Chapter 341 - 75: She’s No Cinderella

"Dad, you don’t have to come just because Seth didn’t come when I summoned him. Men like Seth are always predictable. Weak link."

Aurora sat in front of the vanity, staring at her reflection as she spoke. Her phone was pressed to her ear, one hand resting on the edge of the table while Elara stood behind her, sorting through a collection of makeup brushes.

"Yeah, make them pay, Aurora," her mother said from the other end.

Aurora’s lips curved. "You know I will."

"Let me talk to—"

"Oops." Aurora pulled the phone away from her ear and ended the call.

"Sorry, Mom."

Elara stared at her through the mirror. "You could call her back."

"Forget the old lady." Aurora tossed the phone onto the vanity. "Now help me with my makeup."

Elara picked up a brush and sighed. "You’re impossible."

"I’ve heard that before."

"Usually from people who are still alive?"

Aurora laughed. "Exactly."

Elara dipped the brush into the blush and leaned closer, working it carefully over Aurora’s cheeks, then moved to the other side. The room was warm and brightly lit, the enormous bed behind them still unmade, clothes discarded across one of the chairs, two pairs of shoes left beside the wardrobe.

Elara reached for the lipstick. "You’re really going through with this?"

"Of course."

"After yesterday?"

"That is precisely why I’m going."

Elara paused, and Aurora noticed the hesitation in the mirror. "What?"

"You nearly started a war with Dane."

"He started it."

"You punched him first."

Aurora’s smile widened. "He was very handsome when he was angry."

Elara rolled her eyes and continued applying the lipstick. "Blah, blah. You whine too much."

"I’m trying to stop you from making another terrible decision."

"You’re wasting your breath."

Aurora leaned back slightly, letting Elara finish. The lipstick was a deep red, and Elara applied a second layer, making sure the color was even before pulling the brush away.

Aurora examined herself, then smiled. "Perfect."

Elara lowered the lipstick. "You’re sure you want to go out dressed like this?"

Aurora glanced down at herself. Her dress was fitted closely enough to leave little to imagination, the neckline deliberately low, the hem high above her knees. She had chosen it carefully. Nothing about the outfit was accidental.

"With a body like this?" She sat up, letting the dress settle against her curves. "I could ditch my clothes altogether."

Elara’s eyes widened. "Aurora."

Aurora burst into laughter. "I’m kidding."

"You’d better be."

Aurora stood and walked to the mirror, turning slightly from side to side, adjusting a strand of hair, checking the neckline again. She wanted Dane to look. That was the point. Yesterday he had looked at her with anger. Today she wanted to see whether she could make him look at her differently.

Not because she believed he would suddenly stop loving Destiny. Aurora wasn’t stupid. But attraction was not the same thing as love, and she knew exactly how much easier it was to create doubt than to create devotion. Destiny had Dane’s loyalty. Aurora wanted to know if she could still get his attention.

She reached for a pair of earrings and fastened them. "Let’s go pay our neighbors a visit. We should apologize and be all nice."

Elara looked toward the bedroom door. "That’s what you’re calling this?"

"Of course."

"Because you look like you’re going to a nightclub."

Aurora gave her a look. "Do I?"

"Yes."

"Then I suppose Dane will appreciate the effort."

Elara groaned. "You’re unbelievable."

Aurora only smiled and walked out of the bedroom, Elara following behind. As they reached the staircase, Aurora stopped. A large gift box sat on the table in the living room, wrapped neatly with a dark ribbon. She picked it up.

Elara looked at the box, then back at her. "Is that for them?"

Aurora smiled. "Dane and his beloved farm girl should be given a present for their marriage."

"You mean their marriage that happened weeks ago?"

"We may have missed it." Aurora adjusted the ribbon. "But it’s never too late to give a married couple a gift."

Elara snorted. "That’s one way to put it."

Aurora’s smile didn’t move. She had no intention of simply handing Destiny a present and leaving. She wanted to see the house. She wanted to see where Dane lived when he wasn’t standing in front of her defending his wife. She wanted to see how Destiny behaved around him when Aurora was standing right there. And, more importantly, she wanted to see whether Dane would treat her like an enemy or like a woman. There was a difference. She could work with either one.

