Chapter 13
· Aubrey ·
“I can’t take one of these. What if I...” Soren starts the car and shuts the door. “Do you have one that is less… expensive? What about an old beater car or something?”
Soren arches a brow at me. “A what?”
“Something more durable?”
Soren chuckles softly. “Your driving can’t be that bad.
Besides, I have insurance.” I roll my eyes, but he continues.
“You’re not taking whatever heap of junk is parked in your grandmother’s barn.
Besides, these all have AirTags in them, so I can track where you are.
” The thought of being tracked makes me uncomfortable, a sense of being watched that prickles at the back of my mind.
I understand Soren’s concern, and a part of me is reassured by the idea that someone will know where I am in case anything goes wrong, but it also has me worried that Soren is losing trust in me.
Reluctantly, I nod. “Thank you, Soren. I’ll take good care of it, I promise.” He gives me a reassuring nod, and I put the car in gear, pulling out of the huge garage, swallowing my nerves.
As I pull away from the castle, the sleek Audi glides effortlessly down the driveway, the powerful engine purring beneath me.
The road ahead stretches out into the night, illuminated by the car’s headlights.
Each mile takes me farther from the life I’ve started to build, but the urgency of seeing my father propels me forward.
Hours pass as I drive, the landscape shifting from the lush greenery of Soren’s territory to the bright city lights and then to the more rugged terrain of my childhood.
The familiar roads bring a flood of memories—happy, carefree days intertwined with the painful past I thought I had left behind.
I grip the steering wheel tighter, the thought of returning to my old life weighing heavily on my mind.
As I approach Blackwood Pack territory, the entrance feels surreal.
The once-vibrant banners that hung proudly now look tattered, reflecting the strife that has plagued my family.
My heart races as I navigate the winding roads, leading me to the packhouse—a place filled with echoes of laughter and love now overshadowed by the weight of my family’s fractured bonds.
My childhood home stands dark and silent against the night sky as I slow to pass it.
The packhouse, once bustling with life, is eerily quiet.
Shadows flit across the windows, and I’m hit by an overwhelming sense of nostalgia mixed with dread.
I never thought I would come back here, not after everything that happened.
Finally reaching the hospital, I park where I notice my mother’s car, but before I step out, I pull my phone from my pocket and quickly type a message to Soren, my fingers trembling as I hit send.
Just arrived at the hospital. I’ll call you later.
I take a deep breath, trying to steady my racing heart before exiting the vehicle. I lock the car before making my way toward the hospital entrance. The familiar scents of the surrounding woods are both comforting and haunting.
Inside, the hospital is dimly lit, with fluorescent lights buzzing overhead. I stride down the sterile corridors, the walls closing in on me.
Finally, I arrive in the room. I push the door open and step inside, the reality of the situation hitting me like a tidal wave.
Inside, my father lies motionless, surrounded by machines beeping rhythmically.
I fight back tears as I take a seat beside him, holding his hand in mine.
He was once a towering figure in stature and presence, whose stern demeanor commanded respect and instilled a sense of awe.
Seeing him now, frail and vulnerable, fills me with sorrow and disbelief.
Despite the fear he sometimes inspired, my heart aches for him. My mother arrives moments later, her eyes red-rimmed and weary. The vibrant energy she used to carry has faded, replaced by a weariness that makes her seem unrecognizable.
“Aubrey!” She rushes to my side, pulling me into a tight embrace.
“I’m so glad you’re here. I’ve been trying to reach you for months!
” She holds me at arm’s length, looking me over from head to toe.
“I can’t believe you’ve finally returned,” she sobs, clutching me again, and I awkwardly pat her back.
I pull back, confusion swirling in my mind. “What happened?” My voice trembles as I search her face for answers.
She takes a deep breath, her expression heavy.
“Rhett came looking for you at home. He—he attacked your father and was ranting about us keeping you from him; ever since he has been a thorn in our side. He keeps reporting your father’s shipments; this last one must have sent him over the edge because he was fine yesterday morning.
