Caleb’s P.O.VI held Caroline close as her shoulders shook, her quiet sobs muffled against my chest. I didn’t say a word; just let my arms circle her tightly, drawing her in as if I could shield her from whatever had broken her down like this.She gripped my shirt, clutching it as though it was her only anchor, and I felt her trembling ease, bit by bit, as the moments passed. My hand moved up and down her back slowly, and I rested my chin on her head, letting her release it all without questions, without interruptions.Her breathing, sharp and ragged at first, gradually softened, and I felt the tension leave her as she finally stilled. It broke my heart to see my best friend like this, but I gave her time to get herself together before I asked any questions.It took time, but eventually, she pulled away, swiping at her tear-streaked cheeks, looking anywhere but at me. Her eyes were red-rimmed, her expression shattered, yet in that fleeting moment of silence between us, I could see she
Aurora’s P.O.VI walked slowly, my feet feeling like they were sinking into the ground with every step I took. My heart weighed heavily in my chest, almost as if it was begging me to turn around, to go back and confront him once and for all, to lay everything out. But what would I say to them without sounding like a jealous woman trying to destroy friendship?Caleb and Caroline—just the thought of the two of them together twisted my stomach into knots.They’d assured me, over and over, that there was nothing between them, that whatever they shared was purely platonic, but it was impossible to shake the feeling that something was there, lingering just below the surface, something I couldn’t see but felt in every look they shared, every moment I caught them laughing together.My mind spun as I replayed those moments in my head, trying to convince myself that I was just being paranoid, that I was overthinking everything, and that Caleb was my mate, chosen by the Moon Goddess with a bond
Caleb’s P.O.VThe moment we stepped out of the clearing behind the school and rushed toward the stadium, I could feel my heartbeat hammering in fear, worry for Aurora’s safety pulsating through my veins. Panic began to claw at me, an overwhelming need to find her taking control.Caroline was close behind me, her urgency matching my own. People were crowding around, all engrossed in the ongoing award ceremony, unaware of the turmoil churning inside me.My eyes darted through the stadium, scanning the faces in the sea of people, yet there was no sign of Aurora.My pulse quickened further, a strange dread curling up in the pit of my stomach. I tried to reach out to her, feeling for the bond that had tied us together since the moment I marked her, but—nothing. It was like a wall had been erected between us, shutting me out completely. Her scent, usually so vibrant and comforting, had vanished from the air, leaving a hollow void in its place."Did you say something to her before we went to
Caleb’s P.O.VI lowered Caroline carefully to the ground, whispering a quick, “Stay here,” before I spun around and charged toward Damien. He body was bent over Aurora, looming, his face twisted with an anger that only fueled mine. With a roar, I kicked him off of her, sending him sprawling backward before throwing myself onto him, fists already swinging.I didn’t even give him a chance to speak—one punch after another, left and right, just like he’d done to me in the field after the match, but this time, I wasn’t holding back.“This is how you get back at me, huh?” I growled, each word punctuated with a blow. “You can’t win a fight, so you go after my mate?”Damien raised his hands defensively, trying to shield himself, but I could see the flicker of confusion and desperation in his eyes as he struggled under my fists. “Caleb, stop—” he gasped, his voice strained, barely audible over the pounding of my heart in my ears. “It’s not like that… I didn’t mean… Check on your mate!”“Like h
Caleb’s P.O.VThe packhouse loomed ahead as I got out of the car and rushed toward it, carrying Aurora while Damien walked beside me with Caroline in his arms. We made it past the gates, handing my mate over to the waiting healers, just like I knew they would be at my father’s command.Alpha Camden had a way of ensuring everything was in place before I could even ask, and this time, I was thankful for my father’s efficient ways. As we neared the doors, he stepped forward, his gaze hardening as he looked over both Aurora and Caroline, clearly assessing their condition before anything else."What happened, Caleb?" His tone was demanding but calm, a practiced combination that rarely failed to pull answers from anyone. "Where did you find them?"I shook my head and quickly replied, "It was actually Damien who found Aurora, Dad. He’s the one you should be asking."As the healers approached, I saw Damien’s hand linger on Caroline’s shoulder for a second longer than necessary before he final
Caleb’s P.O.VI stood there, watching as the reality of the situation sank into everyone’s expressions, each face frozen with a mix of horror and disbelief. The idea of a three-day-old corpse just showing up here, at our school of all places, seemed so utterly insane that I almost felt like I was trapped in some twisted nightmare.And right in front of Aurora, no less. How the hell did this happen? Alpha Camden was the first to speak, breaking the stunned silence with a low, serious tone that carried the weight of authority and relief."It’s good no humans were around," he said, crossing his arms with a grim frown. "If anyone outside our circle had seen that... well, it would’ve been a much more difficult situation to contain."Damien, still processing, looked between Alpha Camden and me, his expression bordering on outrage and confusion. "Are you sure this isn’t some kind of sick prank?" he asked, his eyes narrowing."Maybe someone’s messing with Aurora, bullying her, trying to scare
