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.VAll day, I couldn’t help but notice how Caleb and Caroline stuck to me like glue, their attention unwavering as if my every move required their oversight. It was sweet, in a way—Caleb insisting I try a second helping of the fruit tart, Caroline holding my hand as we wandered through the crowd of guests that Alpha Camden had invited—but it was also exhausting.This was her birthday celebration, yet she seemed more concerned about whether I was comfortable than enjoying herself. I finally reached my limit after lunch, nudging the half-empty plate of dessert away and shaking my head when Caleb offered to grab me a drink. “I think I’m going to go check on Riley,” I said, my voice firm but casual. “I haven’t seen him all morning, and I want to make sure he’s taking his nap.” As expected, Caleb immediately volunteered to come with me, already half out of his chair. “I’ll come. You shouldn’t have to go alone—” “Caleb,” I interrupted, offering him a smile that I hoped looked
Caroline’s P.O.VI stood quietly in the doorway, watching Aurora and Riley sleeping soundly. The steady sound of their breaths filled the room with a soothing rhythm that almost made me forget everything else for a moment. Riley’s little hand clutched Aurora’s larger ones, and Aurora’s arm too was draped over Riley’s smaller form. Aurora, as usual, looked serene, as if she didn’t have a care in the world. My lips curved into a soft smile, and I wished that she didn’t have nightmares anymore and woke up with the same peaceful expression.“Caleb,” I whispered through the mind link, not wanting to break the stillness around me. “They’re both fine. Let them rest here a little longer. I’ll come get them before the party starts.” His response was immediate, firm yet gentle. “Alright. But don’t overdo it, Caroline. You know how important it is tonight.” “I know,” I replied softly. “Thank you.” The connection faded, leaving me with the quiet hum of my thoughts. I straightened, pulling the
Aurora’s P.O.VI stirred to the sound of my name, soft and insistent. “Aurora. Hey, wake up,” the voice said, low but familiar. My eyes fluttered open, and there was Caleb, sitting by my bedside, a small smile playing on his lips.“Caleb?” I croaked, my voice rough from sleep. I pushed myself up on one elbow, blinking away the fog in my mind. The clock on the wall caught my eye, and I squinted. Nearly ten at night. “I slept this long?” I muttered, rubbing my temples. “Why didn’t anyone wake me? I feel like I’ve been hit by a truck.”He smiled faintly, leaning back in the chair he’d pulled up beside me. “You looked like you needed it. Besides, you didn’t miss anything. The party hasn’t started yet.”“What?” I sat up straighter, the thin blanket slipping from my shoulders. “But it’s so late! Isn’t it supposed to—?”“Midnight,” he interrupted, his tone easy, almost amused. “They always start around midnight. You know that. Mine did.”The memory hit me like a cold splash of water. His bir
Aurora’s P.O.VI had never had so much fun in my entire life. The music was pumping, the room was filled with laughter, and I was surrounded by the best company. Caleb and I danced like no one was watching, lost in the rhythm, his grin never leaving his face. Every move felt natural, effortless.I caught Caroline pulling Damien onto the floor next, and I couldn’t help but laugh as he tried to keep up with her wild energy. “You look ridiculous!” I yelled over the music, and Damien just shook his head, laughing with me.But the best part was when Caroline pulled me to the dance floor. Her blue gown sparkled under the lights, and she had that same carefree vibe, making me feel like we could dance for hours. And we did. We danced through the entire night, completely lost in the music and in each other’s company. At one point, we paused to catch our breath, both of us smiling, hands on our hips. “This is the best night of my life,” she said, her voice a little out of breath but full of joy
Aurora’s P.O.VThe pain hit me like a thunderclap, searing through every inch of my body. It wasn’t like anything I had ever felt before—like every nerve was on fire, every cell screaming in agony. I gasped for breath, but the pain only worsened, deepening in intensity. I clutched my chest, trying to hold myself together, but it was like something was breaking inside of me, and I couldn't stop it.Then, a light filled the room. A blinding light, like the sun had erupted inside the room. I closed my eyes, hoping for it to subside, but it didn’t. In fact, the light seemed to be growing stronger, more intense. But as my vision adjusted, I realized it wasn’t from some external source. The light—this searing, almost ethereal glow—was coming from me.I panicked. What is happening to me?"Help!" I screamed, my voice cracking as desperation surged within me. "Someone, please! Help me!" But I couldn’t stop. The energy was out of control, coursing through me like a wild river, and there was not