Then I got a call saying he had a heart attack. ”
My stomach drops. “What do you mean? I thought you told Rhett where I was?”
She looks at me confused. “We refused to tell him where you were. But he didn’t take no for an answer.
He threatened your father, he said he’d finish him off unless we told him where to find you.
I didn’t, then he learned of your grandmother, I tried to call to warn her he was on his way, but her phone was disconnected.
Then yesterday, your father’s export license was taken, and he had a heart attack. ”
Guilt hits me like a bullet. “It’s my fault he’s in here.”
“No,” my mother insists, her eyes fierce. “You had to protect yourself. I knew you’d be safe with your grandmother.”
I take a deep breath, steeling myself to share the news I’ve been dreading. “Grandma is gone, Mom,” I say, my voice barely above a whisper.
Her face paling as her hands go to her mouth.
Her face crumbles and tears spill down her cheeks. “No… no, not your grandmother…” She collapses into a chair, grief washing over her like a shadow.
“I’m so sorry, Mom. I—”
“Stop,” she interrupts, wiping her tears. “We’ll mourn later. Right now, we need to focus on your father.”
I nod, feeling the weight of the world on my shoulders and I squeeze my father’s hand tighter, wishing for a miracle.
“What are the doctors saying?” I ask her and she swallows thickly looking at my father.
“The doctors decided to put him in an induced coma. His heart was under too much stress, and they needed to give it time to heal. By keeping him in a coma, they can control his body functions and reduce any further damage while they stabilize his condition.”
After a few moments, my mother stands. “I’m going to get us some coffee. I’ll be right back.” She walks out of the room, leaving me alone with the steady beeping of the machines.
My phone buzzes in my pocket, and I pull it out to find Soren’s name on the screen. I answer quickly, needing to hear his voice. “Bree?” he says, concern lacing his tone.
“My dad is in an induced coma,” I reply, trying to keep my voice steady.
“What hospital?” he asks, urgency creeping into his voice.
“Blackwood Hospital.”
“I will head there straight after my meeting tomorrow,”
I sigh. “No, I’ll be back in a few days. Then we need to talk, Soren. I have to tell you something.”
“Okay,” he replies, his voice calming me even amidst the chaos.
As I hang up, I focus on my father, hoping for a sign of life, a sign that he’ll pull through.
· · ·
I’m sitting on the edge of the couch, the flickering light of the television casting shadows in the dim room. The living room is filled with familiar yet distant memories, the worn-out floral wallpaper and creaky wooden floors like stepping back in time.
Being back here after so long feels surreal, like stepping into a forgotten chapter of my life, where everything seems untouched yet strangely unfamiliar.
I feel like a stranger in their own childhood home, a place that once held warmth and comfort now feels foreign and distant, as if it belongs to someone else’s past, not my own.
For so long, I craved coming home, and now it’s like it was never my home, to begin with.
I don’t belong here; this is no longer home; home wasn’t with Rhett either.
My mother sets down a plate on my lap. “Thank you,” I tell her as she falls onto the couch beside me and flicks on the news.
“The Doctor should call soon with news of your father,” she tells me, and I nod, picking up my fork.
I eat the dinner she made me. It used to be one of my favorite dishes, but now it tastes bland.
Isn’t it strange how something can lose its taste when the memory of it changes or becomes tainted?
In the background, the news anchor’s voice drones on, a constant hum in the background, until suddenly, my heart drops when I hear King Soren’s name mentioned.
“Did they just say Aubrey of Blackwood Pack?” I whisper, turning to my mother, my fork frozen mid-air. She frowns, glancing at the television.
“It can’t be,” she mutters, as the news anchor continues, “King Soren is not only engaged to Aubrey Jefferson but she is believed to be the fated mate of Rhett Miles.” My pulse quickens.
“This can’t be happening,” I breathe, feeling a wave of dizziness wash over me.
My mother places a reassuring hand on my arm, her expression mirroring my shock.
My face appears on the screen, framed by bold letters that scream my real name.
