~Aurora’s Point of View~
“Stop moving or you’ll get stabbed,” Elena shouts, as she puts the finishing touches on my dress.
My eyes fall down over the ball of white fluff, so big I can’t even see my feet. Today is my sister’s wedding and mating ceremony, and it should fill me with nothing but joy and happiness.
My sister Brenna has struggled to raise me since our parents abandoned us, and while I want to say she’s done her best… she hasn’t. I’ll always believe she could have done better. That she could still mend her ways and change. She’s ten years older than me though more like the eleven year old in this relationship.
The best thing we both have going for us is Beta Matthew, her fiance. He’s not well to do by any means, but he makes sure we both have what we need. Though it’s rarely enough for Brenna.
“There, now it’s perfect. Go fetch your basket of flowers and head outside,” Elena says, tapping my backside. I sigh but know that it's time to get moving.
She’s Matthew’s aunt, and the female who raised him. His family is far from perfect like mine, but they’re good people. Extremely good. Every cell of my body hopes and prays the wedding and then the mating ceremony go off well.
The Midnight Protectors pack welcomed my sister and I with open arms, no questions asked. It’s all I’ve ever wanted: to belong. To have a larger family to love.The pack is spread out over several different locations though Beta Matthew calls this remote island home. There are fewer than a hundred wolves that live here and I already know my dear sister won’t be able to stomach it. We’ve barely been here a week, leaving the mainland part of the pack after being there for about two months.
The moment I step outside, a cold chill hits me, nearly shocking my system. It’s been a sunny day, easily over 90 degrees. There shouldn’t be a single thing cold about the air. It’s merely minutes after dusk though the ambience remains thick with warmth and the smell of the ocean. It’s one of the many things I find comforting about this pack; I feel safe. I feel like nothing can get me here.
Living on the mainland my entire life has been nothing short of exhausting. Being a rogue, has been nothing I’d wish on anyone. Though that’s been my life for three years now. Fighting for survival, fighting to prove my worth and my place in the world. But that’s over now. Beta Matthew saved us. We’ll be in a real pack at long last.
While the feeling of safety is a welcome to me, it's a prison to Brenna. It means she’s stuck here with the same people, with the same life day in and day out. I welcome the rhythm of it, the familiarity of a predictable pack life. I have so few memories of it now. For too long my life has been nothing but unknowns. I know that strictly being in survival mode is not normal for a pup my age, but it's the hand I’ve been dealt.
Since the pack believes that having the wedding and ceremony at midnight will bring the new couple luck, we’re having dinner before the actual ceremony. I find a safe place to tuck my flowers and make my way to the seating area.
Toasts are made, and it's obvious Matthew couldn’t be more happy. When he looks at Brenna, there’s nothing but love in his eyes. But from her? Am I the only one who sees how fake her responses are? She’s barely said two words all night, only given forced smiles. It makes me incredibly uneasy and nervous.
I tell myself once they’re mated, once we’re officially accepted in the pack, everything will be okay. She’ll come around. She’ll get pregnant and we’ll be happy. There will be only good times ahead, and love to look forward to.
We’d just finished with dinner when the chill hit me again, nearly making me drop my glass. I’m still seated, but most of the adults are dancing or talking to others.
“Did anyone feel that,” I ask, to the table of other pups near my age. There are only eight between five and seventeen living away from the mainland, but in just a short time we’ve already grown close.
“Feel what,” Sara asks.
“Oh no, it’s not a raindrop is it,” Xavier questions, looking into the brilliant clear sky.
Though it’s night, there are torches lit all over the party, giving off plenty of light.
It’s a full moon, and there isn’t a cloud to be seen. A chill races up my spine, making me shiver visibly. A hand lands on mine.
“It’s not something with the food is it,” Sara presses.
The sudden urge to walk hits me but the last thing I want is to make a scene. Tonight is too special, too important. I force a smile and shake my head. Someone announces that there will be a group shift, just after the ceremony. Brenna rarely wants to and we fight about it constantly. It isn’t at all fair to her wolf.
My eyes meet Sara’s and I realize she’s still waiting for me to answer.
“Sorry I--”
The smell of saffron and cardamom fill my nostrils as my eyes dart all over the table. I only know those spices from the brief time Brenna and I lived in a human city. After my parents left we foolishly tried to find them, but it was pointless. And two young females running around alone with no money? Not a good plan.
“I just need a little walk,” I state, excusing myself.
My mind blanks, though my feet move. My body seems to know where it wants to go, though I can’t seem to think or focus on any one thing but obeying it. There are a few people smiling at me as I pass but they don’t try to question or stop me.
Many of the wolves here choose to live outside permanently, not wanting the confines of four walls. So there aren’t many houses here, though Matthew, Brenna and I will have a cabin. It’s likely going to be finished next week when they get some solar panels.
The smell only seems to intensify as I move and it surrounds me like a warm blanket. It almost seems to talk to me in the breeze.
“This is your home.”
“You belong here.”
“Keep going.”
