Aurora’s POV
A rush of cold encloses my body. Suddenly my hand is too slack for the phone, but I don’t drop it. All the frustration from getting stalked and having the same mate as my sister finally catches up to me, and I find myself throwing the phone across the room.
The sound of it clattering against the wall makes the conversation stop in the dining hall. My mom calls out, “Are you okay, sweetie?”
“Yeah.” I can’t even feel my lips moving. “I just need some air.”
With that, I rush out into the backyard and sit alone in the gazebo. In the distance, I can see a bunch of cars making their way to the driveway. I panic for a while, but then I see that it’s just the cars of Margot’s friends. They seem to be coming over for my birthday.
Trust Margot to make my day about her and turn it into her party.
Soon enough, the house gets filled with people. My parents seem to be happy, though. Why wouldn’t they? I have always been the outcast, and I have no friends to come over.
I just wait in silence for the party to pick up. How long I sit there, I don’t know. But it does feel better to just have the breeze blowing through my hair. It’s like a comforting pat—
“Are you alright?”
The male voice startles me. I jump, nearly falling off the bench. I thought it’s Dad at first, but when I turn around, I see that it’s Mason.
I get to my feet and bow as though he’s royalty. Which he’s not. I don’t know what I’m doing with my body right now. I just force a smile so he won’t see my pain and disappointment, but judging on the sharp look in his eyes, I don’t think he missed anything.
“I am okay,” I tell him. “I’m just getting some air, you know.”
“Ah,” he says briefly, motioning to the spot in front of me. “Do you mind if I join you?”
“Of course not,” I say, sitting back on the bench just as he gets into the gazebo with me. “You can stay here. I can go back in so you can be comfortable—”
“Actually, I want you to stay. I need to talk to you.”
I freeze. “Okay.”
Silence hangs between us like an ominous sign. It feels so solid and uncomfortable but charged at the same time that I can’t help but move around in my spot like a worm.
But Mason is still and calm. “You felt that, right? When I first entered the house?”
I don’t want to embarrass myself, so I don’t react.
“It’s alright. I’m talking about what you’re thinking. The mate pull.”
“So you felt it too?” I whisper. “It wasn’t just me?”
He shakes his head. “No, it isn’t just you. I feel it even now.”
A slow smile creeps up to my face. I wasn’t just being delusional. He feels it too. He knows I’m his mate. I make a move to get close to him but he stops me with a raised hand.
“Don’t get me wrong, Aurora.” He slowly drops his hand as I sink back into my seat. “I have no plans of building a relationship with you. I don’t plan on breaking up with Margot to be with you. I also felt the mate pull with her, and I want to make it clear that I choose her. She’s the one I love.”
I don’t know why, but my heart snaps into pieces with his words. Each syllable caused a crack. The flippant, serious tone didn’t help either. It’s almost a physical pain, one that I can’t ignore. One that causes me to stay quiet right now, feeling smaller and smaller with each passing second.
“It’s normal to be hurt,” he says reassuringly. “But it would pass. All we need to do is sever the mate bond between us. Then, after that, you will find someone who will be yours.”
“Right.” I gulp. “How do I… how do we end this?”
Mason stands up and motions me to get to my feet. We stand in front of each other, and he takes my right hand and places it against his heart. He puts his hand on my chest too.
Still holding my gaze, he says, “I, Mason Chase, the Alpha Heir of the Black Dawn Pack, reject you as my mate, Aurora Everley of the Black Dawn Pack.”
I wait for something to change, but nothing happens. He looks at me expectantly, so I figure I must do the same to make it take hold.
“I, Aurora Everley of the Black Dawn Pack, reject you as my mate, Mason Chase, the Alpha Heir of the Black Dawn Pack.”
Anticipation rolls in. We both wait for the energy to shift. I don’t know exactly what I’m waiting for, but mate bonds are strong. Mate bonds are like personal fields of gravity, just pulling and pulling. I think what I should look for us repulsion. A big push that would make me feel nothing for him.
But as I meet Mason’s eyes, I feel the same. I’m still in his gravity.
The rejection didn’t work.
Mason lets go of me. I can tell he feels it too. Soon enough, anger builds in his kind face and I realize that he may not be so kind at all.
“What did you do?” He grabs me by the arm. “Why did you not end the mate bond?”
