Uneasy Territory

###Aurora

The pack house felt colder than I remembered.

Not physically, but in the way memories clung to the walls like frost. Every corner I passed whispered echoes of the past. Every step down the hallway, I heard footsteps behind me, mine, from years ago. Quiet, obedient, invisible.

Now, I walked with purpose. I held my head high.

But inside, I was still trembling.

It had been a full day since I agreed to return temporarily. A few days, I told them. Just a few. Long enough to remind myself why I left and maybe figure out if I could ever live here again.

They gave me a proper guest room on the first floor, I’d refused a room on their floor. One with windows and warm light and a bed softer than anything I’d ever known. It was strange, waking up in sheets that didn’t smell like dust and mildew in that house.

I almost couldn’t sleep in them.

Because it wasn’t mine. Not really. Not yet.

Downstairs, I could already hear voices, pack members murmuring, dishes clinking, laughter that didn’t belong to me. The twins had asked me to have breakfast with them.

I said I’d think about it.

I did eat.

Eventually.

Alone.

I waited until I heard the voices fade, then crept down to the kitchen and filled a plate with fruit and eggs. No one stopped me. No one barked orders. In fact, a young omega actually smiled when she saw me and bowed her head.

It made me stop short.

Respect.

Was that what that was?

I didn’t know what to do with it.

So I just ate, quietly, in the kitchen when nobody was watching.

Until I heard his footsteps.

“I thought you might come down early,” Kaden said, appearing in the doorway.

I didn’t look at him. “Or maybe I came down late.”

He chuckled lightly, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “Fair.”

He didn’t sit. Just stood there, like he knew getting too close too soon would drive me away.

“I hope the room’s okay,” he said after a moment.

“It’s fine.”

He nodded. “Do you remember that day we made fun of you for burning the stew?”

My fingers tightened around my fork.

“Kael and I laughed for an hour,” he went on quietly. “But that stew wasn’t even yours. You were covering for an elder omega. I found that out years later. And I still remember how you didn’t say a word to defend yourself.”

I finally looked up at him.

He wasn’t smirking. He wasn’t pretending to be the Alpha prince.

He looked like a man shouldering regret like a boulder.

“I didn’t think it would matter,” I said. “Back then… no one ever listened to me.”

“I’m listening now,” he said softly.

And for once, I believed him.

“Could you please send for Nova for me? I forgot my phone in the room.” I asked.

“Sure” he replied and mindlinked Someone.

“Where are your parents?”

“They travelled to another pack to seek alliance. They’ll be back in a few days.”

I swallowed hard.

‘That’s another challenge right there.’ I thought to myself.

‘Tell me about it.’ I could feel Limeria roll her eyes.

I smiled and he caught me.

“You’re beautiful Aurora.”

I stopped smiling and pulled my stern face once again.

“I’ll let you be.”

He turned to go

“Where’s Kael?” I asked without thinking

He stopped and turned and something crossed his face. Pain? Jealousy?

“He’s in the gym. Should I call him for you?”

“No I was just curious.”

He nodded smiling a little and then left.

Nova came into the kitchen a few minutes later.

I released a breath I didn’t know I was holding in.

“Nova!” I ran into her arms.

“Are you alright Sweetheart ? Did you get any sleep?”

She asked softly.

“I couldn’t sleep.” She had become the big sister I never had and I was beyond thankful.

“I know love” she said stroking my hair.

We ate together in the kitchen before retiring to my room.

“So what’s your decision?” Nova asked

“I don’t know Nova. Their father doesn’t even want me here. I have the urge to leave before he gets back but something keeps pulling at my heart to stay.”

“Your mates are here it’s only normal you feel the pull.” She said stroking my cheek.

“I for one loved being waited on last night” she said and we laughed.

With Nova here I just might be able to get through this phase.

Later in the day Nova had gone with the maid assigned to her to take a little walk around the pack lands. I didn’t want to remind myself of the place and it’s memories so I told her I’d be in the garden doing some thinking.

“Need me to be around sweet heart?”

“I’m alright Nova. I’ll be in the garden if you look for me later.”

