*IMPORTANT NOTICE:THERE'S BEEN A SLIGHT CHANGE OF POV FOR JUST THIS CHAPTER. ENJOY!*Ryan came closer to Aurora, invading her personal space on her seat, and without a word, their lips met in a fiery kiss. It was a clash of passion, tongues dancing wildly, as if they had been starving for this moment.Aurora's initial resistance melted away under the heat of Ryan's touch. His hands roamed freely, exploring her body through the thin fabric of her dress. She couldn't help but moan into his mouth, her fingers tangling in his hair, pulling him closer. The kiss deepened, becoming more urgent, their hunger for each other growing with each passing second.“We can't, someone might see us,” Aurora suddenly said.“No one will,” Ryan said.With a swift motion, he lifted her from the chair, his strong arms cradling her petite frame. Aurora's eyes widened in surprise, but she didn't resist. Instead, she wrapped her legs around his waist, her hands gripping his shoulders, encouraging him. He carri
Aurora’s povFor the past few days, Ryan and I had fallen into a routine….going to work together, sneaking stolen moments between meetings, and giving in to the overwhelming pull between us whenever we could. Whether in the office or at home, it was as if we couldn’t get enough of each other. And honestly, I didn’t mind.But today was different. Today, we were going to see Inez.I had been counting down the days, torn between anticipation and fear. What if she wasn’t alive? The thought gnawed at me, making it nearly impossible to focus on work.We were supposed to go after work, and while I knew the hours weren’t moving any slower than usual, it sure felt like they were. My mind kept wandering back to her, to the moment we left her behind in that so-called underground cell. It was ironic, really, because the place wasn’t even underground. But that was the least of my worries.Ryan had a meeting in the afternoon and told me to stay back and handle office matters. I agreed, but my heart
Ryan’s PovSomething didn’t sit right with me about this whole situation. I had a bad feeling, a nagging sense of unease that I couldn’t shake. Nara was strong….stronger than most. She had survived more than anyone I knew, outlived people who should have outlived her.We were heading back to Shadowhaven today. Inez wasn’t coming with us. Not yet. She was still adjusting, still learning to control herself. The full moon was coming in a few weeks, and we had to be sure. Until then, Jamie would stay with us, but when the time got closer, he’d return to keep an eye on her.I started packing some of Aurora’s clothes when her voice broke through my thoughts.“Are you sure Nara is going to survive this?”I looked up at her. The worry in her voice was clear.“Of course, she’s going to survive this,” I said, more confident than I felt. “She’s already survived everything thrown her way. She’s older than even the elders.” I glanced at Aurora, knowing she was still wrapping her head around just h
Karen’s PovIt was almost too easy.Ryan and Aurora had been gone from Shadowhaven for too long, settling into their comfortable little lives in the human world. Ignoring their duties. Ignoring her.That didn’t sit well with me.Not that I felt anything about it, not anger, not jealousy, not resentment. Emotions were pointless. But I knew things were shifting, and shifts had consequences. Ryan belonged in Shadowhaven. Aurora, too. And if they weren’t going to return willingly, I’d make sure they had no choice.Tania had been the one to suggest it bringing in a forgotten sorceress, someone whose magic had long been buried in time. It was a risk, a costly one, but I didn’t care. Sacrifices were necessary. And so, I made mine.Nara had been strong, too strong. But even the strongest could fall. It took patience, power, and something I no longer possessed, care. But in the end, the sickness seeped into her bones, weakening her, pulling her toward death’s door.And just like that, Ryan an
Aurora’s PovAfter we left Nara’s side, the weight of her death still clung to the air around us. It was strange. I hadn’t been particularly close to her, but the loss still settled in my chest like a heavy stone. Two lives lost now.Ryan and I made our way back to the mansion, our footsteps silent, the gravity of the moment pressing down on both of us. As soon as we entered the meeting area, Alex was already talking.“I’ll have to call the elders,” he said. “Nara’s death… it’s difficult to take in.”Ryan gave a firm nod, agreeing without hesitation.There wasn’t much left to say, so we excused ourselves and headed upstairs to our room. When I stepped inside, I noticed our things had already been placed neatly in the space. We were going to be here for a while. Might as well settle in.I went straight to our bags, unpacking my things with methodical precision. I hadn’t thought about it until now, but… Do gadgets even work here?I turned to Ryan. “Hey, does technology work in Shadowhav
Aurora’s Pov I fell. Again. And again. And again. I could barely lift myself off the ground, my limbs trembling from exhaustion. Training with Jamie was like trying to fight against a wall, except this wall moved fast and knocked me down every single time. Ryan stood at the edge of the training ground, his hands clenched into fists. He wanted to help me…I could see it in the way his jaw tightened each time I hit the dirt, but Elliot wasn’t having it. “She needs to do this herself,” Elliot said firmly. Ryan exhaled sharply but said nothing. I groaned, rolling onto my back, staring up at the sky. Strong is hard. Jamie stood over me, smirking. “You good, or do you need me to knock you down one more time for good measure?” I gave him the deadliest glare I could manage. Elliot clapped his hands together. “That’s enough for today. Since you just got back, I’ll give you grace this time. But tomorrow, you wake up at 7 AM sharp. Eat if you want to, then head straight to the training
