook his head.

"I'm fine. You can go to sleep.", He said and Damon nodded before he headed to his room which was in the same suite but opposite to Adrian's master bedroom.

It was a tiring day indeed for the King. He had dinner with all the presidents, with him being the only one representing Asia, Africa and Eastern Europe. And not to forget the screaming chaos of millions his one smile caused in the houseful stadium. He never knew he had these many admirers in human civilization. Mostly the girls and women. It was a crazy day.

Throwing his head back, he stared at the ceiling. Trying to push back his wolf's whining.

'Nobody listens to me. I'm telling you, Adrian we should leave this place this instant! What if they had planted a bomb in this hotel. Trust me you asshole. I'm not getting a good feeling. Something is going to happen. I don't want to die this young. I haven't even f****d anyone yet. I can't die virgin. You inconsiderate, stuck up, sanctimonious human, are you even listening to me!?' Leo cried out, pacing and heaving like a caged animal.

Shush, Leo! You're so annoying sometimes! Kevin groaned tiredly.

Sometimes? Always! He's always annoying! Adrian snapped back.

'When my foreshadowing comes true, don't come running to me crying like a child!' Leo grunted before fading away, distancing himself away from them.

Adrian decided to sleep his worries off. Changing into comfortable pair of sweats, he dived under silk sheets and switched off night lamps.

"I hope tomorrow goes well.", He mumbled to himself before giving into the temptation of deep slumber.

••••••••

The Night of Function. 31st December. 2020.

"You're looking gorgeous!", Bella giggled when she spotted her best friend. Her smiled was one of admiration and pride.

"I hope I'm not looking fat?", Aurora asked self consciously.

"Don't worry. You're looking beautiful.", Elijah, who was dressed in black tux smiled assuringly at his friend.

"Thanks. You both are slaying it!", She complimented them. Bella smiled, looking down at her mermaid style green gown.

"Okay, let's be serious now. You've brought your employee ID and invitation card right?", Aurora nodded. "And you've brought your camera?", Elijah nodded in response. "Great! Guys, this is important for me okay. I hope you both don't go wandering leaving me alone.", She said and both her friends sighed in exasperation.

"We're not fake friends. Now come on!", Aurora chastised before she grabbed her friends arm, dragging them to other entrance that was for reporters and photographers.

Adrian gasped.

His heart racing uncontrollably, as the sudden overwhelming realisation came crashing down on him. He was all good and normal until sudden burst of sandalwood scent made his wolf crazy. He moved back, taking the support of chair behind him as his heart palpitated at an insanely fast speed. The feeling was heavy, tugging at him and pushing him to conquest the search of the source that eluded such beautiful scent. His body shook, need and desperation clawing at his insides. His wolf helping with nothing as he continued to whine and howl. The scent embraced him, unearthing all the love that was buried deep. He felt powerless. The feeling was painfully surreal.

"Alpha? Are you okay?", His Beta bent down to his level.

"I'm fine.", Adrian gritted out.

'She's here! I can feel her! Goddess! I don't want her! We're going to reject her you get that! She's a f*****g human! Disgusting!' Leo's words contradicted his inner emotions, which were bursting with love and need for his mate.

You should find her. Kevin suggested.

I know. Adrian said and stood up.

"I'll be back.", He said to his beta before walking down the couple of steps. Leaving all the dignitaries and influential personalities confused at his sudden decision to go down the stage.

"Is everything okay?", Mr. White asked and Damon nodded. Unassured himself. His eyes fixed on the retreating back of his Alpha. "Is he going towards the reporters?", Mr. White questioned with a frown.

"I think so.", They both headed down to follow the King.

"Is he coming here?", Someone mumbled and Bella peeked, her eyes widening as she saw Adrian Lloyd coming closer.

"Oh my God! Eli, keep the camera ready! I think he is coming here!", She said before grabbing her dazed Best friend's hand, dragging her to the front through the bunch of pushing and pressing crowd. "Look!", She pointed above a guy's head, her finger directly aiming at the King and Aurora's heart skipped a beat at the sight of him.

She inhaled deeply. Even though he was at a good distance from them, she felt she could drown in his mouth watering scent. He stalked closer, his eyes restless and desperate until they landed on a pair of certain silver eyes. His face grew stoic, her breathless beauty stopping his heart for a moment before it thudded hard and fast against his chest. His steps turned determined, eyes fixed on her frozen form.

Aurora felt as if her soul was sucked out when his emerald eyes met her. The people rushed past her, confined by the physical boundary created by the guards. He stood right in front of her, her heart going crazy. The moment his eyes flashed silver, eerily matching hers, everyone else frighteningly scurried back. Even the guards felt their legs wobbling. He could tear each and every one apart within a blink of an eye.

But she stood where she was. Not moving an inch. Captivated by him.

"Aurora!", Bella whisper yelled, yanking her back and she came out of her daze. Looking lost and scared.

Adrian gave her one last heated look before striding towards the opposite end of hall.

When Mr. White reached there, confused by Adrian's actions, he was surrounded by hundreds of question. Aurora was left behind as everyone rushed front to capture a glimpse and get answers to their questions by the US president.

Suddenly she felt herself being pulled back. Her wrist was in chained grip, rendering her helpless as thousand thoughts flooded inside her.

"Who-Who are you?"

"That's not important.", Damon answered as he walked through an empty hallway only to stop infront of a suite. He knocked before turning the knob and opening the door. He pushed her inside, eliciting a gasp out of her.

Aurora heard the door getting closed behind, and her wide silver eyes ran across the huge living room, stopping at the tense muscular back of Adrian.

Adrian tried to calm himself. Being in the same room with her was driving him crazy. But he has to control himself. However desperate he is to mark her, he just can't. He turned around, ready to face her. But was blown away by her angelic beauty, standing lost and afraid in front of the door. His heart dropped, stomach coiling painfully when he realized he has brought her here to reject her.

'She's beautiful.' Leo whispered.

She is. Adrian agreed.

Kevin smiled. This was the first time they had agreed on something mutually.

Aurora chuckled nervously. Her thoughts running from north to south as she took in his giant form. He is half animal. He can separate her limbs by limbs with his animalistic power without breaking a sweat.

Why did he bring her here?

Did she do anything wrong?

But they haven't even met before!

He looked livid when he first made eye contact with her.

She gulped, her throat dry. Raising her hand up, she waved awkwardly.

"Hey........ Buddy?"

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