Aurora pressed her lips together with a frown as she glanced at her sister-in-law. Just because Aurora didn't react much didn't mean she did not react. After being constantly monitored for days, even having no privacy in the bathroom, and now hearing that her parent's relationship was strained because of her.
It only made Aurora more frustrated. She could see that Cherise was pleased with herself. 'Nobody could understand,' Aurora thought glumly. 'No, maybe he might.'
He, being Jace, she wondered how he was fairing. Was he being suffocated like she was? Did he manage to hold onto his wolf? Her last question made her heart hurt. Because if he did, she would be extremely envious. At least he'd have more time with his wolf.
A luxury she did not have. Cherise tugged at Aurora's sleeves, breaking her out of her train of thought. Cherise whispered to Aurora "Come, Rory, let's head back upstairs."
Cherise grabbed Aurora's thin wrist and began ascending the stairs. Quietly, the two of them passed Renee and Anderson's bedroom before opening the door to Aurora's bedroom.
Cherise was in front so she saw Anderson's grim face before Aurora did. When Cherise locked eyes with Anderson she flinched. His eyes were blazing with anger as he stood in the middle of the room and Renee sat on Aurora's bed.
"Cherise, where did you take her?" Anderson stepped toward the door menacingly, "Did you take her outside? Or did you do something you weren't supposed to?"
"I.. Anderson. Aurora she umm." Cherise stuttered, she squeezed Aurora's wrist in a panic, forgetting that Aurora was mostly human now. Aurora looked down at her wrist being squeezed painfully. Any more strength and she would surely have a fractured wrist. Weakly, she began to struggle to get out of Cherise's hold.
"Dad, Mom, I'm sleepy," Aurora spoke, hearing Aurora's voice made Cherise snap out of her fear and realize she was hurting Aurora, who was struggling weakly in her hold. After finally getting her hand free, Aurora quickly hid her bruising skin under her sleeve.
"Baby, you're talking to us!" Renee excitedly stood up as she exclaimed. Aurora looked at her mother, then at her father. They both looked haggard and tired. This couldn't continue, especially with the baby on the way. She couldn't let her little brother be born into a house that felt like this.
"I'm sorry, I've been difficult to deal with. I'm so sorry to you all." Aurora wet her lips and apologized to them, bowing her head. "I will get better."
Anderson's eyes flickered between the two young women before he smiled gently after a few seconds. "Of course, you'll get better."
"How about tonight we let you sleep alone? Would you like that?" Anderson asked softly as he looked into his daughter's eyes. It was the first time in a long time he saw her eyes light up.
"Anderson, I don't think that a good idea." Renee frowned and told him.
"Why? It's a great idea. " Anderson shook his head and disagreed. "It may have been a bad idea to always have someone with her. We never actually gave Rory the space she desperately needed."
"But," Renee muttered as she glanced at her daughter with her lips pressed into a thin line. "Are you sure?"
"It's been stressful, for not only you but everyone in the house. I think it's a good idea to let Rory have a bit of space." Anderson said matter a factly. "Didn't Cherise prove this fact by taking Aurora to listen to our conversation?"
"Anderson, it's not like that. I just wanted Rory to be enlightened." Cherise defended her actions after hearing that.
"I don't blame you, you did enlighten her. Look she spoke to us, For the first time in days she spoke." Anderson smiled gently as he stared Cherise into her eyes.
Unlike his body and facial language, his eyes told a different story. He was angry, he was incredibly angry at what she did.
'You fucking idiot.' Anderson harshly berated her through the mind link. 'I'll hold you accountable.'
His words made her shudder, and her shoulders slumped in defeat. He was a powerful alpha male in his prime. Of course, she was scared of him.
'Act natural you fucking idiot!' Anderson roared at her. She immediately straightened up and glanced at Aurora who had a deep frown on her face as she eyes Cherise and Anderson.
"Are you mind linking?" Aurora asked, Anderson, shook his head.
"Cherise was just expressing her concern about leaving you alone." Aurora lightly nodded at her father's words. Though she did not believe them.
"Then can I go to bed now?" Anderson nodded at Aurora's question.
"We'll leave then," Anderson told her and turned to look at Renee.
"Then," Aurora muttered lowly. "Cherise, can you stay with me just for tonight?"
Everyone was taken aback by Aurora's request. While Aurora was only trying to help Cherise out.
These past few days, Cherise was the only one who Aurora felt told her the raw truth.
She could tell that her father was angry even though that smiling expression of his.
"But wouldn't you rather sleep by yourself?" Anderson asked her gently.
"Stop that," Aurora snapped at Anderson.
"Stop what Rory?" Anderson frowned as he asked. Aurora sighed as she rubbed her forehead.
"That," Aurora looked at her father in frustration. "I'm tired. It has been days since she and I haven't had one moment to myself. You guys even follow me into the bathroom!"
"Cherise told me the truth and now you want to scold her for it? I'm struggling to keep myself afloat, but that doesn't mean I want you to drown while trying to keep me above water." Aurora said.
"Aurora, it's not like that." Anderson began, but the young woman cut him off.
"It's exactly like that! I don't want this family to fall apart because of me!" Aurora shouted, stunning him into silence. "It's so overbearing I can't even grieve my best friend, my other half, without someone breathing down my neck. I just want space!"
"Rory, we are just trying to protect you," Renee chose to speak up. Anderson was still unresponsive to Aurora's words. "Your aunt had a rejection and it broke her. She tried many times to kill herself and your father, No, we were scared you.d do something similar."
"I'm not her! Don't you dare treat me like her!" Aurora glared at her parents as she balled up her fist. "Get out! All OF YOU GET THE HELL OUT!"
Aurora's chest heaved up and down, her face littered with rage. To be honest, even if Cherise didn't tell Aurora anything, she was really close to her breaking point a long time ago.
"Rory!" Renee called out in a pleading tone, but Anderson stopped her from going any further. This was his fault, his trauma from back then caused him to overlook this. Aurora was right. She was not his sister. Aurora didn't experience what Anya did after being rejected.
"Let's go." Anderson told the two women, "Give Rory her space." Anderson grabbed Renee's hand and pulled out of the room. The three of them watched as Aurora closed the door softly in their faces.
"We'll speak about this later, Cherise. For now you can leave." Anderson commanded, without even looking at Cherise. Cherise hurriedly dashed down the hallway into the bedroom she shared with Aiden, leaving the mated couple alone in the hallway.
Anderson stood there for a few more seconds before pulling Renee alone to their bedroom. Nothing was said between them. Silently they got ready for bed. Anderson spent a long time in the shower before he went back into the bedroom.
Renee was already lying down rubbing cocoa butter on her pregnant belly. She silently looked at Anderson's grim expression. Not knowing hers was equally as grim.
"I'm a fucking idiot," Anderson muttered as he sat on the edge of the bed. Renee, who was lying down, sat up and scooted close to him, pressing the palm of her hand to his back. " I keep forgetting Aurora isn't Anya. And yet I'm treating her like she's Anya."
"It's okay Andy." Renee softly reassured him. "You only want to protect Aurora."
"Protecting her? I'm suffocating her. I'm so scared she'll try to kill herself that I put everyone on edge. I forgot she wasn't Anya."Anderson laughed mournfully.