My Older Alpha Mate

chapter twenty three

Aurora's POV

I pulled a string of hair through my fingers and tucked it into the hood of my hoodie. The rain pattered mindlessly on the cement as I walked along it. I skipped song after song on my phone, looking for the perfect one. To be honset with you, I'm not sure what i'm ever looking for anymore... Approximately a month ago, I was kidnapped, abused, lied to, and traumatized and things have been different since.

Ashton went to the hospital after the battle along with Jax who was pronounced dead at the scene. After an extensive recovery, Ashton was finally released from the hospital. When in the hospital, I visited him every single day. We talked about a lot during those visits. I told him that I was happy that he survived. He told me the truth about his ex girlfriend. A week after Ashton and I started seeing each other seriously, he slept with his ex.

He plead that it meant nothing to him but after all I've been through, I decided we should take a break. He told me that it was before he really knew me and that he was just sexually frustrated, and my personal favorite, it meant nothing to him. We haven't seen each other in about two weeks and I wonder if it's been aching him the way it's been aching me. As for Jon, he was so scarred by being betrayed by Olivia, he wouldn't eat for weeks. I couldn't understand why she would do that to us after we grew up together. She was kicked out of our village immediately following the incident.

Jon just started sleeping again. I sat on a wet bench and pulled my knees to my chest. I glanced around at the village as the flashbacks of all my memories, good and bad, came rushing back. I closed my eyes and took a deep, exasperated breath while attempting to refocus my attention on the present.

Things felt different these days. Its the winter and everything is darker, colder. I miss my mate but he hurt me in a way that I was not sure how to fix. I thought hard about the last conversation I had with my mate.

"Please Aurora. I love you. I'm so sorry. I never should have done it. Baby please forgive me." He begged me, reaching for my hand. The tears rushed from my eyes as I pondered the betrayal and the feeling of sorrow that the poor girl must have felt, being forced to rid herself of her own baby.

I left that day and Jon and I have been solo ever since. We spoke about leaving the village and trying again somewhere else. I'm tired of moving. It feels like bad follows us.

"Aurora?" I opened my eyes and gasped in some chilly air, seeing the man who lived in my brain, even uninvited.

"Ashton... Hi... What are you doing here?" I asked, standing up and looking up at him now. He stayed at a considerable distance but I could still smell his cologne. It drew me in and all I wanted was to be engulfed in it. To be in his arms and take a nice deep breath.

"I was taking a walk..." He trailed off, scratching the back of his neck. An awkward silence fell over us. "You look... Breath taking" He said, releasing a breath after. My cheeks reddened like I was speaking to my crush. He was my crush.

"Aurora... Can we go somewhere? I'd really like to talk to you... I miss you so much" I bit my lip and looked away to hold the tears, shaking my head.

"Jon and I think we're going to leave, Ashton... I can't stay here after what happened to me. It's traumatizing. I told you that I came here to escape the horror of my past but I can't escape it, Ashton. It follows me... haunts me." I shook my head again and looked at the ground, allowing my tears to fall now.

"Y-you're leaving?" He sputtered with wide eyes. I shrugged, unsure of the whole thing. I still couldn't look him in the eyes. I knew I would break down. I swallowed the lump in my throat and stuffed my cold hands into my pocket.

He approached me with caution, walking slowly until he was only a few inches away from me. I could hear him breathe now but my eyes stay on the ground. "Aurora" He spoke in a husky voice that sent chils down my spine. I looked up at him wearily, my eyes filled with tears. He brought his hands to my cheeks and held my fave carefully. "I am in love with you, Aurora. I know I've hurt you and put you in situations that have made you feel not so good and I apologize. I want to do better. I will do better. I can't live without you. You are the light of my life. I need you, baby. I promise you I will do nothing but love and cherish you for the rest of my life. Please forgive me."

I cried harder now, looking the man who had grown to be my world in a few short months. I rested a hand on his wrist, enjoying the feeling of his skin. "Okay." was all I said. He wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me into his chest tightly. I hugged him back as tight as I could and took a deep breath while in his arms.

"I love you, Ashton. Thank you,"