AURORA'S POV.I'm running through the forest barefooted with a ferociously beating heart. The gust of wind blowing through the trees whips my face like a hundred lashes, but I'm too terrified to feel the pain. My right hand is fisting the hem of my skirt, holding it up so it doesn't impair my leg movements as I run past the trees to a place I don't know. The Moon is hanging low in the sky, casting a soft, silver glow over everything in sight, illuminating the racing track that's thick with shrubs and dried leaves that cry every time I step on them. My heart is hammering in my chest and I dare not to look back.I don't even have the time to stop and look back because if I do, she's going to catch up with me.She has been following in these woods for hours now, saying the same thing over and over again. I didn't…“And where do you think you're going?” The image of my sister Rhea, suddenly appears in front of me and I scream my lungs out as I come to a halt.There she is, standing befo
AURORA'S POV.“I feel like the weather outside is cold, can I please go back and put on a sweater?” I ask Elisa who’s walking ahead of me as politely as I can. She stops walking and so do I and the dangerous side eyes she gives me makes me gulp dryly.“Don't be such a wussy! The weather is just fine. You don't need a pullover.” She turns ahead and walks on. I turn behind and I'm greeted with angry looks from the other girls walking behind me. I let out a quiet sigh and let Elisa lead me all the way down to the living room. We're not outside yet, but I can already feel the hair on my arms standing erect as the cold air blowing into the living room whips my flesh. “Alpha Lucien is waiting for you outside. Go out now and don't keep him waiting.”“Yes.” I say with a curt nod and take long strides towards the door, feeling very much relieved that I've finally had the chance to get away from her intoxicating and intimidating presence.I used to think the atmosphere with Alpha Lucien was te
AURORA'S POV.When Alpha Lucien settles beside me and the door is shut, I become highly conscious of how good he smells. Something I've been too preoccupied to ponder upon as many times as I should. I breathe him in, telling myself to relax and enjoy his company, but how's that going to be possible when my heart is beating so fast and threatening to hop out of my chest?I shoot him a brief glance and his gaze is plastered at something straight ahead. I'm scared to look in the direction to see what it is, so I turn to the window on my side and feast my eyes on the buildings and cars and people and many other objects fleeting by as the car rolls along.The ride is an excruciatingly quiet one. Even though it's almost unbearable, I'm happy he hasn't said anything to me again because I'm too terrified… too weak to have any sort of conversation with him right now.I have tried to figure out where he's taking me to or what we're going to do there, but nothing comes to mind. I'm well aware of
AURORA'S POV.“Wait for me the car while I give out some instructions to the guys taking the snapshots.” Alpha Lucien tells me once we're back in the living room where I was beyond shocked to see two guys taking photos of the entire living room, including the photos on the wall. I obediently nod my head and go outside to the car and wait like I have been instructed to. All the while doing the waiting, I'm smiling like an idiot with no purpose on this earth.I just found out that I truly meant nothing to my father. I also just found more proof that my sister and ex-boyfriend were in a full blown relationship behind my back. These are discoveries that should crack my heart into several pieces and leave me writhing and wailing in agony on the floor, but here I am, smiling.Smiling because admist all this heartbreak and chaos, I have someone by my side. Someone who's willing to bet on me. Defend and protect me. Comfort me in his own way. And that someone isn't just anyone. He's my fucking
LUCIEN'S POV.“That was uncalled for.” I say, placing my cutleries on my plate and looking at Nathelie who seems shocked by my words.“Excuse me, what?”“I believe you heard what I just said.” My voice is tight with annoyance. It took me all my self control to not lash out at her when she spoke rudely to Aurora a while ago. The only reason I did not shut her up in Aurora's presence was because I don’t want Aurora to have any ideas that I care about her. But now that she's not here, I have to set things straight. My brows shoot up my hairline in amazement when the girl seated by my side starts chuckling.I stay quiet and watch her chuckle until she's done, then she shoots me a very serious look.“You've got to be kidding me.”“I am not.”“Alpha Lucien.” She calls in a calm, but serious voice. “Isn't that Aurora, the same girl who's name is buzzing all over the pack for killing your brother, Mael and her sister on her wedding day?”“She's the one.”“What the hell is she doing here?” She
AURORA'S POV.I'm frozen in ten thousand layers of astonishment as I stare blankly at the door Elisa and her crew just exited with the terror of her words raking its claws down my spine. I am teetering at the edge of insanity.I force myself to take deep breaths so I don't drown in my own anxiety.My mate chose some other girl to be his mate?Is that even acceptable?My questions are answered by the sound of the room door creaking open. I tense as an unexpected joint of electricity rockets up my arm when Alpha Lucien comes into view. My heart trips and I freeze for half a beat before meeting his serious gaze. I steel my spine and keep my face stoic as I watch him close the door and come to meet me at the bed. I have completely pushed the fact that the maids assaulted me at the back of my head. The news of him choosing some other girl to be his mate is more painful than all the smacks and brutal scrubs his maids have given me, combined.We are both very young. What was the rush?I wou
