The Ivory Queen
Chapter 49

***Evan’s POV***

I haven’t stopped thinking of Mia and the tingling I felt when I touched her. I can’t believe I’m mated with her, an insufferable, annoying, entitled little brat who messed with my Luna. Her attitude alone pissed me off. She was 5 feet and four inches of evil and to top it off, she was hot. She was going to drive me insane.

Hehe…You like her… Bodhi teases. You like our mate.

No, I don’t! I can’t stand the sight of her. I snap. I will not accept her.

You forget you are not alone, you stupid human! Bodhi growls. What about me? Don’t I get a say in this? She’s my mate too!

Infuriated by my wolf, I run upstairs to the office to find Aurora and Rio curled up in Oliver’s chair with a book in her lap. I let my anger go instantly when I see her and hold back my laughter. Aurora is the tiniest adult I know and the large desk and chair make her look like a child messing around in her father’s stuff. She even looks up guiltily from her spot at me and clumsily shoves the book into one of Oliver’s drawers. She gives me a grin to hide her mischief.

“Is that a porn magazine you’re looking at?” I smirk, knowing the suggestion would rile her up.

Her face flushes with embarrassment and she furrows her brows at me. “N-no, you pervert!”

I walk up to her and shove my hand in the desk while she g****s. I pull out the book she was looking at and realize it’s a photo album. I smile creeps up on my face. “Snooping now, are we?” I chuckle.

“N-no. I was looking for s-something to read and I found it on the shelf,” she says defensively.

“Calm down, kiddo,” I laugh. “Let’s see what we have here.”

I open the first page to see a picture of one year old Oliver cuddling with a new born Rosalie in his arms, both fast asleep.

“Ah, the Artaud siblings,” I chuckle, turning the page.

We look at little Oliver pulling around Rosalie in a wagon. The next photo is of them at the beach, buried up to their necks in sand. I flip through the remainder of the book, finding more pictures of Oliver and Rosalie together, with occasional photos of Carter.

“Evan… how come there’s no photos of you?” Aurora asks timidly.

I laugh dryly. “That’s because this is David’s photo album…” I shrug. “He and Simone … didn’t like me very much growing up…. They still don’t.”

She grabs my hand and gives it comforting squeeze. “I’m sorry.”

I ruffle up her hair and shrug. “Don’t be. Oliver and I have been best buds since he was in kindergarten… David and Simone could never tear us apart and besides… My mom has more than plenty of photos of Carter, Oliver and I for us to reminisce of over should we ever please. I’m not bothered to not be featured in this album, it’s not an accurate representation of Oliver’s life anyways.” I turn towards the door, remembering the reason I came up here in the first place. “Do you think you’ll be okay alone while I go to the training grounds for a little while?”

She rolls her eyes at me. “You don’t have to ask, of course you can! Shoo! Go! I can take care of myself,” she huffs.

I let out a hearty laugh and ruffle her hair again. “Okay kiddo,”

“I’m not a kid,” she says, pushing my arm away. “You’re only four years older than I am.”

“I know middle schoolers taller than you. You’re a kid,” I tease.

I hear her curse under her breath as I leave. My smile fades the second I leave her, anger once again growing inside me. I change into my training gear and head off to the grounds. The boxing rings appeal to me and I go ham on the punching bags.

No matter how hard you punch this bag, it still doesn’t change the fact that Mia is-

Shut up, I snap as I deliver a powerful punch to the bag, tearing it off its chain.

You will not reject her! I won’t let you! Bodhi snarls.

Annoyed, I kick the punching bag and send it flying across the boxing area. Several wolves turn to look at me and I grab another bag and set it up.

“Damn, that’s a lot of rage Ev,” Eric whistles, grabbing the punching bag and steadying it for me to punch. “Wanna talk about it?”

I deliver a few quick blows and I shake my head.

He watches me. “Spar with me.”

I stop punching and look at him.

“Whatever you’re working out, this punching bag won’t help you through it,” he says, taking a few steps back to grab his gloves. “So let me knock some sense into you,” he grins.

***Oliver’s POV***

My meeting doesn’t actually start until 10 but I needed time to finalize the details for my date with Aurora. After hearing her secret last night, I knew of the perfect place to take her. I make phone calls all morning and by 9:45, everything is set for our date tonight.

Adeline is waiting for us outside the boardroom with her reports for the month in her hands.

She smiles at me. “Hey Oli-“

“It’s Mr. Artaud to you, Ms. Perrault,” I correct her.

Carter stifles a chuckle and starts coughing to cover it up. She glares at him.

“Sorry. I got a tickle in my throat,” he says, pounding on his chest and taking a deep breath. “I’m good now.”

Adeline ignores him and reaches for my arm. “Oliver, about the challenge-“

“Right now, we have a board meeting, Ms. Perrault, so I suggest you start thinking less about the challenge and more about the business we have to attend,” I say through gritted, shoving her fingers off my arms.

