Aurora changing their destiny

Chapter Five

Chapter Five

Aurora

Everest stands looking out the kitchen window. The kettle boils on the old-fashioned cooker, everything in this cabin is beautiful. Warmth spreads through the cabin from the old fireplace. The front door opens. To my surprise, Jaxen walks in. Neither of the men move. Both frozen in place.

“Jaxen? Everest?” Jaxen walks towards me, his eyes stalk over my body. Oh, my. Everest shouts about how dangerous humans are to our kind.

A thud jolts my body and the vision in front of me disappears, the plane comes into focus. I was asleep, it was just a dream. Thank God they can never meet. I hope Everest is not too angry with me. The plane jolts and jumps off the floor as it lands in New York the pilot talks over the speaker announcing our arrival. Gathering my things together standing with the other passengers getting ready to leave the plane.

Finally, finding the baggage area searching for my bag, once I have my suitcases, I turn my phone on hoping Jaxen has left a message. I still do not know where I am going. My phone vibrates as I walk, pulling the heavy suitcase with one hand. Noticing a bench, I head for it. I need to check these messages. Walking to a bench, unlocking my phone. Two missed calls from Jaxen, a voice mail, and a text message from Everest. Plugging my headphones in clicking the voice mail.

“Hi Aurora, I am so sorry for leaving you last night. I'm also sorry to say I have some more bad news. I will not be able to pick you up from the airport. I have sent a car to collect you. See you soon.” I can already feel this is going to be a long week. Clicking the message from Everest, time to see how angry he is.

“Good luck, changing the world Princess, I will see you soon xx” I can safely say I was not expecting that. Smiling to myself he might just understand. Shooting a quick text back.

“Thank you. I have arrived safely. I will call you later. X” Now time to find this driver. Jaxen did not give a clue to where I am going.

I found the driver quickly and we are now getting into his car and ready to leave Albany Airport. I would be lying if I said I am not looking forward to seeing Jaxen again.

“Ready to go Mrs?”

“You can call me Aurora, and yes ready to go thank you. Are we headed to Mr, Silver's office?”

“Thank you, no we are going to Mr Silvers house, in hudson valley, the driver is around an hour long if not a little longer.” Wait, I am going to his house!? Why? Why are we not meeting at the office?

As we drive I look at the city around me. New York is breath-taking, the buildings are so tall, and there are hundreds more people here than back home. It is so busy! This place has a sense of home about it. I cannot put my finger on why, but something has my wolf begging to come out and explore this feeling. She is going to be hard to control.

The car drives for what feels like hours, but it has only been fifty five minutes. The city is long gone, now surrounded by trees and open grasslands, Hudson river valley is beautiful! A sense of calm takes over and just for a minute everything feels strangely normal, like I have been here before and I know I am safe. I have not felt this relaxed in, well never!

The car pulls up to a massive house, this is a mansion!

“Wow, The driver smiles at me, pulling up the drive. The front door opens as the car comes to a stop. Jaxen walks out smiling, with a woman following behind him. He never said he had a partner. Not that it is any of my business Jaxen comes straight to my door, opening it for me, getting out. His smile grows even bigger as he looks down to me.

“Ms Faizan, Aurora, it is lovely to see you again. I hope your flight was not too bad?” How could it have been when I was dreaming about you? This is going to be a long week! He has every hair on my body standing and he isn’t doing anything! Just being near him and talking to him has my body reacting!

“No, the flight was fine, thank you. Lovely to see you too, Jaxen.” Jaxen steps aside, wrapping his arm around the back of the woman beside him.

“Please forgive me. Aurora, this is Sky, my cousin and business partner.” Sky’s head flies to Jaxen. She smiles widely before turning back to me.

“Lovely to meet you, Aurora.”

“Hi, lovely to meet you too, Sky.” Jaxen stretches his arm out towards the house looking at both Sky and I with a warm smile.

“Shall we?” Jaxen leads the way, Sky following behind. The driver brings my bags and suitcase in from the car and I follow behind quickly, why is he removing my stuff from the car? My thoughts are lost as I walk through the front door. Looking around the large space around me taking in the beautiful house. The light bounces off the white marble floor onto the cream walls. The hall is bright with a loving feeling to it. Jaxen walks through the hall with his cousin following behind. I walk behind them slowly taking in every part of this house! He stops at a door and Sky continues walking down the hall.

“See you two later. I am going to get a drink.” Sky waves us off, Jaxen waves back as a voice shouts to Sky.

“Sky, come here. I need your help. Now!” Sky turns back to us, pulling an invisible rope around her neck.

“I love your mum Jaxen, but I swear I’m going to kill her.” Jaxen burst into laughter. I cannot help chucking too. I am going to like Sky, I can already feel it, and I love the bond I see between Jaxen and Sky. This is how family should be!