Aurora’s Pov I woke up feeling the soreness in every inch of my body. My arms ached, my legs felt like bricks, and my back protested even as I shifted slightly in bed. Training was brutal. I groaned, pushing myself up as the morning light streamed through the windows. The memories of yesterday's session came flooding back—Jamie knocking me down over and over again, my father barking instructions, Ryan watching me like a hawk. And today, it would all happen again. A soft knock on the door made me turn. "Come in," I called, rubbing my face sleepily. Leila walked in, carrying a tray of food. She smiled. "Good morning, warrior. Brought you breakfast." I sighed. "I don't feel like a warrior. I feel like someone got run over by a truck….twice." She chuckled, setting the tray down. "That’s what training does to you. But hey, at least you’re surviving." I looked at the food, something light, thankfully. I didn’t want to throw up all over the training ground. Taking a few bites, I qui
Aurora’s PovFive days. Five long, exhausting, frustrating days.Every morning, I woke up with aching muscles. Every day, I trained until my body screamed for mercy. And yet, I felt weaker than before.I wasn’t improving.I was getting worse.I could feel it in the way my punches barely had any impact, in the way my breath ran out too quickly, in the way my body hit the ground over and over again.And then, today, Alex, one of the pack members landed a punch on me. It wasn’t even that hard. Just a simple hit.But I fell.Again.The moment my body hit the ground, a sharp gasp left my lips. My hands pressed against the dirt, my arms trembling as I struggled to push myself up.Ryan was by my side instantly."That’s enough," he said, his voice firm, protective.Elliot turned to him, his expression sharp. "Ryan, don’t make me ban you from being here."I forced myself to sit up, inhaling sharply. "I’m okay, I’m okay, I’m okay," I muttered quickly, even though I wasn’t sure I believed it mys
Aurora’s Pov I wanted to die of secondhand embarrassment. Alphas were supposed to be dignified, strong, and composed. Ryan? Ryan was screaming like a lunatic, making a scene in front of the entire hospital. The pain hit me harder, and I let out a sharp breath. Immediately, nurses rushed over with a hospital bed. Ryan ran beside me, putting on hospital gloves like he was about to deliver the baby. “I’m here for you, Aurora,” he said, his voice shaking. “I’m here.” The doctor arrived, a middle-aged man with a calm demeanor. “How are you feeling?” I barely had the energy to glare at him. “Like I want to poop.” Ryan’s eyes widened in horror. “WHAT?!” The doctor chuckled. “That means the baby is coming. Alright, Aurora, I’m going to need you to push.” I nodded, gripping Ryan’s hand as the nurses positioned me. “Keep your legs straight,” the doctor instructed. Ryan’s eyes darkened. “Why are you looking at my wife like that?” The doctor looked confused. “Because I’m delivering h
Ryan’s Pov(Three Years Later)I was just pouring Aurora a glass of juice, minding my own business, when suddenly….“RYAN!”The glass slipped from my hand, shattering against the counter. I spun around so fast I nearly dislocated something. My heart lurched into my throat as I bolted into the living room.“What happened? What happened? Are you okay? Who do I need to kill?”Aurora was standing there, eyes wide, hands gripping her stomach. Then she looked up at me and said the words that completely short-circuited my brain.“My water just broke.”I blinked. “What does that mean?”She gave me a look. “Ryan.”“What water? Did you spill something? Are you thirsty?” I was already turning back toward the kitchen, my brain refusing to process.She groaned and pointed at her belly. “THE BABY IS COMING.”My entire soul left my body.“The baby is coming?!” My voice hit a pitch I didn’t know I was capable of. “Like RIGHT NOW?!”Aurora, the love of my life, the mother of my unborn child, had the au
Aurora’s PovZiani’s eyes darkened as she stepped forward. “What do you mean you are not going with me?” Her voice was laced with disbelief. “We had a deal, Aurora.”I met her gaze without flinching. “Yes, I know we had a deal. But before we continue, I want to ask everyone in this room a question.”A murmur rippled through the council as they exchanged glances.“Go ahead,” one of the elders finally said.I turned, my eyes sweeping across every single person in the room. My voice was steady, unwavering.“Who is the moon goddess now?”Silence hung for a moment before, in unison, the room responded.“You are.”I shifted my gaze to Ziani. “And who is the leader now?”Her jaw tightened, but she didn’t hesitate. “You are.”A slow smile formed on my lips. “Then I make the rules.”The moment those words left my mouth, the room erupted into chaos.“I might not know everything about the Moon Goddess yet,” I continued over their voices, “but I will learn it in no time. And as long as I am in th
