Three days later, Henry's relatives arrived at Ashidore. Within that three days, Aurora and Henry had grown closer. The news slowly spread around the kingdom about Aurora being Henry's new mistress. The shifters all had a lot to gossip about. Many thought it was only a matter of time before Henry would send her away, like he did the rest. Early morning of the third day, a carriage arrived at Ashidore's gates. It was Henry's step-aunt and her children. Aurora was in her room preparing to join Henry at the lower floor, to welcome the guests. She was nervous though. The years she lived with her own step-aunt had really messed up her life and she feared that this particular one would be the same. Heartless. Though Matilda had told her that the woman and her children were nice, she still couldn't help but feel a bit terrified. "All done." Matilda said, stepping back to examine her work. Aurora turned and gazed at her reflection in the mirror. She had to admit to herself, she looked
Aurora had never been so embarrassed in her entire life. Lady Dowager's words struck her like a blow, slapping away her entire self-esteem. To be seen as nothing more than a man's mistress was the biggest insult to her personality. In the split second it took for Lady Dowager's words to sink in, she noticed Celia and Collins staring at her haughtily. Fortunately for her, Henry came to her rescue. His calm demeanor turned cold instantly and he glared at the woman. "Watch your mouth step-aunt." He said in a dead calm voice. "I will not tolerate such words. Aurora and I are in a relationship, so as long as you live in my kingdom, you will show her the same respect you show me. Is that clear?""A relationship." Lady Dowager exclaimed, her eyes wide with surprise. "Oh forgive me Henry. I had no intention of being offensive. That wasn't my intention." "For your sake, I hope it's true." Henry muttered. "My dear Aurora." Lady Dowager beamed a fake smile at Aurora, taking her hand in hers
Aurora wasn't expecting that particular request. She stared back at Henry silently, mulling over his words. "I don't know if I'm ready." She mumbled. "Ready for what?" Henry asked. He took her hand and gently kissed each finger tip, watching her with heated gaze. Aurora looked away shyly. How was she supposed to tell him that she wasn't ready for that part of their relationship? What Bishop did to her was still fresh in her memory. It would be difficult. But Henry understood. "I would be a liar if I say I don't want to make love to you." He said. "You drive me insane Aurora. The urge to rip your dress off and feel your body against mine is so hard to resist."His words were so raw, yet it made Aurora yearn for more. The way he looked at her as he spoke did wicked things to her. "But I know you're not ready." Henry continued. "And I understand why. I only want you to move in with me, so I can go to sleep holding you close. So I can wake up next to you and feel your warmth.""I wan
Henry arrived at the borders of Ashidore in his massive lycan form. He towered above the warriors gathered in a circle, his thick dark fur ruffling in the afternoon breeze. Within a second, he transformed. He shifted smoothly, his lycan form receding rapidly until he was standing beside them in his human form. "What's the problem?" He asked coldly. His golden eyes glared at the six council members and they cowered under his fearsome gaze."Something happened at the ancient temple." Tyler reported to him. Hearing the news, Henry frowned. The ancient temple was a sacred place for lycans and werewolves. It was located hundreds of miles away from Ashidore and shifters who needed help from the moon goddess traveled there to make an offering. It wasn't guarded because it was the shifter's place of worship. But Henry made sure he put someone there to watch over the temple, because there was something of grave importance that was hidden there. An object that could cause great havoc to th
The next few weeks at the castle went quite uneventful. Henry sent out an army of lycans every week to find the dragon eggs that had been stolen. Yet, it all proved fruitless. The dragon eggs remained hidden. On the other hand, Aurora wished Lady Dowager and her children would leave. But it seemed they planned to stay for a while. She knew the woman and her children were up to something, but she couldn't just figure it out. She had to be careful though. Lady Dowager clearly despised her, and she was careful whenever she was around them. One day, after they had breakfast, an unexpected visitor arrived at the front of the castle. It was Lydia, Aurora's step-aunt. Aurora was curled up in the library with Henry, reading a book that piqued her interest. It was just like every other normal day, where she and Henry spent hours alone, talking about themselves, and sharing hot, passionate kisses. On this day, Aurora was reading out of a book to Henry who held her against him possessivel
The carriage was totally silent as it pulled through the forest. Aurora had nothing to say. She hadn't been close with Lydia, hence she couldn't bring herself to make small talk. She wouldn't have followed her back after everything she went through in the woman's hands. But then it was her dying wish. Besides, she wanted to see her best friend Penelope. She would stay a few days with Lydia, then go over to Penelope's home for a night before returning to Ashidore. She just hoped Bishop wouldn't realize she was back in the pack. "You've changed so well dear." Lydia said suddenly. Aurora turned around to find her step-aunt staring at her. "I barely recognized you when I saw you." Lydia smiled. "You've grown so beautiful. So mature."Aurora looked away and mumbled. "Thank you.""The Alpha King must be really taking good care of you." Lydia continued. She lifted a hand and tried to touch Aurora's hair. Aurora leaned away, turning her head to the side. Just because she agreed to go b
