I Rejected My Obsessive Werebeast novel Chapter 23

Chapter 23

Aurora’s POV

By the time I woke up the next morning, Silas was already fully dressed Black shirt, sleeves rolled to the elbow, the kind of casual that still made my stomach do something stupid. He was pulling on his jacket near the doorway when he noticed I was awake.

He walked over, leaned down, and kissed my forehead.

“I have to report to the track,” he said. “I’ll be back late. I’ll cook when I get home.”

I pulled the blanket up around my chin and watched him. He turned to leave, tie already knotted around his collar, and something about the slightly crooked angle of it bothered me.

“Wait.

I threw the blanket off, crossed the room in two steps, grabbed his tie, and pulled him back down.

“Your tie is wrong,” I muttered, undoing the knot and starting over. My fingers worked the fabric carefully, straightening, tightening. He stood perfectly still, letting me fuss over him like he’d done this a thousand times.

When I was done, I patted his chest flat and stood on my toes to press a quick kiss to his jaw.

“Go. Don’t crash into any more walls.”

He laughed, low and warm, and slipped out the door.

stood in the doorway and watched his car disappear down the street. Then I looked down at the pale blue ring on my finger, caught the morning light hitting the stone, and smiled like an idiot.

My phone rang before I’d even finished making coffee.

Matching Center.

“Miss Collins, this is a formal notification regarding the case you filed against Phoebe Collins. The management authority has officially opened an investigation. Enforcement officers conducted an inquiry at the Collins residence this morning.”

“As the victim, we need to confirm. do you wish to proceed with formal legal action?”

“Yes,” I said. No hesitation. No wobble in my voice. “Handle it according to the law.”

“Understood. You’ll receive further updates as the case progresses.”

I hung up and set the phone on the counter.

It rang again three minutes later.

Mom.

I stared at the screen for a long second. Then I answered.

“Aurora, what the hell are you doing?” Her voice was sharp enough to cut glass. “Are you really going to press charges against your own sister?”

“She made her choice,” I said, calm. “Now she deals with the

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consequences.”

She’s your twin—”

“I know.”

“Aurora, listen to me

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“No.” I hung up. Then I went into settings, tapped on her contact, and hit Mute Notifications.

Since I had the day off, I decided to do something I hadn’t done since.

I decided to cook for once.

Silas had been feeding me for days, and not just because I was recovering, because it was just what he did. It was my turn.

I grabbed a reusable bag and headed out.

The supermarket was half–empty this time of day. Fluorescent lights, the squeak of cart wheels, a kid throwing a tantrum in the cereal aisle. Normal

I was in the produce section, comparing tomatoes, when I heard my name. “Aurora?”

I turned. It’s Jessica.

“Hey,” she said, stepping closer. Her gaze dropped to my hand almost ‘immediately. I didn’t have to look. I knew what she was seeing.

The ring.

“Oh my god, you did it. You actually bound.” She let out a little laugh that sounded half genuine, half something else. “Congratulations. I really

Chapter 23

mean it.”

Thank you.”

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She lingered, shifting her bag from one shoulder to the other. “You know, I saw your S–class beastman at the alumni gathering the other day. Tall, handsome. Hard to miss.”

I said nothing.

She smiled wider. “S–class really isn’t easy to handle, though. You’ve got to keep an eye on him. Don’t let anyone… you know, find an opening.”

“I don’t worry about it,” I said flatly.

“Of course not.” She laughed again. She turned to go, then stopped, half- looking back over her shoulder.

“I’ve heard S–class beastmen tend to attract attention from higher–tier humans, though.” Her voice was casual. “But you and Silas are so close, so I’m sure you’ll be fine.”

She waved and disappeared between the shelves.

I stood there with my reusable bag in my hand, staring at the spot where she’d been standing.

My fingers were gripping the handles so hard the plastic was cutting into my skin.

I didn’t even realize I’d done it.

Silas came home that evening with a white bakery box in his hands.

“Colleagues recommended this,” he said, setting it on the counter. “Said

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the cheesecake is worth the hype.”

Nook the box and smiled. “Thanks.”

We sat down to eat. I’d made a simple stir–fry, nothing special, just enough to prove I could do it without burning the kitchen down. He complimented me in a sincere way.

But my appetite was smaller than usual. I pushed rice around my plate.

He noticed.

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