The Ivory Queen
Chapter 16

***Aurora’s POV***

Oliver lays in bed, bloody bandages covering a gash slicing through his chest and a huge bite wound on his shoulder and back. He is writhing in pain as Meghan works on his abdomen

“f**k!” he cries out when Meghan pulls out a small silver bullet from his wound. His heart rate accelerates causing the heart monitor beside him to beep like crazy. “It burns! Everything f*****g burns!”

B***d oozes from the exposed wound and Meghan presses down on it with gauze. Oliver cries out again. A small whimper escapes from my mouth and both Meghan and Oliver snap their necks towards Evan and I.

“Evan, get her out of here!” Meghan shouts.

No, we can help! My wolf snaps.

Evan attempts to pull me away but I push against him and storm into the room.

“Aurora, please sweetie! I need to work on Oliver’s-“

“I can help,” I interrupt.

“N-No, Aurora,” Oliver pants. “Ple-Please just go with-with Evan.” Another surge of pain flows through him and he g****s.

“No, I won’t leave you!” I plead. I grab a chair and place it by his side. There are tears in my eyes as I grab onto his hand. “I’m not going anywhere.” Oliver g****s and I turn to Meghan. “Why isn’t he healing?”

Meghan, who’s been keeping pressure on his bullet wound, speaks softly. “I think this bullet was dipped in wolf’s bane, which means it’s probably coursing through his veins and interfering with the healing process. Hand me some more gauze,” she says as the one she’s pressing down on becomes saturated with b***d. “He’s lost a lot of b***d. s**t!”

I hand her several bandages and gauze.

“I’ll go get more nurses!” Evan says before rushing out.

You can heal him, says Reyna

I can? How?

Place your hands on him and concentrate your energy on him. I’ll take care of the rest.

I hold his face in my hands. He’s covered in sweat and his body is trembling.

He’s so pale.

Focus Aurora! Reyna snaps.

I close my eyes and concentrate on Oliver’s injuries. Suddenly a warm surge of electricity flows through me and into Oliver. He feels it too and gasps a little. The bleeding in his gunshot wound slows down significantly and the hole itself begins to close. His labored breathing relaxes and his heart rate begins to normalize. A small sigh escapes his lips. Meghan is wide-eyed as the gunshot wound disappears beneath her fingers, leaving nothing but a small scar. She removes the gauze on all his other wounds and reveals perfectly even skin. His injuries are gone!

I let out a small m**n as I feel my body get heavy. I’m exhausted but I focus my attention on Oliver and Meghan who are staring at me with shock in their eyes.

“You’re a healer!” Meghan gasps.

Oliver sits up and pulls me into his arms. I let his warmth envelope me and I bury my face into his bare chest. The sparks between us renew my energy and I can’t help but giggle with joy.

Evan bursts through the door with two nurses carrying b***d bags and medical supplies. They are stunned to see Oliver holding me in his arms with no sign of injuries.

“What happened?” Evan blurts out.

“My baby healed me,” Oliver murmurs in my ear. I blush and avoid Oliver’s eyes.

“Our Luna is a healer,” Meghan replies with a smile.

“No way!” Evan laughs. “You got your father’s gift! He’d be so proud of you!” He shouts. “A healer! Our Luna is a healer!”

Meghan and Oliver laugh at his outburst, but I smile at the memory of my father.

Soy como tu, papa! I’m a silver wolf just like you!

Hot tears run down my tears and I smile.

Not exactly… says Reyna

What do you mean?

I furrow my brows in confusion but my thoughts are disrupted by Oliver’s voice.

“What’s wrong?” he asks and gently squeezes me.

“Nothing,” I lie, wiping my eyes. “I’m just so happy! My dad was a healer and I now that I have his gift, I-I’ve never felt closer to him. It’s-It’s like he’s still with me,” my voice breaks. I hold Oliver tighter as waves of emotion wash over me.

“Luna, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to-“

“No, don’t be!” I smile through my tears. “I’ve never been so happy!”

Oliver places a k**s on my forehead and turns to Meghan. “Well, now that I’m clearly better, am I free to leave, Doc?”