Aurora's POVMason starts to shake me, his eyes burning with an emotion that's way too close to hate for me to stay comfortable. I pry myself off of him, taking a couple of steps back. But all the distance I try to put between us is just erased by him still advancing towards me.The mate pull is indeed still there. It's making me feel almost giddy with our closeness even though I know that he's angry right now.I just close my eyes when he gets close enough, when his face is just inches from mine. It's either a kiss or a scream, and I don't think I'm prepared for either....But nothing comes. Instead, I hear the familiar click clack of high heels on the stones set in the garden. I open my eyes and I find that Mason is already walking away from me, towards a familiar figure in the distance.It's Margot, coming in to check on us."Is everything okay?" she asks Mason, but her eyes are on me. "Rory? What is happening?""Nothing," is all I can say.Mason is the one who decides to speak. "I
Aurora's POVMy breath gets stuck in my throat. My chest is so tight with unreleased air that my vision is also starting to get white at the edges. I hold onto the brim of the sink for support, wanting to get away. Needing to get away. But I just stand there like some sort of a masochist, listening to them.I feel... Dirty. Unpure. And the first surge of repulsion for myself for even keeping up with this is the only thing that drives me to get away and go back to my own room.I slam the door, having a dark hope that the sound would somehow make them stop. But of course it doesn't. Tears are leaking out of my eyes and I wipe them furiously, angry with myself."Why did it not work?" I ask Vega, not bothering to hide my anger. "You're my wolf. You're the one tied to this whole mate business. Why did our rejection not work?""I don't know," she says, and I can sense the desperation in her tone. "It should have worked. That's how it goes for a lot of people who denounce their mates. I don'
Aurora's POV"What is that supposed to mean?" I demand, my anger getting so strong that I have to make a conscious effort not to scream so no one hears me.Thankfully, the rest of my family and Mason seem to be too busy laughing and enjoying each other's company to ever notice that some unknown pervert is calling me right now.I know it would be easier to just put the phone down and stop the conversation right then and there, but I want to just stop it right here and right now. I'm just so done with this, and perhaps if I keep the conversation long enough, I would recognize the voice and identify whoever this is."You are not my destiny," I tell him in a cold whisper. "I don't know you. And if you have the balls, maybe you should show up and just get this over with."The man from the other line lets out a laugh, and this time, he sounds truly amused that his laughter softens into a somewhat boyish sound that triggers something in me.As though knowing this, the man's voice once again
Aurora's POVThe day passes pretty fast, which is a huge relief in my end. I just didn't want it to go any faster, and time seemed to fly indeed.Now it's nighttime, and I'm back in bed curled up safe. I locked the window out of fear, and I didn't get the chance to tell my parents about what happened. It's probably for the best, since they are too busy entertaining Margot and Mason to ever pay me attention.Speaking of those two, they didn't stay for the night. I'm glad they're back at their university so they can snuggle and I don't have to see them, but I have to admit that it still hurts.But like what Mom said. Supress and kill.I'm doing exactly that as I try to get some sleep. It's been exhausting, and I just want to sink into the realms of dreams and just forget everything.Thankfully, the stars seem to align and I fall asleep the moment my head hits the pillow.At first, the only thing that surrounds me is darkness. But slowly, more and more colors loom into view, except that
Aurora's POVA gasp rattles my body as I emerge from the dream and open my eyes. I make a blind swipe to get the sheets around me, but then I notice that my blanket has fallen off the bed.A cold gust of wind blows inside, and I stop. I remember closing the window the night before. I even locked it.But now it's wide open, busted down as though someone pushed it open when I was sleeping. It's still a little dark outside, and the open air makes me feel bare....Until I realize that I really am bare right now.I look down at my body and I realize that I'm completely naked, from my head down to my toes. The silk pajamas that I wore from the night before are now strewn on the floor, discarded. Even my socks have been taken off.My heart starts to beat fast. What does this mean?"What happened?" I ask Vega. "Did something happen last night? Did somebody come in?"She comes into attention, but I can already feel her confusion before she even says, "I don't know. I didn't feel anything wrong
Aurora's POV"This can't keep happening to me," I whisper to myself, dropping the box right on the floor.The emotions that start to spill in my chest are things that I don't think I understand anymore. Anger, embarrassment, anxiety, and fear. Who is this man and what does he want from me? How the hell does he manage to keep sending me things without me detecting him?It's all just so frustrating now. My mind gets clouded with all of it in one go, and I find myself just kicking the box until it tumbles down the stairs.I'm about to turn around and just forget about it, but then I notice that it opened completely, spilling its contents. Inside it is another set of lingerie, this time leathery black, the kind that dominant women wear.My face heats up. I don't want anyone thinking that I engage in activities like that. I especially don't want my mom to think that I bought this for myself.I run down the stairs and pick up the box, stuffing the lingerie back inside it with frantic shaky