Aurora’s P.O.VI woke up gasping, my chest heaving as if I’d been running for miles. Cold sweat trickled down my face, and my hands instinctively clutched at my head, pain searing through it like a jagged knife.For a moment, the world was a blur, the echoes of voices and the distant hum of machines melding into one cacophony. My breath came in shallow bursts, and I was too disoriented to distinguish reality from the vivid nightmare clawing at my mind.“Aurora!” Caleb’s voice cut through the fog like a lifeline. His hands were on my shoulders, firm yet gentle, shaking me just enough to ground me.“Hey, hey, it’s okay. You’re safe. Look at me. Aurora, look at me!”I blinked, my vision sharpening as I met his concerned eyes. The fear in them mirrored the turmoil I felt inside, and for a moment, I wasn’t sure if I was still in that school parking lot, trapped in suffocating grip of that shadow. My hands trembled as I reached out to touch Caleb’s arm, needing to feel something solid, some
Aurora’s P.O.VI couldn’t feel my legs as Caleb held onto me, his arm steadying me as I stumbled forward, each step dragging me closer to the reality I didn’t want to face. He’d tried to talk me out of this, his voice firm but edged with the kind of worry that made my chest ache."Aurora, you don’t have to do this," he’d said, his hand squeezing mine just enough to anchor me. But I couldn’t listen. I’d insisted. I had to see him. The thought of not looking at him one last time, was unbearable. So here I was, my insides hollow, my breath catching with every sterile, metallic-scented step toward the morgue. Caleb was silent beside me, and though I could feel the tension in his every movement, he didn’t argue further.The healer greeted us with a somber nod, her eyes flicking between me and Caleb, her lips pressed into a thin line. I couldn’t meet her gaze for long; it felt too much like acknowledging the truth I still wasn’t ready to accept. She led the way, her steps careful, deliberat
Aurora’s P.O.VMy heart was pounding in my chest, each beat echoing louder than the last as Caleb’s lips met mine. It started soft, almost hesitant, but quickly turned into something more intense, more consuming. I tangled my fingers in his hair, pulling him closer, needing more. His hands, strong and steady, gripped my waist, then slid up my back, leaving a trail of warmth wherever he touched.Every nerve in my body felt like it was buzzing, my skin tingling and burning under his touch. The kiss deepened, his tongue teasing mine, and I could barely think beyond the rush of sensations flooding me.A soft moan escaped my lips as I pressed myself against him, feeling his warmth and strength. My hands roamed over his shoulders, down his chest, unable to get enough. I was drowning in the taste of him, the feel of him. It was overwhelming, addictive. I’d never felt so alive, so on fire. Caleb’s hand slid under the robe, his fingers grazing my skin, and I shivered, arching into his touch. M
Caleb’s P.O.VI had no idea what else to do, so I led Aurora back to my room instead of hers. It felt safer this way, like keeping her close would keep her out of harm's reach, at least for the moment. "Here," I said, handing her a towel."You should dry your hair off." I tried to keep my voice steady, though everything felt off, like I was walking a razor-thin line. Aurora took the towel from me without a word and started dabbing at her damp hair."You can head to the bathroom while I find you something to change into," I added, feeling like I had to keep busy, to keep my mind off the fact that I had her in my room. I turned to leave, but just as I opened the door to head out, I heard her voice."Caleb?"I paused, glancing over my shoulder at her. Her eyes locked with mine, the vulnerability in them almost too much to bear."Yeah?" I asked, trying to sound calm."I... I need you," she said, her voice low, but desperate, and it hit me like a punch to the gut. "Please... help me forget
Aurora’s P.O.VI opened my eyes, gasping for air, but all I could feel was the pressure in my chest, the burning sensation in my lungs as the water surrounded me. I tried to flail my arms, desperate to push myself up, but it was like the water was pulling me deeper. Panic surged through me. I can't breathe, I can't breathe, my mind screamed, the darkness creeping in at the edges of my vision. I didn't know where I was, or if anyone could hear me, or if anyone would find me in time.I could barely make sense of anything, but just as I thought I was about to slip under for good, I felt something—a hand, warm and firm, grabbing mine. Who...? Before I could make sense of it, I was being yanked up, and the water rushed off of my face as my head broke the surface. My body was pulled upward, and with a sharp inhale, I was suddenly hoisted onto the side of the pool. I coughed, sputtering, my body shaking as I tried to steady myself, gasping for air like it was the first time I’d ever had it.
