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
AURORA’S POV.“Thank you very much for coming, Mrs. Thomas, I hope you enjoy yourself.” I wave the woman goodbye and proceed to make my way to the dais where I stand straight and admire the multitude of people in the room who have been gathered here today to celebrate my eighteenth birthday.The day I finally get my freedom to do everything I’ve ever wanted to do.When my father said he was going to throw me a party, I didn’t think it was going to be this grand. It’s like he invited all the pack members.“Aurora.” A familiar voice calls my name from a distance. Excitement blooms in my heart like rose petals when I see my father approaching with a cheerful smile on his face. He left a while ago to talk to a few friends of his.“Dad.” I walk into his outstretched arms and he wraps me in a warm, fatherly hug. “You’re here.”“Yes.” He breathes and takes a step back. “There’s something you need to know.” He announces calmly. A ridge forms between my brows as I give him a serious look.“What
AURORA’S POV."I’m trying to stop you from running away from your wedding." Crew's words ring in my mind for the tenth time as he drags me back to the podium to meet my father and sister. I'm not only confused, but I'm angry and frustrated at the same time. He's my boyfriend, how could he support the fact that I'm getting married to someone else?What in the name of the Moon goddess is going on here?"Crew!" I call in shock. "You are my boyfriend, aren't you supposed to be against this? Why are you stopping me from running away when you should be the one taking me away from here?" I ask with a shaky voice. There's tears streaming down my cheeks like a waterfall. The look on Crew's face has still not changed."The wedding is something that has already been decided and you can't change it. Even I do not have a say in this issue. My hands are tied." He explains it's no iota of emotion in his voice. I can't seem to make sense out of anything he just said.He doesn't look happy or sad or
AURORA'S POV.Even though it’s hard, I calm myself and let the men lead me away from my bedroom without resisting. I still don't know what is going on.This couldn't be because I refused to get married to that stranger. Are they taking me back to the hall to have been married at gunpoint? That's preposterous.Why is my father so desperate to have me married to someone I don't even know? What is wrong with him?If he hates me so much. If he wants to get rid of me so much, he can just say so and let me leave his house. He doesn't have to go these lengths. It honestly makes no sense to me.When we get to the flight of stairs, I'm shocked to see my father and Crew standing in the living room. My sister, Rhea, is nowhere to be found. Both of them are frowning and that makes me feel sick in the stomach.For eighteen years, they have been in control of everything I do. From what I do, to what I eat, what I say, who I talk to, where I go, which is nowhere. They have dictated everything I do
AURORA'S POV.I'm scared for my life.I look at my father, who's frowning and then at Crew.Traitor.If I ever get out of this alive, I swear I'll kill him!"Take her to the dungeon and lock her up." My verdict finally comes. I want to protest, but there's no energy left in me. My mate turns on his heels and storms out of the living room.This is probably the last time I will be here.I won't be surprised if this is the last day of my life.The punishment for murder is execution in this pack. All evidence points to me at this moment and my words alone will not set me free.This is the end for me."You are going to be punished for your crimes, murderer!" My father keeps raining insults on me as the guards drag me out of the house. I don’t say anything to him.Once in the premises, I see Alpha Lucien getting into his hummer and without warning, I break free from the hold of the guards holding me."Alpha Lucien!" I call at the top of my voice as I run over to him. I drop to my knees befor
LUCIEN'S POV.She's lying on the floor. Knocked out. Parts of her body are bleeding and the guards swarming around her do not seem to realize that they have to stop whatever it is they are doing. I'm sure this was my father's order. To have her tortured till death.Dad can make very cruel decisions when he is upset regardless of whether he is wrong or right and that's one of the things that make me fear him very much because even the fact that I'm his son and future heir does not spare me from his ruthlessness. The only person father could compromise or bend his morals for was my brother who's now dead.My temper gets the better of me as I watch the guards still pounding on my mate despite the fact that she has gone unconscious. My wolf stirs in anger within me and without thinking twice, I rush over to them with trembling hands and yank away the first guard my hands come in contact with off Aurora's body and shoot him to the other end of the room. The man shouts in agony as his bod
AURORA'S POV.The last person I expected to see when I opened my eyes was this man whose face seems to be hovering all over mine. The same man who had ordered for me to be tortured to bed.When notices that my eyes are open, he quickly backs away, clears his throat and maintains his composure, standing straight with his hands behind his back.The mate bond comes coursing through my body again and I look up at him. There's an awkward silence between us. I have a lot of questions in my mind to ask him and the first being if he's aware of the fact that we are mates. But I'm sure he knows. If I can feel the mate bond, it means he can feel it too.Could that be why his face was almost touching mine a while ago.Did he want to kiss me because he knew we were mates?No!Most definitely not!And even if he knew we were mates. Even if he wanted to kiss me, I still can't forget about the fact that he ordered his guards to have me tortured till death. I won't easily forgive him for that."You are
AURORA'S POV.Right now, I have no idea how to react to what I just heard. Alpha Lucien knows I'm his mate. Should I be happy? Should I be hopeful? Should I be ashamed? or should I be scared?I don't know what to feel right now. He just said he'd punish me accordingly if I say I'm guilty, but he'll stay by my side if I deny the allegations. That's a very logical thing to say in this situation and for a moment, I am really tempted to believe his words, but then I remember that a while ago, he had ordered for his guards to have me tortured to death. He didn't seem to care when he passed that order, but now he does. Why the sudden change of heart?"Why aren't you saying anything?" He breaks the silence. I look at him. He has a blank countenance. I can't read from his face whether he believes me or not and that's very frustrating."Because I don't believe you when you say you will trust my words." He raises a brow and trains his eyes on me."Why's that?" He sounds curious. Not only does
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,