#####Chapter 1 : Living With the Alpha

Aurora's pov

“Miss Hayes? Alpha Gavino. I would like to discuss something with you both, in private.”

I turned toward my father's lawyer, reaching up to wipe the corner of my eyes.

Around us, the cemetery grounds were slowly becoming empty. People who had been here hours ago to offer their condolences, didn't spare me another glance as they left.

I stared at the flower I had placed on my father's coffin. He was really gone.

I twisted the hem of my dress, my grip tight on the fabric like it might keep me from bursting into tears.

I wasn't supposed to be here this morning. I should've been in school, finally receiving my degree and having a good time at graduation. But instead, here I was burying my father.

The only person I had left in this world.

“Miss Hayes?”

The lawyer’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts. I blinked away the tears already welling up in my eyes as I muttered, “Pardon me. What were you saying?”

He adjusted his glasses, his eyes darting around. “Your father left a specific instruction before he died. An instruction that is to be carried out immediately.”

My heart skipped a beat at his words.

Beside me stood Alpha Gavino with his hands shoved into the pockets of his trousers. He was tall and loomed over me in a way that made me feel uncomfortable.

Even in black, he still became the center of attention. The expression on his face hadn't changed once during the burial.

He didn't cry. It doesn't even look as though he was sad.

Just that same mask of indifference remained on his face.

The feared Alpha of the Mooncrest pack. My father's best friend.

“Out with it.” Gavino said flatly.

“Perhaps somewhere more private?” The lawyer proposed.

I glanced toward the grave one last time before following the lawyer to wherever he was leading I and Alpha Gavino.

When my father collapsed, I wasn't there. I had no chance to say goodbye, I didn't even get to tell him how much I loved him.

The lawyer stopped beneath a large tree a few feet away from the burial ground. Then, he opened the leather folder he had in hand.

“As Daniel Hayes stated in his will,” he began slowly, “His daughter, Aurora Hayes, is to remain under the care and protection of Alpha Gavino Blackwood until she finds her mate or gets married.”

The moment he finished speaking, I felt nothing but shocked.

I stared at him, then let out a small chuckle. The sound was barely audible but sounded weird nevertheless.

“There has to be a mistake.” I said, hoping this was a joke.

“This isn't a mistake.”

I shook my head firmly and turned to Gavino.

“No offense, Alpha. But I know you don't want this.” I said.

He looked at me, with those green eyes that gave away little to nothing.

“I could return to my apartment once dawn comes.” I said quickly. “There is no reason for me to cause the alpha any discomfort.”

Especially not him.

Sure, I haven't exactly spoken to him before. But, he had always been polite and very distant.

He had always been there for my family. Showing up to measly birthday parties and the likes. But there had always been a line between us.

He was an Alpha. My father's best friend and I sure as hell didn't want him as my guardian.

I expected him to say something about how he felt about this.

Instead, he said, “I don't consider it an inconvenience.”

I frowned, “What do you mean by that?”

“Daniel made his words clear.” He said, his deep voice remained calm. “He was my friend and if this is what he wanted, I won't refuse.”

“You can't be serious.” I cried out, blinking.

“But I am.” Gavino responded coolly.

“I'm old enough to decide where I want to live. I don't need you doing it for me.” I stared, folding my arms under my chest.

Gavino's cold gaze landed straight on me as he finally said, “This isn't a topic up for discussion, Aurora.”

The way he said my name made goosebumps form on my skin.

“You'll stay under my protection till you find your mate,” Gavino added soon after.

The audacity of his words hit me like a slap.

“You can't force me to—”

“I can and I will.” Alpha Gavino said, cutting me off.

His words were quite simple but they left no room for arguments. Typical.

I opened my mouth to speak, closed it and then opened it again.

“You know what? Fine. Since everyone thinks I'm incapable of making my own decisions, why don't we all just pretend I'm still nine?” I asked, my gaze flickering between Alpha Gavino and the lawyer.

The lawyer couldn't meet my eyes. While, Alpha Gavino stared right into them.

“We're leaving in an hour.” He said softly.

My hands beside my body curled into fists as I took a step closer to him, “I did not agree to this.”

“I don't care, Aurora.” Gavino said coldly.

