CHAPTER 5

Aurora POV

6 YEARS LATER.

I I stared numbly as they lowered my father's casket into the ground. The crowd's tears and wailing felt far away, like I was watching everything through thick glass. They spoke of his leadership, his strength, his dedication to the pack-empty words that meant nothing now.

Her call had come three days ago, her voice breaking as she told me Dad had suffered a heart attack. "He asked for you," she'd said. "In his final moments, he asked for you." The words should have shattered me, but I felt nothing. Six years of silence had turned whatever love remained into something cold and hard.

I shifted uncomfortably in my black dress, the weight of stares burning into my back. The prodigal daughter returned at last.

Some of them whispered behind their hands; no doubt I could hear them.

“She doesn’t even look upset.”

“Six years and she doesn't care.”

“Alpha Richard did everything for her, and this is how she repays him?”

If only they knew what it was like to be cast out, to rebuild a life from nothing.

Thunder rumbled overhead, matching my mood. Perfect funeral weather, I thought bitterly, watching pack members huddle closer under their umbrellas. I remained where I was, letting the first drops of rain hit my face. It felt fitting, nature mourning what I couldn't.

"Aurora." My mother ran to catch up with me, heading toward my car. Her fingers quivered as she seized my arm. "Please, don't leave like that."

"Like what, Mom?" I turned to face her, taking in the new lines around her eyes, the grey streaking her dark hair. "Quick and clean, like ripping off a bandage? Isn't that better than dragging it out?"

"He was your father." Her voice cracked. "Whatever happened between you—"

"What happened?" I laughed, the sound sharp and bitter. "You mean when he called me a whore in front of the entire family? When he threw me out with nothing but the clothes on my back?"

"He was angry. We all were. But he regretted it, Aurora. Every day until—"

"Until what? Until he was dying? That's convenient, isn't it?" I pulled away from her grip. "Six years, Mom. Six years without a word, without a call, without even trying to find out if I was okay. But now that he's gone, suddenly everyone wants to play happy family?"

Tears spilled down her cheeks. "Please. Just stay a few days. Dmitry... he's trying to make things right. The pack needs—"

"The pack?" I cut her off. "The pack stopped being my concern the day Dad made his choice. I have my own life now. My own—" I stopped myself before mentioning my son. They'd lost that right long ago.

"Aurora, please." She reached for me again. "Things are different now. Dmitry is negotiating an alliance with Silver Creek. We could be strong again, united. He wants you to be part of it."

"Good for Dmitry." I pulled my car keys from my purse. "I hope it works out for all of you."

I made it to my car, sliding behind the wheel before the tears could fall. Six years hadn't made it easier, coming back here. Every tree, every building held memories I'd tried so hard to forget.

The drive to the pack border was familiar, muscle memory taking over as I navigated the winding roads. I was almost there, almost free, when I saw the checkpoint ahead. Two guards stepped out, hands raised.

"Miss Aurora." The older guard, Derek, approached my window. I remembered him from before, he'd always snuck me extra cookies at pack gatherings. "I'm afraid we can't let you pass.”

"What?" I clutched the steering wheel tighter. "What is this? You can't let me leave?”

"Alpha's orders." The other guard, younger and unfamiliar, stood straighter. "No one is to leave pack territory without explicit permission until further notice."

"Come on, Derek," I tried reasoning. "You used to sneak me extra dessert at pack gatherings. You really going to keep me here against my will?"

"It's not like that, Aurora," he shifted uncomfortably. "Things are... complicated right now."

"Complicated how?" I challenged.

"Because from where I'm sitting, it looks like forced confinement."

The younger guard stepped forward. "Watch your tone when speaking about pack matters."

I turned to him slowly. "And you are?"

"Beta Lance," he straightened. "And you'd do well to remember—"

"That I don't give a damn about your new rank or Dmitry's orders?" I cut him off. "I stopped being pack property the day they threw me out."

"Aurora," Derek's voice was gentle.

"Please. Just talk to the Alpha. There's more going on than you know."

"There always is," I muttered, throwing the car in reverse. "There always fucking is.”

The drive back to the pack house was a blur of rage and disbelief. How dare he? How dare Dmitry try to cage me here, like some kind of prisoner?

I stormed through the front doors, past startled pack members who scrambled to get out of my way. Dmitry's office was on the second floor, Dad's old office. The symbolism wasn't lost on me.

"Dmitry!" I shoved the door open without knocking. "Who the hell do you think you—"

The words died in my throat.

Because there, leaning against Dmitry's desk with that infuriatingly familiar smirk, was the last person I'd expected to see. The man who'd given me everything and taken even more. Six years hadn't changed him, he was still devastatingly handsome, still radiating that dangerous charm that had been my undoing.

Noxon.

And he was looking at me like he'd been waiting for this moment all along.

“Hello Princess,” he drawled. “Miss me?”