Chapter 6: Aurora
1171 Words
The front door slammed harder than I intended.
“You said you would be home before ten.”
My grandmother’s voice cut through the silence of the house sharply, disappointment weighing heavier than anger.
I froze near the staircase, still wearing my coat.
It was almost midnight.
Again.
The last two weeks had become a mess of late nights, restless thoughts, and constant exhaustion. I told myself it was because of
exams. Because of coursework.
Not because every day around Professor Knight felt like walking too close to the fire.
“I was studying,” I said quietly.
Another lie.
Not entirely. But not enough to matter.
My grandfather looked up from his chair, his expression stern. “Studying doesn’t explain why you keep coming home looking
upset.”
My throat tightened.
Because I didn’t know how to explain it.
How do you explain someone getting under your skin so deeply that even hearing his voice ruins your ability to think clearly?
“We worry about you, Aurora,” my grandmother said, softer now. “You disappear all day. You barely eat. You barely talk.”
Guilt twisted painfully in my chest.
I knew they cared.
That only made it worse.
“I’m fine.”
The words came automatically.
Empty.
“No,” my grandfather said firmly. “You are not.”
Silence fell heavily.
I looked away at first.
“I’m tired,” I whispered.
Then I walked upstairs before they could say anything else.
The moment my bedroom door closed, I exhaled shakily.
Everything felt too tight lately.
The house.
My thoughts.
My chest whenever I thought about him.
Especially him.
I sat at the edge of my bed, staring blankly at the floor.
This was getting ridiculous.
I avoided him. Tried to ignore him.
Yet somehow, he always found me.
A glance across the lecture hall.
A quiet comment meant only for me.
That infuriating calm expression whenever I got nervous around him.
Like he enjoyed it.
Like he enjoyed unraveling me slowly.
I should hate him.
So why couldn’t I stop thinking about him?
An hour later, the house finally fell silent.
I stared at my window.
Then at the door.
Then back at the window.
A terrible idea formed in my mind.
Twenty minutes later, I was sneaking out.
Again.
The cold night air bit against my skin as I walked through town, pulling my jacket tighter around myself.
I didn’t even know why I left.
Maybe I just needed noise. Distraction. Anything to shut my mind off for one night.
The bar downtown was crowded when I entered.
Music pulsed through the room, low and heavy, lights dim enough to blur faces together.
Perfect.
Nobody would pay attention to me here.
I slipped onto a stool near the far end of the bar, ordering something strong enough to burn.
The alcohol warmed my throat instantly.
Good.
Maybe tonight I could stop thinking.
“Pretty girl sitting alone?”
A male voice pulled me from my thoughts.
I looked over.
Tall. Attractive. Probably around twenty-five. Confident smile.
Normal.
Safe.
“I could ask you the same thing,” I replied lightly.
The man grinned, clearly encouraged.
“That means I can sit here?”
I shrugged.
“If you want.”
For the first time in weeks, I let myself play along.
Smile a little. Laugh softly.
Pretend I was normal again.
Then—
A familiar presence settled over the room.
Heavy.
Dark.
Immediate.
My stomach tightened before I even looked.
No.
Across the bar—
Professor Knight stood near the entrance.
Dark coat. Black shirt beneath. One hand casually in his pocket.
But his eyes—
His eyes were already on me.
My breath caught.
He looked furious.
Not openly.
Not loudly.
Worse.
Controlled fury.
The man beside me kept talking, oblivious.
“You from around here?”
“Sort of,” I answered distractedly.
But my attention stayed locked on Michael.
On the way, his jaw tightened.
On the way, his gaze dropped briefly to the stranger sitting too close to me.
And something reckless inside me snapped.
Fine.
If he wanted to stare—
I’d give him something to look at.
I turned back toward the man beside me slowly, forcing a smile.
“You’re actually more interesting than most people here.”
The guy blinked, surprised, then laughed.
“I’m definitely taking that as a compliment.”
I leaned slightly closer.
Not enough to touch.
Just enough.
And then—
I looked directly at Michael.
Big mistake.
Something dangerous flashed across his face.
Possessive.
Cold.
Feral.
Before I could process it—
He moved.
Fast.
Too fast.
One second, he was across the room.
The next—
His hand wrapped firmly around my wrist.
“Outside,” he said quietly.
The calmness in his voice made it worse.
I stared up at him, pulse racing.
“What—”
“Now.”
The man beside me looked confused. “Hey, is there a problem?”
Michael didn’t even glance at him.
“She’s leaving.”
The authority in his voice stunned even me.
“I’m not—”
Suddenly, Michael’s gaze snapped to mine.
And every word died in my throat.
His eyes were dark.
Not angry anymore.
Something deeper.
More dangerous.
“You’re coming with me, Aurora.”
Not a question.
My heart pounded violently.
“I don’t belong to you.”
His jaw tightened.
Then, unexpectedly—
He laughed softly.
A dark, humorless sound.
“No,” he murmured. “That’s precisely the problem.”
Before I could react, he pulled me up from the stool.
“Michael—”
“Enough.”
The way he said it sent heat down my spine instantly.
People stared as he guided me through the crowd, his hand firm around mine.
Not hurting.
Impossible to escape.
“Let go of me,” I hissed once we reached the private elevator near the back hallway.
He pressed the button calmly.
“No.”
The elevator doors opened.
He stepped inside, pulling me with him.
My pulse raced harder as the doors slid shut.
Trapping us alone together.
“What is wrong with you?” I demanded.
“You were flirting with him.”
I blinked.
“That’s none of your business.”
His gaze locked onto mine.
“It became my business the moment you looked at me while doing it.”
My breath caught.
Because he was right.
The elevator stopped.
The doors opened into a massive penthouse suite overlooking the city lights below.
Warm lighting. Floor-to-ceiling windows. Expensive silence.
I barely had time to process it before—
Michael turned toward me fully.
And suddenly—
All of his control looked dangerously close to breaking.
“You want to play reckless games with me?” he asked quietly.
My chest rose sharply.
He stepped closer.
Slowly.
Deliberately.
“Then tell me, Aurora…”
His fingers tilted my chin upward gently.
Too gently.
“Why were you trying to make me jealous?”
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