Aurora slowly gained consciousness as she felt someone lift her. She was thrown roughly over a hard shoulder and she bit her lip so she wouldn't groan. She needed to act unconscious if she wanted to escape alive. She heard Lydia talking to the man who bought her and tried to open her eyes a crack."What about the Alpha King?" He asked. "What about him?" Lydia retorted. "I don't want any trouble, Lydia." The man snarled at Lydia. "If the Alpha is going to come after her, you better speak out now and take her away. I'm willing to buy her, but I'd rather stay out of the Alpha King's way.""Jerome, the Alpha won't come." Lydia boasted confidently. "I was able to fool him, just as I fooled my niece. Before he realizes the truth, you and I will be long gone.""It better be as you say." Jerome said in a threatening voice. "I wouldn't want to kill you for going back on your words."Lydia backed away from him warily. "There's no need to talk like that." She complained. "Take her away befor
Henry was ready to shift and go after Aurora himself when Tyler, Owen and Krino didn't return after a few hours went past. He paced around the hallway, waiting impatiently for them. There was an unsettling feeling within him and he knew it had something to do with Lydia. According to what Aurora told him, the woman despised her. It was impossible for her to suddenly change and seek out her niece. But he didn't want to assume too quickly, which was why he sent Tyler to follow the carriage.If they returned, he would know that Aurora was safe and Lydia didn't have other plans. But it had been hours and Tyler hadn't returned. Something wasn't right. He was still pacing around the hallway when Lady Dowager walked towards him and stopped. "What is it Henry?" She asked, looking him over. "What has got you so worked up?""Nothing." Henry answered curtly and turned away from her. But Lady Dowager was aware because when Lydia arrived at the castle, she knew. She had eavesdropped on the co
Two Years Later... On the roof of the castle, Henry and Aurora lay cuddled in a warm blanket, staring at the full moon in the sky. The air was cool and the sky was alive with thousands of shimmering stars. Aurora lay on her side, with Henry spooning her. His hand lay curved on her large belly and he slowly caressed her baby bump, occasionally dropping kisses on her cheek. "Tyler is going to be a big brother soon." She whispered, placing her hand over Henry's. "He's going to be the best big brother." Henry replied. He leaned down and nuzzled her neck, breathing in her sweet scent. "You've been the best mother to him.""I promised Penelope I would take care of her child." Aurora said with a smile. "And I intend to keep that promise. I know I'll tell him the truth about his birth parents someday, but for now, he's mine.""Ours." Henry said, gently turning her around to face him. "He's ours.""Yes. Ours." Aurora smiled and her eyes closed as they shared a passionate kiss. A lot of ye
Many months later, the realm was back to normal. Shifters returned to Ashidore and everyone went back to their normal way of life. Ashidore was built again and it prospered more than before. The dead was buried and mourned and the injured received healing. But they would never forget the last war with the dragons. They would never forget the innocent souls that died that day. They would never forget how their Alpha sacrificed himself to save his mate and destroy the dragons. Aurora had been crowned Supreme Luna of Ashidore and she ruled the kingdom just as Henry would have wanted her to. But she knew her life would never go back to normal without him. It took her a whole year to move on and accept his death. She built a tomb and did a proper funeral for Tyler, Penelope, Henry, Shota and Nimueh, and every other shifter they lost. Most nights, she stayed beside Henry's grave, crying and wishing to the heavens that he would be brought back to her. She was a strict and just Luna, and
When Aurora arrived at the designated spot, she met a horrific scene. The entire forest was covered in flames. The bushes, tall trees and grasses were all burning brightly. Thick smoke coiled up into the dark sky and the heat was blistering hot. The entire lycans were scattered all around, bloody, burned and unconscious. The dragons continued their terror, wrecking havoc everywhere. Aurora's eyes darted around, searching for Henry. She found him lying a few meters away from her, surrounded by fire. "Henry!" She screamed, rushing over to where he lay. She didn't dare try to extinguish the flames because the last time she did, it affected her. Grabbing his arms, she dragged him away, over to a dry patch of grass. Then she knelt beside him and placed her head on his chest. She could feel his faint heartbeat meaning he was still alive, but barely. There were terrible bloody burns on the side of his face and chest, and unless he gained consciousness, he wouldn't be able to heal. "He