“Yes, Alpha. I only ask that you rest for the remainder of the day. You may be healed, but I’m sure your body is overwhelmed from the attack and the healing. I’m going to go check on my other patients,” she says getting up and leaving the room with the two nurses.

I hop off the bed and face the wall as Oliver gets dressed. When he’s finished, he places a hand on the small of my back and leads me out of the room.

We drive down to the pack house and find several wolves hard at work cleaning up the remnants of the attack. As we walk inside the house, dread settles in the pit of my stomach. Salvador and several Lluvia Blanca members are gathered in the entertainment room with Carter and Rosalie. Oliver drapes his arm across my shoulders, pulling me close and placing a k**s on my head as we join the gathering. I lower my head and stare at my feet as I feel their hatred emanate from their eyes. Oliver notices and growls at them, asserting his dominance over them and they immediately lower their heads. Tears well up in my eyes but I blink them away.

“Thank you all for your presence during this unexpected attack. Please join us for lunch as a token of our appreciation,” Carter says.

“No, thank you. We’ve lost our appetite,” Chava says through gritted teeth, his eyes boring holes in my head.

“Then leave!” Oliver growls. He trembles with rage and his breathing begins to accelerate. The deep blue of his eyes turns silver. His anger seems to consume the room and the Lluvia Blanca wolves, with the exception of my brother, all take a step back.

Oh no! He’s on the verge of shifting!

I step in front of him and gently place my hands on his face, forcing him to look at me.

“Come back to me,” I whisper, pulling his face down towards me and resting his forehead on mine.

He relaxes under my touch and takes several deep breathes. The storm in his eyes settles before slowly returning to their deep blue, almost violet color. I feel his arms go around my waist and he pulls me into him. I bury my face in his chest and hear his voice echo in the room.

“The door is to your right,” he snaps at the wolves.

I hear the sound of footsteps storm out of the room before the door slams shut. I flinch and Oliver gives me a tight squeeze.

“Well what about me, Oli? I believe you owe me lunch.”

Now it’s my turn to get angry. I free myself from Oliver’s arms and turn to face a smiling Adeline. She’s ditched the grey pantsuit for a pair of high waisted cream colored slacks and a pretty white blouse with a plunging neck line.

Damn it, she looks amazing.

With my confidence flying out the window, I once again can’t meet her eyes. I settle my gaze on her shoes.

“What-What are you doing here?” I manage to mumble.

“Why, I was helping of course. Couldn’t leave my business partner and allies hanging, now could I?” she replies, the smile on her face never fading. “So, lunch?”

She turns to leave when Oliver’s voice stops her.

“I don’t think so,” Oliver says coldly. “I’d like to enjoy lunch alone with my Mate,” he says, adding emphasis on the word mate.

“Oh I see, well in that case, I better get going,” she adds coyly.

“No, please stay,” I say, forcing a smile.

“Aurora, no!” Oliver retorts.

“No, really it’s okay!” I turn to Oliver. “I’m not that hungry. You two should have Lunch.”

He gives me a confused look, which I ignore and I glance at Adeline watching us.

“Well then I guess it’s settled,” Adeline says playfully as she turns and walks out of the room.

“Aurora, what are you doing?” Oliver says when Adeline is out of earshot.

“I’m trusting you,” I say pulling him closer to me. “But don’t think I didn’t catch her calling you ‘Oli’. I told you I don’t want her calling you that.”

He smiles at my jealousy. “Don’t worry, it ends tonight,” he whispers in my ear. He tries giving me a k**s on the lips, but I evade it and his lips land on my cheek.

“No k**s,” I warn, “until it ends.”

I give him a look that says I mean business and he nods. I turn to leave but before I can, he grabs my wrist and pulls me back for a k**s. I’m prepared, however, and manage to jam my knee between his thighs. I step back as he g****s, cupping his balls, and falls to his knees. Carter, Rosalie and Evan burst into a fit of laughter.

“Serves you right,” I smirk. “Enjoy your lunch.”

“That’s my girl!” Rosalie squeals.

I hear Evan and Carter mock Oliver as I walk out of the entertainment room and I can’t help but smile. I send Evan a quick text and wait for him at the fountain.