I shake myself, wondering if I’m losing it. Was there a drug in my drink? While it makes no sense it’s all I can think about. While I know there is no voice literally speaking out loud, it is as if I hear it. Some things are just whispers, single words. Others are in some language I can’t understand.
But I’m not afraid, and that fact shocks me. I stop at a cabin and steal a small oil lantern, not even knowing why I need it. I should be going back, this is stupid. Reckless. What if the pack finds it disrespectful? What if they think I’m nosey, prying around their land without an escort?
I find myself outside a cave near the far end of the island, and realize I’ve been gone a long time. Easily over an hour. They’ll come looking for me if they haven’t already. Brenna will be furious that I’ve embarrassed her.
I stand before the large mountain wall with just an opening about the size of a normal door. There are few animals that aren’t shifters living on this island, and it’s why once a week many take a boat to the mainland to shift and hunt. Just hunting from the ocean alone will hardly satisfy a large wolf. They also need to get supplies.
I stare back into the dark hole, as it seems to taunt me.
Are there snakes? Are there … bats? Other things creeping around in the dark? I won’t yet have my wolf for years, she can’t help me now. She can’t check for heartbeats or scents. Warn me of danger.
Perhaps foolishly, I call out, “hello? Is anyone there?”
Of course there’s no verbal reply, but the smell from the opening wafts in my nose, dropping into my lungs and practically willing me forward. I think of saffron rice, the cardamom of desserts and pastries that lingered in the air outside a restaurant I enjoyed. Though I had no money, at night the owner would give me a box of leftovers. It was a flavor explosion unlike anything I’d ever experienced.
I turn back toward the woods, not even believing that I’m considering this. Maybe I should come back during the day?
No, it’s now or never. I won’t be able to sleep unless I figure out what exactly the universe wants me to discover. Cave paintings maybe? Some sort of ancient artifact or trinket?
I stiffen my back and square my shoulders, as if any critters will fear me. I’m not easily scared or rattled, I can do this. Raising the lantern, I step inside. I’m instantly stunned to find… nothing. Just a big wall of mountain, the entire space being roughly like a large bedroom. Filled with cobwebs, sure, who knows what other bugs.
“Why did you bring me here,” I ask, raising the light to every possible nook. I have no doubt that my body didn’t just happen upon this. Something made me come here.
There were no cave drawings, nothing special. I’m so frustrated and annoyed, now realizing I’ll have to head back and explain my long absence. Hardly the best way to start out with my new pack, just randomly running off and worrying everyone.
I sigh and see a large rock jutting out from the wall, it’s right at about the height of my hips. Even though I know I’ll ruin my white dress, I can’t stop myself from sitting down. Suddenly, the earth moves, shaking like what I imagine an earthquake to be. I gasp and shoot up, ready to leap out of the cavern when the large wall begins to separate. It stops abruptly, only creating a gap inches wide.
Holding out the lantern, I can’t make out anything behind it. What if there’s a beast? Some violent and angry creature ready to eat me for a snack? Wouldn’t that just be great…
The intense aroma that my body now seems to crave intensifies and the voice tells me it’s okay. Nothing will hurt me. Blind trust is not at all something I should give, but I simply can’t help myself.
My eyes dart back to the rock again, and I sit on it once more. But this time, when the earth shakes and the wall splits open, I stay still. Only when it stops do I rise, and shine the light inside.
~Aurora’s Point of View~“Stairs,” I question, trying to make sense of the visual. Jeez this just gets more and more awful. Dangerous.Someone had to have built this, but why and really… how? I couldn’t even remotely wrap my head around such an undertaking. The stench of wet earth, old stale air and swamp filled the space, making me gag. My head darts back toward the cave entrance, knowing fully well I should leave. A dark cave with stairs on a remote island? Yeah, perfect place for an eleven year old pup to go. Alone. No one even knows I’m here. I’ve heard enough scary stories to know this has got to be the dumbest thing I’ve ever done. But I don’t run.I fight with myself, but only for a moment. My feet move, my hand holds the cool metal railing. Before I know it, I’m at the bottom. My little lantern doesn’t do much to illuminate the much larger space, easily the size of several cabins. I feel as if there’s a cliff beyond the darkness that I can’t see. The sound of water in the dis
~Two Years Later~~Javed’s Point of View~I stare off into the distance, running my hand over my face. I’d put this off too long and now, there was no more waiting. One hundred and one years, I’d lost. Though it was supposed to be two hundred. The ones who confined me to the tombs won’t be happy but it's been two years since I rose again and there’s been no sign of them.All the centuries of wondering, waiting for the point to all this, desperate for some sign that I should keep going. I got it, loud and crystal fucking clear. Aurora. Her name literally means light, the dawn of a new beginning. A new day. The Goddess of the sunrise. Something I’ll never get to see again. Some kind of twisted irony? Who knows.The name rolls through my head like a symphony, a sweet melody that I need to have on repeat. There had been a handful of times since she woke me that I’d gotten to hear her voice. Her laugh. There is absolutely no mistaking what she is to me and yet… She’s a damn child. Though