LUCIEN'S POVSeeing her look so miserable sent a pang of pain straight to my chest, and I gulped it down immediately. I heard Kol whimper in my head, and I braced myself for his usual ranting. God, I wish there was some way to just shut him off. Aurora and Nathalie, my chosen mate, were already giving me enough of a headache as it was, but I guess Kol wouldn’t understand, as always.“Why did you do it?” he fumed. His hostile tone made my head splinter as if I were being interrogated for a serious crime. Rolling my eyes, I kept silent because speaking to him would only make him more agitated.“Don’t you dare ignore me, Lucien,” he growled in my head, and a sharp pain rang inwardly, causing me to squint my eyes.“Cut it out, Kol.” I heaved a deep sigh, pinching the space between my brows as I stopped in my tracks. The exhaustion hit me like a hurricane, and I felt the urge to just lie down and relax, but I couldn’t—not when she was still mad at me.“You care about our mate, so why must
Lucien’s POVA low grunt escaped my lips as I turned toward Elisa and her cohort. Their stiff postures, the tension in their shoulders—it was obvious they knew something was wrong. The fear rolling off them was intoxicating, and I couldn’t help but smirk at the way their anxiety thickened the air. The drumming sound of their hearts was so refreshing, and their fear was intoxicating. I couldn’t help but snicker. Elisa and the others kept their heads bowed, their gazes glued to the floor as I strode toward them. Each step I took echoed through the heavy silence of the room, amplifying the intensity. No one dared to speak. They wouldn’t dream of it. Stopping just inches from them, I could feel the weight of their silence pressing down. I clenched my fists, forcing my voice to remain calm, though rage burned through me like wildfire. "Elisa, can you please explain why Lady Aurora is in this state?" I asked in a calm tone, despite the blazing rage that threatened to consume me.
Aurora’s POVThe rustic warmth of the cottage filled me as soon as I entered, but it didn't do much to calm the churning uneasiness in my gut. Even though there was a strong smell of wood smoke and herbs in the air, I still felt out of place. I glanced about the room, admiring the shabby furniture and the shelves brimming with odd jars and bottles.With her eyes crinkling at the corners, the old woman near the door was observing me with a gentle grin. I felt a knot tighten in my chest despite her friendly manner. I stepped back a little, now wondering what I had gotten myself into.With a voice like a comforting salve, she whispered softly. "You don't need to be afraid, dear." "You can trust me."I crossed my arms defensively and scoffed. "Trust? That's hilarious. I always get let down by the ones I trust."The woman's face changed a little, as though she realized how serious what I had spoken was. "My dear, life isn't always black or white. Finding the truth sometimes requires navi
Lucien’s POVAurora's eyes strayed to the papers scattered on the table as she completed her breakfast. The warmth of the morning sun fighting against the shadows of her past made it clear to me that she was still absorbing the changes taking place around her. Her protective manner, which she wore like armor, revealed her innocence. It evoked a deep-seated desire in me to shield her and lead her away from the shadows.As I looked at her and brushed a few hairs out of her face, I could feel the gentle hum of worry rising in my chest. "Is it truly required? However, I feel fine. She made an uncomfortable change. "Your body isn't strong enough to heal itself." It will take some time, but you will feel it. Or do you enjoy suffering? My voice was firm yet full of suspense as I inquired."No." She murmurs."Good."She nodded, but there was a trace of nervousness in her eyes. The metallic clinking of the keys on a hook by the door filled the silence as I reached for them.I tried to ligh
Aurora’s POVThe sun was peeking through my window and I could feel the warmth on my skin which made me twirl in my sleep. Even though I didn't want to admit it. It felt good to be... I would have said home but I knew it was only a matter of time before I'll leave. There was no reason to get too attached to the place But a part of me still hoped.I twirled my head in my pillow again and the softness wrapped around me unlike the cold dam prison cell. I stretched, feeling an ache in my limbs, but a good one, like my body was finally remembering comfort. It was a bit disorienting, to say the least, lying here, bathed in the gentle morning sunlight streaming through the window.There was no cold draft, no musty smell or scratchy mattress. Just clean sheets and the soft morning air. How quickly I'd forgotten what a bed truly felt like. A quiet sigh slipped from my lips as I relished in the warmth and the peace that, for one moment, felt real.But something or should I say someone caught