"Let me go Cade." Aurora cried, trying to dislodge herself from Cade's grip. The baby had woken up from the sound of her screams and was crying loudly, but all Aurora could think of was going back to help Henry. Without her, he and the other lycans were doomed. "Cade please..." She begged. [Forgive me Luna. I cannot disobey the Alpha's orders] Cade replied without stopping. "You don't understand." Aurora protested. "Henry is in danger. They are all in danger. Fighting against the dragon creatures is futile."[The Alpha knows this, which is why he wants you out of harm's way before he faces the creatures]Aurora felt like screaming out. He wasn't listening to her. "Cade I am your Luna! And it is only right that you listen to me! Put me down this instant. Now!"Cade tried to resist the order, but just as Henry used his Alpha voice on him, so did Aurora. He couldn't disobey the authority in her voice. He slowed down and gently lowered her to the ground before shifting back to his h
A few minutes later, Henry and Aurora met with Krino and the entire lycan warriors. The other shifters had been shared into three large groups and dispatched to different packs. They were instructed to inform the members of the different packs to build bunkers and hide away until the war with the dragons ended. All that was left were the lycans and a few shifters who stayed back to fight beside their Alpha. When Henry and Aurora arrived holding the baby, Krino and Cade noticed immediately that Penelope was not with them. "Where's Miss Penelope?" Cade asked. The other lycans then noticed that their late beta's mate was missing. Aurora didn't respond and just started crying softly. It was Henry who took a deep breath and told them how Penelope had passed away after birthing her son. The news hit them hard and a few looked away so the tears in their eyes wouldn't be seen. How many more would they lost? How many more would die just because two shifters were evil enough to set the d
Aurora jerked awake from sleep with her mother's name on her lips. It was daylight already. Henry was up, standing a few meters away from her, holding the baby. She watched him for a while as he stared down at the sleeping infant. She couldn't read his mind, but with the look on his face, she knew he was thinking about his beta. When Tyler died, Henry had felt the pain of loosing his beta and best friend. Though he didn't shed a single tear, she knew Tyler's death affected him immensely. She knew he was greatly hurt. Yet what was coming was even greater than Tyler's death, and she doubted if he would be able to bear it. The dream she had of her mother played back in her mind and she heard Kahlan's voice echo in her ears– 'Aurora the core of your magic lies in your soul, and that is the only thing powerful enough to destroy the dragons. You must use it.'She remembered the shock she felt when she realized what her mother meant. To destroy the dragons, she would have to sacrifice
No! Aurora screamed the words within her, but her face remained frozen in shock. She could hear the cries of the baby at the back of her mind, loud and persistent, but all her focus was on Penelope's face. The entire word faded, the sound of the wind and the rustle of the trees. Everything went still as she stared at her friend. For a short moment, she thought Penelope would blink and stretch out her hands for her baby. She waited, hoping and praying. But as each second passed, Penelope's body turned completely pale and stiff, and her eyes turned glassy. Only then did Aurora move. She lifted a hand and placed it on Penelope's cheek, tracing the dried streak of blood. "Penny." She whispered. Tears spilled down her eyes silently as the thought registered within her. Penelope was dead. Her best friend was dead. She hadn't been able to prevent her vision from coming to pass. "I'm so sorry Penny" She sobbed, softly pulling down Penelope's eyelids so her eyes were closed. "I'm sorry I
"PENNY!" Aurora screamed, rushing towards to the hole. All she could see was darkness, but she could hear Penelope's soft groans. "Penny can you hear me? Are you okay?" She asked repeatedly, waiting for an answer. After what seemed like an eternity, Penelope responded. "Aurora." She called out in shaky voice. "I'm right here Penny. Are you alright?""No. I... I think my water broke. And I think I might be bleeding too.""Just hold on. I'm going to get you out." Aurora said, hearing her friend cry softly. The castle was slowly crumbling as the flames consumed it entirely. She knew in a matter of seconds, the large building would collapse. She was at a loss of what to do. Calling to Henry for help was impossible because he wouldn't be able to go through the flames. And her strength was slowly diminishing. Her nose continued to bleed and she was beginning to feel dizzy with loss of blood and all the smoke around. "Moon goddess." She whispered in tears. "Please help us out of here
"HELP!" Penelope screamed out. She was curled into a tight ball at the edge of her room. Half of the room was destroyed by the flames and the fire kept advancing towards her. "HELP ME! PLEASE!" Her screams were drowned out by the roar of the flames as it licked up the entire room. The curtains and bed burned brightly, and the walls were slowly falling away. Seeing that there was no way out, she stopped crying out for help and just sobbed quietly. As she waited for death to take her, her mind went over everything that had happened minutes earlier. She assumed Aurora and Henry, along with all the other lycans had perished in the fire and all that was left was her. Hours ago when she first heard the roars and trembles, she made no move to find out what was happening. She had been too weak in the spirit, too tired, after the death of Tyler. All her energy was gone, her zeal for living too. But then her hand brushed her belly and she realized she had a reason to live. She was going t