Chapter 1

Aurora POV

“Violet, play nice with your cousins. Don’t boss them all around. They’re your friends, not minions,” I remind my daughter as she just huffs, rolling her green eyes before she struts off through the house, her long blonde hair swishing behind her with her cute little bow at the top. I rub my temples because as much as I like to say, I don’t know where she gets it from. That girl is all me. She’s five going on fifteen, and no matter how hard I try to freeze time, she just keeps racing ahead. Some days, I wish she had more of her father’s calm and rational way of thinking. But then that wouldn’t be her. After everything we’ve survived, that fire in her? She’s going to need it.

I follow after her, walking out onto the concrete patio, the sun's rays kissing my skin with the soft heat. The crystal blue waters of the pool below glitter in the sunlight. I watch Violet skip down the stairs, the palm trees swaying in the soft breeze on either side of the path with colourful shrubs lining the outer edge of the grass. Elio and Jaden are currently moving the large table onto the grass for us to eat later, near enough to the BBQ, but not so close we shall all smell of smoke by the end of the evening. I wrap my arms around myself, feeling a sudden shift in the air.

The BBQ has room for all our mates to cook around currently they all have their shits off just in swimming trunks as they marinate the meat ready to put on the coals. The kids are running around playing kiss chase and nearly knocking over the chairs in the process. I just smile sitting on the lounge chairs where the fire pit is on the top level overlooking the chaos below. I just watch Violet link arms with Aria as they begin whispering and giggling to each other, making my stomach sink. Those two have a way of winding up the boys until a fight breaks out.

I hear the click of heels on the floor as I look over my shoulder at where the patio doors are. Kara, my twin sister, emerges from the house, her long dark wavy hair flowing behind her. Her green eyes sparking as she sees my face light up with what she carries in her hands: two large glasses of rose wine. Our favourite. “I thought you might want this,” she smiles as I take it. We clink glasses before she slumps down beside me on the lounge chair, “Here’s to us another year older,” she smiles and we take a sip. It’s fruity and delicious and perfect for a sunny day like this.

It’s our 26th birthday today and our half brother Jaden is hosting a little family BBQ for us to celebrate. He built this dream house when he met his mate, who happens to be my best friend, Stacey. She is a good influence on him like all mates are. Our brother had far more demons than any of us knew about, and over the last couple of years they have been together, his rough edges have smoothed out. He is actually nice now. Stacey joins us, having just passed Willow to hunter and picks up her own glass.

Kara has two kids Xander who is seven, and Aria, who is six. She also brought Addie, a sweet little girl who won’t say boo to a goose, and clings to Xander’s side like a second shadow. Those two are joined at the hip and despite the age gap between them. He is good with her and doesn’t seem to mind her neediness. Aria is a plucky little thing. When Aria and Violet team up, even the Moon Goddess herself would need a stiff drink. I try not to focus on the trouble they get up to bossing the boys around like the little alphas they claim to be.

Stacey has three little ones of her own. The twins Knox and Jax, both four, are little daredevils currently diving into the pool, trying to make the biggest splash before attempting to drown the other. Willow, Stacey’s double, is a cute little 1-year-old who has captured the hearts of everyone in the Blue Moon pack, even their rugged beta Hunter. He lives on a small property at the end of their garden. Jaden didn’t want him to feel left out when he built this place. He is like an extension of the family here, but has his own space out back. The way he looks at Willow sometimes, I can see he wants this for himself. A family. Pups. Although he would never admit it out loud.

The afternoon sun filters through the leaves of the surrounding trees, casting dappled shadows across the patio where I sit besides Kara I kick off my heels leaning back in the chair as I sip my wine, watching my four mates argue how best to grill the steak and to get the burgers ready for the kids before all hell breaks loose. Hungry little pups cause nothing but chaos. I can already smell the scent of smoky, charred meat wafting up from the lower level of the garden.

“Kitten you alright up there drinking your wine? Do you want to get into the pool and cool down?” Sebastian calls up to me as I shake my head. “We’re having girl time,” I coo back as he rolls his eyes, holding some tongs as he flips the meat over. “You tell him Aurora,” Stacey giggles as Jaden arches a brow her way. Kara giggles as we shift our gaze to Elio, wrestling Jax and Knox apart as they play in the pool. “Elio is going to start getting cranky if I don’t go and help him,” Kara adds, tucking her hair behind her ear. “It’s your birthday,” I remind her as she smiles, her eyes watching Elio as she nods, barely listening. “A dip in the pool could be fun?” she mutters, although her gaze is locked on Elio and less on the water. “Kara, your mate is an actual hybrid. I am sure he can handle a few kids for an afternoon,” she nods, settling back as she licks her lips, humming to herself. “You’re probably right,”