LOGINChapter 143Liam I left Aurora’s chamber with a heaviness that settled straight into my chest. The moment the door clicked shut behind me, guilt hit harder than any blow I had ever taken in battle. I hated that we argued. I hated that she was hurt—because of me, because I wasn’t alert enough. After all, someone dared to attack my Luna under my watch.All I wanted was her safety. Why did it have to turn into a fight?I raked a hand through my hair, pacing, trying to swallow the frustration burning in my throat. I couldn’t go back inside and force her to talk—not when she was weak, not when she asked me to leave. So I did the only thing that made sense: I went to find Lucious.He was in the small sitting room connected to our mother’s temporary quarters. Bella was asleep on his lap, and he was brushing strands of her hair away with a soft smile. I envied that kind of calm.Lucious looked up the moment he sensed my presence. “You look like you fought a mountain and lost.”I dropped into
Chapter 142Aurora Time passed quietly after Liam left, the room settling into a heavy stillness that pressed against my chest. I was still staring at the door when it opened again, more gently this time.My father rushed in first, his face pale, eyes wide with fear he didn’t try to hide. My grandmother followed closely behind him, her usual calm shaken, her hands trembling as she hurried to my bedside.“Aurora,” my father breathed, dropping to his knees beside me. His hands cupped my face as if he needed to feel that I was real, alive. “My child… are you hurt badly?”“I’m here,” Grandma said softly, already pulling the covers back slightly, inspecting me with sharp, worried eyes. “Let me look at you. Oh, my brave girl…”“I’m fine,” I said quickly, forcing a reassuring smile even as my chest tightened at the sight of them like this. “I promise. The pain is much better now. I’m healing.”My father exhaled shakily, pressing his forehead to the side of the bed for a moment before straig
Chapter 141AuroraConsciousness returned to me slowly, like dawn breaking through thick fog. At first, there was only warmth—soft sheets, steady air, the quiet rhythm of a heartbeat that wasn’t my own. Then the ache followed. Dull, deep, but no longer sharp. Manageable. Almost distant.I blinked, my vision adjusting, and memory rushed back in fragments—fire, smoke, pain so blinding it stole my breath.I inhaled sharply and shifted.That was when I saw him.Liam sat beside the bed, shoulders tense, eyes fixed on me as if he’d been willing me to wake. The moment my fingers twitched, he leaned forward, panic flashing openly across his face.“You’re awake,” he said, voice tight with relief and fear all at once. “How do you feel, wife? Are you in pain? Do you need water—anything?”His questions tumbled out too fast.I swallowed and managed a small smile. “I’m okay, Liam,” I murmured, my voice rough. I tried to push myself upright, testing my strength. “It doesn’t hurt much anymore. I thin
Chapter 140LiamThe sound reached me before the sight did.Shouts—not of alarm, but of command. The sharp clash of boots on stone. The crackle of fire.My heart lurched.I was already moving before thought caught up, instincts screaming, wolf surging forward like a storm breaking loose. I ran through the corridor, past startled guards, past smoke curling along the ceiling.Then I saw her.Aurora lay on the floor near the kitchens, pale against the dark stone, her body unnaturally still. Blood stained her gown, spreading fast beneath her side. The smell hit me next—iron, smoke, and something wrong. Very wrong.My world narrowed to her.I dropped to my knees beside her, hands shaking as I gathered her into my arms. “Aurora,” I breathed, my voice breaking despite every effort to stay strong. “Aurora, stay with me.”She didn’t stir.Rage and fear collided inside me, tearing through my chest. My wolf howled, wild and furious, demanding blood, demanding answers. I lifted her carefully, hol
Chapter 139AuroraI lay curled on Liam’s side, the warmth of him still surrounding me, his arm heavy and protective at my waist. My heart felt full in a way I had never known before.I loved this man.Truly, deeply.Liam wasn’t just my mate or my husband—he was my safest place. My favorite person. The one my heart seemed to reach for without thinking.But peace never stayed long in my world.As I lay there, staring at the stone ceiling above us, my thoughts drifted back to the morning’s news. Two pups. Two innocent children. Gone.A sharp ache bloomed in my chest.I didn’t know what would happen next. I didn’t know how dark things would become. But I wanted—no, I needed—to believe that Liam and I would survive it all together.A tear slipped from the corner of my eye, trailing silently into my hair.I tried to hide it.I failed.Liam shifted instantly, his body alert even before his eyes fully opened. He pushed himself up on one arm, looking down at me with concern etched deep into h
Chapter 138 Liam The stone corridors were still humming with the echo of the crowd when we returned to the castle. The doors had barely closed behind me when my mother stepped into my path, her presence quiet but deliberate, like a hand placed gently over a flame. “Son,” she said softly, blocking my way. “You must give this more thought.” I paused. “You know I love you,” she continued, her voice warm, almost tender. “And it would destroy me if anything were to happen to your wife. You have always been able to count on me. This place…” her gaze drifted toward the towering walls, “it isn’t as safe as it once was.” I said nothing, letting her speak. “Joining the omega territory to the rest of the pack is not another wise choice,” she added carefully. “I taught you everything that shaped you into the man you are today. You know better than to ignore me. I have always stood by you. I believed our bond was closer than this.” Her words were gentle, but they pressed at old wou







