Aurora’s P.O.VI woke up to a warmth surrounding me on all sides, my mind refreshed and the cool breeze coming in from the open windows.Blinking my eyes open, I looked around my room in a daze as the last vestiges of sleep cleared from my mind.I hadn’t slept like this in forever. I felt well rested and refreshed and I hadn’t felt like this in…forever. I was loving the sensation of the warmth, until I realized…I hadn’t been inside my room when I had fallen asleep.With eyes wide in surprise, and a little worried, I sat up in bed and looked around my room, trying to remember how I got here in the first place. But the reason became painstrikenly clear in a few seconds as my eyes met electric blue ones across the room.“You’re awake.” Caleb got up from the chair next to the window and made his way towards me then, his eyes searching my face for any traces of discomfort. “How are you feeling? You’ve been asleep for almost twelve hours.”“Twelve hours?” My eyes almost popped out of my hea
Aurora’s P.O.VI woke up the next morning, all covered in sweat. It felt like I was sleeping next to a furnace and my entire body was on fire.Opening my eyes groggily, I looked around at what could possibly be the problem. The AC was turned on in full blast…then how could I be sweating like this?That’s when I felt a weight on my waist, a hand casually thrown over me and a body pressed to my back. What on earth…?I almost jumped up from surprise when I saw that Caleb was the one to whom I was sleeping next to.“What the…?” I looked under the covers in horror, but thankfully, I was still fully clothed…and so was Caleb. Then what was going on? How did we…?That’s when the events from last night filtered into my mind. Caleb and I had had dinner together and then he had come into my room so we could have desserts here, ice-cream to be specific. But after we had our ice-cream, Caleb and I had talked for a long time about werewolves and mating bonds…until I had ended up falling asleep agai
Aurora’s P.O.VI paced around my room restlessly, my heart thumping against my ribcage hard enough to leave bruises. But I couldn’t settle down.How? How was this even possible? Caleb was a werewolf? Then how on earth was he sick?Was it…was it because of-“Aura!” Caroline called as she burst in through the doors, and instantly, I was racing into her arms. She held her arms open for me, and I wrapped my arms around her, feeling the comfort of her embrace like a calming balm to my soul.“It’s alright, Aura. Calm down.” Caroline soothed her fingers through my hair as she spoke in a calming voice. “Everything’s gonna be alright.”I nodded against her shoulders, feeling that odd sense of calm wash over me, but it wasn’t long before my worry for Caleb’s health resurfaced and I let go of her and stepped back so I could look her in the eyes. “How is Caleb? Has his fever gone down yet?” I asked her urgently, grabbing onto her shoulders. “Is it…was it something I did? Was it my fault?”“Aura,
Aurora’s P.O.VCaleb’s room was on the other side of the building, on the same floor as me, and I was only just realizing this as Caroline led me down the hall to the left wing of the building.“We all have spare rooms on this floor.” She told me as we walked, pointing to random door and naming who they are supposed to be for. “We don’t really crash here often, since our homes are all within the pack, but on special occasions, we are allowed to have sleepovers. But you know how sleepovers are, no one really sleeps there. We just stay up all night with some booze and game consoles.”Just by looking at her posture, at the way Caroline was suddenly feeling so chatty…I could tell that she was nervous, anxious even. She knew how I had felt about this, that I was still debating if I should stay with Caleb and become his mate, or just give up and disappear from their lives. But I also wasn’t going to abandon Caleb when he needed my help.Caleb had been there for me when I had been the most v
Aurora’s P.O.VA shocked gasp escaped my lips as I found myself on the bed, with Caleb straddling me only a second after I had confessed that I wanted him to mark me.I blinked up at him, watching him climb on top of me, his body still a furnace, but somehow, it was now bearable. I raised my arms, so he could come closer and he came willingly, letting me place my hands on his shoulders, drawing him closer. “You smell so good.” He whispered, his voice sounding hoarser than before. “Are you sure you want this, Aurora? Because I can wait. I want to wait till you’re ready.”“No…” I whispered, my voice trembling with the force of my emotions. “I want this now, Caleb. I don’t want to see you suffer anymore.”“You know…these past few hours…I thought about everything you had been through all your life,” Caleb suddenly commented, making me still on the bed under him. “All the pain, the hardship…and to think how I had been one of the people who had made your life miserable…I deserve this, Aura
Aurora’s P.O.VJust like the first time I had kissed him…this one felt just as overwhelming, just as charged with unexpected tension. I held onto him tighter as Caleb leaned down into the kiss, pressing some of his weight down onto me as if to hold me in place.His kiss ignited a fire within me, a desire I hadn't expected.Caleb pressed me back onto the bed; his lips moving on top of mine with a fervour that I hadn’t anticipated. I could feel his hands exploring my body, igniting sensations that sent shivers down my spine. The connection between us seemed to intensify with each passing moment, overpowering any rational thoughts I had.His touch awakened a hunger within me that I didn’t know existed, and I began to explore him just as he was exploring me, my hands tracing the contours of his body as the passion between us escalated.Every cell in my body seemed to come alive at his touch, consuming me whole. It was as if I was no longer in control of my own body, my own emotions.Caleb
Caleb’s P.O.VI took a deep breath as I stood outside Aurora’s door, an almost surreal feeling in my gut as I raised my hands to knock on the door.It was two days after…err…the incident, where I had marked Aurora as my mate and I could feel the bond pulsating between us, a golden thread that was as alive as the bond slowly growing between Aurora and me.I didn’t like how the Rut had made me vulnerable and caused me to ultimately mark Aurora, but in the end, fate played its hand and now, there was no denying what we meant for each other.“I’m coming! Hold on!” Aurora’s voice sounded from the other side of the door, before she opened it with a huge smile…that dropped as soon as she saw me, and her face contorted into a look of concern. “Caleb?”“Hi…umm…were you expecting someone else?” I asked, knowing full well that she had actually been expecting Caroline.“Yes…umm…nevermind…” she gave me a small smile, before moving away from the door. “How are you feeling? Is it okay for you to mov
Aurora’s P.O.VI felt my heart thrash uncontrollably in my chest at his offer. Was he serious? The mere thought of going back to school itself was terrifying, but college?I honestly never had any plans on going to college all my life. When we were still living at my father’s house, the only thought on my mind was to get the hell out of town as soon as I finished school and take Riley with me, so I could get a better job somewhere else, even if it was at a McDonalds or some other fast-food joint as a waitress or a cleaner, and hope that Riley had a better shot at a future than I ever did.But now…with Caleb sitting in front of me, offering me a dream that had seemed impossible all my life…I didn’t know if I was capable of doing what he said.Unconsciously, my hand went to my neck, the place where Caleb had marked me. The crescent moon shaped mark was now a permanent tattoo on my skin, but it was tiny, almost invisible to the naked eyes unless someone was paying close attention. But wh
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