Aurora’s P.O.VI wake up with a gasp, my chest rising and falling rapidly as I try to gather my bearings. My hands clutch at the sheets beneath me, fingers curling into the fabric as my eyes dart around the room. No. Not again. Not this place.My mother’s room—the room from my nightmares. The air is thick with the scent of lavender, just like it always is, and the dim glow of the night lamp illuminates the room, casting eerie shadows across the walls. I don’t want to be here. I don’t want to do this again. I sit up, rubbing at my eyes, trying to will the dream away. That’s all it is—a dream. A cruel, recurring dream that refuses to let me go. But something is different this time. My body aches, a dull throbbing pain spreading through my limbs as if I’ve been through something brutal.My head pounds the moment I try to think, like someone is hammering against my skull, forcing me to stay disoriented. What happened? Why do I feel like this? I press my fingers against my temples, squeez
Caleb’s P.O.VI barely have time to react before Caroline lets out a sharp, blood-curdling scream, her hands flying up to clutch her head as if something is splitting her skull in two. Damien and I are beside her in an instant, dropping down next to her as she gasps for air, her body trembling like a leaf caught in a storm. "Caroline!" I grab her wrist, feeling the heat radiating off her skin. "What's wrong? Talk to me!" She doesn't answer at first. Her wide, unfocused eyes dart around the room, her chest heaving, as if she has no idea where she is. The way her fingers dig into her scalp makes my stomach twist, like she’s trying to ground herself before she slips away entirely. "Caroline, hey, look at me!" Damien urges, shaking her shoulder lightly. "You're okay. You're safe. Just breathe." For a second, it feels like she isn't even hearing us. And then—suddenly—her whole body tenses. Her breath catches in her throat, and she finally blinks, her gaze snapping to me in pure confusi
Aurora’s P.O.VI stare at the wall across from me, my breath caught somewhere between my throat and my lungs, unable to move, unable to think, unable to do anything but let the horror wash over me. My mind refuses to process what I’m seeing, but my eyes won’t look away. There, trapped inside a tall, enclosed glass case, stands a skeleton—dressed in a green dress and wearing a brown wig.I swallow hard, my hands shaking at my sides, my heart hammering so loudly that I can hear it in my ears. That dress. That hair. No. No, no, no. This isn’t real. It can’t be real. A memory flickers to life in my head, hazy at first but growing clearer with every passing second. My mother, standing in front of the mirror, adjusting that very same dress, smiling at me as I tugged on the hem, telling me I’d grow up to be just as beautiful as she was. I can almost hear her voice, soft and warm, calling my name. If I wasn’t already on the ground, I don’t think I would’ve been able to stay up any longer.
Aurora’s P.O.VI stared at Harmona in shock, the words she had just spoken still echoing in my mind. My heart raced, and I felt the air grow thick around me. I opened my mouth, but no sound came out at first. I swallowed hard, trying to force the words out. “What do you mean?” I managed to choke out, my voice trembling with disbelief. “What on earth are you talking about?”Harmona didn’t seem fazed. She just smiled, that same cold smile she always wore, as if the world was a game to her. It made my stomach twist. Without saying a word, she picked up a plastic knife and handed it to me. "Here," she said, her tone overly sweet, "cut the cake."I just stared at the knife, my mind spinning. The cake? After everything she just said? I shook my head, pushing it away. "I don’t want to," I replied, my voice barely more than a whisper.But Harmona didn’t hesitate. She grabbed the knife from me with a practiced motion and cut a slice of the cake herself. She raised it to her lips, as if the ent
Caleb’s P.O.VI was standing in the middle of the room, feeling like the walls were closing in around me. The air felt thick with tension, and I couldn’t understand what was happening. The silence was deafening, broken only by the frantic rustling of my father, Alpha Camden, as he tried to get a hold of the Chrone of the Lunar coven. His hands trembled as he dialed the number for the third time.“No answer. This isn’t right,” my father muttered, his voice low, almost as if speaking louder would make things worse. He looked over at me, his face a picture of unease. “Caleb, something’s wrong. I think there is something going on in that coven.”“Then we need to go to the coven’s territory.” I told him, urgency coloring my voice. “We need to figure out what’s going on before it’s too late.”“Caleb, it’s not that simple.” My father shook his head. “I need to get permission from the local pack first or this can be seen as a sign of war.”I ran a hand through my hair, the weight of his words
Aurora’s P.O.VI sat curled up on the bed, my knees drawn tightly to my chest, eyes locked onto the skeleton in the glass case. My heart thudded in my chest, and yet the silence of the room felt suffocating. How could this be? The bones before me, the ones I assumed to be my mother’s, stared back at me, empty and cold.The soft floral scent of carnations hung in the air, mixing with the mustiness of the room. The photos, all of her, lined the walls, frozen moments from a time that seemed far too distant now. My breath caught as I realized what I was staring at wasn’t just a tragic reminder of my mother’s death—it was a statement. Whoever had done this, whoever had gone through the effort to dig up her grave and put her remains on display, was far from sane.The more I thought about it, the more the pieces fell together—too many unanswered questions, too many things that didn’t make sense. I could feel the gnawing sense of dread creeping up my spine, the familiar feeling that I had bee
Aurora’s P.O.VI just stared at him, completely speechless. The man in front of me, holding that dusty box with so much enthusiasm, looked almost like a stranger. Yet, at the same time, there was something about his eyes, the way they sparkled with excitement, that made me feel... unsettled. It was hard to put into words, but I was in awe.What do you say to someone who just…shows up out of nowhere claiming to be a part of your life, someone you’ve never even met before? What could you possibly say that could make this situation less absurd?"I know, I know! This seems strange, but these are all the gifts I got for you," he said with a wide grin, lifting the box slightly as if it were the greatest treasure in the world. "I’ve been waiting for this day for so long, Aurora. You have no idea how much I’ve wanted to give you these. Ever since you were born, I kept everything... everything I could."He opened the box with such care, and I couldn’t help but look inside. There it was, a paci
Aurora’s P.O.VI paced back and forth in my room, the quiet tapping of my feet on the floor only adding to the pounding rhythm of my thoughts. Caleb. Caroline. Everyone out there, probably frantic, searching for me, and here I am, trapped in this space, cut off from everything that should matter.I try to connect with the people I care about, to feel something—anything—but it’s like there’s a wall between us. A blank, numb space where the bonds should be. What’s wrong with me? Is it me, or have they done something? Have they put some kind of spell on me? I can’t help but wonder, but the more I try to think it through, the more tangled my thoughts become.I can't even remember how I got here. The feeling of isolation grows heavier, suffocating me in a way I don’t know how to explain. Maybe if I can just get my mind off it, just clear my head for a second, things will make sense. But that’s the problem. Nothing makes sense. I run my fingers through my hair and glance toward the door, as
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