Page 26 of The Alpha's Lunar Crown

Aurora

I wake up to the sunlight pouring through my bedroom window. I have no memory of how I got here. My last conscious memory is of me laying in Lucien's arms on the rooftop while his fingers stroked my hair. I pull the sheets tighter around me to eliminate the phantom touch ghosting my skin, but it doesn't help. I can still feel him, his hands on my skin, the smell of him on my palm, and his breath against my neck.It lingered on my skin, in my hair, and somehow got into my sheets, causing my stomach to churn. His voice whispered things I refuse to remember because why did I let that happen in the first place?

I squeeze my eyes shut, not allowing any of it to make sense to me. But the memories flash through my mind, his hands on my body, his mouth claiming my lips, the way he worships me…the way I let him have me as he pleases.

My nails dig into my palms. It is all a mistake, one I should've stopped but let happen.

My eyes lock on the ceiling above me as I try to ignore the itch in my fingers urging me to reach for my phone. But I know that doing so will only pull me back into his world, the world where I don't want to belong anymore.

Even after everything that happened last night, I know one thing for sure, and it is that I can't forgive him…Never.

I shove the sheets off me and stand, wrapping my robe tight around my body. My legs feel weak. My skin is too sensitive. My thoughts are too loud, and every move I make reminds me of how he stretched me out.My doorbell rings, and I clasp my hand over my chest, steadying my erratic heartbeat. I am not expecting anyone, but something tells me I know exactly what I'll find behind the door.

Curiosity and its distant cousin, foolishness, take my hand once again and lead me to the door, forcing my fingers on the doorknob and pulling it open despite confirming the face behind it and having all the reasons not to let him in.

Lucien leans against the door frame, his hands in his pockets, his eyes locked onto mine. My heart slams against my ribs at the sight of him.

He looks like he hasn't slept because his tie is loose and his hair is a little messy as if he has spent the night restless or in a club. I wonder if last night broke him just as much as it broke me.

"Aurora," his voice rough.

I grip the knob tighter. "You need to leave."

His jaw tightens, staring at me like he really needs to have a conversation with me, but I am done with him. "We need to talk."

"There's nothing to talk about." I steal a glance over my shoulders. In no time, Ronan will be up and skipping around the house. Every moment he spends here spells extra problems for me.

"After what happened last night?" His gaze darkens. "I do not believe that."

I push the door trying to shut him out because I wasn't ready to exchange words with him. But he catches the door with his hand and stops me.

"You can't just pretend last night didn't happen," he insists.

I let out a sharp and bitter laugh. "Watch me act like it never happened."

Lucien steps closer, his presence too consuming. "It wasn't just sex, Aurora. We made love."

I feel the heat rise to my cheeks, causing it to blush and my breath turn shallow.

I shake my head. "I'm sorry, but that's all it was to me. A one-night stand. You should know how this world works. Good music, nice food, great alcohol, and you have the perfect recipe for sex. Don't be naive."

The lie burns as it slips from my tongue, but I'd rather be a liar than let him see how much he's affecting me.

His hand tightens on the door frame. "Then look me in the eye and say you felt nothing. How can you call the love we shared a one-night stand, Aurora?"

I open my mouth, but no words come out.

Lucien exhales, his voice softening. "I don't care about what you think because I love you."

My stomach knots at his words. I keep telling him that he has no right to say that word to me. "You don't love me, Lucien," I whisper. "You love the idea of me—the die-hard lover you let go of."

His expression hardens. "I won't let that happen again."

I swallow. This isn't what I want to hear. Shaking my head, I take a step back. "You already lost me, Lucien." Then I slam the door in his face.

I walk straight into the shower and have the longest bath I have ever had in my entire life. Scrubbing my skin hard in hopes of washing off every mark from him and every smell. I don't belong to him, and I never will.

Immediately after I put on my dress, a knock on the door grabs my attention. Feeling more confident than I did earlier, I walk over and open it to give Lucien a piece of my mind, but I find Damon instead.I've been buried deep in a Lucien Ravenclaw-sized pit. I totally forgot about Damon and how I left things between us.I swallow the disappointment clogging my throat and force a polite smile.

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