The Alpha Behind The Mask-Chapter 35: You Are Not Special

​Aurora’s POV

​I turned slowly, my heart sinking into my stomach as I faced her. Casey stood just a few feet away, her face contorted with a mixture of shock and pure, unadulterated rage. She was dressed in a gown that looked more like a wedding dress than party attire—layers of white lace and silk that practically screamed for attention.

​"I asked you a question, girl," she hissed, stepping closer until she was towering over me. "Why are you at a private family event? This isn’t the office or a business gathering."

​I gripped my clutch so hard my knuckles turned white. "Alpha Oliver invited me, Casey. I’m here as his guest."

​"His guest?" She let out a sharp, mocking laugh that drew the attention of the nearby noblewomen. "Look at you. You’re wearing a custom-designed gown. I know that silk; it’s from the king’s private collection. How did a little wolfless stray like you manipulate him into giving you that?"

​She didn’t wait for an answer. Her eyes raked over me with such disgust I felt like I was covered in dirt.

​"You think because he brought you here, you’re special? You’re a slut, Aurora. Once he fucks you, he will trash you away like he did to the others."

​I swallowed hard. Was she right? Was this why he was being kind? I felt my heart sinking, but I composed myself.

​"Are you done?" I said, my voice trembling despite my best efforts to stay calm. "I am just here to accompany him."

​"Accompany him?" Casey’s voice rose, attracting even more stares. "I am the one who belongs at his side. I am the one the kingdom expects to see. You are just an assistant. You’re lucky I don’t have the guards throw you out on your face right now."

​She leaned in, her voice dropping to an angry, low whisper that sent a chill down my spine.

​"Enjoy your little moment with him, Aurora. Because once he fucks you... you will be trashed."

​I stood my ground, though every instinct I had was telling me to run. I looked past her, desperately searching the crowd for Oliver’s red hair, but he was still at the cake table, surrounded by his brothers and his mother. I was completely on my own.

​"Are you finished?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper.

​Casey’s eyes flashed. She raised her hand as if she were tempted to slap me right there in the middle of the garden. "I’m finished when I say I’m finished—"

​She suddenly paused, her hand frozen in mid-air. She looked in the direction where Alpha Oliver was with his family, and I realized he was staring right at us. His eyes were filled with a cold, terrifying anger, but it wasn’t directed at me; it was aimed entirely at Casey.

​It was as if he was talking to her through his eyes, a silent command that carried the full weight of his authority, because she immediately stepped away from me, her face pale. Our eyes met across the garden, and the hardness in his gaze vanished instantly. He gave me a comforting nod, a silent question asking if I was okay. I nodded back, feeling a small spark of relief.

​He seemed to relax then and went back to the cake cutting. I watched them from a distance, noticing that everyone at the table looked genuinely happy—his brothers were laughing, and his mother was beaming. But Oliver seemed distant. Even as he held the knife with them, he looked like he couldn’t wait for it to be over.

​After the cake cutting, the atmosphere grew even more festive. I watched from the sidelines as his mother held his hand, leading him through the crowd and introducing him to various high-ranking guests. She beamed with every introduction, her face radiant with a pride that seemed truly genuine. She seemed like such a nice, warm woman; looking at her, I couldn’t help but wonder what had gone wrong between them to make Oliver so cold and distant.

​I noticed his other brother walking my way. I instinctively looked away, trying to remain inconspicuous, but he stopped directly before me.

​"I’m Alpha Ozzy," he said, offering a casual but confident smile.

​I raised a brow, my confusion slipping through. "You’re also an Alpha?" I asked. How was that possible? Were they not all from one father?

​He smiled, clearly sensing my confusion. "No, we don’t have the same father. Yes, we are triplets, but we have different fathers."

​I was shocked. My mind reeled at the biological impossibility—or at least, how rare such a thing must be. "How is that even possible?"

​He chuckled softly. "You should ask Oliver. He’ll explain it better than I can."

​Then the music started to swell, a soft, orchestral melody filling the garden. Ozzy tilted his head, studying me with an intensity that made me pull back slightly. "Now I see what Oscar was saying," he mused.

​"What?" I asked.

​"You look just like Mother when she was young," he said, his smile widening. "If we had a lost sister or something, I would have said you were our sister."

​I felt a strange prickle of unease at his words, but I managed a small smile. "My grandmother had red hair, and so did my mother," I told him.

​"Oh," he replied, his eyes lingering on my face for a second too long.

​As the music picked up, people began drifting toward the center of the garden, pairing off to dance with their partners. Ozzy stepped closer and stretched forth his hand.

​"Will you give me the pleasure of dancing with you?" he asked.

​Just then, a heavy, familiar presence materialized behind me. The air seemed to vibrate with a sudden, sharp tension, and the scent of cedar and cold rain washed over me.

​"She’s already taken, Ozzy."

​Oliver’s voice was like velvet over steel. I didn’t even have to turn around to know he was standing inches from my back. Ozzy didn’t look intimidated; if anything, a playful, knowing smirk tugged at the corner of his lips as he retracted his hand. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

​"Always so possessive, Oliver," Ozzy teased, though there was a flicker of something serious in his eyes. He gave me a polite nod and disappeared into the crowd before Oliver could respond.

​I turned around to face Oliver, but the comforting expression he had worn across the garden was gone. His brows were knit together in a dark scowl, and his jaw was set so tight I thought his teeth might crack. The protective warmth I had felt moments ago was quickly being replaced by the sheer weight of his irritation.

​"What did I say about talking to other men?" he demanded, his voice dropping into a low, angry growl.

​I blinked, taken aback by the sudden shift. "He’s your brother, Alpha Oliver! He just came over to introduce himself."

​"It doesn’t matter who he is," Oliver stepped closer, his large frame looming over me, effectively blocking out the rest of the party. "I told you to stay put. I didn’t say ’stay put and entertain my brothers.’ You have no idea how they operate, Aurora. They see something I value, and they want to poke at it just to see me react."

​"I wasn’t entertaining anyone," I countered, my own temper beginning to flare. "I was being polite. Or would you prefer I be as rude to your family as you are?"

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