Aurora’s POVWas I surprised? Of course not. Since the very beginning, Miller had made it clear to me that she saw me as a competition but on the other hand, I saw her like a random subject, trying to crawl her way to the top through manipulation. Pushing my hand into my hair, I let out a little wince, not because I was overwhelmed. I just wanted to get enough rest and most especially, I wanted peace. Sitting upright with a composed look, though my insides twisted like a coiled serpent, I turned to face Asher before shifting my gaze towards the window. The room was dim, save for the thin streaks of late afternoon sunlight slipping through the curtains. Dust motes danced in the golden light, careless and free, unlike me that was stuck in a place, going around in circles and trying to survive. I hadn't cried since waking up, not even when Miller came in flaunting her triumph, not when the full weight of the auction house massacre settled in my chest and not when I realized the str
Asher’s POVBy the end of today, if Aurora hadn't shown up like my knight in shining amour, I would have been made to stick to Miller. Raising my head upwards, a little smile spread on my lips as I couldn't thank the moon goddess enough. If not for her timely intervention, I would have been even more frustrated. Also, I was grateful she had brought my mate back to me in a piece.I didn't have to scoop her bones in my hands while crying my eyes out. The silence that came after all this was louder now and almost deafening. Allowing my gaze to shift back to the construction site, I allowed myself to be immersed in it as it buzzed with life. The rhythmic pounding of hammers, the grinding whirl of machinery, and the sharp crackle of radio chatter filled the air. Workers in Dark Moon uniforms moved efficiently across the scaffolding, assembling beams and installing steel supports for what would soon become the largest gathering hall the pack had ever seen and the first in the region.
Aurora’s POV Flickering my eyes open, I slowly pulled myself up, a low sigh of relief escaping my lips. I was back to the place I called home. Still staring at the window, my door creaked open and Mira walked in with a tray. Smiling broadly, she hurriedly made her way to my side. Crouching next to me, she grabbed my hands, her eyes watering.“Thank you for coming back." She sobbed while I just looked on not knowing what to say to her. When she finally pulled away, she hurriedly reached out the tray she had brought in. Passing a bowl of soup to me, she said, “Have some." “Thank you," I replied, relieving her of the bowl.The soup was hot but my hands were cold, almost numb.After Mira took her leave, I crawled towards the edge of my bed, cradling the bowl as if it could warm more than just my fingers.The scent of herbs and bone broth should have reminded me that I was back home but all it did was to churn my stomach. Nothing about this place felt safe, not anymore.My mind repl
Aurora’s POV Seeing the man just standing there and staring at me with an unreadable expression made my heart clench violently in my chest. Parting my lips, I screamed until my voice broke, raw and hoarse, pleading with the man who was just a few feet away. "Please!" I sobbed, my voice cracking, and eyes wild with terror. "Please, don’t hurt me. I don’t know who sent you, just let me go!"But he didn’t move, he didn’t speak. He stood there like a statue carved from ice, tall and shadowed in the dim sunlight that filtered through the window blinds.Only his piercing, pale and emotionless eyes were visible to me now and they didn’t even flicker at my panic.“I’m not going to hurt you,” he finally said, his voice flat, like he was stating a fact and not showing mercy.I froze mid sob with my eyes wide. I blinked, as tears still streaked down my cheeks. My breath was caught somewhere in my chest.“Then… why?” I rasped, confusion marring my features, “Why did you buy? What do you want?”
Reader's POV The palace was in a disarray after Aurora's sudden return. Everyone had concluded she was dead and in no time she would be forgotten but she had returned at the peak of the moment. The council members were not left out. Everyone has a word to say no one wanted to listen to what the other was saying. While all these were going on, Asher was pacing about in circles just outside Aurora’s room.It had been more than three hours but none of them had stepped out. The only reason he has held back was because he could still hear the muffled sound of their voices as they went about trying to resuscitate her.Later that night, Asher was allowed to enter her room and the moment his eyes fell on her frail look, his heart clenched tightly against his chest. Lowering himself on the stool he had pulled to himself, he placed his hand on hers only to kick the still backwards and then joined her on the edge of her bed. Leaning close like he could not see her properly, he left his hand
Asher's POVAfter my words, there was a thick silence in the hall. I could feel the eyes of the members lingering on me but after a while I couldn't anymore.Shifting my eyes slowly, I allowed my gaze to follow their trail only to see they were all staring at Stefan. The look in their eyes was like they were urging him to speak, to say something else that I wouldn't be able to counter. I was still watching them intently when Stefan began to drum his fingers on the table and after a few seconds, he pushed his chair backwards, rising to his full height. “Tell me about it." He began. Staring at him without having a single clue of what he was up to, I felt cold beads of sweat forming on my forehead and for some reason, I began to develop cold feets. “So you admit you slept with her.” He said and in that instant, all the air in my lungs fizzled out. I was trying hard to stay focused but the probing look from the elders was not helping a bit. Taking a deep breath, I ratted out, “It w