Chapter 146: The Gala
Aurora’s POV
I didn’t give him a chance to protest again. I gripped the base of his shaft, my fingers contrasting sharply against the tan of his skin, and ran my tongue from the very bottom all the way to the tip. He let out a strangled groan, his hips jumping off the leather seat.
I was focused entirely on him, wanting to memorize the taste of his skin. I flicked my tongue over the sensitive underside, circling the head until he was trembling. I looked up at him, my eyes dark and hooded, and then I took him into my mouth.
The feeling was so good. I sucked him deep, my throat tightening around him as I used my tongue to swirl around the crown. Every time I pulled back to the tip, I made sure to use enough friction to make his breath catch in a sharp, satisfying hiss.
"Aurora... fuck," he gasped, his fingers digging into my scalp, not pulling me away but holding me there.
I increased the pace, my head moving in a steady, relentless rhythm. I could hear the wet, slick sounds of my mouth working on him, echoing in the quiet luxury of the limo. I reached down with my free hand, my fingers grazing his testicles, teasing him until he was growling my name.
I felt his muscles ripple and tense. He was reaching his limit, his breath coming in short, panicked bursts. I didn’t slow down; I moved faster, my suction becoming more intense, my tongue lashing against him.
"I’m going to... I’m going to cum, Aurora—stop—"
I didn’t stop. I looked him dead in the eye, showing him exactly who was controlling this moment, and sucked him even harder.
Oliver let out a low, guttural roar that vibrated through the entire car. His body went rigid, his back arching as he found his release. I stayed clamped onto him, my throat open, taking the hot, heavy pulses of his cum as they shot into the back of my mouth.
One. Two. Three.
It was thick and salty, the raw essence of him. I didn’t pull away until he was spent, his body slumped back against the headrest, gasping for air. I swallowed every drop, making a deliberate sound of it so he knew it was all gone.
I pulled back, a thin trail of saliva connecting us for a second before I wiped my lips with my thumb. My makeup was definitely smudged, and my hair was a mess, but as I looked at him—shaking and completely undone—I felt a dark sense of satisfaction.
Oliver stayed slumped against the seat for a long moment, his eyes closed, his breathing slowly returning to normal. When he finally looked at me, his gaze was so full of love and admiration that it made my heart ache. He reached down, his fingers trembling slightly as he cupped my cheek.
"God," he whispered, his voice a wrecked shadow of itself. "What have you done to me?"
I smirked.
"You’re going to be the death of me, Aurora," he added.
My heart sank. If only he knew that I was already killing him.
He helped me back up onto the seat, pulling me into the crook of his arm. He took a handkerchief from his pocket and gently dabbed at the corner of my mouth, his touch as reverent as if he were cleaning a sacred statue.
I leaned in and kissed him, tasting himself on my lips.
"I just wanted to remind you who you belong to," I whispered against his mouth.
He pulled me into his arms, holding me so tight it almost hurt. I closed my eyes, clinging to the smell of his expensive cologne and the warmth of his body. For a moment, the world was perfect. But as the limo slowed down, approaching the bright lights of the gala, the reality of my night started to rush back in.
The limo came to a smooth, quiet stop. Through the dark windows, the camera flashes were already going off like lightning, blinking rapidly through the night. The red carpet was rolled out, a path of deep red leading into the grand hall.
"Ready?" Oliver asked. He had pulled himself together very fast, his Alpha mask sliding back into place. Aside from the slight redness in his cheeks and the darker look in his eyes, he looked every bit the powerful King.
"Ready," I lied.
The door opened, and the noise hit me first—the shouting of reporters, the clicking of cameras, and the low roar of the city. Oliver stepped out first, tall and commanding in his white suit, and reached back for my hand. As I stepped out, the cool night air moved up the silk of my dress, the soft rub of the fabric against my bare skin reminding me sharply of Raymond’s command.
We walked the carpet in a blur. Oliver’s hand was firm on the small of my back, right above the hidden bruises, his touch warm and possessive, keeping me steady. I smiled for the cameras, my lips still tingling from the taste of him, my head held high while my soul felt like it was dragging through glass.
Inside, the hall was filled with gold, shining jewellery, expensive clothes, and watchful eyes. The council members—the high-ranking wolves and elders—watched us closely. This unification treaty was Oliver’s life’s work, and tonight was his win.
"Stay close to me," he murmured into my ear, his breath still warm.
I played my part. I sipped sparkling water, I nodded at the right times, and I let the wives of the elders admire my dress. But every time a phone buzzed, I jumped. Every time a man in a dark suit with a cold look walked by, my heart stopped, searching for a face I didn’t even know.
By 9:00 PM, the weight of my double life was too much. Suddenly I noticed the vibration of my mobile phone in my purse, and my heart rate spiked.
I looked at Oliver. He stood in the middle of a group of diplomats, having a political discussion. He caught my eye and winked, a small, loving gesture that almost made me break right there on the ballroom floor.
But I couldn’t stay. I have to see what Raymond has sent.
"Oliver," I whispered, stepping closer. "I... I need to go to the powder room. The champagne is hitting me a little."
He frowned slightly, his thumb brushing my wrist. "Are you alright? You look a little pale."
"I’m fine, just... a moment to breathe," I said, forcing a smile.
"Hurry back. The ceremony starts in twenty minutes. I want you by my side when they call my name."
I nodded and turned away, my heart heavy. I didn’t go to the powder room. I slipped through the golden doors and hurried down a side hallway, my heels clicking on the marble floor. I found a service exit and stepped into the cool, dark alley behind the building.
I pulled out my phone. My hands were shaking so badly I almost dropped it.
Raymond: If you don’t make it tonight... consider our deal off... don’t come to me ever again.
I swallowed hard... this was for the best... if I don’t go, then Raymond and I will be over. This was what I wanted, but if we are over, that means I will never get my revenge on him...
No!
Aurora: I’m coming. Don’t leave.
I didn’t wait for a reply. I shoved the phone into my clutch and ran toward the end of the alley.
I hit the main street just as a yellow cab slowed for a red light. I didn’t wait for it to stop; I yanked the door open and threw myself into the backseat, the expensive silk of my dress snagging slightly on the door frame.
"Drive," I choked out, my voice trembling. "Just go."