Aurora’s P.O.VI wake up with a sharp gasp, my body jolting upright as the sting in my arm hits me like a freight train. My eyes snap open, but the world around me is spinning, and I can barely make sense of it. My heart races in my chest, and the first thing I notice is the restraint on my arm—my own doing. The ropes are tight around my wrist, tying me to the bed. It worked. I wasn't sleepwalking. But how the hell did I end up on the floor?I groan, shifting my weight, feeling the intense ache in my arms from sleeping at such a strange angle. Every muscle screams in protest as I push myself up, the roughness of the floor against my skin grounding me back into reality. I glance around the room, the faint light from the early morning creeping in through the window. Nothing looks out of place, but something feels... off.I shake my head, trying to clear the fog of the dream that still lingers in the back of my mind. I close my eyes for a second, and then it floods back to me. My mother’
Aurora’s P.O.VMy heart skipped a beat as I turned to see Caleb standing there, his expression shadowed under the dim lights of the near empty kitchen.“Caleb?” I whispered, my voice laced with surprise. “What are you doing up so late?” My arms instinctively folded across my chest, a mixture of curiosity and unease spreading through me. He hesitated for a moment, running a hand through his dark hair, his usual calm demeanor replaced by something more unsettled.“I couldn’t sleep,” he admitted, his voice low but steady. “I came down to get something to drink, and… I might’ve overheard the conversation.” His gaze flickered toward Harmona, who stood a few feet away, her eyes narrowing slightly as though gauging his sincerity. I frowned, a sharp pang of worry twisting in my chest. “You overheard? Caleb, what did you—” Before I could finish, he stepped forward, his hands held up in a silent plea for patience. “Aurora, I’d like to talk to you. Alone,” he said, his tone carrying a weight
Caleb’s P.O.VAs Aurora’s confused gaze locks onto mine, I feel the weight of her words before she even speaks."Caleb," she says slowly, like she’s piecing together a puzzle that doesn’t quite fit, "Caroline is a wolf. But if that’s true... then I’m a witch. And that’s impossible." Her voice wavers at the end, doubt and disbelief crashing into each other. She takes a step closer, her eyes narrowing."Are you sure about this? Are we sure about this…Lunar Sister thing?" I sigh heavily, running a hand through my hair, the tension in my chest tightening like a vice."Aurora, I wouldn’t be saying this if I wasn’t sure. Jade and I—we’ve gone over it again and again. It all makes sense." I glance at her, trying to find the right words to make her understand. “And it’s not just that day at the parking lot. Caroline and you are connected. Every time you have a nightmare, she can feel it too, your fears, your worry…that’s how I know about them as well.”That night when Aurora fell into the sw
Aurora’s P.O.VI let go of Caleb’s embrace, my face a mask of eerie calm. Every detail he revealed sank into me, one after another, like stones dropping into a bottomless well. Inside, my mind was in turmoil, spiraling between shock, pain, and a strange, unexpected sense of relief. I said nothing at first, letting him finish, even when it felt like his words were clawing at old wounds I thought I’d buried. Caroline’s panic… it had brought everything to the surface. It had given me the truth I didn’t know I needed, even though it burned to hear it. Caleb’s breathing was even, his gaze searching mine, I drew in a steady breath. “When the sun rises tomorrow,” I said quietly, my voice measured. “I’ll apologize to Caroline.” His brows furrowed immediately. “Apologize? Aurora, what do you mean?” “I mean exactly what I said, Caleb. I’ll apologize. For what happened. For what she went through even when I had no clue about it. Because… I don’t want this to go on any longer. I don’t have th
Aurora’s P.O.VWhen I woke up, the first thing I noticed was warmth—Riley’s arms wrapped around me, his body nestled close. He was watching me, his blue eyes soft and full of something I couldn’t quite place.“Morning,” I murmured, my voice scratchy with sleep. I blinked at him and then furrowed my brows. “How long have you been awake? And why didn’t you wake me up?”He smiled faintly, shaking his head. “Not long,” he replied, his voice low and soothing. “I didn’t want to wake you. You looked peaceful... well, except for the part where it looked like you’d been crying.”“What?” My hand flew to my face, brushing against my cheeks, and I felt it—the faint stickiness of dried tears. My stomach tightened. I hadn’t even realized I’d been crying. It must’ve been the stress, the weight of everything over the past few days finally catching up to me. I took a breath, forcing a smile.“I’m fine, really. Probably just some weird dream or something.” I sat up and ran a hand through my hair. “I sh
Aurora’s P.O.VTwo agonizing hours of holding still in front of the mirror later, I’m finally ready. The shimmering white gown I’ve chosen falls neatly to my knees, its boat neckline simple yet elegant, a quiet statement against the extravagance Maya tried to impose on me with her dress.I smile faintly at my reflection, running my fingers over my mother’s pendant resting at the base of my throat. It’s the only piece of jewelry I wear, and it feels like a shield, grounding me. This is Caroline’s day, after all. I don’t want to stand out, certainly not to draw attention to myself, not even on my special day. The artist, finally satisfied, gives me a curt nod and begins packing up her kit. I glance at the mirror once more, catching the delicate curls framing my face and the delicate floral headband Maya had insisted I wear.“It suits you,” she had said with a grin, and I suppose she was right. The artist leaves with a brief farewell, and I take a deep breath, smoothing the fabric of my