I glared up at him, biting on my lower lip in anger. “I hate you.”

For the first time that evening, some unfamiliar emotion flickered through Alpha Gavino’s eyes. But it disappeared just as quickly as it appeared.

“Get your things ready,”

*****

The Blackwood estate was exactly as I remembered: Large, elegant and it gave off an eerie vibe as I stepped into it.

The staff had gathered at the entrance to greet I and Alpha Gavino, the respect and curiosity in their eyes didn't go unnoticed.

As I followed Gavino upstairs, dragging my suitcase behind me. I couldn't help but notice how this place felt more like a museum than a home.

When we reached the end of the hallway on the first floor. Gavino pulled a door open and said, “Your room.”

I looked at him before stepping into the room. This place was bigger than my entire apartment back in school, with floor-to-ceiling windows that overlooked the forest and a king sized bed that looked too big.

“You know I can really stay in a hotel.” I said, turning to face Gavino.

“No.”

“I can rent an apartment nearby.”

“No.”

“I can take care of myself, Alpha.”

“Aurora, no.”

“Do you know any other words except no?” I demanded stomping my feet like an angry child.

“You're staying here.” Gavino said firmly.

“But why?”

He ran a hand through his black hair. “Because that was what your father wanted.”

I hesitated. Despite everything, I knew how much my father had meant to him.

"I can take care of myself," I said softly this time.

His gaze softened for half a second before hardening again. "Get settled."

Then he left.

---

By the third day, I was coming to regret why I hadn't just sneaked out of this house on the first day.

Not only was Alpha Gavino impossible, he was also protective.

A protection, I did not need.

“Be home before nine.”

I stopped walking completely, my grip on the door knob tightening. “Excuse me?”

Alpha Gavino didn't look up from his food, he just muttered, “You heard me.”

“This is absurd.” I started, frowning.

“Be back before nine.” He repeated despite my words.

“I'm nineteen. I can come home whenever I want.” I said, crossing my arms against my chest.

“I gave you a curfew. Stick to it.”

Two days after that, I walked downstairs in a red fitted dress…it wasn't anything outrageous, at least to me.

Alpha Gavino raised his head at the sound of my footsteps. When he turned to me, his gaze traveled down my body first before he finally met my eyes.

“Go change.” He said coldly, taking a sip of his coffee.

Oh, to hell with this man.

“You can be serious.” I said, chuckling under my breath.

“Take that shit off, Aurora.” Alpha Gavino said, his voice dropping an octave lower.

“B-but I like this dress.” I said, staring down at myself.

“I'll get you something less…exposing.” He said.

I stared at him for a while, blood rushing to my cheek. I didn't know whether to feel insulted or pleased that he stared at me that long to notice how exposing it was.

“But it's not that bad.” I bit on my lower lip and slowly turned around.

“It's too tight.” Alpha Gavino said, his voice sounding strained.

“I never took you to be someone who enjoys looking.” I bit on the inside of my cheeks to stop me from smiling.

He didn't respond after that, but I didn't miss how he quickly pulled his gaze away from me at my words.

“Change.”

Arrg, I really hated him.

Yet, the memory of his gaze lingering longer than it should have made me feel…fuzzy.

****

Later that evening, the anger I felt was too much to just swallow. I stormed out of my room, desperate to get some fresh air. When I heard voices coming from the library.

“If Daniel knew, why didn't he let us know?”

I froze.

“He tried and how did that end up?” The second voice paused. “He got killed for it”

I slapped a hand over my mouth at his words, my heart racing against my chest.

Father was killed?!

“If the truth ever comes out…”

“What truth?” I whispered, taking a step closer to the door.

It looked as though they had heard me, because they instantly stopped talking. With pale faces, they hurried away.

What were they talking about?

Father had been murdered, he hadn't collapsed?

Does Gavino know about this?

I turned around after a while and bumped right into something hard or rather, someone.

I stumbled back three steps and before I could fall, a hand wrapped around my waist. With a racing heart, I looked up.

Way up.

Alpha Gavino stood a few inches away from me, his face held no expression.

“Aurora.” He said softly, pulling me closer to his body.

I swallowed.”Tell me how much you heard.”