Aurora’s POV
I woke to the steady beeping of machines and the overwhelming smell of lemon and pine disinfectant. I wrinkled my nose.
“You’re awake!” cried Zoe.
I opened my eyes. She was sat on the edge of my starchy white hospital bed, her expression caught between worry and fury. Swallowing hard, I managed to rasp, “What happened?”
Her jaw flexed. “I can’t believe I left you alone with Ethan.” At my frown, she took a deep breath and explained. “Raina and I brought you here. She’s a friend,” she added, with a wave of her hand. “We couldn’t get you to wake up, so…”
“Thank you.” I squeezed her hand. “What about Ethan?”
“What about him?”
“Well – where is he? Is he here? Did he come with you…” I trailed off, seeing the answer in her eyes.
Hesitantly, she said, “Selene got sick, too. Her health has always been bad.”
My heart plummeted as I waited for her to go on.
“He’s with her,” she muttered, shaking her head in disgust. “I’m sorry, Rory. He’s a dick.”
It was like she’d ripped my heart out of my chest with her words. I let out a shaky breath; tears stung my eyes, burned the back of my nose and throat. “He’s with her?”
She nodded. Then the door to my room swung open.
The doctor cleared her throat. Dabbing at my tears, I looked up at her. There was something kind about her dark eyes, their eyelids creased with age, but her mouth was set in a way that told me whatever she had to say wasn’t good.
“Aurora,” she said gravely, gesturing to Zoe’s discarded seat by my bedside. “May I?”
I nodded, unable to make a sound. The doctor settled herself in the chair; Zoe excused herself so she could talk to me; all the while I stared at my hands, bundled in the too-thin sheets, listening to the rush of blood in my ears.
“It’s good to see you awake,” she hedged, before clearing her throat again. “My name is Doctor Jean Grey. I am a maternity specialist–“
“This is about my pregnancy?” I frowned.
“Indeed it is. I’ll get straight to the point, Aurora, and lay out your options for you. Your babies are at risk,” she said, not giving me a second to process the news. “I’ve had a look at your records and your health issues, relating to a past incident, are a threat to your pregnancy. These health issues, combined with the strain of carrying twins to term, could be life-threatening.”
I didn’t like to think back to that time. The incident she meant… it haunted me. I could still feel the water filling my lungs, surging down my throat and choking me. I couldn’t remember much else, but I’d been told after that I’d nearly drowned. I’d lost a lot of blood, too, and I’d woken up with memory loss. My parents said I must’ve hit my head in the water.
I remembered being in and out of hospital for tests, but since then I hadn’t had any major health problems. I’d never expected it to affect my children!
My hands found my belly. Though I didn’t have any bump yet, I cradled it as if I did. Her warnings fell on death ears. All I heard was: twins. “I’m having twins?” I murmured, picturing two beautiful babies in my arms.
‘Twins!’ cried Violet, cheering. ‘Two little babies! I can’t wait to meet them!’
“You didn’t know?” Doctor Jean said. “I would’ve thought Alpha Ethan would have- anyway. No matter. Yes, Aurora.” She cracked her first smile since she’d entered the room. “Congratulations.” She paused. “That said…”
I could guess where she was going with this – and I wouldn’t hear it. “No. That’s not an option.”
“Terminating this pregnancy could be the only thing that saves your life,” she said gently.
“I’m not losing my babies,” I snarled.
Doctor Jean nodded. Her voice softened again as she said, “I understand. There are other things to consider, too.”
“Like what?”
“If you did choose to terminate the pregnancy, it might affect your ability to conceive in the future.”
“Then there’s no way.” My voice cracked. “They’re my babies.”
“The choice is yours, Aurora.” She stood up and looked at me kindly. “I’ll leave you to think about it.”
My head spun. I didn’t even notice her leaving and Zoe coming back until Zoe prodded me and said, “Well? What did she say?”
I stared blankly at her, my hands still resting on my flat stomach, and murmured, “I’m having twins.”
She leapt off the bed and cheered. I cut her celebrations short with a quiet, “Wait.”
She paused mid fist-pump. “What is it?”
I explained everything the doctor had said. Zoe sat down heavily in the chair as I spoke, her shoulders slumping. When I finished, she said, “What are you going to do?”