~Aurora’s Point of View~“Tired of waiting for the fall to take me. Here I am,” I mutter, before pushing forward, closing my eyes. I let go of more than just the earth beneath my feet.I welcome the end, the tormented life I’ve created for myself. I’m completely stuck in my own head and there’s no escape. You can only get rejected so many times and not start to take it personally. None of my family wanted me, and I don’t see my adopted “pack” being any different. Waiting around for my wolf doesn’t even sound appealing anymore. I just want it all to stop, go away.There are constantly whispers, talking behind my back. What’s worse is… I can’t even bring myself to go outside at night anymore. I haven’t in months. The darkness terrifies me not for what I can see, but what I can’t. What my subconscious somehow knows is there. There is something out here after sunset and try as I might, I just can’t put my finger on it.When my body thuds against a hard wall, I know the pain is about to be
~Javed’s Point of View~ “I wasn’t anticipating you being here for a couple of years at least. I just actually finished the cabinets last week. I’m afraid the rest of the house is in quite a lot of disrepair,” I say, when I see her eyes darting all over the kitchen. It’s a massive pain in the ass to find contractors willing to work at night, so I gave up on that early on. Though I could have potentially hired out the shifters to help, I hadn't gotten that far yet. I’d only begun working on the house in the last six months and the living room/kitchen/deck were my first goals. I have zero understanding of electricity and plumbing since they are modern conveniences. Books have helped and I’ve managed to get some things working. The house had sat vacant for over a decade at least. The first couple of months were mostly devoted to cleaning and fixing the deck so I could watch the ocean in comfort. When she spins some of her long brown hair hits me, and her crisp citrusy scent fills my l
~Aurora’s Point of View~ I rub my fingers over the soft material of Javed’s shirt. I begged him for it, feeling like he was saying good-bye. I’m not so naive as to believe this is easy for him. Whatever I’m feeling, what I think… I more than know it's a million times worse for him. Though seeing his perfect body without a shirt on nearly had me panting like a dog in heat. I had never even really looked at a male with desire before but now… No other could ever possibly measure up. Nowhere close to it. He’s more than a man, it’s a perfectly sculpted god who could have any female he wants. Living or otherwise. He doesn’t have insanely defined muscles necessarily like some shifters but he’s toned and clearly was strong even as a human. His final words are on a constant repeat in my head, and have been all night since he brought me home. The fact that he’s not a wolf should be making me panic, making me question everything about the goddess and her decisions. But… It just isn’t. “I will
~Three Years Later~ ~Aurora’s Point of View~ “Damn it Aurie! You cheat,” Mason shouts, and I giggle. He’s so hot when he’s angry. I chuck a water balloon at him, and it’s a direct hit to his chin of all places. While he’s distracted, I take off running. It’s stupid and I more than know it’ll only egg him on. But I can’t help myself. It’s never been so fun to taunt someone. He’s beyond expressive with his face. The sun has just set but there’s still just enough light. It’s barely a quarter mile before I feel his warm hand on my arm, then the full weight of his body tackling me. Fingers dance all over my skin, tickling me until I’m close to peeing my pants. “Mason!! Stop it!! I’ll kill you,” I giggle, trying but not really trying to get him off me. When he’s done he pins my wrists over my head with one hand. Even though he doesn’t yet have his wolf, and I’m actually four months older than him, his strength never ceases to amaze me. My chest heaves between us, and even though I sta
~Aurora’s Point of View~ Finally getting the courage to open the letter, I flick my hand under the large envelope flap and pull out the contents. My eyes dart over dozens of pictures, well drawings. Some are of me. Some are of what I would assume to be us, holding hands. Walking down the beach from behind, drawings of the house as he’s progressed on it. There have to be twenty of them. A smile plasters on my face so wide it almost hurts. Also knowing his scent is now going to be all over my bed for the foreseeable future. Goddess I’ve missed it. If I could bathe in it, I would. I quickly find the note. My fingers run over the immaculate cursive, it’s the most perfect penmanship I’ve ever seen. It nearly looks like a book. I guess he’s had time to practice. “My Dearest Aurora: it’s been impossibly hard to stay away, to not even communicate with you in some fashion. But I know it's for the best, and the Alpha has been gracious enough to let me read some of your letters. I’m th
~Aurora’s Point of View~ “He’s my fated mate, he’d never hurt me. He’s had to wait over five years for me to get my wolf, five years,” I state, as if he’ll care. Mason clenches his jaw and I stand helpless watching him go through every possible emotion at once. Anger, hurt. Rejection. ”What about us? What about the years we’ve had? Goddess Aurie I literally just had my face inside you and every day with you is the best day of my life. I’ve always imagined us together, always. Hell I dream every night about marking you and having pups. Growing old together. I’ve practically been counting the minutes. Now I’m just supposed to watch you go off with a fucking dead guy? He could accidentally even hurt you in a million ways,” he whispers, then looks away. I take a step back in order to keep myself from touching him. From clinging to his calf and begging for forgiveness. His words cut so deep that my legs are ready to give out. When my back finds the wall I struggle to support myself.