Aurora's pov The faint moonlight that came through the curtains didnt help ease the pain in my chest. I was lying in bed looking up at the ceiling with my eyes burning and swollen from crying .Callum’s words from earlier replayed in my mind like a haunting melody I couldn’t escape. *Try not to make Greta cry, you know how sensitive she is.*I scoffed but the sound barely came out of my mouth.Sensitive? It was like being betrayed. The always flawless Greta who somehow succeeded in gaining Callum's love and respect—even at my expense. My body shook with frustration as I gripped the pillow tightly. No matter how hard I tried it seemed like I was always falling short in his eyes Was I the issue? He was more concerned about Greta than he was about me and that was evident from every argument and sidelong glance.And it broke me. I buried my face in the pillow as the hot, unrelenting tears came again and poured down my cheeks. I wanted to stop crying. I didn't want to feel this po
I had hurriedly dressed, my head still clouded by the events of the previous few days. Callum claimed to have scheduled a visit with a doctor on my behalf. Although I had no idea what to expect I knew I had to do it. I had to take responsibility for the growing baby in my womb. This was the first time I had ever looked at my reflection in the mirror. I sighed and smoothed down my blouse as my dark hair tangled around my shoulders. Even though I no longer gave a damn about how I looked, I still wanted to feel put together. Everything that was weighing on me was getting to be too much, so I had to cling to what little strength I still had. I forced Greta from my mind for the moment but she was still there. I couldn't allow myself to become sidetracked. Not today. I needed to concentrate because I had to go to the clinic. After a few more seconds of contemplation, I left my room and headed to the hall. Without listening to me , Callum was idly browsing through his phone while
When I got there, it was too quiet in the clinic. I tried to relax as I sat in the waiting room.He had been nice though to arrange for I and my baby's treatment. A woman in a white-coat came out from the office as I heard the door open. She was older and her warm smile and gentle eyes made me feel a little more at ease. "Luna Aurora ." My throat went dry as I nodded."Welcome, come in."She gestured for me to enter and I did so and went with her to her office. It had a cozy chair, soft lighting and was compact. She motioned for me to take a seat. "Make yourself comfortable please, luna."she said politely." I'm Dr. Miller I'm here to make sure your pregnancy is going well." She said and smiled warmly at me.Even though I sat down to listen to her my thoughts kept returning to Callum. Thinking about the baby or what would happen next was the last thing I wanted to do because I felt lost and unsure about everything. Dr. Miller took a seat across from me and began going throu
As I left the clinic the air seemed heavier. Even though the sun was shining on my face I didn't feel any better. Every word I had said to Dr. Miller was being replayed in my mind. Every step I took was accompanied by the realization that the baby wasn't Callum's. A familiar figure was leaning against the car parked outside the hospital entrance and I froze Gretta. She was here of course. She always seemed to show up when I least expected her to as if she were waiting for me to vanish in the dark. She was smiling but it wasn't a warm one. No, she had that smile that made you feel insignificant as if she knew something you didn't want her to know. With a mockingly sweet tone Greta asked ."Did you enjoy your little check-up?"I was unsure of how to react. My heart was pounding as I simply stood there. Everything around me seemed to have stopped moving and the only sound left was her voice. “You know I heard some interesting things” Greta added moving closer her eyes shining. "
GretaThe following day came more quickly than I expected. I had prepared myself for the evening by thinking about what would happen for hours. It was expected to be the year's most anticipated event—a lavish banquet. The leaders of nearby packs, Callum's inner circle and the pack members themselves would all be present. I could hear the murmurs already. His new mate Aurora, the woman who had abruptly taken over everything would be present.But I had a plan. She would discover Callum's true identity tonight. I raked my fingers through my hair as I stood in front of the mirror. I needed to look flawless so that nothing could go wrong. Staring at me the dress I had selected, it was sleek black and elegant. I was skilled at drawing attention and starting conversation. I wished I could spend so much time by Callum's side tonight.But Aurora was just something that stood in my way. Imagining how I would make her cry tonight made me smiled at my reflection. She was unaware of wha
As soon as Greta speaks, I stop moving. Callum doesn't have the baby. The air in the room gets thicker, and everything stops. My legs feel like they're going to fall off. Now, every eye is on me, and each look burns into my skin. I can hardly hear the whispers in the dining hall because my heart is beating so fast. My throat tightens, and fear claws at me. Callum's grip on my waist gets tighter. His touch is no longer warm; it's cold and hard. Slowly, he turns to face me, his expression unclear, but his eyes, those usually warm, safe eyes...are hard, narrowed into holes. His voice is low and tense as he asks, "Is it true?" I shake my head, but no words come. My mouth feels dry, like sandpaper. How could she know? How could Greta possibly know? I never told anyone. No one could’ve known about that night. Greta steps closer, her smile wicked and triumphant. She’s loving this, rejoicing in the chaos she’s caused. Her look stays on me, daring me to deny it. “You thought you could