My voice broke. “I don’t know. They’re my babies, Zo. And if I lose them now, I might never be able to have any again. And they’re Ethan’s babies, too. If I…”
A sob choked me. I crumpled in on myself, tears streaming down my face.
“Nothing, and I mean nothing, is more important than your life.” She rubbed my back as I cried. “I know you want kids, but are they worth dying for? And, besides, Rory – you’re right. These are Ethan’s children, too. If he does go ahead with the divorce,” she sneered as she said it, her hatred for him bleeding into her tone, “given his pack’s power, they won’t let you leave with your own babies. They’ll see those children as his heirs, not your kids.”
I couldn’t speak around my sobs. Zoe just held me until I’d cried myself out, then went to settle the bill for me when I’d calmed down enough to get up and wash my face.
I stared at my reflection as I contemplated my options. I was backed into a corner, and it seemed like I didn’t have any choice at all. It was carry my babies and lose them to Ethan, potentially dying in the process, or lose my babies as well as my husband in one fell swoop.
There had to be another way. I already knew I would risk my life for my children.
Behind me, I heard the door open slowly, quietly. I froze. I wanted to call out for Zoe, but there was a prickly feeling oozing down my spine that told me it wasn’t her.
I swallowed my fear and called out, “Zoe? Is that you?”
“Not quite.”
My blood turned to ice. That saccharine-sweet voice wasn’t Zoe’s.
It was Selene’s.
* * *
“Selene.” I barely managed to force out her name.
“Hi, Aurora.” She smiled at me, sickly-sweet. “Can I sit?” Before I could answer, she sat down in the empty chair, folding one leg neatly over the other. “We need to have a conversation, you and I.”
I stood frozen by the sink.
She raised her eyebrows at me. It unnerved me to see my own face looking back at me like that.
I realised belatedly she was waiting for me to reply. “Oh,” I muttered, crossing the room and sitting awkwardly on the edge of the bed. Then, more confidently, I said, “We do. About Ethan–”
“That’s exactly why I’m here,” she interrupted. “Look. I know you think you and Ethan are in love, but you aren’t. Our relationship goes back years – long before he met you.”
I opened and closed my mouth, trying to conjure up something smart to say and coming up with nothing. My head throbbed; my heart struggled to go on beating it hurt so much. Selene took advantage of my silence and ploughed on.
“You’re nothing more than a side chick who took advantage of my absence. Now I’m back, Ethan will drop you and be with me.” Her smile grew, the fake sweetness turning savage.
I spluttered. Finally finding my voice, I stood up and marched over to her. Black spots flashed across my vision, but I clung to my anger to keep myself conscious.
“I’m his mate,” I snarled. “I’m his wife. I’m his Luna. Who do you think the real side chick is?”
Her upper lip peeled back. Selene stood, shoving me in the chest so I staggered back a step. “Ethan already knows about your affair, you whore,” she hissed. “You’re just a dirty little slut who’ll open her legs for anyone. You don’t deserve Ethan; I do.”
I glared at her. “What affair? I haven’t had an affair.”
“Don’t lie to me, you bitch. I know you’ve been sleeping around.” She smiled triumphantly. “And so does Ethan. He knows just how much of a desperate whore you are.”
“I haven’t had an affair!” I yelled, balling my hands into fists.
I expected Selene to lash out at me again – but she pulled back, whimpering. “Don’t hurt me,” she begged, sticking out her lower lip, cowering into her seat.
“What?” I frowned at her.
Ethan’s arrival was all the explanation I needed. He stormed into the room and stepped between us, glaring at me as he positioned himself in front of Selene.
“Ethan,” I whispered, wanting to reach for him but stopping myself.
“Why are you being so mean to Selene? She’s been admitted to the hospital; she’s not well. Really not well,” he added snidely, and another piece of my heart died at his implication.
“I…” But what could I say to make him believe me? He could see that I was in the hospital, too; I assumed he’d seen me collapse back at the club. Still he thought I was lying, and now apparently he thought I was having an affair, too.
‘Even though he was the one kissing another woman,’ pointed out Violet.
‘This has to be some big misunderstanding,’ I replied desperately. ‘He just needs to talk to me, without Selene, and maybe we can work this out.’
“Ethan, can we talk?” I asked aloud.
“We are talking.”
