Aurora’s P.O.VThe first rays of sunlight seeped into the room, warm and golden, coaxing me out of the remnants of my sleep. As I stirred, I became aware of something firm and steady holding me. Blinking a few times, I slowly tilted my head upwards and found myself staring into Caleb’s eyes. He was already awake, watching me with a gentle expression that made my heart ache in a way I couldn’t quite describe."You're awake," he said softly, his voice carrying a warmth that made my chest tighten.I swallowed, my throat still scratchy from the night before. "Have you been awake this whole time?" I asked, moving myself closer to his warmth.He nodded, brushing a stray strand of hair away from my face. "I couldn’t sleep. I wanted to keep watch over you in case you had another nightmare. I didn’t want to take any chances, not after everything that happened."My breath hitched, and a lump formed in my throat. He had stayed up for me? I reached out instinctively, wrapping my arms around him a
Caleb’s P.O.VIt was there again, that strange, unshakable connection between Aurora and Caroline. I couldn’t pretend I didn’t notice it this time. The way they seemed to feel each other’s pain, the silent exchange of thoughts that didn’t require words—it was eerie. It wasn’t just a coincidence; it couldn’t be. But how the hell was I supposed to bring this up to her? After everything Aurora had already been through, dropping another unexplainable bomb on her felt...wrong.Still, it gnawed at me. Should I tell her? Should I explain what I've noticed? Should I tell her what our friends and I had discovered not long ago about the Lunar Sisters?I sat on the edge of the bed, running my fingers through my hair, debating with myself. What good would it do to burden her with more questions when neither of us had answers? I sighed, looking over at her as she lay there, her face peaceful for once, her chest rising and falling steadily. It hit me then—what she needed wasn’t more mysteries to so
Aurora’s P.O.VCaleb’s lips pressed into a thin line as he forced himself to smile, and he shook his head, but his eyes betrayed him. They were filled with worry.“It’s nothing,” he said quickly, his tone too rushed, even though he tried to mask it with a smile. “You’re just overthinking it, Aurora. You’ve been through a lot recently and maybe that’s overwhelming you.”But Caleb’s shocked expression earlier had only solidifies the unease swirling in my chest. I don’t need him to say anything; I can feel it in the silence between us, the way his eyes dart like he’s trying to make sense of something impossible.I knew I had said something to freak him out, but I just didn’t know what it was. Maybe it was the fact that I could feel the bond in a way that didn’t seem possible even two days ago? But the sensation was fleeting. It came and went in pulses, just like now, when Caleb’s emotions seemed to be completely shielded from me, unlike just a minute ago when I got this clear idea that h
Caleb’s P.O.VI push open the door to the game room, stepping inside to find Caroline, Jade, and Damien already waiting. Caroline’s eyes immediately snap to me, her expression sharp, expectant.“Where’s Aurora? Is she suspicious of anything yet?”I close the door behind me, offering a reassuring smile. “She’s with Riley. Helping him with his schoolwork. She doesn’t know yet.”Caroline doesn't seem entirely convinced, but she nods, her gaze flicking to the others in the room. "Good. We can’t let her know just yet. We need to find solid proof before we tell her about our suspicions."“Wild guesses, you mean.” Jade sighs, but Caroline decides to ignore him.I shift on my feet, glancing around the game room. My gaze eventually lands on Damien, who’s lounging casually, but the tension in his body says otherwise."So, what's with him still hanging around here?" I gesture toward Damien, a slight frown pulling at my lips. "Won't your parents get suspicious with him being here all the time?"J
Caleb’s P.O.VI slammed the car door behind me, staring up at Aurora’s house, feeling the weight of the situation press down on me. The old, rundown house loomed ahead of us, containing mysteries yet to be deciphered. I looked over at Damien, already halfway out of the car."You can wait here," I muttered, trying to keep my voice even. "I’ll investigate inside. This doesn’t involve you."Damien paused and shot me a look, like he wasn’t going to let me off the hook that easily."Caroline told me we’re doing this together," he said as he got out of the car and came to stand in front of me. "She wants us to bond over this mission. She’s counting on us, for our future."I felt my blood start to boil, frustration bubbling up like a wave. I grabbed Damien by the collar, yanking him closer with a firm grip before slamming his back against the car, unable to hold back my anger any longer."Look, I’ve let you fuck around with our situation long enough, but this is my mate’s house," I hissed th
Caleb’s P.O.VI exchanged a glance with Damien, his expression mirroring my unease as we moved further down the hallway. The air was thick, oppressive, carrying the unmistakable stench of decay.My footfalls stirred up dust from the floor, which was coated in a gritty layer of dirt. I reached out to steady myself against the wall, but immediately drew my hand back in disgust—the surface was slick with dampness, streaked with black mold, and dotted with cobwebs that seemed to move, as if alive."This place just keeps getting worse," I muttered, my voice strained. I adjusted my grip on the wall to steady myself; the darkness here had us both using our wolf’s vision. "How the hell did it get like this? It’s like no one’s been here in decades."Damien, walking slightly ahead of me, paused and turned. His sharp gaze flickered over the mold-covered walls before resting on me."You know," he said, his tone ominous, "black mold isn't normal for a human house. It implies something deeper.”“Wh
Caleb’s P.O.VThe sight of it made my chest tighten, the soft pastel curtains and the neatly made bed a stark contrast to the chaos outside.This was Aurora’s room…I could scent her from every corner, as if she had only just left this room. Thankfully, it wasn’t empty like the room downstairs, but the simplicity of it all didn’t sit right with me.The room was tiny, barely having space for a single bed, a tiny study desk and a closet. It felt like a sharp contrast to the vastly different lives we had been living before we even met. And it made me feel even more guilty about how I had ignored her, scorned her before the Moon Goddess made me realize she was my mate.Damien must have noticed my hesitation, so he strode forward to take action.“We can’t stay here,” Damien said; his voice hoarse as he slammed the door shut, keeping the fire at bay, for now. “The fire will catch up to us any minute now.”“There’s got to be another way out.” He crossed the room in quick strides, heading for
Aurora’s P.O.VSitting cross-legged on the bed, I watched Riley furrow his brows in concentration as he scribbled away on the worksheet in front of him. The room was quiet except for the sound of his pencil scratching against the paper and the occasional frustrated sigh he let out. I chuckled softly and nudged his shoulder."You’ve got this, Riley. Just focus. The answer’s simpler than you think." He glanced at me, his lips pulling into a half-smile, and nodded. It felt nice, moments like these, just the two of us, where I could guide him and feel like I was making a difference in his life. Riley had always looked up to me, and I wanted to be the person he could rely on, no matter what.But then, out of nowhere, a sharp, piercing pain shot through my chest. It wasn’t subtle or gradual—it hit me like a bolt of lightning, making me gasp. My hand instinctively went to my chest, and for a second, I thought my heart had stopped. Riley looked up, his face immediately clouded with concern.“
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