Aurora’s P.O.VI folded my arms, leaning my back against the chair as I watched Caleb shift uncomfortably in his seat. The weight of unspoken words hung heavy between us, thickening the air in the small space. His jaw tightened like he was bracing himself for a fight, but I had no energy left for battles. Not today. Not with him. "Why are you really here, Caleb?" I finally asked, my voice steady, but cool. I was tired of the guessing game, the way he always seemed to walk in and out of my life like he had all the time in the world. Like I’d just be waiting.He exhaled sharply, rubbing the back of his neck. "I wanted to see you," he admitted. "I wanted to—" He hesitated, eyes flickering over my face, searching for something, maybe for a sign that I wouldn’t shut him out. "I wanted to make things better between us, Aurora. And I’m sorry… for bringing up the scholarship like that." I studied him for a moment, letting his words settle in. There was sincerity there, real regret in his ton
Caleb’s P.O.VThe moment I stepped out of the diner, my pulse was already hammering. I didn’t know what I expected to find, but it sure as hell wasn’t this. The park was nearly empty, the crisp night air settling in, and yet, there he was—casually swinging like he belonged here, like he had every right to be in my territory. Damien.His dark eyes gleamed with amusement, the corners of his lips lifting into that irritating smirk as he regarded me. My hands curled into fists at my sides, and I felt my wolf stir restlessly within me, already on edge."Why the hell are you sneaking around and following me?" My voice was sharp, barely restraining the growl beneath it. My patience for him was nonexistent on a good day, and tonight? After everything? I wasn’t in the mood for his bullshit. "Or are you just looking for an excuse to start a fight?"Damien let out a low chuckle, tilting his head back slightly as if this entire situation was amusing to him. "Relax, Caleb," he drawled, pushing off
Aurora’s P.O.VSomething had happened today…something that I wasn’t even aware of.Because…why would he suddenly leave like his tail was on fire if there wasn’t something urgent on his mind? Maybe there was an emergency? Or maybe he had spotted someone outside that window who was his friend? Or maybe that person was a troublemaker he wanted to keep me away from?As soon as that thought entered my head, I shook it to clear my mind off of such rubbish thoughts. Caleb? Keeping me away from troublemakers? The thought was so incredulous that I wanted to laugh. Yeah, he might have come here to try and apologize and make amends, but that didn’t mean he was suddenly my knight in shining armor.But then I remembered Mr. Hemmingway and paused in my thoughts. Caleb had helped me that day…but it was mostly because of Caroline, wasn’t it?Most probably, he thought of me as a charity case to get into some kind of brownie points. Maybe he was doing all this because Caroline was being nice to me? Mayb
Aurora’s P.O.VAfter Jeremy gave out the list, Roan and I headed out to get the groceries in his motorbike. Thankfully, he wasn’t a rough driver and was kind enough to help me up and down the bike as well.However, when we were almost done with the groceries, he looked at the second list with a frown.“Is…everything alright?” I asked, seeing as to how he looked a bit worried.“Did you notice that the address said Uptown, Loudon Street?” He asked me, turning the page in my direction.I nodded, telling him that I had noticed. “Is there something wrong with that?”“Thing is…Uptown itself if pretty posh. Not to mention, Loudon Street is like the Manhattan of Maine.” Roan shook his head. “Why would people from there order food for a birthday from a tiny diner like ours? Especially when they already have some high end restaurants in that particular area?”Upon hearing Roan’s explanation, that sense of foreboding in my stomach only grew stronger.The order was indeed unexpected and the most c
Aurora’s P.O.VNext week came faster than anticipated, and on a Tuesday evening, I bid goodbye to my little brother as he happily skipped over to his friend’s family, to be greeted by his mother fondly before they got into their car and drove off to their house.I had indeed underestimated how popular Riley was in his class. After all, just because the entire town hated me because of my father, didn’t mean that they felt the same about my five year old brother.After heading to work around two in the afternoon, we quickly got to work preparing the bulk order, since everything was to be delivered fresh. After packing and loading up the van, the three of us dressed in the uniform that Jeremy had gotten especially for us and set out to our destination around ten thirty at night, since that was the time allotted by the customer.It was a midnight party and the three of us were to stay to serve the customers until it ended, so we were all prepared for a rough night ahead.The grand houses o
Aurora’s P.O.V“You!” Roan stepped forward at the sight of Shane. “You placed the order in front of me! Why are these people telling us to leave now?”“Because we don’t need food from your low-class restaurant, you fool.” Shane laughed, the sound cruel and full of satisfaction. “We have Michelin star chef’s preparing our dinner for us. But if you want to blame someone, blame that useless bitch right there, for slapping me in front of everyone.”Both Hayden and Roan turned to face me, realization dawning on their faces. I looked down at the ground in shame, unable to face either one of them or their disappointed looks. It was my fault! If only I had kept my enduring a little while longer…if only I had never spoken to Caleb…“You did this out of spite?” It was Roan’s angry voice that had me looking back up at the scene unfolding before me. “You spoiled little brat! You think money grows on trees? But of course, you wouldn’t know, would you? Your parent’s probably never had time to teach
Aurora’s P.O.VI followed behind Shane hesitantly, each step making me feel like I was about to make the biggest mistake of my life. But did I really have a choice now? I couldn’t turn back even if I wanted to. Not when he had already given the full payment to Jeremy and sent them away.Jeremy might have forgiven me after my dad went and threw a tantrum at the restaurant, but this time, I don’t think he’ll be as forgiving. If there was one thing Jeremy hated the most, it was the wastage of food and now, because of me, a hundred orders of burgers and fries would’ve been wasted and given away to the poor and homeless for free. If I hadn’t taken up this ‘job’, then there would’ve been no way I could’ve faced Jeremy again.But now, as I followed Shane inside the humongous mansion that was decorated with balloons, expensive flowers, and lights in perfect arrangements, I felt my hands tremble as I clutched them behind my back, keeping my head bowed so I wouldn’t accidentally make eye contact
Aurora’s P.O.V“W-what…what are you talking a-about?” I asked, my stomach turning in knots at the way she kept on looking at me. Something wasn’t right…I knew it, but I was helpless to stop any of it from happening.“Stop asking questions and get dressed.” She snapped at me. “We bought you for the night, bitch! So you’ll do as we say! No get on with it!”With that, she left the room, and slammed the door shut behind her, making me flinch back in fear.Even after Mia had left me alone, I stood flabbergasted for a good few seconds, unable to move or even think clearly. The dress in my hands felt heavy as lead and when I unraveled it, I felt my heart nearly stop beating.“W-what is this?” I looked at it, stunned.It was a maid’s uniform, but with frills and a bow-tie and a skirt that would barely cover my ass. It was a dress designed to humiliate me, and Shane and Mia wanted nothing more than that…Still, I knew I couldn’t go outside without wearing this. When I saw the closest window in
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 and
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