Callum's secrets weigh so much that, as he stands in front of me, his towering frame seems much smaller. As he turns to face me, his shoulders slump and his typically erect stance breaks. My heart is throbbing in my ears as I wait for him to say anything, and the calm between us is stifling. He breaks the solitude at last in a soft, regretful voice. Years ago, before we met, I negotiated a deal with someone. a deal that went south for me. His remarks sway the room. I attempt to relax myself by taking a short step back as my breath freezes in my throat. A bargain? What's the issue? Though I can't quite bring myself to say it, the question is burning on my lips. Whatever this contract was, I could tell from the fear in his eyes that it would ruin the delicate world I have built with him. I make an attempt to look him in the eye, but he swiftly turns away, as though he can't bear to see how upset he is going to make me feel. "Callum, what type of bargain?" I speak in a whisper, but it
Aching beneath the weight of Callum's revelation, my heart tightens. I feel as if someone has hit me and taken the breath out of my lungs. As the truth strikes me more, my hands start to tremble and my chest feels constricted. He made a bargain—with them. He placed me in peril, well knowing of the possible implications. I glance at him, trying to find an explanation, anything that would justify this betrayal. "You struck a bargain with them?" The grief is so palpable and visceral that my voice quivers as I speak. "Callum, you put me in danger? How would you achieve that? I can feel the words ripping through the small shards of my confidence in him. I quickly shrink away from the guy I thought I knew as he makes a timid step toward me. His voice is full of anguish as he says, "I didn't know it would end like this." "Please, Aurora. You were never intended to be engaged in this. I never wanted to do you harm. His words linger, but they don't make the sorrow go away. Between my love
The tension in the air is suffocating and weighty. I'm not sure whether it's because of Greta's surprise visit or Callum's treachery, but every time I breathe, my chest feels tighter. Anger, sorrow, betrayal, and most crucially, bewilderment, clash as my mind rushes. How did things get so out of hand so fast? Callum was supposed to be the only person I could rely on to keep me safe. But now I find myself wedged between the woman who wants to further break my relationship and the guy who just wrecked it. Like a predator enjoying its meal, Greta advances slowly and methodically. My skin crawls as her lips twist into a cunning smile. She purrs, her voice filled with joy, "Looks like your precious Callum isn't as perfect as you thought, Aurora." Her comments make me tense. My body is tense in every way. I look at Callum, who has a pale face and huge, guilty eyes. The way Greta's eyes shine with hate, as though she's been waiting for this moment, wanting to watch me crumble, is what has
I remain still, divided between two worlds. I can still hear Greta's voice, her offer creeping like a wicked spell into my thoughts. I'm not sure which direction to go, and it kills my heart to twist. Callum is standing close by, his eyes beseeching me to choose him in spite of everything, his face etched with remorse. "Don't listen to her, Aurora." Callum has a frantic, unpolished voice. Although his words cut through the tension in the air, they don't actually assist to quiet the pandemonium inside of me. His lies still sting, and his treachery is still raw. How can I ever again trust him? Is it possible for me to look at him the same way? EhinBut, Greta the situation is only made worse by her presence. Her lips curl into a satisfied grin as she takes a bold stride forward. "He has misled you, Aurora. He has consistently placed you at jeopardy. For what purpose? For his own self-interest. It seems like she's giving me a lifeline I didn't know I needed because of how smooth and ent
The tension that suffocates us permeates the air around us, making everything heavy. I can feel it engulfing me and clinging on so strongly that I'm having problems breathing. As I watch the figure walk out of the shadows and into the moonlight, I stand immobile, my pulse hammering. My spine receives a shiver from his presence; it's chilly and menacing. Victor. I've recently heard tales about this person. He has a reputation for being harsh, strong, and secretive. Even though I don't know him, I can feel the sadness flowing from him even though I haven't seen him before today. His eyes flicker over Callum and Greta before focusing on me, and he smiles maliciously as he glances around. He replies, "Looks like I arrived just in time," in a mockingly smooth voice. My skin creeps at the sound of it. He oozes confidence as he stands erect, and from the way he glances at me, it seems like he already knows how this will end, treating me like a piece in his diabolical plot. Beside me, Cal
Victor’s voice slashes through the silence, icy and ruthless, and I feel as though every nerve in my body is electrified by his words. I stand rooted, heart hammering so ferociously I fear it might burst. His tone is chilly, his visage an unreadable mask of evil satisfaction. “What are you talking about? What do you know about my past?” I demand, my voice quivering despite my efforts to remain composed. Each sentence trembles with equal parts fear and defiance, as if I’m pleading for answers I’ve yearned for and dreaded in equal measure. Victor strides forward cautiously, each calculated stride amplifying the strain that rises between us. His eyes cold, uncompromising, and curiously calculating lock onto mine, and I feel as if he’s staring deep into the depths of my soul. “Your bloodline isn’t as simple as you think,” he murmurs, his voice silky and laced with venom. “There’s a reason everyone wants you, Aurora. Your part of something much bigger than you can imagine.” His words re
Victor's words keep playing over and over in my head, like a bad dream that will never end. I can't breathe because of how shocked I am by what he said. What I thought was the truth feels like it's broken. I must know, yet I am unable to look at Callum. My heart is beating fast, and I feel scared, angry, and betrayed all at the same time.I swallow hard and force myself to look at Callum. His usual sense of self-confidence is gone, and in its place is a strange feeling of shame. I ask Calum, "Is it true?" and the world around me seems to be spinning around me. Have you been portraying my family to me? My voice is shaking so badly that it's almost broken. I need him to say that Victor is merely trying to play with my thoughts, to deny it. Even though Callum doesn't answer right away, that terrible, suffocating quiet is enough of a reaction. He can't keep his eyes on me and looks away. As though the words he's repressing are choking him, his lips form a tight line. "Callum," I urge, m
Victor's eyes gleam with a deadly promise, and his hand is extended, fingers slightly curved in invitation. Like poison wrapped in silk, his voice is enticing and velvety. "Come with me, Aurora," he begs, twisting every syllable. "I'll answer all of your queries. The truth about your family and your own self. You can't trust Callum. His hand is hovering in front of me, and I gaze at it as if grabbing it will make everything different. My head is whirling from the gravity of what has occurred, and my heart is still beating. Callum deceived me. He concealed from me something extremely crucial about myself. However, following Victor is like walking into the unknown, a risky journey with no certainty of protection. I can feel the weight of their gaze coming down on me, and there is a lot of tension between the two guys. With a soft but forceful tone, Victor says, "Come on, Aurora." "I won't keep you in the dark like Callum has. I'll give you the replies you're due. His lips curve into a
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