CHAPTER 24 – Congratulations

Bianca barged into Theodore's room, with Ingrid following behind, while Theodore covered his wounds with a bandage.

"Oh my child," Bianca walked with speed towards Theodore, who was sitting on the bed. "Why not have the doctor check you out and treat your wounds? You shouldn't be doing this yourself."

"I'm fine, mum. Besides, it's just a scratch, and don't forget that we heal faster than normal," Theodore looked at Ingrid, who was now standing close to him, with a worried look. "Why do you look like you are the one who fought? You're such a mess."

Ingrid playfully hit his hand,

"Ow!"

"Sorry about that," She looked at him, "I thought I was going to lose you, your mother and I were so worried about you."

"She's right, son. We were all worried." Bianca said.

"Including dad?" Theodore asked, "I bet he wasn't. He was probably bothered about me not being able to prove myself, rather than my well-being."

"Don't say that about your father; he loves you very much," Bianca said.

"Congratulations." Brynn's voice interrupted, "You shouldn't be bothered about scratches like that, they'd heal before you even know it." Brynn stood at the entrance of Theodore's room, with his hand crossed behind him, while Luke stood beside him.

"Thanks, Dad," Theodore said flatly, not looking at Brynn.

"How does it feel to succeed?" Brynn asked.

"Then why don't I feel like I succeeded?" Theodore asked, meeting Brynn's eyes.

"What are you driving at?" Brynn asked.

"I saw how you looked at me in the arena," Theodore said, "you never expected me to win, did you?"

"We don't discuss family matters amid strangers," Brynn said, "You are going to be Alpha after me; therefore, you should take note of that."

"Ingrid isn't a stranger." Bianca mouthed in silence.

"In the meantime." Brynn said, "Pull yourself together, we celebrate in two days, courtesy of your victory."

Brynn turned his back to leave, "Just so you know, even if you had lost the fight, it still won't change the fact that you're my son." He said, "You might not have been the Alpha if you'd lost, but you would still be the son… that I love."

He silently walked away, with Luke following behind. 

"He couldn't even look me in the eyes to say it," Theodore said and scoffed.

"Your father is right, you need rest. Ingrid?" Bianca turned to Ingrid, "Let's allow the champion to be now." She turned to Theodore, "We would see you at dawn, or if you decide to join the feast in the hall."

"Sure, mum." Theodore said, "You too, my sweet." He kissed Ingrid on her forehead and bid the women farewell as they walked out of his room.

Aurora woke up at dawn. She was in bed, and her mother was nowhere to be found in the room; she was working again, as usual.

Aurora saw that she was putting on the clothes from the day before, which is so unlike her. She tried to remember how she slept, but she could only remember speaking with Luke and nothing else.

She didn't think much of it; neither did she suspect a thing.

Aurora checked the clock on the wall. "I guess I'd better start preparing to leave." She said to herself.

Aurora had packed her belongings and was walking with her mother towards the mansion's door.

"We didn't even get to spend enough time together." Aurora sadly said.

"I'm so sorry about that, my child," Moira said, "I tried, you know, but work."

"It's alright," Aurora said, "I enjoyed my stay here anyway, the master made sure of that." She smiled.

"And for that, I'm grateful to him." Moira grinned.

"Oh my gosh!" Aurora said, "I almost forgot."

"What is it?"

"Before I leave, there is something I must do."

"Okay? What could that be?"

"It's nothing much, you can continue, I'll join you as soon as I'm done," Aurora said, Moira's brows furrowed in curiosity. "Trust me, mother."

"Fine then, hurry," Moira said and continued walking.

Aurora soon found herself standing, holding a note, in front of Theodore's room. She contemplated knocking or just sliding the note underneath the door.

After a few seconds, she decided to slip the note underneath the door and walk away immediately, so that Theodore wouldn't see her.

Unbeknownst to her, Theodore was looking at her all this time from a corner. He had stepped outside his room to get something from the kitchen and saw her on his way back.

Theodore came in front of his door to see what she had dropped. He took the note, opened it, and silently read its content.

'I know that I have been mean to you and I have probably made your stay in your father's house miserable...'

"Probably?" He looked at where she had come from and back at the letter.

'Not that you don't deserve any of it anyway. But I accept that I might have gone a little bit too far, and for that, I apologize. Maybe 'IF' we meet again next time, we could bury the hatchet?

P.S.: I'm not trying to take your place in your father's life; your father is a nice man, and he loves you. I just hope you see that someday.

And I'm sorry for calling you a chicken.'

"Seriously? Is this supposed to be an apology letter?" Theodore said and scoffed, "The freak had to include the signature."

He entered his room, and just then, the thoughts came flying in.

'How dare she? After all the taunting, she thinks I will let it slide over a ridiculous apology note? She must be joking.'

The thought that her voice in his head was almost enough to lose the trial enraged him so much that he squeezed the note and tossed it into the trash bin beside his bed.

He fell on his bed, crossed his legs, and crossed his hands behind his head.

But in as much as he tried to convince himself that she was the reason he almost lost, he still couldn't help but accept the fact that it was only when her voice clouded his mind that he rose from his slumber.

She had helped him, whether he believed it or not, but he wasn't ready to accept the truth; she was a human and couldn't be of any help to the Alpha's successor.

"You're here, finally," Moira said, seeing Aurora heading towards the mansion's door.

Aurora saw a servant holding on to her belongings, Brynn standing close to the car door. It was a sleek, obsidian-black Aston Martin DBX707.

Her eyes widened at the sight of the luxury she was going to be riding back home with. She didn't know what to say or do, other than to smile back at Brynn, while Luke sat at the driver's seat, staying still with his hands on the wheel, like he was waiting for the order to be given.

"Come, child," Brynn called out to her.