Aurora’s P.O.VI woke up with a jolt, my body drenched in cold sweat. My heart hammered in my chest, and I was gasping for breath, the dark, suffocating feeling of my nightmare still lingering around me. My eyes darted around, but all I could see was blackness. No light, no sounds—just that endless void. Panic flooded through me, and I fought against the overwhelming sense of being trapped. I couldn’t let it take me again. I couldn’t stay in that place, that dark abyss.I tried to stand, but something was different. My feet met solid ground. Soft, familiar ground. Slowly, I blinked, trying to make sense of it all. I wasn't standing in the dark anymore. I wasn't in the place I had been before. I was... lying down? My hands brushed over the fabric beneath me, and the realization hit me like a punch to the gut.This wasn’t my room.I sat up, confusion clouding my mind. The room around me came into focus, a slow, creeping clarity. It was small, cozy, and had a certain warmth to it, someth
Caroline’s P.O.VI sat across from Alpha Camden, my mind racing as I tried to piece everything together."But…Alpha Camden, this seems impossible," I began, my voice shaky but determined. "For so long, we couldn't make sense of the whole Lunar Sisters theory. I mean, Aurora’s human. How could she possibly be tied to me in that way, right? There’s no way she could be my Lunar Sister, not with her being... human."Alpha Camden leaned forward, his eyes locked on mine. "But you're starting to think there's something more to it, aren't you?"I nodded slowly, trying to keep my thoughts in order as I spoke. "Yes. At first, I couldn't wrap my head around it. But now, everything we've learned, everything that’s been happening, it might actually make sense." I paused, my voice growing more intense with each word."If it was a witch, someone tied to use magic, then that could explain everything. Maybe that person was connected to Aurora, in some way. And that’s why they targeted her father, hopi
Caroline’s P.O.VI watched in silence as Alpha Camden stepped forward, his commanding presence filling the room. He gestured toward the door, and in walked a woman—at first glance, she looked like any ordinary middle-aged woman. Her pale skin and platinum blonde hair were unremarkable, but there was something about her, an energy that I couldn't quite place. She had an aura that made me feel unsettled, like she wasn’t quite human.Alpha Camden’s voice broke through my thoughts. “This is Harmona,” he said, his tone respectful.“She’s a witch, and she’s here to help us understand something we’ve found. The symbol we discovered on the body of Aurora’s father.”I glanced at the others, but my eyes kept returning to Harmona. She didn’t speak right away. Instead, she stood there, observing us with an intensity that made me feel like she was weighing each of us, seeing straight through to our core.Finally, she spoke, her voice smooth, almost melodic. “I’ve studied the symbol,” she began, he
Caroline’s P.O.VAs soon as the car skidded to a stop in front of the pack house, I barely waited for the engine to turn off before I was out, my feet hitting the ground hard and fast. “Hey! Slow down, Care!” Jade shouted after me, his longer strides catching up with mine effortlessly.“Jade, you don’t understand! If he knows—if they know, this is bad. This is so, so bad!” My voice cracked, and I hated the way my panic was bleeding through, but it was impossible to hold it back. My legs felt like jelly, but I didn’t stop moving. I couldn’t.“You’re not going in there alone. I said I’ve got your back, and I meant it.” His voice was steady, calm—so unlike my own frantic rambling. He gripped my arm for just a second to slow me down, but I yanked it free, practically sprinting up the stairs leading to the Alpha’s office.“You don’t get it, Jade!” I snapped over my shoulder. “This isn’t about whether someone has my back. If Alpha Camden knows, if my dad—” My throat tightened, cutting off
Aurora’s P.O.VI didn’t know how it happened, not really. One moment, Caleb and I were sitting there, our eyes locked, the silence between us loaded with something unspoken but palpable. Then, without a second thought, I leaned in, and his lips met mine. It was warm, electrifying, and utterly intoxicating. My entire world narrowed down to that moment—Caleb's arms wrapping around me, pulling me closer as if he never wanted to let go. The way his hand gently rested against the small of my back sent shivers racing up my spine. For the first time in forever, I felt fearless, as if nothing else mattered. But then, like a cruel interruption, the shrill sound of a phone ringing sliced through the quiet. It felt jarring, almost offensive, in its timing. Caleb and I broke apart, breathless, our gazes darting everywhere except at each other. Jade rose from his seat at the table, muttering something about it being an important call, and stepped away to answer it. The absence of his presence onl
Aurora’s P.O.VI step forward, my gaze hard, my voice cold. "Step aside," I tell the girls, my tone leaving no room for negotiation."I have nothing to say to you, and I certainly don’t owe you any explanations. So move."But Taylor takes a step toward me, her eyes narrowed. I feel the air shift before she even speaks, the challenge in her eyes obvious."You think you can just walk in here and act like you're above all of us now?" she sneers, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Just because you’ve changed your hair, changed your clothes, doesn’t mean you’ve changed your place."Before I can process what’s happening, she raises her hand and slaps me across the face. The sting is sharp, but I’m too stunned to move for a second. I cradle my cheek in disbelief, my fingers trembling for a moment. Did she really just...?But as I turn to look at the girls, they both seem to have a look of smug satisfaction on their face, like they had just won the lottery. Their confidence in doing something