Chapter 5

Aurora POV

Eight months.

Eight long months of searching for answers. And still, not a single clue on how to break the spell holding us back.

The rogue alpha is dead now, and most of his pack either fled or joined ours. The Alpha has them in a separate section of the territory, training them to live like a real pack again. Meanwhile, Oliver has been keeping his distance from me, which makes everything harder. Noel, Landon, and Aaron have grown closer, forming a bond I can only observe from a distance.

It's been four months since I hooked up with Landon and Aaron, and things have gotten complicated. Noel said he saw it coming. Azura even hinted that they might be our destined mates. Still, today feels... wrong. I’m restless, not myself. I need space, so I do what I always do—head for the woods.

There’s something about the forest that soothes me. I can’t count how many times the guys have found me asleep under a tree or by the riverbank. It’s as if the woods are calling to me, pulling me in like a magnet.

Today, though, it’s different. There’s this gnawing ache—an emptiness that’s not just physical. I miss Oliver. There, I said it. He’s always been the missing piece in our group, and even though we’re not on the best terms, his absence hurts.

I find my usual spot by the river and sink down, letting the sound of rushing water drown out the noise in my head. The forest is well-maintained, just as the Alpha likes it, so finding a clean patch of grass is easy. Staring up at the sky, I let out a long breath and try to process everything—the memories, the power being drained from us, the changes in Noel. His scent has been off lately, almost like he’s becoming something else, something... more. The Alpha suspects he’s close to turning eighteen, and maybe that’s when we’ll finally get some answers.

As the sun filters through the trees, my eyes grow heavy, and I drift off.

Then it hits me—a dream, but not just any dream. It feels real, too real.

I’m in a house. My belly is swollen, heavy with life. Three men surround me, their faces filled with love as they gently touch my stomach. I can feel their warmth, their excitement. It’s like I’m watching a memory unfold—a life I’ve forgotten.

But then everything shifts.

The air grows thick, and suddenly, wolves and vampires burst into the house, attacking the men. I try to scream, but my voice doesn’t work. One by one, they’re slaughtered, blood staining the floorboards. I fall, clutching my belly, desperately trying to protect the baby. And then, as I lay there bleeding, I see her—me. But not me. Her.

"Remember. Focus and remember," she whispers. "Our time to return is here. Bring us back."

The words unlock something deep inside me, and memories crash into my mind like a tidal wave. Images from a past life. The love. The loss. The betrayal.

And then, just as the final blow comes—just as they stab me through the heart and the life inside me is snuffed out—I wake up.

The pain is overwhelming, like I’ve lost everything all over again. I press a hand to my stomach and scream, a raw, agonizing cry of grief and rage. My body trembles with the intensity of the memories flooding back. The life I once had—the mates, the child—they were taken from me. And now I remember.

I barely register the two massive wolves crashing through the trees, followed by Noel’s frantic steps. Azura’s voice cuts through the haze, disbelief lacing her tone.

“It’s them,” she whispers. "We got our mates back."

Landon and Aaron shift back into their human forms, rushing to my side. They wrap me in their arms, checking for injuries, but all I can do is cry—cry for the life we lost, for the baby who never got to live, for the family that was ripped apart.

Noel stands frozen, staring at me like he’s seeing me for the first time. But before I can say anything, the world goes dark.

When the blackness fades, we’re not by the river anymore. We’re in a grand dining hall, the kind you’d find in an ancient castle.

“Ah, you’ve both finally found your way.”

I turn at the voice, and my breath catches in my throat. Sitting at the head of the table is Nova, our eldest sister. Tears prick my eyes, but I hold them back.

I glance at Noel, and it hits me—the reason I’ve always felt so protective of him. He’s not just a friend. He’s my brother. My little brother.

Nova’s voice pulls me back to the present. “I see you’ve regained your memories.”

I nod, too overwhelmed to speak. Dropping my head into my hands, I try to make sense of it all. They killed my mates. They killed my baby. And now, I’m back. We’re back.

Noel’s still silent, looking between us, confusion etched across his face.

“Have you remembered?” I ask him, my voice barely above a whisper.

He shakes his head, lost.

Nova’s expression softens, but there’s a sadness there that makes my stomach drop. "Not yet," she says quietly. "Annalise isn’t ready. I can’t join you both yet. But Noel’s time is coming soon. You need to stay together, no matter what."

And just like that, she’s gone. The room disappears, and Noel collapses to the ground. Everything fades to black once more.

When I wake, I’m in a hospital bed. Voices filter in from the hallway. I recognize them—Landon, Aaron, and Oliver. They’re arguing, their words muffled but heated.

“They’ve been at it since I woke up,” Noel’s voice startles me. I turn to see him lying in the bed next to mine, looking amused.

“How long has that been?”

“About an hour. It’s too entertaining to stop them.”

A small laugh escapes me, but it quickly turns into a sob as I clutch my stomach. Tears flow freely now, and Noel is at my side in an instant.

"I remembered," he says softly, his voice thick with emotion. "When I woke up, I felt... complete. Then the memories came flooding back. We were all expecting. I was about to tell you my mate was pregnant when they killed us."

I gasp, my hand flying to his face. His eyes are black, swirling with power.

“You have powers?” I whisper.

He nods. “So do you.”

“How?”

“I don’t know. All I know is there’s a barrier around this room. Those three outside? They can’t get in.”

“Drop it,” I say, urgency creeping into my voice. “We need to talk—all five of us.”

Noel hesitates, but then his eyes shift back to normal, and the barrier drops. Within seconds, all three of my mates rush into the room. But before they can speak, I raise a hand, silencing them.

“I have something important to tell you. So sit down and listen.”