Aurora’s P.O.VWhen Caroline lifted the lid of the box, I could feel my palms dampen. I’d spent days second-guessing this, wondering if she’d like it, if it would be enough, or if it was too much. The moment stretched as she pulled the delicate pearl bracelet from its bed of tissue paper, her fingers tracing over the tiny beads.“Aurora,” she said softly, her eyes wide as she turned to me. “This is beautiful. It’ll go perfectly with my dress for the party.” She hesitated, her voice turning into something almost scolding but warm. “But you shouldn’t have. This must’ve cost you a lot.”I shook my head, feeling my cheeks flush under her gaze. “It’s nothing. I had some money from my part-time job for a while now. I just…” My words faltered, and I looked down at the bracelet resting in her hand, hoping it said more than I could. “You’re my first real friend, Caroline. You’re the reason I started wanting to live for myself again. I wanted to do something nice for you. Something that showed…
Caleb’s P.O.VI was in a different room with Jade and a couple of other boys from the pack, trying to figure out which shirt would work best for the party.“This one, or that one?” Jade asked, holding up a dark grey button-down in one hand and a plain black tee in the other.“Neither,” one of the boys piped up, smirking as he lounged against the dresser. “He looks like he’s trying too hard either way.”I groaned, rolling my eyes. “Maybe I’ll just go shirtless, make it easier for everyone.”Jade chuckled, tossing the shirts aside. “At least you’d get some attention. Aurora might even—”‘Caleb.’ Caroline’s voice suddenly burst through my mind like a lightning strike, her urgency slicing through the easy banter.I stiffened immediately, catching the concerned looks of the others as they noticed my change in demeanor. ‘What is it? What’s wrong? You sound panicked.’Her response was swift, almost breathless. ‘It’s Aurora. Caleb, listen to me. I was helping her put on her earrings when I sa
Aurora’s P.O.VThat night, after returning to my room, a storm raged outside, howling through the trees and rattling the windows like it was trying to force its way in. The air felt heavy, thick with something I couldn't quite name, pressing down on my chest as I sat curled up on the bed.Every light in the room was on, pushing back the shadows, but no matter how bright it was, I couldn’t stop my thoughts from drifting back to Lucas and what he had done. He had kept my mother’s skeleton in my room—my mother’s old room—like some twisted trophy, a constant reminder of everything he had stolen from me. The image was burned into my mind, and no matter how much I tried to push it away, it clung to me, wrapping around my thoughts like vines strangling the life out of something.I wasn’t angry that her skeleton had been destroyed when the house collapsed. If anything, I was relieved. That place—where I had suffered, where so many others had suffered—was gone, reduced to nothing but rubble an
Aurora’s P.O.VI don't know how to answer him. The words sit on the tip of my tongue, but I can't bring myself to say them. Riley is watching me, his blue eyes so much like our mother's, filled with quiet expectation. And maybe that's what makes it worse. He doesn't know—he has no idea about the truth that has weighed on my shoulders for the past few days. He doesn't know that we're more than what he assumes us to be, that the blood running through our veins is the same, tangled in a history neither of us asked for.I should tell him. Maybe, in some twisted way, he deserves to know. But what good would it do? The past won't change. Our mother’s suffering won’t be undone just because the truth is spoken aloud. And so, I keep my mouth shut, my fingers curling against the fabric of my sleeve as if that might somehow anchor me in place.Riley tilts his head slightly, waiting. I need to say something. Anything. But my throat is dry, my mind blank, and I think he notices—because his brows d
Aurora’s P.O.VThe tires crunched against the gravel road as we finally pulled into the DarkWater Pack’s territory. The journey had been long, but as we neared our destination, a different kind of weight settled over me. Anxiety, relief, and a strange sense of longing tangled together, making it hard to breathe. My fingers curled into the fabric of my pants, my knuckles turning white.As soon as the car came to a halt, Caleb was already at my side, offering his hand. I didn’t hesitate to take it, my legs slightly unsteady as I stepped out into the familiar land I once called home. The moment my feet touched the ground, a voice cut through the air, sharp and desperate.“Aurora!”My head snapped towards the entrance, my heart nearly leaping out of my chest. Riley.Before my mind could even process it, my body was already moving. I broke into a run, my lungs burning as I closed the distance between us. Riley was running too, his arms wide open, his face a mixture of overwhelming relief a