“Alone.” My voice came out pleading. I hated that I sounded so pathetic in front of them.
“Anything you want to say to me, you can say in front of Selene.” He crossed his arms and waited.
I tried to find my husband hiding in his eyes, but it was like staring at a stranger. A lump formed in my throat. “Ethan, I…”
He sighed, cutting me off. “If this is about the divorce, it is inevitable, Aurora. I’ve made my mind up. I will offer you a substantial amount of money, but I can’t be with you. Not after this.”
“This? If you mean the affair, Ethan, it never happened! I’ve only ever slept with you.”
He sneered at me. “If you keep lying, I won’t give you anything.” For a second, his eyes softened, and I almost saw the man I loved looking back at me. “Don’t lie,” he said softly.
“I’m not! I haven’t had an affair. There’s no reason for us to get a divorce. Please, don’t do this. We’re going to have twins, Ethan. Don’t do this. If not for me, for them.”
His eyes narrowed. “You want more from me. You’re being greedy.” He silenced my retort by holding up a hand. “I’ve already discussed this with your parents. They’re more than happy with the arrangements. It’s done, Aurora.” He pulled out a cheque from the inner pocket of his jacket and held it out to me. “It’s over. Take it.”
My parents were happy with his offer? Did they care about my happiness at all? Or did they just care about Ethan’s money?
I snatched the cheque from him and tore it up. Consumed by my anger and pain, I shoved the scraps of paper in his face and yelled, “Get out!”
Aurora’s POVSelene clung to Ethan’s arm like a limpet as they left. He steadied her as she wobbled; seeing that broke me all over again. Had she been right? Would he really choose her over me? His mate? His wife? His Luna?With clumsy fingers I picked up my phone. My hands shook as I waited for my parents to answer.Ring, ring, ring…We’d always had a good relationship – until now. Despite the struggles we’d faced and the poverty that had made them money-hungry once Ethan had entered our lives, I’d always thought they loved me.All of a sudden, it felt like their love for money had outrun their love for me. “Aurora? How are you?” asked my mum as soon as she picked up. “I’ve been better.” I took a deep breath. “Mum, have you spoken to Ethan lately?”She sighed. Nearby, I heard my dad’s gravelly huff. “Is this about the divorce? Ethan has already been more than generous.”Dad cut in, “Especially after what you’ve done.”I almost crushed the phone in my grip. “I haven’t done anything
Aurora’s POVFive years laterSammy grinned toothily at me. My little son was the picture of innocence as he said, “What about Simon?”I sighed. “No.”We both looked through the glass wall of my office, out into the waiting area. Simon wiggled his fingers at me and stood up.I shook my head at him. With a huff, he sat back down. “He’s been out there for a long time,” said Sammy, his gaze drifting over to one of my would-be suitors. “He must really want to be my new daddy.”Laughing, I lifted Sammy onto my lap. “Yeah,” I teased along with him, “that must be it.”Five years ago, I’d run away from my life. I’d changed everything about myself to stay hidden after faking my own death. I wasn’t Aurora Everhart anymore; now I was Aria Black.It wasn’t just my outward persona that I’d changed. Along with switching out Aurora for Aria, I’d lost the naïve, trusting parts of myself. I’d had to do whatever I could to survive, cutting ties with family and friends alike just to get away from Ethan
Ethan’s POVThe drive from the airport to the Eternal Bonds Pack was a breath of fresh air, figuratively and literally. I rolled down the windows and let the crisp, autumnal air buffet me as I put my foot down. The tension in my shoulders had drifted away the second I’d waved goodbye to Selene and Serena, dropping away fully as I’d watched their plane take off. Goodbye, stress. Goodbye pretending and preening and primping. Hello… I didn’t know what I was about to walk into, actually.As much as I needed to be alone – so much so that I’d told my usual driver to take some time off while I was visiting Eternal Bonds, despite his stern frown at the thought of me driving myself around while I was there – it brought with it other complications. Not having my wife bleating at me meant that feelings I normally kept squashed rose, unbidden, to the surface.I loved Selene. At least, I thought I did.She was the only woman who’d ever shown me kindness. True kindness, anyway – not like the fake
