My Four Alpha Princes Want Me

003

AURORA

“They're quite eager to see you,” Mom said as she pulled me farther into the house.

I swallowed nervously with my heart thumping against my chest.

“But, Mom...I'm not really ready” I began, slowing my steps.

She glanced over her shoulder at me and smiled. “There's nothing to be nervous about, baby. They're your brothers now”

That was easy for her to say. She wasn't the one who had just been rejected and humiliated in front of an entire pack.

What if they had heard about me? I heard that news flies fast.

What if they had heard what Levi said? Maybe someone must have took a video of me.

What if they smelled my scent and thought the same thing?

Levi's words echoed in my head, "You reek"

I lowered my gaze, suddenly feeling self-conscious. What if there really was something wrong with my scent after all?

“Stop worrying, you'll be fine" Mom said, squeezing my hand slightly.

Before I could respond, she stopped walking and I looked up and four men stood in front of us.

Four pairs of eyes turned towards me.

Four identical faces.

Yet four completely different appearances.

Four different hair colors immediately caught my attention.

Black.

Blonde.

Brown.

And dark purple.

My breath caught. Because I couldn't believe this handsome guys were my quadruplets stepbrothers.

“Come on, baby girl,” Mom encouraged, giving my hand a gentle squeeze. “Say hi"

I swallowed, “Hi...”

The man with black curly hair stepped forward. He looked confident, almost intimidating, but there was something controlled about his expression.

“I'm Prince Cassian, but you can call me Cassian" He introduced himself, giving me a small nod.

He gestured toward the others. 'That’s Lucien, Julian, and Kieran"

My eyes followed his hand and the blonde-haired one smiled faintly.

“It's a pleasure to meet you"

The brown-haired one merely nodded.

“Likewise”

Then my gaze landed on the last brother....Kieran.

The moment our eyes met, something strange happened inside me.

A strange sense of familiarity washed over me and I stared at him, confused.

Have I seen him somewhere before?

His dark eyes remained on mine for a second longer than necessary before he finally looked away.

“It's a pleasure to meet you,” The four brothers said almost simultaneously.

Their voices sounded polite and friendly, but their expressions told a different story.

I bet they were being courteous because their father or my mother had told them to be....at least, that's what it felt like to me.

“It's a pleasure to meet you too, I'm Aurora Sterling” I replied, forcing a small smile.

“You too princess,” Cassian said with a short nod.

Before anyone could say anything else, Kieran turned and walked toward the stairs.

I watched him disappear upward and my chest tightened for some strange reason.

Why did watching him leave bother me?

“Kieran!” Mom called after him.

He stopped halfway up the stairs but didn't turn around.

“Where do you think you're going?” She asked.

“I have somewhere to be,” He answered flatly.

“I'm leaving Aurora in your care" Mom placed a hand on her hip.

Kieran finally turned around.

“My care?”

The disbelief in his voice made my shoulders tense.

“Yes,” Mom replied as though it were the most obvious thing in the world.

“There's a meeting at the pack house, and I'm needed there. I only stayed because I wanted to make sure Aurora arrived safely" She turned toward me and gently cupped my cheek.

“She's here now, so I can go"

Then she looked at Kieran.

“She’s in your hands. Be a good older brother and take care of her"

“Mom...” I protested, my eyes widening.

She was really leaving me with him?

Kieran sighed, looking as though he'd just been handed an unpleasant responsibility.

“Fine then"

“I'll see you both later" My mom smiled brightly. Before I could protest again, she hurried away.

I stared after her in disbelief.

Great.

Now it was just me and the quietest man in the entire house.

Kieran descended the remaining stairs and walked past me.

“Follow me”

He didn't wait for my response.

I quickly followed behind him and for several minutes, neither of us spoke.

The silence became increasingly uncomfortable as I kept glancing at his back.

He really wasn't going to say anything?

“Are you always this quiet?” I finally asked.

No response came and I frowned.

“Do you hate me?”

He suddenly stopped as I nearly walked straight into him.

He turned around slowly, his expression unreadable.

“And why would I hate you?”

“You seemed unhappy when Mom told you to look after me" I nervously played with my fingers.

“It was like you didn't like the idea of having me around. I promise I'm not a disturbance. I won't get in your way. I'll behave, and I...”

“I don't hate you” He interrupted me calmly.

“I simply don't know you" He turned away again and continued walking.

“So stop thinking nonsense” He added.

I stood there for a second before quickly following him.

He doesn't hate me? Well, that was a relief.

He was definitely different from Levi. Levi had known me and still treated me like I was worthless.

Kieran didn't know me at all. Maybe I shouldn't judge him so quickly.

We eventually reached a door at the end of the hallway. Kieran opened it and stepped aside.

“This room is yours” He announced.

I walked inside and my eyes immediately widened. The room was beautiful. The curtains were exactly the color I loved.

There was a small bookshelf filled with books beside the bed.

And on a table sat a basket filled with snacks and fruits and that's just how I love it.

A thought crossed my mind and my brows furrowed.

“How did you know I liked these?” I could help but ask.

Kieran paused at the doorway and for a brief moment, something unreadable flashed across his face.

“Mother probably told the room decorator" His answer came too quickly.

I narrowed my eyes slightly. Something about that explanation didn't feel right. But before I could question him, he turned away.

“I'll take my leave now” He stepped toward the hallway.

“You can let me know if you need anything” Then he walked away.

I watched him until the door closed. Something stirred inside me and I couldn't explain it.

The moment he had walked past me, I had caught his scent and my entire body had reacted.

A strange tingling sensation spread through me. I touched my chest wondering what was happening to me?

“Cici?" She still wasn't responding and my heart sank deeper.

I slowly sat on the edge of the bed, but instead of thinking about my rejection, my mind returned to Kieran again.

His voice.

His eyes.

His scent.

His presence.

Everything about him felt strangely familiar and I couldn't understand why.

I lay back on the bed and stared at the ceiling.

Who exactly is him?

And why is my instincts reacting to him.