The woods seem odd tonight. Darker, colder. As I approach into the open, the trees tower around me like calm, watchful entities. Moonlight floods through the trees, producing lengthy shadows on the ground. Every crunch of the dry leaves beneath my feet feels too loud, like it’s advertising my existence to whatever is out there. My breath fogs in the frigid night air, and my heart pounds in my chest. The words from earlier still resonate in my head: “Meet me at the edge of the forest at midnight.” I don’t know who I’m meeting or why they want to see me. But I couldn’t stay away. Not when I’m so desperate for answers. The truth about Greta, about Callum. I need to know what’s truly occurring and who’s behind all of this. The wind rustles through the trees, sending a chill down my spine. Every sound seems exaggerated in the calm, every snap of a tree, every whisper of the wind. I wrap my arms over myself, trying to remain warm, but it’s not simply the cold making me tremble. It’s the
When I get back to the packhouse, the atmosphere is tense, and it feels like a jail. This environment is more oppressive and feels colder overall. Every creak of the floorboards makes me tremble, and the walls feel like they're pressing in on me. I can feel the weight of the pack members' suspicious looks as I move through the hallways and hear them murmuring behind my back.Even though I make an effort to dismiss them, the reality of what transpired at the banquet cannot be avoided. I can't breathe because of Greta's harsh remarks, Callum's cold demeanor, and the uncertainty in his eyes. Despite my best efforts to swim, I feel as like I'm drowning in a sea of uncertainty.I arrive at the stairway and begin to ascend, my legs heaving and my chest becoming more tense with each stride. After everything that has transpired, I need to speak with Callum to see where we are. What can I say, though? How can I start to sort out the mess we've got ourselves into?Knowing that I'm entering more
The area where we stand is illuminated by a silvery radiance due to the high and full moon. The quiet is deafening. In my ears, every breath and heartbeat sounds like thunder. Callum is standing a few feet away from me, his eyes fixed on mine while his fists are clenched at his sides.I say, just above a whisper, "You don't have to do this."His eyes are ablaze with love and agony as he steps closer. "Yes, I do." I must put this right. For you. For us.My heart twitches. My soul is ignited by the touch of this man, who I adore. Yet here we are, caught between love and loyalty, between the past and the future.I carefully extend my hand to touch his. Do it like the man I know, then. The Alpha, no. Not the heir. Simply callum.He gently nods, his shoulders becoming somewhat less tense. So it's just Callum. For you.The council waits in a loose circle behind us. They are a chilly reminder of the decision that looms over everything like a fog: betray his blood or lose me forever.Bennet a
The Calm Before the StormThe ashes still cling to the air, heavy and bitter.The next morning light filters through the smoke-stained windows of the pack house. Everything feels quiet now, too quiet. As if the world is holding its breath. I pace the hallway, my boots echoing softly.Every warrior is on high alert. The scent of blood and burnt wood still lingers, making it hard to forget what happened.We lost too many. And Lucas got exactly what he wanted…fear. But I won’t let that fear control me.Callum walks beside me, his arm brushing mine. His wounds are healing slower than normal. Maybe it’s because of the dark magic Lucas used during the attack.We haven’t spoken much since last night. Too many thoughts. Too many emotions. "The border patrols are doubled," he says quietly. "No one leaves without my permission."I nod. "Good. We can’t risk another ambush." He looks at me then, eyes dark. "You still think there’s a traitor?"I pause."Yes." I see it in his face. The same doubt I
Inside the small, empty house, the air was thick with damp wood and nothing but quiet. I sat next to Callum and put a cloth over the big cut on his side. His shirt was stained with blood, and even though he was breathing unevenly, it stayed steady. Even though the roof leaked a little, it was a place to stay, and that was all we had at the time.I grabbed his hand tighter and whispered, "Stop moving." Callum winced and gave me a weak smile. "When you're scared, you're rude." "I'm always scared when you're hurt like this," I mumbled. I dropped my head and let my hair fall forward to hide the tears that were about to fall. He brushed a hand against my face, his touch soft despite the pain he was in. “Don’t cry for me, Aurora.” I didn’t answer. Instead, I put the cloth in the bowl of warm water and kept cleaning his wound. We’d lost so much today…so much blood, so many answers. And Lucas… that name alone sent a chill down my spine.I still couldn’t believe it. He was living all this
