Aurora:
“Ama, sweetheart, where’s your other shoe?” I called, balancing a steaming mug of coffe in one hand and hairbrush in the other. She often didn't do her best to try and hide her shoes, especially when it came to the fact of her heading to the daycare.
Then again, I knew that it was her hiding her things whenever she did not want to go anywhere beside ice cream or the park. She was just as stubborn as her father, no matter how much I wanted to try and forget him.
A giggle echoed from behind the couch, followed by the soft thud of tiny feet against the floor. I set the mug down on the kitchen counter and leaned over the back of the worn sofa, finding my daughter crouched beneath the coffee table. She let out a little giggle, but did her best to try and keep herself hidden despite making a little noise that I believed she thought I wouldn’t hear.
“There you are,” I said, smiling despite the chaos. “We’re going to be late, love. And I think that you know that you don't want to be late for your play day.”
Ama grinned, her bright green eyes, so much like his, shining with mischief. “I’m hiding, Mama.”
I crouched down, holding out the tiny sneaker in my hand. “If you’re hiding, how am I supposed to get you to daycare so I can go to work and earn us some ice cream money? How is Mama going to be able to take you to the park later?”
Her eyes widened. “Ice cream? We're going to the park?”
“Mm-hmm,” I nodded, trying to keep my voice light. “But only if we hurry. You don't want to be late for your day and you don't want to be late for your play games and your friends.”
Ama scrambled out from under the table, her small hands gripping my shoulders as I slipped the sneaker onto her foot. She was all soft giggles and warm skin, her laughter a melody that never failed to soothe the ache in my chest. She was the one light of my day after everything was ruined for me, after my life shifted into something that I did not expect it to be.
“There,” I said, tying the laces with quick fingers. “All set.”
She threw her arms around my neck, her curls tickling my cheek. “I love you, Mama.”
My breath caught, as it did every time. “I love you too, baby. Always.”
I stood, grabbing my worn leather bag and double-checking that everything was inside, my wallet, keys, a packed lunch for Ama, and the folder with my notes for work. My job at the small accounting firm wasn’t glamorous, but it paid the bills and kept a roof over our heads. It was more than enough. I learned very quickly what it was to be happy with the things that I had, with the little things that I could afford when I found myself with nothing to lose.
“Ready?”
Ama nodded, slipping her hand into mine. Her fingers were tiny, but her grip was strong. We stepped out of the small apartment, and I locked the door behind us, a practiced motion that had become a ritual of safety and caution.
The world outside was bustling, a stark contrast to the quiet life we led. Our apartment complex sat on the edge of a busy street, where cars honked and people moved with purpose. It was nothing like the pack lands, where the forest hummed with life and the air was always tinged with the scent of pine and earth. Everywhere here was busy. Everywhere here told me that I was alone in this world, but it also gave me a sense of peace that I knew that it did not have within the pack. I wouldn't have had it if I stayed there.
I hadn’t thought about the pack in years. I didn’t let myself. It was a dark memory that I did my best to try and live far away from.
We reached the bus stop just as the old, yellow vehicle wheezed to a halt. I guided Ama up the steps, waving at Mrs. Harlan, the elderly driver who always had a warm smile for us.
“Good morning, sweethearts,” she said. “On your way to daycare, Ama?”
Ama nodded, her curls bouncing. “Mama said we can get ice cream if I’m good. And if we get there early, I'm also going to the park.”
“Well, then you better be on your best behavior,” Mrs. Harlan chuckled, her eyes crinkling at the corners. “And I think that you don't need to be late, then the park will be waiting for you.”
I led Ama to an empty seat, sitting her on my lap as the bus lurched forward. She leaned into me, her thumb finding its way into her mouth as she gazed out the window.
The daycare was only a few stops away, tucked into a quiet corner of the neighborhood. It was a small, homely place, run by Miss Clara, a kind woman who treated every child like her own. It had been a blessing finding her, a safe space for Ama while I worked.
When we reached the gate, Ama hesitated, her small hand gripping mine tighter.
“What’s wrong, love?” I asked softly.
She bit her lip, her brows furrowing in a way that mirrored my own. “You won't be late, right?”
“Oh, Ama.” I knelt in front of her, brushing a stray curl behind her ear. “You know that I'm never late unless I really have something to do. And even if I am, I'm going to give you a call to assure you that I'm okay.”
She nodded, though the worry didn’t quite leave her eyes. I knew that fear. It was the same gnawing anxiety that had plagued me for years, the fear of being left behind. I did not know how she had developed it, but I knew that she was always afraid of being left behind, maybe because I was the only family that she knew.
I hugged her tightly, breathing in her sweet, familiar scent. “I’ll be back before you know it. And then, ice cream, remember?”
She managed a small smile. “Okay.”
I stood, watching as Miss Clara took Ama’s hand and led her inside, her warm voice offering comfort. I waited until the door closed, until I couldn’t see my daughter’s curls through the window. Only then did I turn away, forcing my feet to move.
The walk to work wasn’t far, but each step felt heavier than the last. My mind raced with the usual worries, bills, groceries, Ama’s school fees. And beneath it all, the constant hum of fear.