Lucien’s POVI stared at the document lying on my desk. It was an ugly thing, and it stood for responsibilities that would follow me to the ends of the earth. These were one of the responsibilities I had to carry along with me as the alpha of my pack. Some would say it was a wonderful thing. But I knew better. Caged with so many responsibilities that I wouldn't be able to think straight. Your ability to make personal decisions would disappear because no matter what you have to put the pack first before everything else. Even before your own feelings and emotions. Because of the recent drama my work load kept piling up, I clicked my tongue leaning forward. Each page I signed out of habit, almost unconsciously as if on autopilot, while my head was immersed in something entirely different, something more profound than weariness. After what felt like days, I let go of the pen and rubbed the space between my brows in an attempt to calm my thoughts – if only for a moment.And then I tur
Lucien’s POVAs I left her room, each step down the corridor kept getting heavier than the last. Her words ringing in my ears, cutting through my chest sharper than any blade. “You don't believe in me.” I shook my head in despair. Something had changed and I could feel it. If it was in the past I wasn't going to be bothered but now I am really worried. I was worried about how she was. The things she'd say. It was all getting too much but I was her mate. It was what was expected of me. As her mate, it was my obligation to protect her. It was my duty to stand by her. But now I was not exactly sure if I was sorely acting because of duty. My head was beginning to hurt from the too many thoughts that were probing at the back of my head. I blinked rapidly. Then slowly anger burned beneath my skin, twisting with a frustration I could not even name. She told me she didn’t trust me, and no matter how much I wanted to shrug it off I couldn't. I wanted her to look at me. To trust me but
Aurora's pov“You wanted to hurt her?” His voice was laced with an edge of misbelief. His gaze was filled with an expression I couldn't quite understand. It was filled with an intensity that pinned me in place. “Aurora, do you even understand what you are saying?”*I clenched my fists as I took a shaky breath. “I know exactly what I am saying. I was so mad and I wanted her to feel it. I wanted her to understand…So had to.”“To understand what?” he cut me off and his eyes flashed with disappointment. I didn't mind, even my own father thought I was a disappointment. “That you wanted to kill someone?”A bitter laugh ripped from my lips, surprising even myself. He shook his head with tight jaws, as he unconsciously pressed the ointment harder than necessary on my wrist causing me to bite down on my lip. The pain began to flare up in my chest. “It hurts,” I muttered through gritted teeth.“I'm Sorry,” he murmured as his grip relaxed. I could feel the frustration radiating off him.
Aurora's POVI curled up on the bed, moving away from him. Trust had always landed me in huge trouble, and I wasn’t going to be fooled like that again.Neither of us said anything as Lucien tucked his hands into his pockets."I’ll get the ice and ointment for your injuries," he muttered in a low tone."I’ll heal. I’m a werewolf," I hissed, looking away from him and hugging myself tighter.I expected him to leave, but he didn’t. Instead, he let out a frustrated sigh."Your healing might not kick in because your body is weak. We need to treat the wounds so they don’t get infected."I wanted to protest, but I just closed my mouth and buried my face between my knees.His footsteps faded with light thuds until I couldn’t hear them anymore.I lifted my head from my knees and felt relieved. At least he is gone now.His last question rang in my head, causing my shoulders to slump.Then my face twisted into a sinister frown.How could he ask me to trust him after what he did? After he chained
Lucien's POVAurora was really driving me insane with her behavior. I had just saved her life, but she didn't seem to care.I knew it wasn’t entirely her fault because of the lie Arnaud told her.She believed I was the one who handed her over in the first place. A lie that would have been cleared up if she’d just listened to me—but she didn’t. Today was clearly not a good day. It had been one hell of a day.The moment I parked in the garage, she unlocked the door and quickly slid out.She was treating me like the plague, avoiding me at all costs, and it was infuriating.I wasn’t used to this new development.A sigh escaped my lips as my hands lingered on the wheel. My gaze shifted over to where she was, and my heart grew heavier when I saw her struggling to walk properly.It broke my heart as I wondered what kind of torment those elders had put her through.I heard her wince in pain, and I quickly unbuckled my seatbelt, pushing the door wide open.She was pushing me to my limits.“A
Aurora's POV:After the chaotic scene at the council, I was genuinely surprised that they let me live. Especially after Nathalie's father was so adamant about having my head today. But thanks to Lucien, I was spared because no one could challenge the authority of an Alpha.My back rested carefully against the seat as I stole a glance at the man by my side. His expression no longer held the warmth, care, or concern it had earlier.His hands gripped the steering wheel tightly, and he kept his eyes locked on the road. The air was filled with an awkward silence as neither of us attempted to start a conversation to break it.What could I possibly say?"Thanks for saving me after practically delivering me to the elders to meet my end"? There was no way I could say that to him.Even though he saved me, I was still mad at him.I wanted to feel grateful, but a part of me didn’t want to acknowledge what he did, because Lucien was unpredictable. He could be so many things all at once.Sometimes,