Aurora’s P.O.VHis words were met with stunned silence, the weight of his generosity settling over the room. Relief crashed over me so suddenly that my legs nearly gave out.Ashton, Maggie and Avery, three people who had been tormented by Lucas and Harmon for so long, suffering the same fate as me and losing everyone they had…now they would finally have a permanent home. A place where they can breathe a sigh of relief without worrying about the horrible nightmares they had endured for so long.I turned to him, my eyes burning with unshed tears. "Alpha Camden, I... I don’t even know what to say. I can never repay this kindness."His expression softened as he reached out, resting a reassuring hand on my shoulder. "Aurora, child, you don’t owe me anything," he said gently. "You are Caleb’s mate, and you’re like a daughter to me. There is nothing to repay. Family looks out for each other. Always."His words broke something inside me, the last fragile wall of doubt and fear crumbling under
Aurora’s P.O.VThe weight of their gazes pressed down on me, twin sets of piercing eyes scrutinizing our every move, our every breath. The two Alphas, towering figures of authority, sat before us, their expressions unreadable, their silence a vice squeezing at my lungs. I swallowed hard, my fingers twitching at my sides. Maggie, Ashton, the others—we were all standing in a row like criminals waiting for judgment. My heartbeat thundered in my ears, the room suffocating with tension as we waited for someone to speak first."Tell us everything," one of them said finally, his voice a low command that brooked no argument. "Every detail that might matter."A long pause. I could feel Maggie trembling beside me, her breath uneven. When she finally stepped forward, her voice was quiet, but the words she spoke sent ice through my veins."He kept them," she whispered, as if saying it too loud would summon ghosts. "The skeletons. Of our mothers. He... he preserved them. In our room."The silence
Caleb’s P.O.VThe weight of everything crashed down on me all at once. The battle, the bloodshed, the loss, and the unexpected kindness that had followed. My body ached, my heart even more so, but for the first time in what felt like forever, I let myself believe that maybe—just maybe—things were going to be okay.I watched as Alpha Jackson finally nodded, his expression grim yet resolute as he took in the condition of the infirmary.“Under any other circumstance, this would have been a call for celebration.” He exhaled sharply, shaking his head. “But given everything… I don’t think any of us are in the mood for that.” His eyes flickered to me, searching for understanding, but I was already somewhere else in my mind. My focus had shifted entirely. I gave him a curt nod, my body already moving before my mind had fully caught up. “I’ll leave the rest to my father,” I muttered. The pack, the responsibilities, the politics—none of it mattered to me right now. Not when Aurora was still ly
Caleb’s P.O.VI didn’t know how long it took to head back, especially with Aurora in my arms, cradled tight so I didn’t lose her warmth. My body was screaming at me to collapse, to give in to the overwhelming exhaustion that had wrapped itself around my bones. Every step toward Alpha Jackson’s packhouse felt like walking through quicksand, my limbs heavy, my breath shallow. But I couldn’t stop. The others needed help, and if I gave in now, I might not have the strength to bring them the rest of the way. Silvia was slumped against me, her small frame limp, her face still damp with the tears that had drained her of consciousness. I had held her as she sobbed, whispered reassurances I wasn’t sure I believed myself. Her cries had been so broken, so raw, that it had shattered whatever was left of my strength, but I refused to let her go. I owed her that much.The others were still unconscious, their bodies battered and weakened from the blood loss. It wasn’t just exhaustion—it was surviva
Aurora’s P.O.VGuilt clings to me like a second skin, heavy and suffocating, as I step back into the circle. My hands tremble at my sides, and I barely muster the strength to lift my gaze. When I do, my heart clenches at the sight of Ashton and my two remaining siblings, their white dresses now soaked in blood, just like mine. The crimson stains tell a story I wish I could erase, a tale of choices made in desperation, of losses that will never be reclaimed. I swallow hard, my throat thick with emotion, but the weight of duty presses down harder than grief.Ashton begins the chant, his voice steady, unwavering. I try to focus, try to push aside the gnawing ache in my chest, but the image of little Violet’s face flashes in my mind. Her laughter, her tiny hands grasping mine just days ago—gone now, sacrificed to the very nightmare we tried to escape. A sharp sob threatens to escape, but I clamp my lips shut, my breath hitching as the first tear slips down my cheek. I know this is necessa
Aurora’s P.O.VThe realization hit me like a punch to the gut, a knot forming in my throat. Violet was gone. I could see her absence in the space where she should’ve been standing, and she was nowhere to be seen in the group. The air around us felt empty without her presence."Violet!" I shouted, my voice cracking with panic. The chant faltered for a moment, but I quickly pushed forward, trying to concentrate. "She’s not here!"Ashton’s eyes flashed with alarm as he noticed our hesitation. He glanced around, his expression hardening. "Where is she?" he demanded, his tone cold, but it did nothing to hide the tension that coiled in his shoulders. “Oh god…did we…leave her behind?”Before I could answer, a high-pitched cry broke through the noise. Silvia, her white hair glowing like a beacon in the fading light, was wailing uncontrollably. Her small body trembled as she reached for the house that was crumbling to the ground. "Mama! Grandmama!" Her sobs tore at my heart.Alpha Jackson was