Aurora's POVI stagger back from Mason, my chest clenched with fear. Margot marches up to me and drags me away from him as though I'm not already moving away. I see Mason's eyes widen when it looks like she's going to push me, but he just steps away as Margot starts to rage."What the fuck?" she says again, staring at me as though I just started to sprout corn out of my ears. "What are you doing slapping the Alpha Heir like that? He's my boyfriend! What the hell is happening here?"She turns to Mason for an answer, and annoyingly enough, he says, "I have no clue."She faces me again. "You know that could be considered treason right?"I know that very well. Hurting the Alpha or his Heir or his Luna would result to banishment. It's an absurd way to flex your powers, but maybe that is just my opinion and nobody else actually minds. Margot certainly doesn't seem to mind, considering that she would be under the same protection if she married Mason someday.Either way, it's very annoying to
Mason's POVI stare at Aurora, my whole body fuming with anger.How dare she act like nothing is wrong? How dare she just stand there as though she wasn't just flirting with someone else?My curiosity is burning. I want to know who the hell she's talking to, but I also know that it's none of my business. I just told her that I want the mate bond to be gone, but why do I feel like I still need to remind her that it's there and she should respect it?Meanwhile, Aurora is staring at me as though I just slapped her. "I know you want it to end. I want it too, so don't act like I never wanted it to end. I agreed from the very start.""I heard you," I hiss at her, angry that she's acting like that was nothing. "I know you were talking to some other man and you're saying you won't let go of me."She rolls her eyes to the high heavens and her exasperation makes me even more pissed off. "It was a creep I'm trying to get rid of. I don't plan to keep either of you in my life, so get over it."Wit
Aurora's POVThe first rays of sunrise painted the Celestial Temple in shades of gold as I stood on its highest balcony, watching my transformed power ripple across the realms. A week had passed since the final battle with the Void Lord, since I'd made the choice that changed everything."The barriers between worlds are stronger than ever," Mason observed, joining me at the railing. His presence was comfortable now, free from the weight of past guilt and unspoken feelings."But not impenetrable," Ethan added from my other side, his protective instincts tempered by newfound understanding. "Just as they should be."I smiled, feeling the perfect balance of energies flowing through me. "A bridge needs both strength and flexibility. Like relationships."Both men chuckled at that, the sound free from the tension that had once characterized their every interaction. My choice to forge my own path, to love them both in different but equally meaningful ways, had transformed more than just our p
Aurora's POVThe cosmic maelstrom raged around us as I stood at the precipice of an impossible choice. Mason and Ethan were suspended in twin vortexes of void energy, their life forces flickering like candles in a storm. The Void Lord's final, desperate attack had left me with a decision that threatened to tear my heart in two."Choose, Star Walker," the Void Lord's voice echoed across dimensions. "Save your hunter, tainted by the shadows of his past? Or your protector, whose love has become a chain?"I looked between them, these two men who had shaped so much of my journey. Mason, his eyes filled with a mix of love and resignation, silently urging me to do what needed to be done. Ethan, fierce even in the face of oblivion, his gaze never leaving mine.Time seemed to slow as I grappled with the weight of this moment. Every shared laugh, every heated argument, every tender touch flashed through my mind. I saw the paths our lives could take - the joys and sorrows, the triumphs and heart
Aurora's POVThe sky above the Celestial Temple blazed with otherworldly light as I faced the Void Lord in our final confrontation. Reality itself seemed to warp around us, the fabric of the multiverse straining under the weight of our clashing powers. Mason and Ethan stood at my flanks, their presence a steadying force amidst the chaos."Your efforts are futile, Star Walker," the Void Lord's voice boomed across dimensions. "I am eternal, a force of nature itself. You cannot hope to defeat me."I stood my ground, starlight and shadow swirling around me in perfect harmony. "I don't need to defeat you," I declared, my voice steady despite the fear clawing at my insides. "I just need to restore the balance you've disrupted."The Void Lord's laughter shook the foundations of reality. "Balance? There is only power, little star. And soon, all the power in existence will be mine."He unleashed a torrent of void energy, a darkness so absolute it threatened to devour everything in its path. I