I storm into the board room, taking my seat at the head of the table with Carter by my side. Wesley arrives promptly and I introduce him as the new business partner to the board. As expected, many are not thrilled to lose Miguel and Lluvia Blanca as partners, but after a grueling 4 hour meeting, I am able to convince them that our profits will only increase with Cerulean Sea. Adeline is surprisingly quiet throughout the meeting.

After the meeting, Wesley, Carter and I decide to grab lunch at a Mediterranean restaurant nearby. As I return to my office to grab my coat, I hear a knock at the door.

“Come in,” I call out as I put away my files.

“Hello Oliver.”

I freeze.

Dad?

I turn around and face the man I loathed for so long. He looks like he hasn’t slept much.

“What can I do for you, David?” I ask coldly.

“There’s no need for the theatrics, Oliver. I just want to talk.”

“Can’t. I have lunch with my new business partner and my beta.”

He looks disappointed and I almost feel bad for blowing him off. Almost.

“Well, how about dinner? We could go to your favorite restaurant-“

“I already have plans,” I cut him off. “With my mate.”

“H-how is she?” He asks tentatively and I feel my b***d boil.

“Why? Hoping she’ll drop dead so Adeline can take her place?” I snarl. “Sorry to disappoint, but my mate is stronger than ever.”

“Oliver, I just came to apologize!” He growls.

I start to laugh. “You? Apologize? Please, you don’t apologize to anyone. Don’t kid yourself, you’re not fooling anyone.“

“Believe it or not, I do care about you,” he snaps.

I scoff at him. “Really now? So much so that you challenged me, your own son, all because I didn’t follow the path you wanted? Tsk, you would have killed me without a second thought and you know it.”

He trembles with anger. “No, I wouldn’t have! All I’ve ever wanted was what was best for the pack! For you!”

“Best for me?” I laugh bitterly, shaking my head in disbelief. “No, you just couldn’t stand the fact that you were losing control over me. Because that’s exactly what you do. You control people. It’s what you’ve always done.”

He glares back at me and shakes his head. “I was looking out for you and securing you’re future. You think all your power and fortune came out of nowhere? I worked my a*s off to make sure your life would be easier,” He sighs. “I wanted you with Adeline not only to solidify our relationship with Lune de Minuit but to offer you someone who could lead beside you and be worthy of the title.”

“Aurora is worthy of being my Luna!” I snarl. “But of course you’ll never see past her skin to know just how truly incredible she is.”

“I’ve changed Oliver! I’ve thought things over and realized I was wrong,” he growls. “That’s why I came to apologize and thank her!”

“Tell me, then, would you have accepted Aurora as my mate and future Luna were it not for her gift and the fact that she saved you?” He falls silent and I know I’ve got him. “No, right? Her silver wolf lineage is the only thing of value she holds in your eyes. You’ve probably already entertained the idea of the silver wolf heir she’ll give me, haven’t you? The potential power and prestige that will come with having a silver wolf Alpha lead River Moon is the only reason you would even think to tolerate Aurora as my mate.” His face hardens. “You disgust me.” I scoff. “Get out of my office!”

He stares silently at me before slowly backing away towards the door. “I came here to make peace with you. But I see now that that was a mistake.” He turns the door knob and pauses. “Please thank Aurora for saving me.”

He finally leaves. My anger gets the best of me and I knock the framed photograph of my family off my desk, shattering it. Carter comes running in

“Hey man. I just saw your dad in the hallway. What’s he doing here?”

“Doesn’t matter,” I say, shaking my head. “I don’t care what he has to say.”

“You ok?” He asks.

“Yeah, I’m fine. Let’s go, Wesley is waiting for us in the lobby.”

“Hey man, if you want to talk, I’m here for you. He’s your dad after all.”

“Thanks, but I’m good.”

“Ok,” he nods, clearly unconvinced.

———

After lunch, I try to throw myself into my work but my mind drifts off to my father’s visit. I pull out my phone and dial the only person I know who could bring me back my peace.

“Hello?” Aurora’s sweet voice comes through and my heart skips a beat.

“Hey, baby,” I say, relieved to hear her voice.

“What’s wrong?” she asks quietly. “You sound upset.”

“N-nothing. I just needed to hear your voice,” I murmur.

“You’re a terrible liar,” She mumbles.

I sigh. I can’t bring myself to lie to her.

“My dad. He came to see me…”

“What did he say?”

“He came to apologize, I guess. I don’t really know. Things didn’t end well.”

“Did you forgive him?” she asks, her voice filled with hope.

I both admire and fear her kind, forgiving heart. It’s wonderful to see her hold no resentment towards the cruel world but I’m terrified someone might take advantage and hurt her.

“No, I didn’t and I won’t,” I say, trying to restrain my anger.