Caleb’s P.O.VI gasped awake, my whole body screaming in pain as I sucked in a sharp breath. My head throbbed, my ribs ached, and for a second, I couldn’t even tell where I was. My vision swam, and I blinked rapidly, trying to focus. The scent of something burnt lingered in the air, mixed with the sickly sweet aroma of crushed cake and spilled drinks.I swallowed hard, my throat dry as I struggled to make sense of my surroundings. Then, like a dam breaking, the memories hit me all at once. The party. The laughter. The wind. The chaos. The moment everything turned upside down. “Shit…” I muttered, forcing myself to sit up despite the sharp protest of my muscles. My heart pounded as my eyes darted around, taking in the wreckage. Caroline’s birthday party was completely destroyed. Decorations were ripped apart, tangled ribbons fluttering weakly in the aftermath. Tables were overturned, food smeared across the walls, plates shattered. The string lights that had given everything a warm glo
Damien’s P.O.V“Baby…” Salone leaned against my bike, her green eyes narrowed at me as she studied me from head to toe. “You’ve been very distant lately. Is something wrong?”“No.” I gave her an almost half-hearted answer as I drank from my coffee cup. Truth be told, I had been extremely distracted since last month.I had finally turned eighteen, the age at which a wolf was supposed to find their mate. And yet, I haven’t been able to find that one person who had been chosen for me by the Moon Goddess.Salone was an amazing girl and we had been dating for the past year now, but the second I had turned eighteen and found out that she wasn’t my mate, everything between us had changed in an instant. I had been trying to figure out a way to break it off with her, without looking like a complete douche, but I was failing miserably in that department. So I went ahead and started being as elusive as possible. Maybe if I’m paying less attention to her, then she would break up with me first and
Riley’s P.O.V‘Dear Big Sis…I met a girl recently…and I think she’s a witch.’“Shit!” I deleted the entire text and stared grudgingly at my screen. “Who the fuck writes ‘Dear’ in their emails anymore?”Letting out a sigh, I closed my eyes and thought about what to write to my sister or how to place the pressing issue at hand. My ginormus crush on Dixie Vaughn, the ‘goth’ girl that had stolen my heart at first sight.The first day of college had been the most uneventful day of my life; completely different from what I had imagined the day to be like. But when I had entered my first class of the day, thinking that this would be just as eventful as a middle-aged professor with glasses entered with a pile of books and began introducing the subject and himself to the class…in had come Dixie, wearing all black, her hair in braids and metal hoops and a dragon tattoo on one hand, that covered the entire length of her arm.Her crop top had grabbed just as much attention as her belly button pi
Aurora’s P.O.VThe moonlight painted a silver sheen over the restless waves, their endless dance meeting the shore with soft whispers. I walked along the damp sand, the cool grains pressing between my toes as I followed the trail of footprints ahead of me. Large wolf paws, their weight sinking deep into the earth, followed by much smaller ones—tiny, hesitant steps pressing into the sand right beside them. My heart clenched at the sight, warmth spreading through me as I lifted my gaze, scanning the dimly lit beach. And then, I saw them. Caleb emerged from the shadows of a large tree, his toned body gleaming under the faint glow of the moon, dressed only in his swim trunks. His hair was damp, clinging to his forehead, evidence of his earlier run through the waves. But it wasn’t just him—right beside him, waddling as fast as his tiny legs could manage, was Cameron. Our son. Only two years old, but already fascinated by everything his father did. His brunette curls bounced as he giggled,
Caroline’s P.O.VThe wedding reception buzzed with laughter and music, the air thick with the scent of roses and wine. I sat beside Damien, the warmth of his body just within reach, yet it felt like there was an ocean between us. Five years. Five years of love, passion, fights, and making up. Five years of knowing—deep in my soul—that this man was mine, my mate, my forever. But lately, something has shifted.The once unshakable bond between us felt... strained. I didn't know when it started, but I knew I could feel it. The way he held me less, the way he spoke in careful, measured tones, the way his eyes sometimes seemed far away even when I was right in front of him. And it was killing me. I swallowed hard, gripping my champagne flute as I turned to him. He was staring ahead, his jaw tense, his eyes unreadable. Damien had always been composed, always guarded with his emotions, but this was different. This was distance. And I couldn't stand it any longer. "Damien," I said softly, my