Aurora’s PovSilence swallowed the battlefield as Karen’s body went still. Her last words echoed in my mind, haunting and heavy. I had thought I was ready for this, that I was prepared to do whatever it took to protect what was mine, but as I stared at her lifeless form, all I felt was a deep, aching sorrow.This was never how I wanted it to be.The weight of everything crashed down on me all at once. My limbs trembled, and suddenly, the pain that had been numbed by adrenaline surged back, searing through my body like fire. My legs gave out.I barely registered the panicked voices around me before I hit the ground.Elliot, Caleb, and Ryan rushed toward me, their faces etched with worry.“I’m fine,” I muttered, though the pounding in my head and the sharp sting in my wounds said otherwise. “I’m just… just hot a little.”Ryan crouched beside me, his jaw clenched. “Hot a little? You’re burning up,” he snapped. His hands hovered over me as if he was afraid to touch me, afraid that I might
Karen’s PovThe battleground was silent for a moment, thick with tension. The crowd gathered, eyes locked on us, their whispers barely audible over the howling wind. I rolled my shoulders, cracking my knuckles, and took slow steps forward, never breaking eye contact with Aurora.She stood across from me, her body battered, her clothes stained with blood and dirt. Weakness radiated from her, yet she still held her chin high, defiance burning in her eyes.Pathetic."You should have stayed down when you had the chance," I sneered, my claws extending, itching to sink into her flesh. "This is your last warning, Aurora. Step aside and let me have what’s mine."She wiped blood from the corner of her mouth and spat onto the dirt. "Ryan was never yours, Karen. And he never will be."That was all I needed.With a growl, I lunged at her, my claws swiping toward her throat. She barely dodged, rolling to the side before springing to her feet.The fight had begun.The moment our bodies collided aga
Karen’s PovI have been watching. Waiting.Every day, I moved unseen through the corridors of this mansion, listening, observing. I watched them whisper about her, pray for her, cry for her. Aurora. Aurora. Aurora.Her name was on everyone’s lips, like she was some kind of savior.It was pathetic.She had actually left to break the curse, to throw herself into the jaws of death, and for what? Love? How foolish.I had given Ryan everything. My love, my loyalty, my soul. And still, he had chosen her. But I told myself it wasn’t over. I told myself I had time. That if I played my cards right, I could get him back.Then today happened.The mansion was alive with excitement. People were gathering. And when I saw what they were looking at, who they were looking at, my blood boiled.Aurora was back.She had survived.And I knew, at that moment, that if I didn’t act now, I would lose everything forever.So, I stepped into the mansion.Nobody stopped me. They all still saw me as the ex-Luna. R
Ryan’s PovI sat alone in my room, staring at the empty space before me. It had been a month and a week since she left. Since Aurora walked into that cursed place. Since she vanished from my life.Every day without her felt like a slow death.I had no reason to live anymore.I had fought, waited, hoped, prayed. But she was not back.And now… I was starting to fear the worst.Ziani had come to Shadow Heaven today, her face grim, her words laced with worry."It's taking longer than expected," she had said. "Maybe… maybe she made the wrong choice by going in."The words sliced through me like a dagger.Was this how I was going to lose her?No.No.I clenched my fists so tightly my nails dug into my skin. Aurora was strong. She had fought battles before. She had survived the impossible.She was going to come back to me.She must come back to me.Then, suddenly, I heard it.Noise. Screaming. Voices rising in panic.My body tensed. My wolf growled. Something was happening.I shot to my feet
Aurora’s PovMy eyelids felt heavy, my body weak, but my mind was sharp. The moment my eyes fluttered open, I saw them.Jazmine and Rhys.They were dragging me, their hands gripping my arms as if I were nothing more than a discarded rag doll. They thought I was still unconscious. They really thought I was still asleep.Their voices were hushed, but I could hear them."She must be out of her mind for coming here," Jazmine muttered."It’s because of love," Rhys replied. "You can do anything for love."Jazmine scoffed. "Now love is going to kill her."I clenched my teeth. No, I thought. Love can never kill me. I will fight for love. And I will win.I reached for Melissa, my wolf, my other half."Melissa," I called out in my mind. "We have to fight."Her response was weak, strained. "We’re tired, Aurora…""No," I said, firm and unwavering. "We are not tired. We have to fight. We have to win this battle. Or don’t you want to go back to Draven?"Silence. Then, a whisper of longing. "I miss
Aurora’s PovMy eyes fluttered open, but the world around me was nothing but darkness. My body ached, my head was pounding, and for a moment, I couldn’t remember where I was or how I got here. Then it all started coming back.I had walked into the portal. I had felt the pull of another world, dragging me into the unknown. Days ago. Or weeks. I couldn't tell. Time didn’t exist in this place. The only thing that remained was the memory of that voice calling my name."Aurora."And then the impact. A sudden, sharp blow that sent me spiraling into unconsciousness.Now I was here. Chained. Weak. Trapped.I tried to move, but the cold bite of iron dug into my wrists and ankles. The chains rattled, heavy and unbreakable. My breathing was uneven as I struggled against them, but it was no use. The air smelled of damp stone and something unnatural, something suffocating. I wasn't alone.The door creaked open, and footsteps echoed against the stone floor. A woman stepped into the dim light, her e