LOGINAuroraI wasn't sure what I had expected when I opened my bedroom door the next morning. But I was sure it wasn't two warriors standing outside my room.Both of them straightened the moment they saw me. They looked to be in their late twenties, dressed in dark clothes instead of armor, but there was no mistaking what they were. Strong. Alert. Every movement spoke of years of training.One of them inclined his head respectfully."Good morning, Miss Aurora."I blinked."Good morning."The other offered me a small smile."Alpha Denver has assigned us to your protection."The words settled over me with surprising weight.This wasn't pretend anymore. Whatever the twins suspected... everyone else believed it was serious enough to post guards outside my room."I... see."Neither of them looked uncomfortable. If anything, they seemed determined."We'll be accompanying you wherever you go," the first warrior said. "If you need anything, all you have to do is ask."I thanked them quietly before
AuroraBy the time evening settled over the estate, the entire packhouse had come alive. The warm aroma of dinner drifted through the halls, mingling with the rich scent of polished wood and fresh bread. In the distance I could hear children laughing outside, their voices slowly fading as night fell.After spending the afternoon with Selena, I felt much less nervous walking through the enormous house. Almost. I still hesitated at every doorway, still wondered if I was supposed to be somewhere else. But every person I passed smiled at me as though I belonged there. It was becoming increasingly difficult to convince myself otherwise.One of the house staff appeared at the foot of the staircase just as I finished brushing my hair. "Luna Selena asked me to let you know dinner is ready.""Oh." I smiled. "Thank you."She nodded politely and disappeared down the corridor. I took one last look in the mirror, smoothed the front of my sweater, and headed downstairs.The dining room was spacious
AuroraI woke with a smile already on my face.For a few quiet seconds, I simply lay there staring at the ceiling, wondering why.Then yesterday came rushing back.The canoe.Falling into the lake.Finding out I wasn't nearly as afraid of water as I'd always believed.Kissing Maxwell.Kissing Alec.My cheeks warmed against the pillow."I actually did that."A laugh escaped before I could stop it.If someone had told me two weeks ago that I would be waking up inside the Alpha family's home after spending an entire weekend laughing, swimming, and kissing the two most confusing boys on earth, I would have suggested they seek professional help.Yet somehow...Here I was.I stretched beneath the blankets, feeling lighter than I had in years.No nightmares had chased me through the night.No shouting had dragged me awake.No pounding footsteps outside my bedroom door had made my heart race.For the first time in a very long time, waking up didn't hurt.That realization lingered with me as I
Aurora.The atmosphere inside the SUV had completely changed.All the laughter from the lake, the teasing, and the sweet stolen kisses felt like they belonged to another day. No one spoke much as Alec drove. His hands stayed steady on the wheel, but I could see the tension in his tight jaw. Maxwell sat beside him, staring out the passenger window, his usual relaxed smile replaced by quiet focus.I sat in the back, twisting my fingers together in my lap. I hated not knowing what was going on.The moment the call came, everything moved fast. We’d rushed back to the cabin, thrown our things into bags in under ten minutes, loaded the car, and left before the sun had fully set.I leaned forward slightly. "Is your sister… okay?"Maxwell turned around first. "She is.""But your dad sounded…""Worried," Alec finished quietly."He was."I swallowed. "So… are we in danger?"The twins exchanged a glance before Maxwell answered. "No."The certainty in his voice made me look at him more closely.
Aurora.By the time we had showered and changed into dry clothes, the sun had begun its slow descent behind the trees, painting the lake in soft shades of gold and orange.I’d slipped back into one of the oversized sweaters Alec bought me, along with leggings and thick socks. My damp hair hung loose over my shoulders as I wandered downstairs. Even before I reached the kitchen, I could smell something delicious cooking.I rounded the corner and found Alec outside on the deck beside the grill while Maxwell leaned against the railing with a drink in his hand."You two are cooking?" I asked.Maxwell snorted. "Yeah."Alec glanced over his shoulder. "He burns things.""I add character.""You nearly burned down Mom’s outdoor kitchen last summer.""It was one time.""It was three."Maxwell pointed his bottle at his brother. "You swore we’d never speak of that.""I lied."I laughed as I stepped outside. "What are we having?""Steaks," Alec answered."And vegetables," Maxwell added.I made a fa
Aurora.I stood in front of the mirror for what had to be the tenth time. The bed behind me had disappeared under a mountain of clothes—jeans, shorts, sweaters, the soft cream sundress, and a light blue romper.I picked up the dress again and held it against myself. It was pretty. It was also shorter than anything I had ever worn. My eyes drifted down to my thighs. Too much, the old voice in my head whispered.I reached for my familiar old jeans instead, but halfway there I stopped. A memory from the boutique came back to me."Try it on first," Alec had said. "Then decide whether you hate it."I remembered walking out of the fitting room expecting awkward silence. Instead, Maxwell had smiled and told me, "You keep trying to hide yourself." When I blinked at him in surprise, he’d added gently, "We don’t want you to hide. We want you to wear the things that make you smile."I looked back at the mirror. The dress did make me smile. It also terrified me.I let out a slow breath. "If I’m g
Denver.I was halfway down the hall to my room when one of the guards walked up to me.“Alpha, Tiana was here asking for you,” he said. “She’s waiting.”I didn’t think twice. “Give her access.”The door to my room had barely shut behind me when I started pulling off my jacket. My body felt heavy, t
Selena POV:A quiet laugh left him, low and warm.“Or would you rather I go on my knees?” I asked softly.Before he could answer, I slowly slipped down in front of him, my fingers brushing along his waist as I tugged at his clothes.His breath caught the moment he realized what I was doing, the tea
Denver.Selena’s smirk lingered for only a second after my words.Then the meaning behind them sank in.Her breath caught slightly.I straightened slowly in front of her, the teasing edge in my expression fading into something far more controlled, far more dangerous. The shift inside me was subtle,
Selena POV:I had barely taken three steps toward the door when a hand caught my wrist.“Where do you think you’re going?”I glanced back at Denver.“There are still a few things I need to finish up,” I said. “The gifts from the ceremony still need to be sorted and—”“You’re leaving me?”“I’m not l