"Come on," Aurora said, and carried the gift toward the front entrance.

Servants moved aside as they approached. Guards stationed throughout the hall straightened immediately, watching their princess pass. Elara followed beside her.

At the door, Aurora paused and glanced through the glass. Across the boulevard stood Dane’s home. The lights were on. She could already imagine Destiny inside, waiting for him. Aurora smiled to herself.

"Ready?" Elara asked.

Aurora opened the door. "Let’s go give our neighbors a gift."

The walk across the boulevard took less than a minute, but Aurora made no attempt to hurry. She

Elara kept pace beside her, glancing at the gift box. "You really are going through with this."

Aurora looked at her. "Did you think I was joking?"

"I was hoping."

They reached the gates, and two BloodMoon guards stepped forward immediately. "Stop there."

Aurora’s brows lifted. She looked from one guard to the other. "I’m here to see Dane and Destiny."

"We have orders not to let you in." The answer was blunt.

Aurora glanced past them toward the house, then back at the guards. "Orders from whom?"

"Alpha Dane."

Her expression barely changed. "So he knows I’m here?"

"Not yet. But the order has already been given since your arrival."

Aurora looked down at the gift in her hands. "That’s unfortunate."

Elara shifted beside her, watching the exchange. Aurora stepped closer to the gate. "I came to apologize for yesterday. And to show my intentions are pure, I even brought them a gift. You would be wise to let me show my good will or else when my crazy side takes over you would wish you had."

"You can leave the gift with us."

Aurora slowly looked up. "No."

The guard’s jaw tightened. "Princess, we’re not trying to disrespect you."

"Then don’t." She smiled, but there was no warmth behind it. "I said I want to give it to them myself."

"We can’t allow that."

Aurora stared at him for a moment. She could have made a scene. She could have reminded them exactly who she was and ordered them to open the gate. But that wasn’t what she wanted. Not today.

Instead, she looked toward the house and raised her voice. "Dane!"

Elara closed her eyes. "Oh, God."

Aurora ignored her. "Dane, your guards won’t let me in."

A few seconds passed. Nothing.

Aurora smiled to herself realising with cold certainty he was making her wait. Fine. She could wait too.

Then the front door opened, and Sonia appeared. She walked down the path toward the gates, her expression hardening when she saw Aurora standing outside.

"What is going on?"

Aurora turned toward her. "Your guards won’t let me in."

Sonia glanced at the men. "They’re following orders."

"I figured."

Sonia stopped a few feet away. "You weren’t invited. Just because we’re now neighbours doesn’t mean you can waltz over to our house however you please."

"I know." Aurora lifted the gift box slightly. "But I came to apologize."

Sonia looked at the box. "After everything you did yesterday?"

"Especially after yesterday."

Sonia studied her face. Aurora kept her face perfectly composed and hoped that her dress, her makeup, the gift, even the polite smile she had carefully chosen would be enough to earn Sonia trust. It didn’t.

"You can leave the gift here."

Aurora’s smile remained. "I’d rather give it to them myself."

"I don’t think that’s a good idea."

"Then perhaps I should go back home." The words were innocent. The look in her eyes wasn’t.

Sonia raised an eyebrow. Aurora gave a small shrug. "I wouldn’t want to make things difficult."

Sonia knew exactly what she was doing. After a moment, she turned toward the guards. "Open the gate."

The men hesitated. "Ma’am, Alpha Dane said—"

"I know what he said." Sonia’s voice sharpened. "She isn’t being invited to stay. She’s being allowed inside to deliver a gift and speak to the family. I’ll handle it."

The guards exchanged a glance before stepping aside, and the gate opened.

Aurora smiled. "Thank you."

She walked through with Elara beside her. As they approached the house, Aurora glanced back at the guards. They were watching her carefully. She liked that. It meant everyone was already nervous about what she might do.

And she hadn’t even crossed the front door yet. Her skin crawled with excitement and her wolf stirred.