Arden helped Aurora from the car. They had pulled up to a modern home with a two-car garage. It sat in the center of a small cul-de-sac surrounded by homes that resembled the others. Arden helped Aurora through the front door. The home was already furnished. Eli came running from the living room that sat off to the left of the front entry way. "Momma!" Eli ran up but stopped short. He noticed that Arden was helping Aurora. Aurora smiled at her son and touched his face. Eli gently wrapped his hands around her waist and held her. "I am alright, E," Aurora said as she hugged Eli to herself. She welcomed his warmth and love. Eli moved to Aurora's others side and helped her into the living room and to the couch that sat on one side of the room. Faith stood up from a pair of chairs across from the couch. Faith smiled at her daughter. Worry clearly written among the lines around her forehead and mouth. Aurora tried to smile at her mother reassuringly. However, her pain was still a const
Rather than say anything, Rich only nodded in answer. Edith drew in a breath and let it out slowly. "You must know that I never meant for the drink to hurt the future Luna," Edith said quietly. "What happened?" Rich asked gently. He did not want to scare the girl. At least not yet. "I was in the kitchen, cleaning up some of the food from outside. I found Luna Lila in the kitchen. She was making Shirley temples for the children. It was the sweetest thing I think I have ever seen her do." "And then?" Rich tried to coax out of her. "She handed me the try and asked for me to hand them out. She did not think anyone would care for them if she was the one passing them out, I guess. She instructed one of them to have alcohol in it for the future Luna," Edith dropped her head once more. She should have none something was amiss. "What happened next?" Rich asked. Edith thought for a moment. "I had asked if she wanted me to at least let them know they were from her, but she said no. I
Arden looked back at the house before stepping from the front porch. He walked to his car and opened the driving side door. He watched the house for a moment. He had made sure to link Jack before leaving. Arden did not want any of one of them alone. Arden's hands gripped the steering wheel. He heard something inside of it crack and it made him loosen his grip instantly. He wanted Lila to answer for the wrong that she had done him and Aurora. He had decided to give his father the respect before going to the counsel. Arden hoped that he wasn’t making a mistake by doing so.Arden turned the key in the ignition and backed out of the driveway. As he drove down the street, he saw Jack's silhouette in the darkness. Jack waved the Arden and continued to the house that held what was more precious to him. As Arden drove the short distance to the pack house, he thought about Eli. As soon as they could, they needed to get him checked out by Doctor Collins and research his father's pack. As it s
Aurora woke the next morning, but Arden had not returned to the house. Aurora began to worry that Mason might have done something to detain him. Just as she was going to rise for the bed, the door to the bedroom opened slowly. Arden smiled tiredly at Aurora when he saw her sitting up in bed. Aurora returned his smile. "You are returning late," she commented. Arden slowly nodded as he walked over to the bed. He kicked off his shoes before letting his exhausted body fall into the bed beside his mate. "How did the meeting go?" Aurora asked. She had tried to bug Jack to link with Arden to find out, but Jack just shook his head and kept saying he did not want to get in trouble. Aurora had become annoyed and finally decided to head to bed after a while. "My father believes us," Arden said. He was face down on the mattress. His voice muffled into the pillow. "Did you say he believes us? That is great," Aurora said. Arden slowly lifted himself onto his arm and looked at Aurora. He did
Aurora and Arden were not expecting anyone else for the day. So, they were surprised when there was a knock at the front door. Aurora turned her questioning gaze to Arden who shook his head in response.Arden stood up from the chair at the dining room table and headed through the house to the front door. He was shocked to see his father standing on the other side of the wood door. He locked the door and held it open.“How did you know where to find us?” Arden asked Mason.“This is still my pack, last I checked. Do not worry, I am not here to argue. Is Aurora with you?” Mason asked Arden. Arden was hesitant but then Eli came running around the corner and slipped in front of Arden.Mason started to see the small child standing in front of Arden. He looked up at his son and then back at the child. “Good afternoon, Elijah,” Mason said as he held his hand out. Eli looked at it at first before placing his own inside of Mason’s larger hand and shaking it.“Hello,” the boy said in response.A
A couple of days had passed after Mason's announcement. He wanted Aurora to rest more before a small ceremony in front of the pack. He wanted to make sure that she looked strong to the rest of the pack. He knew that she was but her first impression mattered when trying to get others to follow. Rich and Roger were put on Lila duty. They were to get as close to the Whispering Shadows Coven territory as they could without raising suspicion. They checked in with Arden and Mason regularly. However, so far everything was quiet. They had not gotten even whiff of a scent of her. Aurora stood outside of Eli's room and looked in on him while he played. Arden and Aurora had agreed that it was best to try and tell Eli about the pack and what he was. Aurora was unsure how he was going to react. Luckily with Eli being five, he had more of an open mind. Aurora just hoped that he wouldn’t come to fear the pack and the other wolves. "Hi, momma," Eli said as he looked up from his seat on the ground.
Aurora looked around the large room. It was modern in its style but also still had some touches that made it feel like home as well. Arden had worked to get the Alpha and Luna room changed before they moved back into the pack house. It was his attempt to remove any evidence of Lila. Aurora turned back around and smiled at Arden who stood in the doorway. "Happy then?" Arden asked. Aurora nodded and walked over to him. She put her arms around his waist and kissed him. "Thank you," she whispered. "I will do anything for you and Eli," Arden reassured her. They had already dropped Eli off in his new room just down the hall. Arden had made sure that new toys and clothes were brought in so that he had a space at the pack house as well as at Faith's new home that she would be staying in. "You have given us so much," Aurora said, her eyes began to fill with unshed tears. "I am sorry I am not able to give you the one thing that you want most," she mentioned the fact that she would never
Aurora looked around the office. It was a lot more spacious than the basement that she worked in at their old home. It had been completely stripped apart from a large wooden desk and a few matching wooden filing cabinets. Arden had asked which office she preferred as Lila had taken the Alpha office. Aurora had decided on the smaller. It seemed fitting as she was the Luna and did not want to take anything away from Arden and his Alpha title. Unlike Lila, Aurora loved her Alpha and wanted him to have everything that that role entailed. Aurora had just sat in the oversized chair when a light knock sounded on the closed door. "Come in," Aurora called and pulled her chair closer to the desk. When Aurora's gaze moved to the door, she saw Ava walking through. She softly closed the door behind her before turning around and facing the new Luna. Ava had felt confident this morning in her decision, however, now that she was standing in front of Aurora and all her confidence that she exuded, s