Aurora’s POVMy heart pounded as I hurried inside. When I’d seen Ethan’s car, I’d been worried I’d bump into him – but I hadn’t thought I would so soon, and so literally. I sat down heavily on the edge of the bed and let my head fall into my hands. I sucked in shuddering deep breaths, trying to calm myself down enough to think clearly.Because all I could do right now was panic.He’d recognised me. It was the only explanation for his behaviour. He’d looked into my eyes, my green eyes, eyes I should’ve bought contacts for. The rest of me looked different, but this was my mate, my ex-husband. We’d spent hours gazing into each other’s eyes. He knew mine better than anyone.Even in the shadows of the porch, his eyes looked exactly the same. All of him did, from his carefully dishevelled head of dark hair to his brown eyes, such a dark brown they almost looked black. He was maybe more muscular; his biceps had strained against his shirt.Why had I even noticed that? This man was evil incar
Aurora’s POVHis knock was a death knoll. It made my knees shake. Panic consumed me.Should I hide? Should I run? I could go away again, change my name, dye my hair, get contacts this time–But he’d already seen me. He knew I was in here and, the longer I delayed, the more suspicious I’d become. Gritting my teeth, I edged my way over to the front door.His brow was tight with concern as he eyed me, and then the broken glass scattered across the floor. “Are you all right?” “Fine.” My voice came out all high-pitched and weird sounding. I coughed. “I’m fine. I’m sorry if I disturbed you.”“No, you didn’t.” He looked at me expectantly, but hell was more likely to freeze over than I was to invite him in. His shoulders sagged. “I just wanted to make sure you were okay.”“Well, I am.”He lingered. “The glass didn’t cut you, did it?”I shook my head.“What happened?” He toed his boot towards my foot, angling his body towards the open door behind me.I crossed my arms. “I tripped. Anyway, it’
Ethan’s POVFor the second time in less than eight hours, I found myself staring longingly at Doctor Aria as she walked away.I needed to pull myself together.I leant back against the front door, its maple-leaf wreath jabbing me in the back, and watched as she hurried towards the car park with her son. She slowed, glanced around, and, when she thought nobody could see, she dropped the coffee I’d bought her in the bin.But why? She had no reason to hate me, and yet it seemed like she did. Maybe she was in a relationship with someone, and saw my friendliness as unwanted advances. My chest pinched at the idea of her with another man, which was even crazier than the fact I’d got up before the dawn to get her a coffee.What was wrong with me?Sterling coughed out a laugh. ‘Where do I even start?’I groaned. ‘Not now. I need to think.’‘What, about how that beautiful woman wants nothing to do with you?’Pinching the bridge of my nose, I said, ‘Why wouldn’t she drink the coffee?’‘Why did y
Aurora’s POV“Mummy, what’s going on?” Sammy asked as I bundled him into his car seat.As promised, Zoe had arranged for an Omega to park a rental out here for me. She’d given me the key last night before she’d left. I’d barely glanced at it, and it was a shock to me to see that my borrowed car was a sleek, matte grey G Wagon. It was practical for Sammy and I, sturdy enough to traverse the country roads surrounding the Eternal Bonds Pack yet not too big for driving around Midnight City, but it was more expensive than every car I’d ever had combined.There was no doubt that it was for me, though. Someone had stuck a note under the windscreen wiper, with my fake name written in fancy script across it; inside was a quick introduction to the car, telling me where the fuel cap was, the start button, and a reminder to keep any gas receipts as the pack would reimburse me for my petrol costs. “I just think it would be better if you came to work with me today,” I said, worrying my bottom lip
Aurora’s POVI raced back to the Eternal Bonds Pack, my heart pounding, blood rushing in my ears. I could barely breathe; my thoughts whirred. Selene’s face was imprinted on my mind’s eye.Sammy tried to talk to me, but I couldn’t hear him over the static muffling my ears. I’d been so stupid to come back here, let alone with my son.“We’re going home,” I told Sammy, my eyes fixed on the road, still unsure what he’d said to me. “We’re going to get our things, and then we’re going to leave.”“But we only just got here.”“I know, sweetheart.”“Who was that lady?”My lip curled. “Selene Snowfield.”“I think I’ve heard her name before. Who is she?”“She’s not a very nice person. She…”In the rear-view mirror, I saw Sammy’s face scrunch up. “She was mean to you, wasn’t she?”“She was.” I nodded. “I didn’t want to talk to her. I’m sorry for rushing you out of there.” I met his eyes in the mirror, then flicked my gaze back to the road. “If you don’t like her, I don’t like her either,” he dec
