Mated to My Intended's Enemy novel Chapter 47

Chapter 47: Chapter 47 Attack

Victoria

I stared into Aurora’s eyes, determination hardening my resolve. "I need to know the whole truth."

Aurora’s laugh was hollow. "The truth? You wouldn’t even know what to do with it."

"Try me," I challenged, leaning forward. "Starting with why you left your mate and son for another Alpha."

Something flashed in her eyes—pain, possibly even shame. "You think it was that simple? That I just woke up one day and decided to abandon my family?"

"Wasn’t it?" I pressed. "You chose wealth and power over love and loyalty."

"I chose escape!" Aurora snapped, suddenly animated. "My father was Silver Claw royalty—the Alpha’s brother. Did you know that? We should have lived in luxury, commanded respect. Instead, he followed my mother like a lovesick puppy into that pathetic excuse for a pack your father led."

I bit back a retort, forcing myself to listen.

"Do you have any idea what it’s like to grow up knowing you were meant for greatness but forced to live in mediocrity?" she continued bitterly. "To be told stories about the palace that should have been your birthright while living in a cottage?"

"So when you recognized my father as your mate, you thought you’d finally achieved what you deserved," I said, understanding dawning.

Aurora’s eyes narrowed. "The Moon Goddess herself confirmed my worthiness. Dominic was an Alpha—my destined partner. It should have been perfect."

"But it wasn’t," I interjected quietly. "Was it?"

Aurora’s gaze shifted to him, assessing. "No," she finally admitted. "Dominic was... kind. Diplomatic. Everyone loved him." Her mouth twisted in distaste. "But he lacked ambition. The Howlthorne pack remained small, comfortable but never prosperous. I deserved more. Enzo deserved more."

"So you found someone who could give you what you thought you deserved," I said.

A shadow crossed her face. "Marcus Grimwood approached me at an inter-pack gathering. Charming, powerful, obscenely wealthy from his mining operations. He made Dominic look like a boy playing at leadership."

"You betrayed your mate bond," Leo stated, his tone making it clear what he thought of such an action.

"I rejected a destiny that confined me to mediocrity," Aurora shot back. "Marcus promised me the world. A real Alpha who knew how to wield power, how to inspire fear and respect." Her voice dropped. "I drugged Enzo so he wouldn’t wake when I left. I told myself I’d send for him once I was established as Crimson Claw’s Luna."

"But that didn’t happen," I guessed, feeling an unexpected pang for the child Enzo had been, waking to find his mother gone.

Aurora’s composed facade cracked, revealing raw pain beneath. "Marcus wasn’t looking for a Luna. He wanted a trophy, a possession. The moment we crossed into his territory, everything changed. I wasn’t his partner—I was his prisoner."

Despite everything she’d done to me, I felt an unexpected twinge of sympathy. "He abused you."

"Abuse implies occasional violence," she said bitterly. "What Marcus did was systematic destruction. He isolated me, controlled every aspect of my existence. My only value was as evidence of his power—he’d stolen another Alpha’s mate and suffered no consequences."

"You were with him for years," I observed. "Why didn’t you escape sooner?"

"You think I didn’t try?" Aurora hissed, pulling up her sleeve to reveal a network of faint scars along her forearm. "Each of these marks represents an escape attempt. Each time, his punishment grew more severe. Each time, I learned that the traditional packs wouldn’t intervene. Mate stealing might be taboo, but no one challenges Marcus Grimwood."

"Until you finally succeeded," I prompted, my eyes fixed on those telling scars.

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