Chapter 22

Aurora James - POV

"Am I hurting you?" Levi asked me as I felt his hand move a little higher, but I shook my head. My legs felt like jelly the moment I placed them on the floor, so Levi offered to carry me to his car. We walked out of the hospital wing, and as we reached the foyer, I saw Beta Perez walk down the stairs. 

"Where are you going, Levi?" His voice echoed in the quiet hallway, making Levi stop and turn around to face him. "I am taking Aurora home, Beta Perez." He said when Beta Perez stopped right in front of us. 

"Alpha Lopez wants you to show Alpha Alonso around our pack." 

"Oh, I will drop Aurora at home and then come back, Beta Perez." 

"He asked you to meet him in the office right now. I will take Aurora home." Beta Perez said when I felt my eyes widen in alarm. But before I could protest, Levi gently placed me on the floor when Beta Perez walked closer to me and carried me bridal style.

I was afraid that I might get a heart attack as I felt the sparks travel through my body. He walked outside towards a black Lamborghini and placed me on the passenger seat while he got into the driver's seat, and we were soon off. 

A thick silence surrounded the car as we drove out of the main pack. As we reached the pack house, Beta Perez got out of the car, walked towards my side, and carried me inside. Lily was howling with joy inside while I was trying to decipher what had changed between us.

As we reached my room, he gently placed me on the bed and stepped back. "Thank you," I whispered, but he didn't say anything as he walked out of the room. 

"Mate is starting to like us," Lily exclaimed in mirth. 

"It's nothing like that. He was just jealous." I told her as I lay down on the bed and closed my eyes. I slept an entire day, and my memory was hazy, but I remember Beta Perez coming to my room multiple times to check on me. 

I woke up to the sound of birds chirping outside, I opened my eyes and looked at the alarm clock. "Eight am?" I groaned as I got up from the bed and walked to the bathroom. Ever since I came back from the hospital yesterday, I didn't get to take a shower, and my muscles felt stiff from sleeping for more than twenty-four hours. 

I removed my clothes and put them in the laundry basket as I walked towards the mirror and stared at my reflection. All my injuries had healed since yesterday except for a long scar that was a centimeter above my belly button. 

I lightly traced the scar as I felt a shudder run down my spine. I can still feel the rogue's claws deep within my flesh as he tore a chunk out of my skin. I closed my eyes as the tears began to flow down my cheeks when the memory of the woman's face clouded my mind. The gravity of what happened was starting to dawn on me, and I couldn't take it. 

A life was taken in front of my eyes, and I couldn't even do anything to save her. 

My grip on the sink counter tightened as I saw the life drain from her eyes. "Ahh!" I screamed when I felt the marble crack underneath me. I should have called for help before jumping into to save her, at least then, she would have been alive right now. 

"Help me!" I heard her voice as I shook my head. 

"I am sorry." I stammered, and when I opened my eyes, I saw her face in the mirror. 

"Help me." She whispered as I shook my head and stepped back. 

"I am sorry!" My voice was louder as I heard someone banging on the bathroom door, but I didn't open it. 

Tears were flowing down my cheeks as the memory of her dead body haunted me. I distinctly heard the hinges come off "Aurora!" I heard a panicked voice when I felt a pair of warm hands pull me away from the counter. Sparks tingled my skin while my eyes were glued to the counter that was cracked at the edges, and it was glistening with my blood. 

"She was so hopeful that I would save her." 

"You did the best you could, Aurora." Beta Perez mumbled into my ear as I turned around and hugged him. I didn't care that I was naked in front of him as I felt the tears roll down my cheeks. I didn't know how long we were in that position, but then I felt him move towards the shower. 

He turned the water on and set the temperature to warm as he walked into the shower with me. No words were uttered, and our differences were put aside as we held onto each other. Beta Perez helped me wash my hair, and then he led me out of the bathroom. 

I should have argued, I shouldn't have let him take care of me after what he did with that woman, but right now, I feel my mind relax in being close to him. He helped me dress and led to back to the bed. "Take some rest, I will come and check on you later, okay?" He asked me, and I nodded my head as I closed my eyes. 

"It's not your fault, Aurora." That was the last thing I heard before the darkness consumed me.

Beta Zander Perez - POV

It's not easy to cope with death, especially for someone who has never even seen someone die like that. This would not be her first episode, but I hope that woman's death doesn't consume her. As her breathing evened out, I moved closer and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead as I walked out of her room. 

"Beta Perez," as I closed the door, I turned around to see Levi standing there. "Alpha Alonso requested to see Aurora. I don't think we should keep him away anymore."