Aurora’s POV I rushed to my son. I couldn’t hear over the rush of blood in my ears, but I could feel the tearing of my throat as I screamed. “Sammy,” I choked, grabbing him just as he hit the floor. I scrambled to keep him upright, clutching his head to my chest and stroking his clammy forehead. “Is he okay?” Zoe croaked, trying to sit up to see. “I don’t know.” My hands flapped uselessly. “I don’t know what’s happened to him.” ‘Calm down,’ said Violet, her voice firm. ‘You aren’t helping him by panicking.’ ‘You’re right. I can deal with this,’ I said, more to myself than to her. I was exhausted, and my nerves had been frayed to their ends - but dwelling on that wouldn’t help Sammy. “His heartbeat is strong, but too fast.” I spoke aloud, both to steady myself and to keep Zoe informed. “He’s breathing, but each breath is shallow.” I took a deep breath. “He’s alive.” I ran my eyes over him, giving myself one last second to be a caring, terrified mother. He looked so small
Aurora’s POV I knew it was Zoe - but if I hadn’t been made aware of her condition beforehand, I never would have recognised my dear friend. She sat hunched in the bed, frail shoulders curved in on themselves. She’d aged years since I’d last seen her; wrinkles carved into the skin of her face, like gorges left behind years after the rivers had evaporated. Zoe wore no makeup. Her eyes looked softer without her signature eyeliner, creased and small and sad. Her black bob hung limply about her shoulders, dishevelled and left to grow out longer than I’d ever seen it. Grey streaked through its lengths.“Zoe?” I breathed, my voice lodging in my throat. This couldn’t be her. It didn’t matter that her father was stood beside her bed, his expression drawn. It didn’t matter that she looked up at me when I said her name.This couldn’t be my friend.“Hi, Aria,” she croaked. “Hey, Sammy. You both look well.”I swallowed hard. “I wish I could say the same about you.”Alpha Brutus shot me a men
Aurora’s POVSammy slept the whole way to the Eternal Bonds pack. My heart throbbed painfully every time I looked at him. I was terrified for my friend, but I still had no answers about what had happened to my son.At least I finally felt peace about Ethan. He knew who I was and he knew that Sammy was his son. My shoulders were lighter after baring those truths to him.I just wished he could have come with me.Violet perked up like she had something to say. I spoke before she could. ‘I know why he couldn’t,’ I sighed. ‘I just wish he was here. We’ve just…’‘I know,’ she said softly. Sammy woke up just before I pulled into the car park. I’d told him what was happening and where we were going before we’d left, but he still looked around with a confused furrow to his brow.“Are you okay?” I murmured, reaching over to smooth his hair back from his forehead.He was too warm. He wasn’t sweating, but I could feel heat pooling in front of his skin. I held a worried hand there a moment longer
Ethan’s POVI stood outside my house, balling my hands into fists. ‘How do you want to do this?’ asked Sterling.‘No idea,’ I replied. I’d never been scared to go inside my own house before. Dawn had broken over the horizon, painting the sky in eerie shades of grey and purple. It swelled like a bruise over the quiet expanse of my pack.My heart felt too full to go and face Selene. Telling her I was leaving her for Aurora - no, I had to make sure I said Aria - was going to be hideous. ‘Do you have to say Aria?’ said Sterling. ‘I’m pretty sure Selene knows who she is. She keeps nearly saying Aurora when she’s meant to say Aria.’I cracked my knuckles. I wasn’t a coward; I wouldn’t hesitate out here a second longer. ‘Let’s go and find out.’I thought of my Aurora as I went inside. I was doing this for her, and for our son. I wouldn’t make Sammy grow up in a broken home. No more broken than it already had been…A tiny prickle of anger ran down my spine. I let it warm me.I held the ima