“I know how you feel, Sky. She has been on my back all day! Good luck.” Jaxen throws a cheeky grin to Sky, who returns it by sticking her middle finger up at him. Jaxen shows me into the room we are standing by. A small, cosy office. Pictures of Jaxen and Sky as children hang on the walls along with pictures of other people who, I am guessing, are family.

“You and Sky are close?”

“Yes, we are. Both of us are only children. We grew up together. We are more like siblings than cousins.”

“That sounds nice.” Jaxen watches me closely, looking over his family pictures. He walks around his desk, taking a seat. He rests his arms on the armrests. Leaning on one hand under his chin. Watching him from the side of my eye, I wish I could sit on that knee. I am officially doomed.

“Tell me Aurora, tell me about you. I would love to get to know the woman I am going to be working closely with for the next couple of months.” Turning my full attention to Jaxen, who sits waiting patiently.

“Well, there is not much to say. I come from a family of five children. I have four older brothers, two are twins. They are the eldest. My parents made sure we worked hard towards our dreams. They wanted nothing more than to see us all meet our goals.” Jaxen sits, nodding. He looks intrigued for some reason

“Your parents supported and helped you with your career?” I wish I could say yes and mean it, but my parents tried everything to stop me working. They do not see humans like I do, and they never have a valid reason for that. They call them monsters, but we are the ones hiding behind this fake skin! They are blind by their own hate, they do not want to believe, and they do not want to help me either!

“Yes, they were very supportive.”

“Then why do you look so miserable?” How did I let myself become vulnerable? I never show weakness to anyone. I have hiding my emotions down to a T!

“Sorry?”

“The look in your eyes when you look at these family pictures. Sadness, the way you talk about your family in past tense. You do not sound confident and there doesn’t seem to be any emotion in your words?” Wow, okay he is reading way too much into this!

“Calm down, Mr Silver. You are a Lawyer, not a therapist. I love my family and they love me. We did not have any of these family moments or events.” Pointing to the pictures on the wall, “We never really showed our love like this. We were praised for working hard.” I cannot believe I am willingly opening up to Jaxen like this. I never talk about my family to anyone but Jack!

“I am sorry to hear that. Please sit. There is something we need to discuss.” He sounds serious. Sitting down curious to find out what is on Jaxen’s mind. I really want to get to the hotel. I need a shower, food, and sleep.

“Aurora, as you might have noticed, no one has mentioned a hotel room for you. That is because I thought, we have plenty of space here for you to stay. My mother is organising your room as we speak.” Why would I want to stay in this man's house for a week? I will not get any space from him or work.

“Why? Why did you think that this was a clever idea? Jaxen, we do not know each other. Why would I spend a week living in your family home?” Jaxen looks taken back, I’m not sure what he was expecting!? This is strange, right? Am I overreacting? No! This is not normal for a business trip.

“Sorry, I just thought it would be easier for us both if you stayed here. I crossed the line. I am sorry. Please, could you consider staying here?” He looks generally hurt, my wolf is calm and she doesn’t even seem bothered by this situation! Jaxen could be an ax murder for all I know!

“I am not promising anything, but I will think about it.”

“Thank you, now you must be hungry? I have dinner ready for us.”

“You have everything planned Mr Silver, lead the way. I am starving.” Jaxen laughs, standing from the chair, walking around the desk to me. Standing toe to toe, Jaxen slips his hand into mine, smiling back, unable to form words, I let him lead me out the office towards the dining room.

Dinner is amazing, steak with mashed potatoes and vegetables. I cannot remember the last time I ate a meal like this with someone. It has been a while.

“I hope the stake is to your liking. I was not sure how you liked it and asking would have spoiled the surprise.”

“Well, to be perfectly honest with you, I do not really eat meat much. Well, at all, but this is perfect! So juicy and mouth-watering. Thank you for all of this.”

“I am so sorry. So, you are a vegetarian? You are welcome, I wanted to make you feel at home. I know going to a new city can be daunting. I wanted to make your stay as comfortable as I can.” His intentions are in a good place, I feel bad for snapping at him in his office now. This is the first time I have left my pack, and my first business trip and my first time alone with an unknown man. All of this is new to me, and I am on edge! Maybe a little scared as well. I do not know what to expect here. I just hope I do not regret this later!

“Not really, I just eat other things.” Shrugging my shoulders, he would laugh if he knew what sort of food I eat, mostly vegetables and fruits. My wolf will not eat meat, she doesn’t need it, we get what we need.

“Ok, do you eat fish?”

“No! That stuff is horrible!” Jaxen smiles as his eyes dance over my face, he sticks another piece of his steak into his mouth. How does he make eating look so hot!?

“Not even tuna?”

“Nope, fruit and vegetables are my go-to foods.”

You look well for saying they are your go to foods.

“What do you mean?” Jaxen looks me up and down the best he can, with the table blocking most of my body. He really is thinking about his answer now.