Aurora’s P.O.VFive years later…I stand in front of the mirror, my fingers grazing the intricate lace of my wedding dress, feeling the delicate embroidery beneath my touch. The reflection staring back at me is almost unrecognizable—the girl I once was has transformed into this woman, this bride, glowing with anticipation. My heart is steady, my breath even, a stark contrast to the usual nervous energy brides are supposed to have. But how could I be nervous when this is everything I’ve ever wanted? "Aurora, I swear you’re the calmest bride I’ve ever seen," Caroline teases, her fingers fussing over the tiny buttons at the back of my gown. "Are you sure you’re not secretly panicking?" I turn slightly, meeting her playful gaze through the mirror. "I’m sure," I say with a soft laugh. "I don’t need to be nervous when I know exactly what I want. My family is here. Caleb is waiting for me at the end of that aisle. There’s nothing to be afraid of." Caroline's expression softens, and before
The ground trembled beneath the ruins of the old house, the earth groaning as though awakening from a restless slumber. Crumbled stone and splintered wood shifted, dust rising in thick clouds. Then, with a slow, eerie movement, the debris parted, forced aside by an unseen power.From beneath the wreckage, a woman emerged—no, something that had once been a woman. Her silver hair, now dull and matted with grime and dried blood, clung to her gaunt face. Her skin, once smooth and luminous, stretched tight over her bones, her cheeks sunken, her lips cracked.She took a ragged breath, a sound more like the whisper of dead leaves scraping against stone. In her frail arms, she cradled a child, no older than twelve, her small form limp and unmoving. The girl’s face was peaceful in unconsciousness, her dark lashes resting against pale cheeks, stark against the filth and dried blood staining her skin. The skeletal woman’s hollow eyes fixated on her, but there was no warmth, no tenderness in her
Aurora’s P.O.VThe next few days were a whirlwind of events, from college applications to making sure the progress of the new house, the one that was currently being built in the land where my previous house stood, was going as smoothly as I had anticipated.Finally, after days of hard work and sending out applications, Caleb and I found some quiet time for ourselves and we couldn’t help but sneak out of the packhouse, so we could spend some quiet time together.“Phew!” Caleb sighed as we headed to the beach, our fingers intertwined and him swaying our hands lights as we walked through the thick foliage. “It’s been a rough few days.”I nodded, my smile faltering for a minute as I thought about all the applications that Caleb had rejected…all because of me.He thought that I hadn't seen them, that he had managed to hide them efficiently. But he hadn't. And even though we had both now perfected the art of hiding things from each other through the mating bond, there were still a few gli
Aurora’s P.O.VI felt my stomach tighten with surprise as I step out of the car as Caleb holds the door open for me.Of all the places in the world, why here? My eyes darted to him, searching for some kind of explanation, but he simply smirked, his hand going to the small of my back as he propels me forward.“You’ll find out soon,” he said, his voice laced with a mystery that only made my curiosity grow.I let out a small breath, shaking my head as I glanced towards the diner again. That’s when I saw them—Jade and Caroline stepping out of their cars, their faces glowing under the warm evening lights. But what truly caught my attention was Damien, standing in the distance, his posture relaxed yet unmistakably expectant as he waited for Caroline.My heart gave a strange, unsteady thump at the sight of the diner. It had been so long since I had seen them, Jeremy or any of the staff, since I had felt the warmth of their presence.As they headed inside together, Caleb reached over and plac
Aurora’s P.O.VThe auditorium buzzes with energy, a mix of hushed conversations, excited whispers, and the occasional burst of applause as another name is called. I sit between Caroline and Jade, my hands clasped together with Caroline, and Caleb sits beside Jade, his knee bouncing slightly. The four of us have spent years dreaming of this moment—of walking across the stage, receiving our certificates, and stepping into a world far beyond the walls of this school. But now that it’s here, I feel an odd heaviness in my chest, like the weight of the past pressing down on me, a reminder of everything it took to get here.The class president is giving his speech, something about perseverance and ambition, but my mind drifts. I swallow hard, fingers tightening around the fabric of my gown as I stare at the stage. Almost a year ago, I wasn’t sure I’d make it to this moment. The obstacles, the losses, the nights I thought about giving up—they all come rushing back in a blur. But I’m here. I m