The Alpha Behind The Mask-Chapter 78: Tangled Feelings

​Aurora’s POV

​I looked into his eyes—those deep blue eyes that were filled with nothing but love for me. My heart was beating so fast I was sure he could feel it against his chest. The words were right there, resting on the tip of my tongue.

​I remember, Oliver. I remember that you love me. And I love you too.

​I wanted to say it so badly. I wanted to finally drop the lie and let myself fall completely into him. For a moment, I almost did. But just as I opened my mouth, a cold thought rushed through my mind.

​Raymond.

​The memory of the masked man came back like a sudden chill—his touch, the way he held me in my room, the way my body had responded to him even when my mind fought against it. Raymond was a killer. He was the man who haunted my nights, and if my suspicions were right, he was also tied to the blood and tragedy surrounding my family.

​How could I tell Oliver that I loved him when a part of me was still tangled with Raymond? How could I promise my heart to the King when the monster still held a piece of my soul? If I confessed now, I would only be giving Oliver a broken version of myself, or I might not be able to love him fully as I should. And he doesn’t deserve that, so until I am able to sort out my feelings, I can’t confess my feelings for him.

​I swallowed hard. The warmth in the room suddenly felt heavy, almost suffocating. My eyes dropped to Oliver’s chest, though I didn’t even know what I was looking for.

​"I..." My voice faltered as my hands slowly slipped from around his neck and rested weakly against his bare chest. "I’m just... still overwhelmed, Oliver. Everything is happening so fast."

​For a brief moment, the light in his eyes dimmed. I saw it—the small flash of disappointment before he quickly hid it behind the gentle softness he always showed me. He lifted his hand and brushed a loose strand of hair behind my ear, his thumb lingering against my cheek.

​"It’s okay, baby girl," he murmured softly. "We have time. I’m not going anywhere."

​Then he pulled me back into his arms.

​I rested against him, letting him hold me, but my heart was filled with pain and guilt...

​Just tell him, Aurora! My mind whispered to me, but as I closed my eyes, the masked face of Raymond flashed in my mind... no matter how hard I tried to deny it, I knew a part of me still felt something for Raymond.

​I remained in Oliver’s arms, our bare skin pressed together as his fingers traced slow, invisible patterns along my back.

We didn’t say a word, each of us both lost in our own thoughts. For a moment, I wished I could hear what he was thinking.

Was he considering giving up on me?

Or was he gathering the courage to confess his feelings again?

My stomach twisted with nervous anxiety.

I didn’t want him to confess. Not yet. Because if he did... I might not be able to give him the answer he deserved.

​"Aurora..." he suddenly whispered.

My heart jumped.

Please don’t say it... please don’t...

"Will you spend the night with me?" he asked gently.

Relief rushed through me like a breath I had been holding for hours.

I didn’t even have to think; I just nodded, my forehead still resting against his collarbone. I wasn’t ready to go back to that cold guest room and be alone with my thoughts. I needed his warmth, even if I was keeping secrets from him.

​He stood up, effortlessly lifting me in his arms as if I were made of glass. He walked over to the large bed and laid me down gently. I stayed naked, the cool air of the room hitting my skin for only a second before he began to undress himself properly. I watched him in the dim light—his broad shoulders, the powerful muscles of his back, and the bruises from the crash that reminded me of how much he had sacrificed to keep me safe.

​When he finished, he climbed in beside me. We were both naked, skin to skin, the heavy blanket pulled up over us to trap our shared heat. It felt natural, yet electric.

He pulled me into his arms, tucking my head into the crook of his neck. My face rested right over his heart, which beat with a steady, calming rhythm.

​At that moment, his chest felt like the safest place in the world. The chaos of the crash, the tangled feelings... everything disappeared.

​We didn’t speak. The silence wasn’t awkward; it was heavy with a different kind of intimacy. He leaned down, pressing a soft, lingering kiss to my forehead.

​"Sleep, Aurora," he whispered, his hand resting protectively on my hip. "Today was a long day."

​"Okay," I whispered back, closing my eyes. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

​As the warmth of his body began to pull me into a deep sleep, I felt a single tear escape and hit his skin. I loved the man holding me, but as I drifted off, a dark part of me still thought of Raymond.

​When I woke up, I did not feel him beside me. I stretched out my hand, expecting to find the warmth of his skin, but I felt only the empty, cold space of the sheets. My heart gave a small, anxious thud.

​I opened my eyes to see an empty bed. The sunlight was peeking through the heavy curtains, making the room look different than it had in the soft amber glow of the night before. I frowned, a sense of unease washing over me. Had he left because of my silence? Or was the King back to work already?

​I got up from the bed, my body feeling slightly stiff from the crash, and quickly put on my clothes. I didn’t want to be found naked and alone in his bed if someone else walked in.

​I left the room, moving quietly down the hallway. As I approached the top of the grand staircase, I heard voices coming from downstairs. They were sharp and angry. I paused, leaning over the railing just enough to listen.

Then I immediately recognized one of the voices.

Cassey.