Chapter 32 Aurora’s POV Tears streamed down my cheeks as Grandma’s words sank in. The noise of the hospital faded into nothing, leaving only the pounding of my heart. My father… blamed me? For my mother’s death? He hated me for it? And my mother… she was a werewolf? My life suddenly felt like a book someone else had written for me, page after page of secrets I was never meant to read. I struggled to breathe, my chest tight as I tried to piece it all together. Grandma’s wrinkled hands cupped my face, her eyes glistening with both love and guilt. “I’m sorry, I didn’t tell you anything. I thought since your father’s human, you wouldn’t get any werewolf traits. I had no one to ask about this world, Aurora. I didn’t know where your dad was, and I wasn’t close with your mother or any of her relatives. I figured, since you didn’t show any signs, it was better to let you live a normal life. I’m so sorry, my baby girl.” Her voice broke, a soft whine of pain that made my heart ach
Chapter 31Raymond’s POVAmber was gone.The words had lost their weight, or maybe they had grown too heavy for me to carry. My wife was dead. My world was dead. And though I was still breathing, I didn’t feel alive anymore.I sat in silence most days, my body moving through life like a shadow. The only sound that reminded me of life was the soft cries of my daughter—Aurora. But even her cries felt like a knife twisting into me. Every whimper, every giggle, every time she reached her small hands out for me, I saw Amber. I saw the way she should have been here. I saw the way her eyes should have shone with pride, holding the baby we both dreamed of.Instead, it was my mother who cradled Aurora.She moved into the house after Amber’s death, saying nothing but carrying everything. She cooked, she cleaned, she sang lullabies that soothed Aurora when I couldn’t. It was she who named her Aurora, whispering, “That’s what Amber wanted… Aurora, her little light.”I had nodded, unable to speak.
Chapter 30 Amber’s POV “Raymond!” I shouted from the bedroom, my voice echoing through the house. “Raymond, I think… my water just broke!” He came running in like a panicked soldier, eyes wide. “What?! Already? But you’re—wait—you’re serious?!” “Yes, I’m serious!” I snapped, half laughing despite the pain. “Do you think I’d be standing here spilling water on your favorite carpet just for fun?” “Oh no, not the carpet!” he teased, though his face was pale as a ghost. He grabbed the hospital bag so fast he nearly forgot the car keys. We raced to the hospital, my contractions hitting harder with every passing second. When we arrived, doctors and nurses swarmed me like bees to honey, guiding me into the delivery room. “Her contractions are strong,” one doctor said. “But the baby looks a bit large for her pelvis—we might need to monitor closely.” Another ordered a scan, then reassured me with a calm smile. “Don’t worry, Amber. You’ll be just fine. We’ll get her out safe.” Ra
Chapter 29 Amber’s POV I was in my final month, my belly heavy and full with the life we had created. Raymond had been nothing but wonderful, always hovering, always making sure I was comfortable. Tonight, we sat together on the bed, his hand absentmindedly tracing circles on my swollen stomach as we planned aloud how we’d spoil our little girl and take her traveling one day. “First stop, Paris,” he teased, grinning. “Even if she’s just three months old. We’ll put her in a tiny stroller and let her scream at the Eiffel Tower.” I laughed. “You mean you’ll be the one carrying the stroller up those endless stairs while she cries. I’ll just be there eating croissants.” He groaned dramatically, making me laugh harder, then leaned down to kiss my belly. “You hear that, princess? Your mother’s already abandoning us.” The sweetness of the moment almost made me forget the weight on my chest. Almost. Because the truth was, while my heart dreamed of our little family, my mind still d
Chapter 28 Amber’s POV I left. I had to. I can’t sacrifice my child. I can’t sacrifice my happiness. Maybe that makes me selfish—but I want to be happy, and I will be. Still, knowing the pack suffers because of me… it tears at my heart. This isn’t the kind of happiness I imagined, the peace I hoped for. He told me not to say goodbye to the pack. I didn’t even encourage them—I just walked away. What kind of person am I? Maybe I wasn’t meant to be a leader after all. When I finally reached Raymond, I couldn’t hold it in. “Maybe I’m not cut out to be a leader,” I admitted quietly, the weight of the Vale pressing on me even as I returned to the human world. Raymond wrapped his arms around me. I rested my head against his chest, letting out a shaky breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding. “Honey…” he murmured softly, pressing a gentle kiss to the top of my head. “You’re not weak. You’re the strongest person I know. You’ve done what no one else could—you protected our chil
Chapter 27 Amber’s POV “Guys… as you can see, I’m heavily pregnant,” I said, placing a hand on my swollen belly as the murmurs of the pack quieted. “You all need to calm down. Please.” I took a deep breath, steadying myself. “I will speak with Damian. I know the pack isn’t what it should be right now. I can see the exhaustion in your eyes, the hunger in your families, the unease in your hearts. We are tired. We are suffering.” Voices rumbled in agreement, anger mixed with despair. A growl rose from the back of the crowd. One of the older wolves stepped forward, his voice raw with anger. “Amber, it’s not just that we’re tired—we are broken! Damian hasn’t strengthened our borders, and rogues slip in and out as they please, killing and stealing. He hasn’t organized the hunting parties, and now families go hungry while he feasts like a king. He doesn’t call for the sacred gatherings anymore, so our voices are silenced. Our pups are growing wild, without training, without gui