Chapter 322: Aurora

The empty hallway felt eerie as I walked, the silence unsettling. Where was everyone? I wondered, my steps echoing faintly against the walls. A sudden, loud bang from outside made me freeze. My heart jumped, panic coursing through me. What was that?

Then I heard it—cheering, loud and fervent, coming from outside. Without a second thought, I raced toward the noise, my pulse quickening with each step. I collided with Evelyn as she rushed out of her room. She halted abruptly, her wide eyes meeting mine.

“Did you hear that?” she asked, her voice trembling.

I nodded. “What’s going on out there?”

Evelyn shook her head. “I’m not sure, but I think it’s a fight. I heard one of the maids calling Evander’s name, but…”

Her words blurred as my mind latched onto that single name—Evander. My chest lightened. Was Evander fighting? My heart sank as dread clawed at me. I knew his temper, how easily he could lose control. This could only end badly.

I sprinted past Evelyn, not waiting for more. The noise grew louder as I approached the yard. A large crowd had gathered, their cheers a chaotic roar. Piper appeared beside me as I pushed through the throng. “Aurora, what’s happening?” she asked, her tone laced with worry.

I hesitated, unsure how to answer. How could I tell her that Evander might be on the verge of killing Warrick? Without responding, I shoved through the wall of bodies, my urgency mounting.

“How dare you, scoundrel!” Evander’s furious voice boomed over the noise. A sickening thud followed as I finally reached the front. My stomach twisted at the sight before me—Evander’s fist colliding with Warrick’s face, sending blood spraying.

“Oh my god!” I gasped, horrified.

Warrick was on the ground, his face battered and bloodied. He looked like he could barely hold himself up. Evander, on the other hand, stood over him, fists clenched, his face cut and bloodied but still burning with rage. Evander raised his hand again, preparing to strike, but I lunged forward and grabbed his arm. His whole body vibrated with barely contained fury.

“Stop!” I shouted, my voice trembling.

Evander’s gaze snapped to mine, his wild eyes softening slightly. Warrick coughed weakly, blood dripping from his mouth. He looked utterly broken, while Evander seemed fueled by pure rage—and something deeper.

“How dare you treat her this way?” Evander spat, his voice trembling with emotion. “I gave you a chance with her—twice—and you still had the audacity to hurt her like this!”

I followed his gaze to Piper, who stood frozen a few feet away, her face pale. Her wide eyes flicked between Evander and Warrick, her lips trembling as if she couldn’t find the words.

“Ahhh!” Piper suddenly screamed, breaking the tension.

Evander turned to her, his expression softening as he stepped toward her. Blood stained his hands and shirt, and the sight of it made my stomach churn.

“Piper,” he said, his voice low but filled with conviction. “He doesn’t deserve you. Warrick is a liar and a cheat. He’ll never see your true worth. Let me show you what you deserve. Come with me.”

“How dare you!” Piper shrieked, her voice cutting through the air. She raised her hand and slapped him hard across the face.

The slap echoed like a crack of thunder, silencing the crowd. I flinched, instinctively closing my eyes.

When I opened them, Evander stood motionless, his jaw clenched as he rolled his lips inward. Slowly, he rubbed his cheek. “Piper…”

But Piper pushed past him, dropping to her knees beside Warrick. She cradled his head in her lap, her voice breaking as she cried, “Warrick, please… someone call the doctor!”

I snapped into action, addressing the crowd. “The fight is over! Everyone, back to your duties!” The spectators hesitated for a moment, then began to disperse. Evelyn approached me, and I turned to her. “Go get the doctor. Now!”

She nodded and ran off. Trajan entered the yard just as the commotion died down. His eyes widened at the sight of Evander’s bloodied fists and then shifted to Warrick, barely conscious on the ground.

“Vhat happened here?” he demanded, his tone sharp.

“He was in a fight,” I replied, frustration lacing my voice. “Where were you? You could’ve stopped this.”

“I was at the market, getting training equipment,” he said, guilt evident in his tone.

Without another word, he crouched down beside Warrick and helped Piper lift him. As Piper walked past Evander, he reached out and grabbed her arm.

“Piper, Warrick is cheating on you,” he said, his voice trembling with urgency.

Piper closed her eyes, inhaling deeply before responding. “That’s my problem, not yours.”

Evander’s grip tightened. “Your problem is my problem, Piper.”

“Why?” she snapped, her voice shaking.

“Because I love you,” Evander admitted, his voice cracking. “I always have. I stayed away because you loved Warrick, but I can’t stand by and watch him treat you like this.”

Piper glared at him, her eyes blazing. She opened her mouth to respond, but Evander cut her off, pulling out a stack of photographs.

“See for yourself,” he said, handing them to her.

Piper hesitated, then took the photos. Her hands trembled as she stared at them. I stepped closer, murmuring her name softly. Her lips quivered, tears streaming down her cheeks. Finally, she looked up at Evander, her expression unreadable.

“What do you have to say now?” he asked, his tone challenging.

Piper sniffled, then wiped her tears with her elbow. “Nothing else… other than what I’ve already said. This is my business, Evander. Stay out of it.”

Her voice was strong, but I could see the cracks in her armor. Evander’s gaze turned pleading. “Piper, please…”

She shook her head, chuckling bitterly. “And what? Do you think you deserve me?”

Raising the photographs, she tore them into pieces, letting the fragments fall to the ground.

“There,” she said coldly. “Whatever Warrick does, it’s my problem. For the record, I saw him kiss her that day in the woods. He apologized, and I forgave him.”

Her words left me speechless. As Piper stormed toward the pack doctor’s office, her shoulders stiff but her steps hurried, Evander crumbled. He fell to his knees, his head hanging low.

I walked over and placed a hand on his shoulder. “Piper rejected me, Aurora,” he whispered, his voice hollow. My heart ached for him as he clung to my legs like a broken man.

“You were wrong, Evander,” I said softly. “What you did today was very wrong.”

A voice cut through the tension. “He’s not the only one who’s wrong.”

I looked up to see Dane standing nearby, his eyes hard as they bore into Evander. The air grew heavy. What would happen now?