Aurora's POVThe cosmic maelstrom raged around us as I stood at the epicenter of the battle, my powers stretched to their limits. The Void Lord's armies seemed endless, pouring through rifts in reality that threatened to tear the very fabric of existence apart. Mason and Ethan fought valiantly by my side, their strengths perfectly complementing each other in a dance of deadly precision.But it wasn't enough. For every Void Walker we struck down, two more took its place. Our allies were falling, overwhelmed by the sheer numbers of our adversaries. The multiverse itself groaned under the strain of the conflict, cracks spreading across the sky like spider webs."We can't keep this up forever," Mason shouted, his face streaked with blood and grime. "There has to be another way!"Ethan growled in agreement, his massive wolf form bristling with barely contained rage. "Whatever it takes, Aurora. We're with you."Their unwavering support, despite the seemingly insurmountable odds, filled me w
Aurora's POVThe sky above the Celestial Temple turned an ominous shade of crimson as reality itself began to fracture. I stood atop the highest spire, my newly awakened powers pulsing in harmony with the cosmic turmoil around us. Mason and Ethan flanked me, their faces grim as we surveyed the approaching storm."It's time," I said softly, feeling the weight of destiny settle on my shoulders. "The Void Lord is coming."As if summoned by my words, the air before us shimmered and tore open. A figure emerged from the rift - tall, regal, and radiating an aura of pure malevolence. The Void Lord's eyes, twin pools of infinite darkness, fixed upon me with predatory intent."Aurora Nightshade," he intoned, his voice resonating with otherworldly power. "The last Star Walker. How fitting that you should bear witness to the end of all realms."I stepped forward, starlight and shadow swirling around me in perfect balance. "This isn't the end," I declared, my voice steady despite the fear clawing
Aurora's POVThe ancient ritual chamber shook violently as void energy collided with celestial power. I stood at its center, channeling everything I had into maintaining the protective barrier around us. Mason and Ethan fought back-to-back nearby, holding off waves of Void Hunters as Alexandra prepared her transformation ritual."The barrier's weakening!" Mason shouted, expertly taking down two attackers. "We need to stop her before she completes the circle!"Ethan growled in agreement, his wolf form massive and deadly as he defended our position. "Aurora, whatever you're planning, do it now!"Blood trickled from my nose as I maintained the shield. The armor my mother left me pulsed with warning - I was pushing too hard, using too much power. But I couldn't stop. Not when everything we fought for hung in the balance."Oh, let them watch," Alexandra's voice rang out as she completed another section of the ritual circle. "Let them see what true power looks like!"The air crackled with d
Aurora's POVThe ancient scroll trembled in my hands as I decoded the final symbols. After weeks of research and countless dead ends, the truth behind the Void Hunters' ritual lay exposed before me. My blood ran cold as the full implications became clear."They never wanted to destroy the celestial bloodlines," I whispered, horror creeping into my voice. "They wanted to become them."Mason and Ethan crowded closer, examining the decoded text over my shoulders. We stood in the heart of the Celestial Temple's forbidden archives, surrounded by artifacts of immense power."The ritual isn't just about harvesting power," I continued, my voice growing stronger as understanding dawned. "It's about transformation. They believe they can use my blood - the blood of the last pure Star Walker - to transform themselves into celestial beings.""That's impossible," Ethan growled, but Mason's face had gone pale."No," Mason said quietly. "That's why they've been gathering power from different supernat
Aurora's POVThe Grand Council chamber hummed with supernatural energy as I stood before the assembled leaders of every major faction. Ancient vampires, werewolf Alphas, fae royalty, and even a few celestial elders - all gathered because of me. The thought would have terrified me once. Now, wearing my mother's armor and feeling celestial power course through my veins, I met their scrutiny without flinching."The Void Hunters threaten all of us," I declared, my voice carrying to every corner of the vast chamber. "Their ritual won't just harvest celestial power - it will shatter the barriers between realms, unleashing chaos that will destroy everything we hold dear.""Bold claims from one so young," a vampire elder drawled, his ancient eyes calculating. "Why should we risk our people in your war?"I smiled, letting starlight dance across my skin. With a gesture, I created a viewing portal in the center of the chamber, showing the devastation the Void Hunters had already caused."Because
Aurora's POVThe hidden chamber beneath my mother's old cottage seemed to pulse with ancient magic as I pushed open the heavy wooden door. Dust motes danced in the beam of my celestial light, swirling around centuries-old artifacts and towering bookshelves."This is incredible," Mason breathed, his eyes wide as he took in the collection. "Your mother was gathering intelligence on the Void Hunters long before they started hunting her."Ethan moved protectively closer as we ventured deeper into the chamber. "She was preparing for something. Look at these defensive wards - they're unlike anything I've ever seen."I approached a massive desk covered in star charts and ancient texts. My hands trembled as I picked up a leather-bound journal, recognizing my mother's elegant handwriting."'Project Starfall,'" I read aloud, my voice echoing in the chamber. "'The Void Hunters believe they are the hunters, but they are merely pawns in a game centuries older than they realize.'"As I turned the p