“I mean, you’re not exactly thin, you seem to be perfectly shaped.” I cannot stop the laugh bubbling out.

“Perfectly shaped?”

“Yes.” He is such a weird man. The smile seems to sit on my face for at least five minutes!

We leave the dining hall with my arm in his. Mr Silver is a gentleman. I feel too comfortable around Jaxen, these feelings should be for Everest! My wolf pipes up in my head, a warning as we walk down the hallway back to Jaxen’s office.

“Well, doesn’t this look cosy?” Jaxen’s arms stiffen at the voice coming down the stairs. A gorgeous woman walks down slowly. Her hair is bright blond and her legs wow, I wish I had long legs like that. The smile on her face looks genuine, but the look in her eyes tells me she is not happy. Jaxen grits his teeth, smiling back at this woman.

“This must be the girl from Pakistan?”

“No, England.” Jaxen tries to correct her, but I jump in before he gets the chance. Do I look like I am from Pakistan!? The woman waves me off like it is nothing. I do not like her and neither does my wolf.

“Aurora, this is Amber, a friend of my mothers.”

“Oh Jaxen, you are so funny. I am his girlfriend. Nice to meet you, Aurora. I hear you and Jaxen are working together. You must feel like you are on top of the world working with him.” Jaxen drops my arm from his. He walks over to Amber, taking her arm in his hand.

“Sorry Aurora, could you give us a minute? Please, I will meet you in my office.” Jaxen looks at me with a pleading gaze. Nodding, I walk off down the hall. Overhearing part of their conversation on my way.

“What is wrong with you, Amber? Stay away from Aurora. She is here to work not to be dragged into your games. Just go home, Amber.”

“My, my, does Mr Silver like his new business partner? I am not going anywhere. How many times must I tell you?” I need to stop listening to them. Walking into the office. Looking at the smile on Jaxen’s face in a picture on his desk. True happiness. Sitting down in the spare chair waiting for Jaxen, checking my phone a couple of messages. Everest has told my mum I have left England, great! The phone lights up in my hand, mother. The phone rings as mum’s name flashes at me. Moving my finger over the screen, the door behind me swings open, making me drop my phone back into my bag. Turning to see Jaxen’s cousin Sky standing in the doorway.

“Oh sorry, I am looking for Jaxen.”

“No, it is ok. He is talking to Amber on the stairs.” Sky walks into the room, shutting the door quickly.

“This looks weird, right? Sorry I am hiding from Amber.”

“Ok, do you mind me asking why?” Sky looks me up and down, nodding. Why is she nodding like that?

“I see why Jaxen likes you. Ok, the deal with Amber is she is a psycho and that is putting it lightly. She is Jaxen’s erm mom’s friend. She comes and goes, making life for Jaxen. Hell. Amber came back last week before Jaxen left for England. Amber has not given Jaxen a second’s peace since she got here. She drugged me to get him to come home early from your company.” I knew I could not trust that woman!. I cannot lose grip here. I cannot believe Amber drugged Sky to get Jaxen home.

“Wow, I cannot believe she did that. Why is Jaxen letting her stay in the house?”

“He isn’t his mother is.” Oh no, I know what his mother is doing. I cannot let her destroy his life, like my parents have done to mine.

“Why are you here, try to stay out of Amber’s way.” Jaxen walks in as Sky is warning me, he hears every word.

“How much have you told her, Sky?” Sky smiles at me before turning to Jaxen. She looks at him with a red face, knowing she has been caught.

“Sorry, but she needs to know.”

“Sky how much!”

“All of it you can thank me later.” Sky walks out the office angry with Jaxen. He walks to his chair, sitting with a thud, rubbing his hands over his face.

“I am sorry, Aurora.” He returns the smile to his face. I need to be careful around Jaxen. I need to keep my head in check.

“Please, do not worry about it. Now I think it would be best if I stayed at a hotel.”

“Nonsense. I think it would be best for you to stay here. You have never been to New York. I really could not have you getting lost. I will show you around so you can explore. Trust me, Aurora.” The problem is, I do trust him, which is not good. I should not trust a man I barely know. But my wolf feels comfortable and at ease when he is around. My body reacts to him in a way it never has with anyone else!. I want his hands all over me. I want to feel his touch.

“Jaxen, can you be sure Amber won’t cause any trouble with me being here?” Jaxen is fighting with himself. I do not know why, but I can see he is torn between something.

“I have told her to stay away from you. Please, just say you will stay. It will set my mind at ease.” I want nothing more than to stay here in Jaxen’s house with him, but I cannot. I cannot trust my feelings. My head and heart are fighting one another, and I cannot keep up. It is already hard to stay focused. After knowing him for a day!

“Fine, I will stay only because I do not want you worrying. Can I go to my room, please? I need to make some calls and check-in at work.”

“Yes, I will show you where it is. Thank you.”