***Oliver’s POV***

I’m still clutching my balls when I finally manage to get on my feet. Evan and Carter are practically on the floor, roaring with laughter.

“Shut up!” I g***n and this sends them into another fit of laughter.

“You better follow her instructions if you have any chance of having kids in the future,” Carter cries between laughing fits.

I glare at him and leave the room, both of them still laughing at me.

In the dining room, Adeline is on her phone, typing furiously. She puts her phone away when she hears me approach.

“Bonjour mon cher,” she says sweetly. “Glad you could finally join me for a meal.”

I don’t respond and take my seat. We remain silent as two omegas enter and serve us our food. When they leave Adeline’s voice pierces my ears.

“Not in a talkative mood, I see. No worries, I have plenty to talk about,” she continues as she begins to eat her food.

“Like what?” I snort.

“Like your parents or the pack, for example,” she says, an evil smile hanging on her lips. “It seems few share your enthusiasm for your, uh, Luna.”

“What my family thinks of my Luna is of no concern to me,” I snap.

“But what about your pack? You can’t possibly think to lead these people if they can’t stand the sight of-“

“Aurora is my mate and there’s nothing you or anyone else can do about it!” I shout slamming my fist on the table.

“I get that Oliver, I really do,” she says taking another bite.

“Do you? Do you really?” I retort. “I thought I made it clear that you are never to call me ‘Oli’ again and yet you blatantly disrespect my Luna’s wishes in front of her!”

“Oh so now your Luna gets to decide what your other people call you? Like it or not we have -“

“We have nothing!” I roar. I’m getting tired of reminding her that our relationship is over.

“We had everything, Oliver! We would have been great together and led this pack into glory! Don’t you see? We would have been invincible!” she’s shouts with frustration. “Think about it! You and I have spent years training to lead our packs. We are-.”

“We are not mates!”

“Oh, please! I know you better than she ever will!” she snaps.

“I don’t love you! Don’t you get it? You mean nothing to me!” There is hurt in her eyes but I continue to speak my truths, happy to finally put her in her place. “I only want her! She is more precious to me than you’ll ever know and I know she will be a great Luna.”

She scoffs at this which only serves infuriates me. “Do you honestly think that little mate of yours can help you lead this pack? She can’t even look me in the eyes when she speaks to me, or anyone else for that matter. She’s a pathetic excuse for a-“

I can’t take it anymore. I jump from my seat and yank Adeline out of her chair. I slam her into a nearby wall, wrapping my fingers into her neck. I feel her struggle against my grip and she starts gasping for air.

“If you ever disrespect Aurora again,” I hiss, “I will not hesitate to end all ties with Lune de Minuit. Do you understand? I will kill you!”

I let her fall to the ground and she coughs. I watch as she gets to her feet and massages her neck.

“Boy, do love to protect her,” she coughs. “But does she respect you?”

I give her a confused look. What the f**k is she getting at?

“While you are here reprimanding me for disrespecting your Luna, Aurora has already disrespected you.”

“What the hell are you talking about?” I growl.

“I’m talking about Evan and Aurora,” she snickers. “Haven’t you wondered why they seem so comfortable together?”

“Evan is her gamma. Of course she trusts him!” I feel my rage burn inside me again.

I might actually kill this b***h!

“Oh? But I hear their relationship goes beyond that of a gamma and Luna. Tell me, Oli, who does she run to for comfort? You or Evan?” she sneers.

I hesitate to respond and she laughs.

“Who is she afraid of? You or Evan?”

I swallow hard but don’t respond.

“Has she even said she loves you?” she taunts. “In fact, has she even accepted you as her mate?”

Again, I’m silent and she takes the opportunity to give me the final blow.

“Poor Oli, so worried about his little mate, meanwhile, she’s after her gamma,” she mocks. “They kissed this morning,” she adds. “But I mean, who knows what else they’ve done together.”

I rush at her again but this time she’s ready and manages to dodge my attack. I crash into the wall and fall to the ground. She pulls her phone out and kneels before me.

“I’m not a liar,” she says quietly, handing me her phone. “I’m just looking out for you, Oli.”

I take it and my b***d begins to boil when I see the picture.