The Ivory Queen
Chapter 30

***Aurora’s POV***

Oliver carefully lays me on the bed without a word before making his way to the closet. When he returns, he’s shirtless and wearing only pajama bottoms. He tosses a t-shirt, pj bottoms and fluffy socks at me then heads to the bathroom. I change quickly and wait for his return. He comes back and I watch as he silently reaches for a pillow.

“Oliver? A-Are you mad at me?” I ask sheepishly.

He freezes, his muscles tightening beneath his skin. After a few painful seconds, he sighs and turns to look at me. “No baby, I’m not,” he replies calmly.

“Then why are you not talking to me?” I ask quietly. “Is it because I told you to stop in front of the pack?”

His face softens as he crawls onto the bed and pulls me into hug. My skin tingles under his touch.

“I’m not mad at you. I-I was just angry at the way everyone seems to misjudge you before getting to the know the real you,” he says. His voice trembles as he continues. “The same way I misjudged you when we first met.”

I understand now. He’s angry at himself.

“Oliver look at me,” I say taking his face in my hands. “You did hurt me. But ever since that night you’ve worked hard to redeem yourself. I’m not scared of you anymore, Oliver. Everyday I fall more and more in love with you. You’ve gone the extra mile to make me feel comfortable. You didn’t make me share your bed. You’ve given me space when I’ve asked for it. You protect me like no one else has in the past 5 years (even though sometimes you go a little overboard). You made me feel pretty for the first time in years. And you defend me against your family and your pack,” I sniffle. “You are not the same man who rejected me all those months ago.”

He pulls me into a passionate k!ss, leaving me breathless when he pulls away.

“I love you, Olivier,” I say quietly.

“I love you too, Aurora,” he replies.

I remain in his arms a little longer before skipping off into the bathroom to get ready for bed. When I return, Oliver is laying on the couch with his phone is his hand.

I watch him quietly. Earlier today when I woke up in his arms, I felt safer than I ever have before. Even though sleeping with his shirt on has helped significantly, it hasn’t stopped the nightmares from haunting me in my sleep. I still wake up screaming and only calm down when I feel Oliver’s hands hold mine. Sometimes I wake up with Oliver sleeping on the floor next to me, making sure I don’t have any more nightmares.

“Oliver?”

He looks at me with concern.

“W-will you sleep with me?”

A little smirk spreads across his face and I blush furiously after realizing what I just said.

“Th-that’s not w-what I meant. I-” I’m a stuttering mess and he laughs at me.

He gets off the couch and walks slowly towards me. His face turns serious. “Are you sure you want to share the bed with me?”

I’m beet red but nod in response. A cute smile spreads across his l!ps and he lifts me off the ground excitedly, carrying me to the bed. He puts me down gently and runs back to the couch to grab his laptop and phone, turning off the lights on his way back to the bed. He throws the phone on the night stand and opens his laptop. He puts on “the Breakfast Club” and places the laptop at the foot of the bed before crawling in. He sits with his back against the headboard, patting the space between his legs and opening his arms. I crawl towards him and sit with my back against his c..hest while he wraps his arms around me. I pull the covers over our legs and Rio jumps up and curls up by the laptop. I lean into his body, enjoying the rise and fall of his c..hest. Throughout the movie, Oliver plays with my hair and k!sses my neck or shoulder, making me feel warm and safe.

—

Rio’s cute we..t nose sniffing my hair wakes me up in the morning. Realizing I’m awake, Rio l!cks my face furiously, wanting to play. I giggle as he hops on top of me, making Oliver gr0an.

I try to get up but Oliver’s strong arm is tightly wrapped around my waist. I blush when I feel Oliver’s e..rection pressed up against my lower abdomen. I realize Oliver is laying flat on his back and I’m practically on top of him, nestled tightly between his legs. My left leg is bent at angle and raised over his right leg while my head and torso rest on his c..hest and stomach. I grab Oliver’s wrist and try to lift it off me but I hear him laugh as he wraps his other arm around me.

“Where do you think you’re going?” He chuckles into my hair, taking in my scent.

“N-Nowhere,” I stutter, turning redder by the second. “I-I-“

“You’re so cute when you’re nervous,” he says as he shifts his body so I’m no longer on top of him.

I curl up next to him, burying my face in the crook of his neck and tracing shapes on his c..hest. He wraps his left arm around my shoulders while Rio curls up in his right.

“I could stay like this for the rest of my life and be the happiest man ever,” he whispers to me.

I look up at him, my eyes settling on his perfect l!ps. I push myself forward, eager to taste him. My k!ss is sweet and gentle at first before it becomes fueled by passion. Our mouths move in sync and it isn’t long before his tongue brushes up against my lower l!p. I deny him access and he gr0ans in frustration. I pull away with a smile and sit up straight. Oliver looks at me with confusion.

“We have to get ready. We have a whole day ahead of us,” I say sheepishly, attempting to get off the bed.