“—suspected in the robbery of Alpha Rhett Miles pack, authorities are searching for this woman, who is also believed to be involved in a violent altercation—”
Footage rolls, showing chaotic scenes from the day I left Rhett.
I see myself, wild-eyed and desperate, caught in a moment that feels like a lifetime ago.
They’ve painted me as a madwoman, a criminal who attacked and robbed the very people who had once been my family.
My stomach twists, and I feel bile rise in my throat.
The camera zooms in on the news anchor, her expression grave and serious. The screen behind her is filled with dramatic images of the altercation in the elevator.
My heart races as I watch, dread pooling in my stomach. The anchorwoman continues, her voice steady but filled with urgency.
“Sources confirm that Aubrey has been living under the false identity of her deceased sister, Brielle. This deception raises serious questions about her intentions and her true background.”
“We are left to assume that she has not only betrayed her own mate but has also been a catalyst for the conflict between Alpha Rhett and Alpha Joseph, two packs on the brink of war. This unfolding situation has left many wondering how this woman could be a potential future queen.”
Images of my father in a hospital bed flash across the screen, tubes connected to him as the anchor’s voice grows somber. “Wait, how did they get those photos!” my mother exclaims angrily.
“Adding to the urgency of the situation is the health of Aubrey’s father, who is currently in critical condition following a heart attack attributed to the stress surrounding his daughter’s actions. It has been suggested that the family has been torn apart by these events.”
The report continues, showcasing footage of me saving Max from being hit by a car.
“Now we are left wondering if everything was a lie. While some may see her as a protector, others question her motives and if this was her plan all along. Is she truly innocent in this, or is she merely playing a role to gain favor within the royal family?”
I glance at my mother who stares at the screen horrified.
“Many are now questioning if King Soren is aware and how he can consider her a suitable fiancée when she has deceived him and her own family?”
As the report fades and the anchor’s serious expression lingers, I feel the weight of the world crash down on me.
My life is now a public spectacle, painted as a criminal hiding behind a royal title.
They even made out that saving Max was a setup to get closer to the King via his son; my nanny title certainly didn’t help that rumor.
I sit in stunned silence, realizing the truth of my identity is no longer mine to control.
I’ve been unmasked; with it, every fear and doubt rushes to the forefront.
I can only imagine what Soren must think—his fiancée exposed as a liar and a criminal. I feel my heart sink deeper, panic creeping in as I try to process what this means for my future, for the life I thought I could have with him.
“Aubrey?” my mother whispers, and I turn my head to look at the woman who birthed me. “I heard the rumors of you being engaged to the King but thought they were rumors, especially when they kept referring to you as Brielle,” she murmurs, her eyes turning glassy.
“I’m sorry, I... panicked.” My mother shakes her head, “I think we are all sorry. This isn’t just your fault; you should have just come home,” she adds.
She rises to her feet and clutches her hair.
She paces the living room, her dinner long forgotten.
“Aubrey, you lied to a king,” she murmurs like that alone is enough to order my death sentence.
I hang my head in shame, knowing I have done wrong.
She steps closer to me and places her hand on my shoulder.
“He loves you right?” she asks and I blink up at her. “The King?”
“Momma, I don’t think that will be enough, not after this.”
“It will be enough. It has to be. He’ll understand, you just need to explain your side. This can be turned around.”
“It’s not that simple,” I say, my voice trembling.
“This is a matter of public scandal now, and the council will pressure him to make an example out of me. They won’t let this go unpunished.
” My mother sighs heavily, her optimism fading as she realizes the gravity of the situation.
She falls back into her chair, her face etched with worry, understanding that I’ve dug a hole too deep to climb out of on my own.
“If that is the case, then you can’t stay here. They’ll come for you. He will come for you. You need to…”
“I’m not running, not from Soren. I’m done running.” My mother nods slowly, and I can see her fear for me on her face as tears brim in her eyes.
“Then what are you going to do?”
“The right thing; I will let him go and hope he doesn’t punish you or Dad for it when he comes for me.”