Aurora James - POV
If I said that Adrian was good-looking before, Beta Perez was even better. His jet black hair was messy as if he had run his fingers one too many times while his ice blue eyes stared right into my soul. He had a perfect jawline that might cut my finger if I touched it, and as my eyes moved further down, I saw a wolf tattoo on the left side of his neck. He was well-built, and I can tell that he would easily tower over Adrian.
I have never seen a man as handsome as him in my life. Even Elijah could never hold a candle against him, but then the euphoric feeling gradually dissolved as the familiar feeling of dread set in. His eyes finally locked with mine, and I saw a lot of emotions swirl within it. I was not able to decipher what he was feeling right now because soon, he masked them all as an emotionless expression crossed his face.
I felt my heart sink to the pit of my stomach when I knew what was going to come when we were left alone. I bit my lips to prevent the tears from rolling down my cheeks as I stared at him while he completely ignored me and looked at his Gamma. "Alpha Lopez said that she would go through the basic training for a pack member before we accept her into our pack," Adrian told him.
"So she is not here to train as a warrior?" Beta Perez questioned when Adrian shook his head. I felt a wave of shame wash over me at the hidden insult in his words, but I didn't say anything. He must be ashamed to have been mated to a person like me who doesn't even know how to fight.
"All right, why don't you take her to level four and show her the guest bedroom?" Beta Perez asked, and I saw Adrian's eyes widen in shock.
"But I thought she was already allocated a room in cabin five?" Adrian asked him when I saw Bet Perez narrow his eyes at his gamma.
"She is a she-wolf, Adrian. And I am not going to send her to a cabin filled with testosterone-filled warriors. That is not going to work out." he said.
"But I am staying in there as well, Beta Perez." Adrian insisted.
"You of all people know how the warriors get during the full moon. I don't want to put her in harm's way." Beta Perez said, his voice held finality, and I knew that Adrian would not be able to argue further, so he nodded his head. "Leave," he said in a dismissive tone, and Adrian and I walked out of there.
None of us spoke a word as we walked up the stairs till we came to the Fourth floor, and Adrian led me down the hallway till he came to a stop in front of a closed door. "This is your new room. I will tell someone to bring your bags up, okay?" Adrian asked me, and I nodded my head.
"Good night, Miss. James."
"Thank you for everything, Gamma Acosta. And good night." I told him when he nodded his head and walked out of there. I unlocked the door with the key that was already in the lock and walked inside. The room was illuminated with an orange glow as I switched on the light. There was a queen-sized bed in the center and a small wardrobe with a desk next to it, and in front of me, there was a French door that opened into a small balcony with the perfect view of the forest. The room was bigger than what I had back home.
Knock knock.
I opened the door when I saw a warrior standing there with my bags. "Thank you," I told him as I took them inside and locked the door again. I made my way to the bed and took a seat as I let out a sigh.
"We found our second chance mate." Lily jumped into my mind.
"And he didn't even acknowledge our presence. I have a feeling that he would reject us sooner rather than later, Lily."
"Maybe he was shocked to see us."
"I doubt that I…" Before I could continue, I heard a knock on my door. I got up from my place, made my way to the door, and opened it.
I felt my throat tighten and my heartbeat picked up as I stared at the man, the one I would never be able to have. "Beta Perez, do you need anything?" I asked him while my eyes locked with his. I desperately looked for some sort of emotion in there but it was blank.
"I spoke to Alpha Lopez, and your training would start from tomorrow, understand?" he asked me, and I nodded my head. "Meet me in the training grounds at five. Don't be late," he said in a monotone, and without another word, he turned around and walked away.
The tears that I kept at bay began flowing down my cheeks. At least Elijah acknowledged our bond, but Beta Perez looked at me as if I meant nothing to him, and this hurt more than being bluntly rejected.
I closed the door, grabbed my pajamas, and walked into the bathroom. After removing all my clothes, I walked into the shower and set the temperature to hot as I walked under it. Tears rolled down my cheeks as I bit my lips to prevent my scream as I sat down on the tile.
I felt my chest tighten at the pain of staying away from him. I don't think I can handle a second rejection as I heard Elijah's voice ring in my ear.
"No one would want to mate with a person like you, Aurora. You are only good to be kept on the side."
I stayed under the shower till the hot water ran cold as I got up and walked out of there. My training starts tomorrow, and I don't want to be late.