Oliver rolls his eyes and tries to stop me from leaving but I easily evade his hands.

“Tease!” He calls out as I happily skip towards the bathroom and start to get ready for my day.

After I shower, I change into some high-waisted jeans, a long sleeved blouse and my converse. I start blow drying my hair on the couch as I wait for Oliver to finish his shower.

As I begin braiding my long straight hair into a messy updo, Oliver comes out dressed in black adidas sweats, a grey active hoodie and sneakers.

“Can I help you?” Oliver asks pointing at my hair.

I stare back at him like an i***t. “What?”

His cheeks turn rosy. “Can I braid your hair?” He asks timidly.

A smile creeps up on my face and I nod. He sits behind me on the couch and takes my hair in his hands. He undoes the braid I started and runs through my locks with his fingers before weaving my hair into a loose French braid. He leaves a few pieces out to frame my face and works carefully so as not to pull on my hair too hard. I almost fall asleep with how gentle he is. When he reaches the nape of my neck, he gathers all of my hair into a low side ponytail then goes back to pull the edges of the braid to loosen it a bit more. Feeling satisfied with the look, Oliver leans forward and k!sses the top of my head.

“Done!” He says proudly.

I get up excitedly and run to the bathroom to examine his work. I’m amazed at how well done the braid is!

“Where did you learn to do that?” I ask with genuine curiosity.

“Rosalie taught me when you were in the hospital. I-uh, I used to practice on her. I wanted to be ready for you when you woke up,” he says quietly. “Do you like it?”

My heart is on the verge of bursting with happiness. “I love it!” I say jumping on him and showering him with k!sses. “I can’t believe you did this for me.”

“I’ll do anything to make you happy,” he murmurs back.

I give him a quick k!ss on the l!ps and peel myself off him. “So what’s the plan for today?” I ask him.

“I have to go to the training grounds today with Carter and Evan after breakfast,” he sighs. “Wesley is also stopping by to help with training and to finalize our deal.”

My ears perk up at the mention of Wesley.

“Is Kehlani coming?”

I like Kehlani.

“Maaaybe,” he answers with a smile. “And I believe Ro has been begging me to let her take you out to the city.”

I’m excited. I love the boys but they can be a little overbearing and protective. I would love to spend the day with Rosalie and Kehlani.

As we make our way downstairs for breakfast, I’m stunned to see a few wolves waiting in the foyer. Some are carrying trays of food and pastries or little beautifully wrapped packages. I instinctively grab hold of Oliver’s hand as we walk down the steps.

“Oliver, what’s going on?” I ask in a low voice, feeling dread settle in my stomach.

An older woman steps forward to greet us at the bottom of the staircase.

“Marie, what’s going on?” asks Oliver, motioning towards the small group of wolves.

“Good morning Alpha, we’re so sorry to bother you so early but a few of us would like an audience with the young Luna,” she says quietly, her voice pleasant and kind.

Oliver and I exchange glances and we both look at her in confusion. Seeing our puzzled expressions, another, much younger wolf named Clyde, steps forward.

“You see, Alpha, we- we came to apologize to her. After the meeting last night and hearing how she’s saved so many lives, we realized we judged her too quickly. We let rumors get the best of us and it clouded our judgement,” he says sheepishly, turning his head towards me. “We are terribly sorry, Luna and we hope you find it in your heart to forgive us one day.”

I’m speechless. I stare at the group of pack members expecting cold gazes but am met with nothing but warm smiles. Tears tug at my eyes and I try my best to hold them back

“Aurora?,” Oliver shakes my hand, waking me from my daze. “It’s up to you whether or not you want to hear them out.”

Suddenly, a little girl, no more than three, wriggles away from her mother and rushes to hug my legs. She looks up at me with the biggest blue eyes I’ve ever seen.

“Luna! Luna! I made you a gift!” She says holding up a beaded bracelet with mismatched colorful beads. “Do you like it?”

“Taylor!” Her mother snaps at her, motioning for her to get back. She gives me an apologetic smile. “I’m so sorry, Luna.”

I bend down to pick up the little girl in my arms.

“It’s alright,” I respond. Turning to little Taylor, I point to the bracelet. “Can you put it on me?” I ask sweetly.

Taylor giggles and slips the bracelet over my wrist. I carry her back to her mother.

“Thank you, Taylor for this beautiful bracelet,” I smile. “I love it.”

Taylor gives me a toothy grin as I hand her over to her mother. I look back at the small crowd.

“W-would you like to join us for breakfast?” I ask timidly.

I brace myself for their rejection but much to my surprise, they eagerly accept. We all make our way to the dining room. Little Taylor asks to sit next to me and I happily oblige. As we eat, they tell me about themselves and what they do for a living. Taylor’s father, William, is a warrior at the borders and the same grey wolf who tried to keep me from going into Desert Sky territory when I ran away. Her mother, Emma, is a human and stay at home mother. Marie and her husband, Stewart, are elderly but Marie was once a preschool teacher while Stewart was a pack doctor. Clyde is a mechanic while his wife, Lucy, is a nurse. She was one of the many who helped take care of me while I lay comatose.

