Caleb’s P.O.V ‘Thank you, Caroline!’ I told her mentally. ‘I owe you one.’‘You better remember that, brat!’ Came her snapped reply.Okay…so I may or may not have indicated to Care that I wanted to spend some time alone with Aurora, and I did own her a big one for this.“Sure.” I grinned at her before jumping onto the bed and turning to face Riley. “Hey buddy, what are you up to?”Riley looked up at me with a big smile. “Naming colors! I just learned to spell scarlet.”“Wow.” I blinked a couple times. “Why not just go with red?”“Our teacher told us to learn synonyms.” He shrugged before going back to scribble on his notebook.“You can call it a day now, Riles,” she took the books from him and placed them aside while bringing out the snacks. “Let’s all have a snack.”“Yayy!” Riley attacked the snacks almost immediately, making both of us smile.It was only after we were at the end of our ‘snack time’, that I told Aurora what had been on my mind for the longest time.“Aura…before you f
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 wha
Aurora’s P.O.VI felt fingers under my chin, lifting my face up to meet his. “I’m sorry,” Caleb told me, his eyes gazing into mine with a mix of emotions I couldn’t really name. “I didn’t mean to upset you.”“I know,” I told him, managing a half-hearted smile. “But what you told me is the truth…and I needed to hear that.”Sighing, I took his hands in mine, realizing that I had been an utter fool all this time for believing what anyone else told me. “You’re my mate,” I said, feeling a weight in my chest that I needed to get out. “And I should’ve listened to you instead of believing anyone else. But I was stupid enough to fall into Mia’s trap and I’m sorry for that…sorry for the distance that I put between us.”“Hey,” Caleb pulled me closer, holding me in his arms as I felt the warmth of his embrace, the familiar scent of his. “You’re not stupid. You had been thrust into the supernatural world in the blink of an eye and we’ve been info dumping on you things that we had known since our ch
Aurora’s P.O.VWhen Caleb and I finally came back to the packhouse, it was well past midnight and we were both covered in sand, wet to our bones.Caleb’s majestic fur now stuck to his body and with all the sand and dirt covered all over him…he looked no better than a wet dog in desperate need for a bath.But that wasn’t the problem. It was finding Caroline standing in front of my room, in her jammies and her arms crossed over her chest as she tapped her foot on the floor, a murderous look on her face.“Caroline…um…” I scratched the back of my neck, looking down at Caleb, who wore a smug expression on his face. Wait…could wolves even look smug?“Oh, wipe that smirk off you bitch!” Caroline stomped her foot on the floor before moving forward to catch a hold of Caleb’s ear and twisting it hard, and I had the pleasure of hearing the big-bad wolf, whine like a baby. “A notice would’ve sufficed, Cal! But noooo! You had to keep me waiting here for half an hour! Is this what I get for helping
Aurora’s P.O.VIt immediately dawned on me that the words I had used so casually could actually translate to such a sexual meaning if you listen to it closely. I felt my cheeks heat up from embarrassment as Caroline continued to dry my hair.“It’s alright,” she gave me a soft pat on the head. “You didn’t know.”“I guess I need to be careful of what I say from now on.” I sighed. “Sorry about that.”“No need to apologize.” Caroline sighed. “By the way, when is your birthday, exactly? We never got around to discussing it with you. I just know that we’re both underaged and I’m guessing that we have the same birth month? But what’s the date?”I looked down at my hands on my lap, the room suddenly growing tense as I felt my throat closing in. “I…I don’t…know.”Caroline’s hand stopped combing through my hair, just as the sound of the dryer died down as well. “You…don’t know your own birthday?” She asked, incredulity colouring her voice. “Aurora…?”“I mean…it’s complicated.” I sighed, running
Aurora’s P.O.V“Caleb…I don’t think it’s a good idea.” I swallowed nervously as I watched the school gates approach from a distance. “Maybe…I should’ve just stayed behind…”“Aura…you promised to be there for my game.” Caleb turned to give me his ‘puppy-eyes’, his lips pouting as he brought the car to a halt in his usual parking spot. “Are you really going to go back on your promise?”I turned to face him, wondering how he had managed to maneuver the car right into the parking while still giving me that look, but I couldn’t help it when he gave me those glossy eyes.Sighing, I reached forward on instinct and pressed my lips to his cheek, making Caleb freeze for a second…before a wide grin spread across his face.“Can I bribe you with that and just stay in the car?” This time, I was the one who pouted my lips and blinked innocently up at him, making Caleb throw back his head laughing.“No a chance,” he chuckled, before unbuckling the seatbelt. “You’ll be a lot more than a cheek kiss to c
Aurora’s P.O.VA low growling noise came from beside me and I was surprised to see Caleb step in front of me, his hand shooting out to black me as if he was trying to keep Damien away from me. I think Damien noticed the gesture as well, but instead of backing away, his eyes met mine from across the parking space, and I saw a smirk cover his lips as Caleb let out yet another growl, louder this time.“Cal,” Jade’s voice was harsh, a warning, and I realized that several spectators had actually stopped in their track to see what was going on. Shit! If Caleb did something stupid now…Quickly, I placed my hand on his arm, feeling the heat radiating off of his body. Caleb didn’t instantly back down, his shoulders were rigid and he still stood before me like an armored knight, but somehow I knew he was less tense than before.“It’s alright,” I whispered, hoping that my words would get through to him. Hoping that he would know that Damien was trying to provoke him, and that he shouldn’t fall fo
Aurora’s P.O.VI froze, the world around me coming to a sudden halt as the words registered in my mind.Dead? Did they really think…I was dead?Caroline must have heard it too, because just like with Caleb before, I heard her let out a low growl, her lips pulled back over her teeth as her eyes began to glow an eerie amber.“Caroline.” I immediately took her hand in mine, squeezing them for reassurance. “It’s not worth it.”But apparently, the girl who had just spewed those malicious words, wasn’t alone.“I know right!” Another voice chimed in, sounding exasperated. “I mean…she left already, for god’s sake! So why come back?”“She gets scholarship from our school fees anyway! What a waste of space!”I was tempted to turn back and give this bitch a piece of my mind, but I held my tongue. It really wasn’t my problem that ‘they’ had a problem with me. And besides, it’s not like they would say anything new that I hadn’t already heard.If I was still the Aurora from a month ago, then these s
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