Ethan’s POVI couldn’t stop staring at Sammy. I’d been pummelled by revelations today - Aurora was alive, and here, and she was willing to forgive me - and, perhaps even more incredible than that…I had a son. We had a son.The woman I had pined for was here, her warm body pressed to mine, our son slumped against us, asleep, and I couldn’t believe it. My life had been turned upside down. That didn’t mean I wasn’t angry. Damn it, I was furious. She’d kept my boy from me. ‘You can’t blame her for that,’ sighed Sterling. ‘I know. Don’t make me remember,’ I replied, but it was too late. My mind was spinning down the one path I wanted to always avoid.I’d been swayed by idiocy and left my mate out in the cold. The fact she’d lost our other baby because of me…I wasn’t the same man I’d been then. I couldn’t believe I’d treated her like that.But I had.I’d pushed her to make those crazy choices. She’d gone to extremes to keep herself, and our child, safe from me. It made my throat fill
Aurora’s POVThe words lingered in the air between us. I could’ve reached out and plucked them with my fingertips. They were a palpable thing - a curse I wished I could recall.Then Ethan let out a single, sharp breath.My chest squeezed as I watched the emotions racing across his handsome, chiselled face. His jaw tensed, then relaxed, then tensed again.I waited on tenterhooks for him to speak.“I knew it,” he said eventually, the words rough around the edges. “Not for sure, but… I felt a connection to him. And, damn it, Aurora, he looks just like me.” His brow creased; he refused to meet my eyes. “I wondered why I wanted to be close to him. Separate from wanting to be close to you, I mean. I-“ He cut himself off and dragged a shaking hand through his dark hair. I had so much to say, but I held my tongue. He needed to process this. He finally looked at me. “You kept my son from me.” It wasn’t an accusation. It was simply a fact. A cruel, horrible, awful fact.“I had no choice. I wo
Aurora’s POV Ethan spent the night. Not in the way I’d anticipated or even hoped - and yet it was infinitely better. I longed to share a bed with him, skin on skin, a melding of bodies and minds as we kissed and talked and made love… But instead he was here, taking care of us. I had a front row seat to watch my son’s relationship with his father bloom. Before everything had happened, I’d dreamt about bringing up a child with Ethan. Then I’d feared him ever finding out the truth. Now, telling him the truth felt like the most natural thing in the world. How he hadn’t seen it for himself I didn’t know. They looked so alike, sat together on the sofa, heads bowed as they spoke. Ethan ruffled Sammy’s hair; my heart squeezed painfully. ‘It’s only a matter of time until he works it out,’ Violet said. ‘He knows who you are now, and he knows how old Sammy is. It wouldn’t take a genius to put two and two together.’ I bit my lip. ‘I hadn’t thought of that. I’ve had so much else to think
Aurora’s POV I glanced back at Ethan. He nodded, his jaw set. He stepped closer to me, a silent promise that he - quite literally - had my back, no matter what I opened the door to reveal. I opened it. Sammy lay crumpled on the floor. I dropped to my knees with a cry. “Sammy, sweetheart, look at me,” I pleaded with him. He mumbled something incoherent. I scooped him into my arms; Ethan held the door open for me so I could bring him inside. His eyelids flickered as I laid him down on the sofa. “Sammy?” I whispered, pushing a lock of dark hair off his forehead. He looked so pale, but I could see the steady rise and fall of his chest and hear the soft intake of his breaths. “Shit,” Ethan cursed, running both hands through his hair. He looked between me and the still-open door. “They only just knocked. Whoever took him has to still be close, Aur. I can go after them, or I can stay here with you and Sammy.” I cradled Sammy’s icy cheek. I wanted him to stay, to comfort
Aurora’s POVWith shaking fingers I clicked on the light. The cold white flash burnt my retinas. “Sammy?” I called out softly, still hoping he was in the bed, still hoping he was where he was meant to be. I took a step closer.The duvet had been pulled back. A book had been left abruptly, as if dropped, face-down with its spine groaning. Sammy would never leave a book like that.My gut churned.“Sammy!” I cried, panic flaring in my voice.I tore around the room, flinging back the curtains and opening the wardrobe. There were no thoughts in my head, nothing concrete or sensible that would help me find him. There was just terror, raw and biting.Ethan was drawn into the room by my shout. “Is everything okay?”“Sammy’s gone.” I spun around to face him. My bottom lip wobbled. “He’s not in here.”Ethan nodded, reaching out a hand to comfort me even as his expression hardened. I knew that look; that was the Alpha in him stepping forward, the part of him designed to deal with any crisis. H