Bride of the Cursed Alpha - Chapter 13: Chapter 13

Auren POV
I groaned, holding my head when I woke up. This was such a nightmare. I’ve never had wine in my life and yesterday I had three glasses. Tossing my blanket away, I got down but noticed a glass of orange juice and two pills on the side. There was a note on the side.
“Have these pills with the juice. This is for your headache.”
Surprised as to who had put them here, I darted my gaze to the door, but it was bolted. My heart pounded in my chest because it meant that this room has a secret door of which I wasn't aware of. There was a soft knock on the door, breaking my reverie. I covered the gap to the door with shaky legs and opened the door only to see Vivi standing there.
She bowed to me with a smile. “Lady Auren,” she said. “You are requested to come down in an hour. The Alpha of the bear shifters, Magnus Blackwood, will be coming to meet Alpha Lucien.” When I just blinked at her, confusion still swirling in my mind, she added, “I’ve come to help you to get ready.”
“Vivi,” I said. “Who has put that juice and pills on my bedside table?” I pointed with my thumb over my shoulder at the bedside table.
Vivi peeped in behind me and shrugged. She entered the room and said, “I don’t know…”
Not wanting to raise an alarm over a small issue, I closed the door, dismissing it. But I promised myself that I would find the secret passage if any that came to my room. I picked up the pills and downed them with juice.
An hour later I was in the main hall where Alpha Lucien was already there, waiting for me as he tapped his foot restlessly. As soon as he saw me, he averted his gaze, picked up a book and started reading it. My brows furrowed as I watched him doing so. So I walked up to him. He stiffened. “What?” he asked, irritation apparent on his face.
I pointed at the book. “It’s upside down,” I said and turned it for him to read it properly.
He clenched his teeth as his nose turned red. Did he blush?
Just when I was about to sit, the front door swung open, and I saw Tarian entering and behind him the largest man I had ever seen. He was taller than Lucien, with broad shoulders that filled the doorway. His dark hair fell neatly around his rugged face, and his hazel eyes sparkled with warmth as he stepped into the room. He was dressed in a crisp white shirt that hugged his muscular frame, paired with brown trousers that made him look both intimidating and approachable.
Magnus Blackwood. The Alpha of the bear shifters. Though there were several bear shifters on the stage last night, but I didn’t remember seeing him.
I couldn’t help but stare. He seemed like a bear in human form—strong, steady, and calm.
“Alpha Lucien,” the man said, his voice a deep rumble as he approached Lucien, extending his hand for a handshake.
Lucien, who stood beside me, gave a curt nod. “Magnus,” he said, his tone flat and unwelcoming.
Alpha Lucien took his hand and after they shook, Magnus said, “Thank you for your generosity. I came to express my gratitude in person.”
Lucien replied in a flat tone again, “It wasn’t necessary to come all this way.”
He chuckled. “You are too generous, Alpha Lucien. You have donated us one million dollars and yet you say like this is nothing.”
“Please sit,” Lucien said waving to the sofa opposite to him.
Magnus’s gaze landed on me and he bowed slightly with a smile before taking a seat. Tarian sat next to him.
As Magnus and Lucien began speaking, I found my eyes drifting back to Magnus. He carried himself with such ease, unlike Lucien’s ever-present tension. I wasn’t sure how long I was staring until Lucien’s voice broke through my thoughts.
“Auren,” he said sharply.
I jumped, my cheeks heating. “Y-Yes?”
“This is Alpha Magnus Blackwood,” Lucien said, his voice laced with irritation.
Magnus turned to me with a kind smile. “And you must be Auren. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“Hi,” I squeaked, feeling small under his gaze. “You’re… really tall.”
Magnus chuckled. “Well, I am a bear shifter. It comes with the territory.”
I smiled back, feeling more at ease. “That makes sense. You look really strong too.”
Lucien cleared his throat loudly, his jaw tightening. “Magnus, let’s get to the point.”
The two Alphas began discussing the donation Lucien had made to the bear shifters. I listened quietly at first, but my attention kept drifting to what they were talking about. Magnus had an easy charm about him, and his laugh filled the room.
Magnus said, “I am thinking that a part of your donation should go into making a small airport for the shifters.”
“Good idea,” said Lucien. “But for that you would need more funds.”
“I know,” Magnus sighed. “But this is my dream. Airports for shifters is a one in a million idea. I know how difficult it is for the shifters to commute to the human towns if necessary. We have to travel a long distance by road, or we have to shift and run for hours.”
“In my opinion you should make small, modern inns for the shifters,” I chirped in.
Magnus turned back to me, his hazel eyes warm. “That’s a nice idea.” Then he gazed at me for a second longer, and added, “Lucien didn’t mention how lovely his mate is.”
My cheeks burned. “Oh, um, thank you,” I stammered.
Lucien shifted closer to me, his hand suddenly on my lower back. “Auren,” he said, his tone strict, “Why don’t you let us finish our conversation?”
I blinked up at him, his touch branding my back. Tingles ran down my body. “Am I interrupting?” I asked him.
But Magnus chuckled and answered. “Not at all. It’s refreshing to have someone so kind in the room with fresh, innovative ideas.”
Lucien’s grip on my back tightened ever so slightly. “I think we are done here. We’ll talk later,” he said to Magnus, his words clipped.
Magnus’s head jerked back in pure surprise as Tarian froze.