Aurora
After a few brushes of makeup, I slip into the gown pulled for me by the mute maids. They are young, like me, watching me be dressed and made up to be a princess with eyes of envy. I would let them have this life if they wanted it, considering how much I don’t want it. No matter my wishes, I am sewn into a long ivy white dress that mirrors the color of my silver hair, now pinned in a long ponytail down my back with extensive, loopy curls.
They ignore their wounds and tend to my exterior, trying to make me beautiful, but I can’t stand the sight of being looked after by girls like Callie, girls I grew up knowing and being friends with who don’t deserve this treatment. I turn away from the sight of me in this dress, feeling sick at my reflection.
The dress wraps over my shoulders, crossing over my breasts and leaving a lot of skin seen, not leaving much unseen. The fabric tears down over my legs, showing my thighs through the
AuroraJaxson pushes into the washroom, his crisp blue eyes a relief to see after experiencing such a threat from his brother. I am still weak with terror, my cuts and bleeding marks just enough to mask the smell of the second prince and his hands that crawled all over my body.Jaxson grabs for me to stand, holding me upright in the glass to assess my injuries.The fiery heat is still burning in my throat, still reeling off the threat, and my wolf is pleading feel safe. Pulling back from his chest, I can only shake my head, trying to make sense of everything that has happened and what came so close to transpiring.“What happened? Did someone hurt you?” he snarls.“No,” I lie. “It was my fault, sire.”He cocks his brow, as if he doesn’t believe me. I can’t piss off his brother more, though, so I do the only thing I know will shut him up and make him forget his rambling questions ov
AuroraI wake up in a flurry of fear, screaming in pain, my body trembling as I fall to the floor and curl up in the corner of my room. I tuck my head into my arms, trying to protect myself, begging for him to stop, to have some inch of mercy, but I wait expectantly for the rogue to claw my eyes out and be done with me.Warm hands reach for my elbows, making me gasp, Jaxson kneeling before me in silk pajama bottoms and a bare, masculine chest. His eyes are tired and bloodshot, running down the length of me, several warriors posted behind him as I blink awake to my bedroom.I’m coughing my cries, so overwhelmed with fear that it takes a minute for me to realize it was only a nightmare.Again.It’s been many days since Xander had cornered me in the washroom, his threat bringing on such intense nightmares ever since. Again and again, I see the rogue from the casino holding me down, his claws dragging down my body and pooling
AuroraThere’s soft music playing downstairs, and I look out my large windows to see flocks of royal’s meandering through the palace doors to the gala inside. My stomach knots at the idea of being seen by so many high-ranking officials but the only thing keeping my head on straight is the idea of getting to see my parents and my closest friends.I pace my bedroom, wearing a lengthy red dress made of silk, feeling it hug my curves while it trails behind every step as I pace the floors of my bedroom. I wear another set of heels, glitzed with diamond looking studs, the dress I wear so much more glamorous than anything I’ve ever worn on my birthdays before.It used to be a simple affair, a night in my parent’s kitchen with a cake my mother made last minute. My friends would surround me and sing, and I would open gifts of small amounts of coins or special treasures they have found that would make me smile. It was simple then.
AuroraMy wet eyes shoot up, seeing Luke standing in the courtyard just a few paces away from me. My body is frozen, but my wolf is howling in my head, so loud that it’s disorienting, my eyes fixating on the sight of my best friend here in the palace courtyard, something I honestly thought wouldn’t happen.Despite everything going on, the millions of worries I have swirling in my mind, I jump up at once and throw myself into his expectant arms, holding me tight to his chest like he always use to, and for a moment I picture us out in front of my parent’s house, ready to go to town and find our group of friends to conquer the day together as hopeful, future warriors.But I pull away, wiping my tears, reality brushing back up my throat and making my breath hitch. At least he is here, although he forces a side smirk and both of us seem too on edge to speak first.I mustered the courage. “I’m glad you came,” I
JaxsonI’ve never had to fight so hard in my life to keep from shifting and killing someone in my way. My hands haven’t stopped shaking for two days, my fists stuck in place at my sides, worried if I pull them up even a little, I’d put a hole in the walls of the medical wing of the palace. No one will speak to me, not the healers or the guards outside the door, posted permanently to watch my mate at all hours, every day, even if I am around and capable of protecting Aurora.I should have been there to prevent this and from now on, I will be. I wanted to give her space, even while I saw her in the courtyard, upset and clinging to her old friend, I held back my ferocity of her embracing another male. I wanted her to feel a semblance of familiarity here in her new home, but seeing her runaway so upset, and watching him chase after her, I thought for sure she would have pushed him away the same way she has done me the last few weeks.
JaxsonIn my most powerful form of wolf, I stalk out of the medical room, head hunkered down while my father, in the same, black and gray wolf form, follows behind. I aim to rush down the hall, to do right by my mate and rid this bloodline of such scum, but my father’s leniency only goes so far with me.He moves in front of my path, head held high and teeth showing, wanting me to submit but even as my Alpha, he cannot penetrate my anger. I raise my head up with his, showing him I do not intend to submit to a ruling based solely on the perpetrator being his second son, and only on the severity of the harm he has caused the future Luna of our royal pack.You will stand down, son. Or I will force you.You’re being more disciplined with me than you are with the son that clawed into my mate’s back. If you intend on blocking me from establishing justice, father, then I will have no choice but to force my way through
AuroraI can hear Jaxson outside the door with his father, king Kennedy, arguing about how Xander got away and took some of the royal pack members with him in his escape. I want to feel comforted by the fact that Luke isn’t to blame anymore, and at least Xander is gone and can’t threaten me again, but I can’t help feeling like the second prince isn’t done with me yet.He wants to be Alpha. He wants to be king. And right now, Jaxson and his father are the only two wolves standing in his way. I can’t imagine what he is willing to do to get to the throne but for now, I feel safer without him down the hall from me.“Leave this matter to me, Jaxson, I mean it,” the Alpha says, his voice making me shiver.Jaxson doesn’t even sound frazzled by his father’s command. “If I catch wind that Xander is coming back to do anything to her again, I will send my guys out to have him killed. Now leave
AuroraLuke hasn’t woken from his injuries yet, but I feel obligated to try and sneak down to the medical wing as best as possible. It never works. The door is always guarded by warriors, but I have noticed a lag of protection at one time during the day.High noon.I don’t know if it’s because they are changing shifts or grabbing lunch, but I watch the steps of shadows leave the crease under the door for exactly ninety-four seconds. I’ve counted everyday since I’ve been locked back up here.When the sun peaks, my heart throbs, wondering if Luke is awake and scared of his surrounds; just like I how I feel.I watch the shadows disperse and decide it’s time to move.I grab for the fire poker, a long iron bar still hot from resting in the heated logs, and I jam it between the doors, trying to not make too much sound. The hot iron sizzles against the cold door, and I slide it down until it catches