When the meal is finished, I am presented with food and gifts. I am very touched by their sentiments and am on the verge of tears as they once again apologize for their coldness. Oliver is extremely pleased with the turn of events and wouldn’t stop smiling as his pack showered me with kindness.

“I knew they would love you,” Oliver says once we’re alone as he lifts me into his arms.

I wrap my arms around his neck and legs around his wa!st.

“All they needed was to get to know you,” he says k!ssing my cheek.

I nod, deep in thought. Oliver watches me closely, tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear.

“A penny for your thoughts?” He murmurs into my ear, his breath tickling my neck.

I smile. “I’m thinking that I’m going to miss you while you’re at the training grounds,” I respond.

“Ugh you guys are gross,” Evan butts in with fake disgust as he and Carter walk in.

Carter smacks him over the side of the head and he gr0ans.

“Are you ready Oliver?” Carter asks.

Oliver sighs as he puts me down. He gives me a quick peck on the l!ps. “Kehlani will be here in about an hour and Rosalie is probably still sleeping. Until then please stay in the room or office. I don’t want a repeat of yesterday. If you need anything call Ro or an Omega for help. I’ll text you when Wesley gets here. Do you understand?”

I nod and he gives me another k!ss before it taking off with the boys. I sprint up the stairs and lock myself in the Oliver’s office.

I grab the black book from the shelf and take a seat at Oliver’s desk. As I’m reading, I feel a sudden pain in my lower abdomen, followed by a sting across my face.

Oh no, I’m feeling Oliver’s training…

I feel a burning sensation on my shoulder and try to massage my pain away.

Oh goddess, I’m going to feel his entire fight, aren’t I?

Another surge of pain radiates from my right calf making me scream.

Just breathe. Focus your energy on yourself. Close the connection, Reyna states calmly.

I’m panting from the growing pain in my leg.

I can’t.

Breathe.

I take several deep breathes as more pain erupts from different parts of my body. I concentrate on my energy, emptying all thoughts from my mind. Slowly, the pain fades away as a wall goes up, stopping my connection with Oliver. I sigh in relief as the pain completely subsides.

Better? Reyna asks.

Much better.

I take a few moments to gather myself and turn my attention back to the black book. I stare at the twin wolves and let my finger wander the page before stopping at the beautiful medallions hanging around their necks. My gaze is drawn to their beautiful eyes. I almost feel like I recognize them but I know that’s impossible. I’ve never seen a pure white wolf in my life, let alone one with heterochromatic eyes. I turn the pages to where I left off yesterday.

Given the immense power possessed by the Children of the Moon and of the Sun, it came as no surprise when many creatures tried to harness all of it. Not long after their creation, Witches, Vampires, and Demons hunted Silver and Gold wolves for their powers. Seeing her creations being slaughtered by the thousands, the Moon Goddess mated a silver and a gold wolf to create a hybrid: the Ivory twins. The Ivory twins are a set wolves who act as the protectors of the Silver and Gold wolves, sharing multiple abilities to fend off malicious creatures. Every 150 years, The Moon Goddess mates a silver and Gold wolf to conceive a pair of Ivory Twins to protect her creations.

I can feel Reyna’s growing excitement as I continue to read.

Each twin controls two of the four elements; the eldest controlling Earth and Fire while the youngest controls Water and Air. They also possess healing and telekinetic abilities, among other gifts.

Unlike other wolves, Ivory twins must have their first shift in the presence of each other. Failing to do so will result in death.

Overwhelmed with this information, I stop reading. I still not understand what the point of all this is. If I’m not a silver wolf nor a gold wolf, and there’s no plausible way I could be an Ivory twin, then what the hell am I?

You already know what we are… Reyna says cryptically, frustrating me even more.

No, Reyna, I really don’t and I’m getting sick and tired of these games, I snap. Just tell me what I am!

She sighs. We are one of the Ivory twins.

What?

We are one of the Ivory Twins, she says matter of factly.

My head feels like it’s about to explode. How is that even possible?

No, we can’t be. For one thing, my dad’s mate is not a gold wolf. Mom is very clearly a regular wolf. Two, I don’t have a twin. Salvador is 2 years older than I am and Mia is 1 year younger. And three, I can’t control the elements. I made vines appear once and that’s about it. I don’t know anything about Fire or telekinesis or any other gift. I’m just a healer. I’m sorry, Reyna, but you’re wrong.

Reyna laughs at my annoyance. You asked me what you were and I answered. Now it is up to you to figure out the rest. Think, Aurora. Is everything you think you know about yourself true?

What are you talking about? Of course it’s true!

Before she can respond, I hear at knock at the door. I quickly close the book and lock it before shoving it back in the shelf and pulling out a random healing book. I unlock the door and open it.

I almost scream when I see who it is.