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
Aurora’s P.O.VIt had been a month since the incident, a month since we all left the horrors of the past behind. Now, sitting in the dining room with Caleb, Caroline, Jade, and Damien, I felt a rare sense of peace settle over me. For the first time in what felt like forever, I wasn’t running, wasn’t hiding, wasn’t looking over my shoulder waiting for the next inevitable disaster to strike.Instead, I was here, surrounded by people who had become my family in every way that mattered. I glanced around the table, my heart swelling with gratitude. It was a luxury I never thought I’d have again—a life where I felt safe, where I was loved, where I could just be.Caleb, sitting beside me, offered me a small but reassuring smile, one that I had come to rely on more times than I could count. “No matter what happens, Aurora, you’ll always have us. We’re your family,” he said, his voice steady and full of conviction.I swallowed the lump in my throat and returned his smile, though mine trembled
Aurora’s P.O.VThe room fell silent, each of them looking at me, waiting for me to say something—anything—that could explain the rush of emotions, the overwhelming sense of confusion and fear that had taken root inside of me.But there were no words. Just the steady pulse of something deep within, something ancient, rising to the surface, and I knew, deep down, that my life was never going to be the same again.I sat there, frozen, listening to Maggie's words sink into me like cold stone. The air between us felt thick with tension as her voice echoed in my ears. It was like I couldn't escape it, like I was drowning in the revelation. But now, as she spoke, I felt like a stranger to the world I thought I knew."I didn't believe it at first," Maggie continued, her voice trembling slightly. She was nervous, but I couldn’t blame her. I wasn’t sure if I could even trust myself with what she was saying. "But one night, during the Witching Hour, I had been sneaking through the corridors of H
Aurora’s P.O.VThe dining room soon filled with more and more people. The familiar sight of the patrol guards returning from their night shifts brought back memories of what my life was like here at the pack house, and I began to feel more at ease.Ashton and Maggie brought out plates of their own, piling up food to their liking as they joined us once again. It was actually delightful to see that Caleb got along well with Ashton, and so did Jade and Damien. It felt comfortable having all of them around, like my family was growing.I hesitated, a new thought forming in my mind, a realization that made my heart stutter. If I was half-priestess, then my brother—he had to be, too. I looked up, meeting Ashton’s gaze. "Ashton…what about my brother? If I am half-priestess, then that means he must be the same. Right?"Ashton sighed, rubbing a hand over his jaw as if trying to find the right words. "He is," he admitted. "But with a diluted bloodline, his connection is much weaker. It’s possib
Aurora’s P.O.VThe rooftop dining area was illuminated by the soft glow of fairy lights, their golden hues casting delicate shadows over the elegantly set tables. The scent of freshly grilled food filled the air, mixing with the faintest hint of jasmine from the potted plants lining the terrace. As I stepped out onto the rooftop, Caroline by my side, a wave of nostalgia washed over me. This place had always been special to me, a quiet escape where Caleb and I had spent countless evenings talking about everything and nothing. But tonight, it wasn’t just Caleb waiting for me.Laughter and the clinking of glasses rang through the night as I took in the sight before me—my friends, my half-siblings, all gathered in what appeared to be a grand celebration. A mixture of warmth and unease settled in my chest. I turned to Caleb, who was standing near the railing, his easy smile making my heart ache in a way I couldn’t quite explain.“What is all this?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper
Aurora’s P.O.VI had been drinking for hours, the alcohol buzzing through my veins, loosening up everything inside me. The world around me felt distant, as if I were floating, detached from the noise and chaos of the party. Caleb was beside me, always near, his eyes locked on mine in a way that made me feel like I was the only one in the room. My head spun, but in the best way.I couldn't help but sway to the music, my body moving with a rhythm I didn’t care to control. Caleb was watching me, his lips curling into that familiar, mischievous grin, and before I even realized what I was doing, I was pulling him closer, my hands finding his chest. “You look so damn good,” I mumbled, my voice slurring just a little.He chuckled softly, his fingers lightly brushing against my neck, sending a shiver down my spine.“You’re more intoxicating than anything I’ve had tonight,” he murmured, his lips grazing the sensitive skin of my neck. My breath caught in my throat, and I let out a soft gasp, fe
Caleb’s P.O.VMy hands trembled impatiently, but I forced myself to calm down. It was her first…our first. And I didn’t want to ruin it by being hasty.I wanted to savor every moment, feel every nook and cranny and engrave her form into my very soul.Maybe it was the fact that I had come so close to losing her not so long ago, or maybe it was just frustration that the mating bond hadn’t been able to connect for so long…but I decided to hell with patience once and for all. Aurora was now eighteen and she was ready for me. And there was nothing in the world that was stopping us from being together now.I snaked an arm around her nape and crashed my lips to hers. The want to claim her flooded my veins instantly, surprising me with it’s intensity. Maybe it was because Aurora had just gotten back from another near-death experience, or maybe it was just because I was so in love with her that I could no longer go on another day before claiming her as my mate, but any reservations I might hav
Aurora’s P.O.VWhen I wake up the next morning, the first thing I notice is the warmth enveloping me, the steady rhythm of Caleb’s breathing beside me, and the way his arms instinctively tighten around me as if afraid I might slip away. But then, something strange happens—something I’ve never experienced before. A sudden rush of emotions floods my mind, a mixture of overwhelming love and deep contentment, a longing so fierce it almost steals my breath. But they aren’t mine. They don’t belong to me.I squeeze my eyes shut, my heart pounding as the emotions swirl inside me, unfamiliar yet achingly intimate. And then, as if a door in my mind has opened, I hear it. His voice. Soft and loving, whispering words I can’t quite make out, but the message is clear. Stay. Just like this. Forever.I stiffen slightly, and Caleb must sense it because his arms loosen around me just enough for me to turn my head and look up at him. As if he feels my gaze, his lashes flutter, and his deep blue eyes ope
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