Henry's confession totally caught Aurora off guard. Shocked was an understatement as she stared at him, her lips parted, her eyes wide and unblinking. "Henry... I..." She stuttered, unable to form a single coherent word. "I know you're shocked." Henry uttered. He traced his thumb around her lower lip, his gaze devouring her. "I didn't mean to spring this up on you, but the last three days has made me realize just how much I love you."Aurora's expression was one of complete amazement as she stared at him silently. "Aurora, before you came here, I lived a secluded life." Henry said earnestly. "The women in my life were fleeting. I was cur... "He paused, realizing suddenly that he almost said his secret out loud. A part of him wanted to tell her, but he held himself back. He didn't know if Aurora loved him in return. What if she didn't? What if the truth about him made her despise him? He couldn't risk it. "I was ready to live that way forever." He said instead. "But then I saw yo
The days that followed after that night was quiet and non eventful. Henry kept to his promise, staying away from Aurora. Each night before Aurora slept, she waited, listening for the sound of his knock, hoping he would come to her the way he used to do. But he never came. It seemed the attraction they had for each other totally faded when she rejected him. He was never in the castle, always attending meetings after meetings with the werewolf council. Once day, Aurora woke up as usual and got ready with the help of Matilda. "Are you okay?" Matilda asked worriedly. She had noticed how sad Aurora looked and she knew it had something to do with the Alpha. Aurora sighed tiredly and shook her head. "I don't feel so good." She mumbled. "I haven't been sleeping well.""Why? Are you sick?" Matilda gently placed the back of her hand on Aurora's brow. "You're not feverish.""I am not sick, Matilda." Aurora answered. "Maybe I just need a little rest."Matilda opened her mouth to ask a questi
"You haven't changed a bit Cara."Henry's words, spoken in that deep sensual voice of his, made Aurora' heart shake. She expected him to push Cara away. He didn't have the slightest attraction for his mistresses. That was what he told her. Yet why did he pull her close? Why was he staring at her like he wanted to devour her whole? Cara's soft laughter infuriated her and she balled her hands in fists. She should be the one in Henry's arms. Not that woman. The more she looked, the more her heart threatened to shatter. She watched them silently, her eyes pinned on Henry's hands around the woman. As she watched, Cara leaned forward, standing on her toes until her face was just inches from Henry's. She moved her lips towards his, her fingers coiling around his hair. Henry stared back at her silently, not encouraging her, but not pushing her away either. They were going to kiss. The thought alone made Aurora panic. She couldn't let that happen. She let out a small gasp, but it was en
Before night came, Aurora had made up her mind. She let the opportunity slip by her once, but not this time. She wouldn't lose Henry a second time. With Cara in the castle, it would be challenging for her. Cara was beautiful, sexy, the kind of women men lusted after. And she had been his mistress. But Aurora had one thing Cara didn't have. Henry's love. This time, she was ready. She noticed when Henry left the castle with Tyler. Not wanting to come across Cara, or Lady Dowager, she remained in her room and requested that her lunch and dinner be brought up. By the time Henry returned, it was already dusk. The air was extremely chilly and the sky rumbled occasionally with thunder. Taking a warm bath, she put on her favourite red night dress and the matching robe. She brushed out her hair and let it flow down her back until it reached her waist. The lingerie skimmed down her body comfortably. There were wide slits at the sides that began from her hips to her ankles. Her nipples h
"I love you."Henry stared at her silently, hoping it wasn't a dream. "Aurora...""No, don't say a word." She hushed him. "You said earlier that I would be the one to come to you, and here I am. Just... listen to me."Henry nodded. "Alright." "I didn't realize how much I loved you until I saw you with Cara." Aurora continued. "I felt so jealous, so pained. I have never felt such anger and hatred towards a person until I saw her in your arms. And that was when I realized it. My fear of getting hurt blinded my true feelings, but now I'm sure of it."She then closed the space between them and wrapped her arms around his neck. "I love you, Henry." She said. "More than you can ever imagine. And I'm willing to start over with you, if you'll have me."Henry's hands gently held her to him, his eyes blazing with passion. There wasn't a single hesitation in his gaze. "You're already mine, Aurora." He said huskily. "I just wanted you to realize it and come to me. You're the one my heart beat
"Don't stop." Aurora pleaded. Henry smiled, his handsome face a mask of intense passion. That was what he had been waiting for. "I want to taste you." He whispered, taking his hands away. Aurora lay back on the bed, her breasts rising and falling with her deep breaths. Her legs trembled from the pleasure she just experienced and she thought nothing could ever surpass the feeling. Until she felt Henry's lips between her thighs. Henry grabbed her thighs and pulled her closer so her legs would go over his shoulders. His eyes devoured the delicious pink wetness before him and he nearly came undone at that moment. "You look so fucking good Aurora." He whispered. "So perfect."He leaned closer and smiled, saying softly. "Try not to scream."His lips descended on her dripping wetness and her cry of response filled the entire room. Holding her thighs firmly, he teased her mercilessly. His tongue flicked over her clit, stimulating her until she felt the pressure building. As he sucked
Aurora slowly came awake when she felt warm kisses on her shoulder. Henry lay behind her, his arm coiled tight around her. He his warm lips caressed her skin, making her shiver. She smiled, a sigh escaping her as Henry's lips lavished kisses all over her back. The intense love making they shared the previous night replayed in her mind and she found herself blushing. She turned on the bed, rolling straight into his waiting arms. "Good morning." She whispered. "Hey."His husky response set off a flurry of butterflies in her tummy. He still looked sleepy, his curly hair tousled all over his head, his eyes hazy and dreamy. His lashes curled thickly against his eyelids and Aurora found herself staring at him, her eyes turning foggy. [He's so beautiful. I still can't believe he's mine]Henry drew back, his eyes wide with surprise. He was sure she wasn't aware that she just used the mind link. "Believe it." He murmured. Aurora's eyes refocused on him and she frowned. "Believe what?"
Aurora's jaw dropped when she heard the word 'mate'. Tyler was staring at Penelope like she was all he could see. He touched her tentatively, like he was afraid she would disappear. Aurora beamed at Henry as he walked around to stand beside her. "I can't believe it." She whispered, taking his hand in hers. "They're mates. But I don't understand. Penny isn't eighteen yet, and it isn't even the full moon."Henry placed his arm around her and drew her closer to him. "Some shifters find their mates earlier, before they come of age." He explained. "And at times, they find each other without the help of the moon.""I'm just so glad." Aurora said, her smile lighting up her face beautifully. "If she hadn't come here, they never would have made a connection.""Fate would have led them to each other." Henry said, dropping a light kiss on her hair. "Just as it led me to you."Aurora smiled up at him and her eyes slowly closed as they kissed. Then something suddenly occurred to her and she pu
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