“That’s okay,” she replies with tenderness in her voice. “You’re not ready. I hope one day you will be, though.”

How is she so forgiving? After everything my parents have done… how can she wish them well?

“Ahem, yeah. Um, so….” I stutter, desperate to change the subject. “I’ll pick you up at five?”

“Are you going to tell me where we are going?” She asks. I can practically hear the smile in her voice.

“Nope!” I say, popping the p.

She g****s and I laugh at her.

“Ok…”

“Te amo,” I whisper.

“Je t’aime, Olivier,” she giggles.

I smile. That name belongs to her now and only she can use it. I hang up the phone and glance at the clock.

Only two more hours ’til five….

***Aurora’s POV***

After my call with Oliver, Rosalie bursts into the office, giddy with excitement.

“Time to get you ready!” she squeals, grabbing my wrists and dragging me to the bedroom.

She starts off by curling my long black hair, pinning each curl to my head while they cool down. She then skillfully color corrects my slightly bruised cheek with a red concealer. Next, she applies a light layer of foundation and uses a little concealer to highlight the high points of my face and sets it all with face powder. Blush, highlight, and bronzer liven up my face before Rosalie works on my eyes. She adds beautiful shades of browns and oranges to my crease and finishes off my lids with rose gold glitter and eyeliner. My eyebrows are pretty thick and require no additional attention so she completes my makeup with mascara and a pink lipstick.

The pins are taken out of my hair and Rosalie brushes through my curls to loosen them up. She braids two sections from the front of my hair, leaving a few strands to frame my face and pins them to the back of my head.

I sit in front of the mirror in my robe, completely shocked by Rosalie’s work. She runs off to her room and returns with a large white box in her hands.

“This is for you,” she says handing me the box.

I slid the lid off and peel back the tissue paper to reveal lacy red fabric. I pull it out completely and blush when I realize it’s the lingerie set Rosalie and I had seen at the Victoria Secret during our first outing together.

“It’s not what you think,” she says defensively. “I didn’t get this for you to have a steamy night with Oliver. This is for you. I know the red dress is already a huge step for you and I’m so proud of you for finding the courage to wear it today. I love that you are getting more confident with your body and I want to help you take the next step. You are so beautiful but I want you to know what it’s like to feel pretty and sexy without Oliver or anyone else telling you you are. Slip this on when you’re feeling most vulnerable and find your own beauty Aurora. Don’t rely on anyone else to give you your confidence.”

I’m speechless. I remember being horrified of ever wearing lingerie, ashamed of showing my scars. While I am still struggling to find beauty in them, I am in a much better place than I was back then. I’m not so afraid anymore. I touch the fabric, admiring its delicate designs and imagining myself in it. I will not let my scars hold me back any longer.

“Thank you,” I say, pulling her into a hug. “You have no idea how grateful I am to have you.”

“That’s what sisters are for!” She cries, wiping tears away. “I will always have your back!”

I tuck away the lingerie in my drawers and Rosalie helps me slip into my dress. I grab a pair of red wedges and clip the ankle straps on. I take out the blue sea glass earrings Isaiah gave me, storing them away safely and replace them with some gold earrings instead.

Rosalie bounces on her toes with excitement. “You look amazing!”

I stare at my reflection. My long black hair flows past my waist, looking healthy and voluminous. The dress accentuates my petite hour glass figure, clinging tightly to my waist and flaring out near my h**s. The deep red of the fabric sits beautifully against my dark olive skin. My scars are slightly hidden by the embroidery but a few scars on my legs are still visible. For once, however, I don’t mind them so much.

My phone dings, letting me know Oliver is home. Rosalie rushes me out of the room. As I descend the stair case, Oliver walks into the foyer holding a dozen sunflowers in his hands.

“Woah,” he gasps, his cheeks turning bright red. “You… wow… you look …”

B***d rushes to my face as he struggles to form a coherent sentence. Rosalie bursts into laughter but he ignores her completely, his eyes glued to me.

“Oh my goodness, your coat! You need a coat!” Rosalie cries out before running back up the stairs.

I eye Oliver up and down. He looks incredible in a deep red turtle neck, a grey blazer with a matching vest and pants, topped with a long black coat.

“These are for you,” he finally manages to say, handing me the flowers.

I take the flowers from his hand and inhale their scent.

“They’re beautiful,” I murmur.

“Yes you are.”

A storm of butterflies flutter in my belly and I turn wine red.

“I’ll take those!” Rosalie says, exchanging my coat for the flowers. “Now run along kiddos.” She turns to Oliver. “Have her back by midnight!” She teases.

He rolls her eyes at her and takes me by my hand.

“You look so beautiful Aurora,” he murmurs as he leads me to the car.

“You don’t look so bad yourself,” I blush, trying my best to control my racing heart.

He opens the car door for me before pressing his sweet lips against mine.