The air crackles with dark magic. Callum and I charge together, side by side, our wolves growling inside us. The hooded enemy raises a hand. A wave of black smoke races toward us. I throw up a shield of light, my new power burning inside me.The smoke crashes against it but doesn't break through. Callum leaps forward with a growl, striking at the figure. They block him easily, moving with a speed that doesn’t seem normal. I follow, hitting from the other side. But every move we make, they counter. It’s like they can see the future. Like they know every move before we make it."We have to end this!" I shout. Callum nods, sweat dripping down his face. The animals around us growl but do not move. They wait. Watching. As if the real fight is only between us and their boss.My heart pounds. I summon every bit of strength inside me. I feel Callum’s power through our bond, steady and strong. Together. We strike again, harder. Faster. The enemy falls back for the first time. A crack forms in
The gang gathers that night beneath the stars. A enormous fire blazes in the middle of the clearing, spilling golden light over everyone’s faces. Callum stands tall beside me, his fingers holding mine. Everyone is hushed, waiting. Waiting for answers.I clear my throat, my heart thumping. "They deserve to know," I say to Callum. He nods. "They trust you, Aurora," he adds gently. "Tell them the truth." So I move ahead. I feel every eye on me. Every pulse beating throughout the darkness."There’s more coming," I respond, my voice firm even though my hands are trembling. "Victor was not the end. There’s a larger risk waking awake — something older, something deeper." Murmurs spread across the throng. I elevate my chin. "But we are powerful. We are not alone. We fight for each other. For our house. And we shall stand against whatever comes next."There is quiet. Then one by one, the wolves bow their heads. A vow of allegiance. A promise. I blink back tears. Callum squeezes my
Waking to a New World: I wake to the lovely light of morning. The rain has ceased. The scene beyond the window seems clean, fresh, like the ground itself is breathing again after holding its breath for too long. Callum’s arm is stretched across me, thick and warm. His calm breathing tells me he’s still sleeping. For a time, I don’t move. I simply listen to his heart. I never believed I would survive last night. I never imagined I would experience this tranquility again. Carefully, I turn to face him. Even in sleep, he appears ferocious, like he’s ready to battle against the world to defend me. I reach out and touch his jawline with my fingertips. He stirs, his eyelids flickering open. When he sees me, he grins – a true smile, one that reaches his eyes. "Good morning, my love," he says, his voice low and raspy from sleep. My heart racing. "Good morning," I mumble back. He pulls me closer, burying his face in my neck. For a long time, we simply hold one other, saying nothing,
The rain pours heavier now, drowning the countryside in darkness. Thunder rumbles in the distance, deep and frightening, like a warning growl. I sit with Callum on the balcony for a long time, feeling his steady pulse against my side. His warmth is the only thing stopping the cold from devouring me completely.“I should go check on the others,” I whisper. Callum doesn’t let go. Instead, he draws me even closer. “Stay a little longer,” he urges, his voice raspy with passion. “Just a little longer.” So I remain.For the first time in days, I let myself relax. I shut my eyes and breathe him in – the aroma of rain, of pine, of him. But peace seldom lasts long in our world. A loud howl rips through the darkness. Another follows.And another. I bolt upright, my heart smashing into my ribs. Callum is already moving, his body tight and ready. “They’re here,” he replies ominously. Victor’s troops. Attacking in the thick of the storm. The pack house bursts into turmoil. Wolves shi
The following morning, the world feels different. The sun rises in gentle hues, caressing the sky with pink and gold. Birds chirp in the treetops. The woodland smells like new rain and optimism. But deep down, I sense it.A warning. A shift. Callum is already awake when I open my eyes. He sits at the edge of the bed, bare-chested, his head down like he’s bearing the weight of the world again. I sneak out from beneath the cover and move to him. My fingertips stroke his shoulder, feeling the strain in his muscles.He turns toward me, his eyes dark and angry. “I can feel it, Aurora. Something’s coming.” I nod. I feel that too. The bliss we tasted last night – it was genuine, but it was also fragile, and somewhere out there, danger is waiting to rip it apart.“We’ll be ready,” I answer gently. He pulls me into his lap without a word, throwing his arms around me like he never wants to let go. And for a short time, we simply hold each other. Because love is all we have today. A Visi
The night air seems cooler now. It's not warm enough.I stand there, motionless, my arms wrapped tightly around myself as if that might keep me from coming apart. The trees shake about me, whispering whispers I can’t hear, while the moon looks down, mute and uncaring.Callum is still there.I feel his presence before I ever see him move. He's standing only a few steps away, hands tightening and unclenching at his sides, like he’s fighting himself. “Aurora…” His voice breaks, raw with pain.I shut my eyes, hoping I could forget everything. Wishing I could go back to before—before Bennet's comments ruined the delicate trust between us. Before the truth fought its way into my heart and left nothing but pain.“I can’t…” I mumble, taking a slight step back. “I can’t even look at you right now.” His face twists in misery. “Please, just listen to me. Let me explain—” “What’s there to explain?” My voice rises without trying to. “Your father killed mine, Callum! Your family w