“Ofcourse I’ll come find you.” She’d kissed my forehead and left.

Atleast the garden air felt free.

Until it didn’t.

### Kael

I found her in the garden.

Not by the flowers, but near the west wall, where the grounds met the woods. A place no one really visited.

She was breath taking.

I’d been told by Kaden she had asked about me earlier on, I felt giddy honestly, I felt special, even if she only asked because she hadn’t seen me with Kaden as she expected.

I left the gym immediately to look for her. I found her in her room, I heard her laugh with Nova and my heart beat quickened. She had the most beautiful laugh. I wished she’d give me the honor of hearing it by myself, hearing her laugh to my jokes.

I didn’t want to cloud her happiness so I went to stay somewhere she wouldn’t notice me if she came out of the room.

She stayed in there with Nova for some time before Nova declared her wish to walk around the pack grounds.

I was overjoyed, cause i wanted some time with Aurora.

She said she would be in the garden.

That was my cue.

I waited till she left and then followed.

She sat on the bench beneath the old ash tree, legs tucked under her, eyes fixed on the treeline.

Her mind had wandered off.

She didn’t flinch when I approached, but she didn’t look at me either. She simply adjusted on her sit.

“Mind if I sit?”

She shrugged.

I took that as permission and lowered myself beside her, careful not to get too close so I don’t scare her off.

Silence stretched between us,but it wasn’t the heavy kind. It felt… cautious. Like two wolves circling each other, unsure if it’s fight or flight.

This broke my heart the more, I wanted to make her feel safe.

“I want to show you something,” i said after a while.

She didn’t reply, but her gaze flicked toward me in a silent prompt.

I pulled out a folded piece of paper from my jacket. I handed it to her, careful not to touch her skin.

She unfolded it slowly.

It was a blueprint.

Of the pack house.

“I’ve been working on renovations,” I said carefully. “There’s an entire floor we’ve never really used. I’m turning it into housing for unmated omegas. With real beds. Real space. No more attics.”

She stared at it.

“You’re doing this… for me?”

“I’m doing it because we should’ve done it years ago,” i said. “But yes. You made me see it.”

She didn’t smile. Nor did she talk.

She just looked at the blue print.

But her eyes relaxed. And frankly that was enough.

“I have something for you.” She looked at me finally.

My breath hitched in my throat.

Her eyes were a beautiful blue that sparkled in the evening glow.

I stopped for a second before shaking it off to bring it out.

It was a necklace we had chosen together to gift her as a way of thanking her for coming back with us.

“It’s our way of saying thank you for coming home with us and allowing us be in your presence.”

Her eyes gleamed as she looked at it.

And for a second I saw happiness flash across her face.

“It’s beautiful.” She finally spoke. Her voice like a calm beach breeze.

I closed the little box and gave it to her. I didn’t want to risk putting it on her. I wouldn’t be able to take the rejection.

“Thank you” her voice was low but soft.

My heart did a skip. She thanked me. Like actually thanked me. Meaning she didn’t hate the gift and she wasn’t pushing me away.

I was as happy as a kid with an ice cream cone.

I smiled politely “ you’re welcome”

She held the box in her hands and looked off into the distance once more.

I quietly left her. I couldn’t risk making her feel smothered and spoil the happiness I felt.

I couldn’t wait to brag to Kaden.

### Aurora

By nightfall, I was exhausted, and not from doing anything physical. Just… from feeling so much.

The twins were trying. In little ways.

Kaden left a tray outside my room after dinner—cookies. Chocolate chip.

Kael handed me a note before I left the garden. “You don’t have to forgive us. But I hope someday, you’ll stop hating yourself for the way we treated you. It wasn’t your fault. It was ours.”

I didn’t know what to do with their kindness.

Part of me wanted to scream at them. To throw it back in their faces and demand to know why now? Why not years ago?

But another part, the broken, tired, aching part, just wanted to lie down and not carry this weight anymore.

That night, I stood in the mirror and looked at myself, not the servant. Not the traitor’s daughter. Not the rejected mate.

Just me.

And for the first time in a long time…

I didn’t hate what I saw.