Fear of being found.
Fear of him.
I pulled my coat tighter around me, blending into the crowd as I always did. I had built a life out of shadows, threading myself into the seams of the world where no one would think to look.
It was safer this way.
For me.
For Ama.
But as I reached the glass doors of the accounting firm and caught my reflection—a woman with tired eyes and a practiced smile—I couldn’t help but wonder how much longer we could hide. How much longer I could keep my daughter safe from the world that had broken me.
I drew a breath, steadying myself.
One day at a time.
One step at a time.
And as long as I could still hold Ama close, as long as I could still promise her safety, I would keep going.
No matter what.
I wasn’t going to let that thought slip my mind. No matter how hard things could end up being.
Aurora.It was already late at night. Everyone else had turned in for the night, and turned off their lights, everywhere in the pack house was silent. But sleep had long since fled from me.I couldn’t stop thinking about it, the gossips behind my back, the way people stared at me like I was something strange. Something… dangerous. The rumors wouldn’t stop. Cursed by the Moon Goddess. The words slithered through the corridors like smoke. I had to know the truth.I pulled on a thick cloak, the hood casting shadows over my face. I didn’t bother with shoes. The soft thud of my bare feet was quieter. The guards on the eastern gate changed shifts at midnight. I knew that because I’d watched them before. Timing was everything.I slipped past the sleeping palace, my heart thudding louder than it should have in my chest. Every creak of the wooden halls, every rustle of the trees outside felt like a warning. But I didn’t stop. I couldn’t. Not when the question clawed at me like this.The pries
Aurora.I barely had the strength to sit up when the door to my room clicked shut behind Ethan, the Alpha. His retreating footsteps echoed down the hall, leaving a hollow silencebehind. The sharp, gnawing pain in my stomach hadn’t eased—if anything, it was worse than before. I pressed my hand against my abdomen, the dull ache twisting into a fiery burn, making me gasp softly.My mind raced, fingers trembling as I reached for the bell beside my bed and rang for a maid. Almost immediately, a soft knock and the familiar face of Miri, the head maid, appeared in the doorway. Her eyes were filled with so much worry. Honestly, she's the only maid I could trust right now.“Miri, please,” I croaked, trying to keep my voice steady, “I feel terrible. This felt like a poison I've been taking for a while now.”She stepped inside, carefully closing the door behind her. “Miss Aurora, are you feeling poisoned? You don’t think someone is trying to harm you?” Her voice was hushed.I nodded weakly, swal
Ethan.The knock on my office door was hesitant, I didn’t bother looking up from the paperwork scattered across my desk. “Come in,” I said, keeping my voice even.Beta Marcus stepped in, his presence as solid and dependable as always, but I could tell something was off the second I looked at him. He stood stiffly, eyes flicking once toward the windows, then back to me.“Spit it out,” I said, dropping my pen and sitting back. “You’ve got that ‘I’d rather be anywhere but here’ look.”He exhaled sharply. “It’s about Aurora.”My pulse skipped.“What about her?” I kept my voice calm, but the sound of her name always scraped at something raw inside me.“She came to me this morning,” Marcus said, crossing the room. He folded his arms across his chest and leaned against the edge of my desk, his usual posture when he had something I wouldn’t like. “She asked if her curse could be lifted.”I stared at him, words catching behind clenched teeth.“Curse,” I repeated slowly.“Yes,” Marcus said, wat
Aurora.When I opened my eyes that morning, the first thing I did was reach for my phone, hoping to scroll through something mundane, memes, baby pictures, maybe a random cooking video.Instead, I was met with a storm.Dozens of notifications blinked on the screen like warning lights. Twitter. Instagram. WhatsApp. Even obscure blogs I didn’t know existed had my name splattered across their headlines."The Cursed wolf: Aurora in Shadow?""Evidence Suggests Aurora's Powers Are Not From the Moon Goddess!""Leaked Photos Show Evidence of a Curse—Is the Pack at Risk?"I sat up in bed so fast I got dizzy. My thumb scrolled furiously, tapping through article after article, my heart pounding louder with every new headline. My face stared back at me, pale, wide-eyed, captured mid-expression at the last ceremony. Someone had even edited dark shadows under my eyes, making me look like some possessed doll.My breathing quickened. “No… no no no,” I whispered, gripping the sheets. “This isn’t real.
Aurora.I stared at my phone again.The screen was still blank. No new messages. No calls. Nothing.With a heavy sigh, I tapped Kaiser’s name and hit call again. One ring. Two. Five. Straight to voicemail.“For the hundredth time,” I muttered under my breath, lying back down on the bed with a groan. I should’ve just thrown the phone across the room already. At this point, the rejection stung more than I wanted to admit.Why was he this angry?I replayed the whole thing in my head. Over and over again. Kaiser barging into my room last night, his eyes practically glowing with rage when he saw Ama tucked into my bed, asleep. The moment I told him she was staying at the palace now, his expression changed, like something inside him snapped. He hadn’t even given me a chance to explain. Just turned and stormed out, the door slamming so hard behind him the walls shook.“She's my daughter,” I whispered to the empty room. “And she’s Ethan's too. Why is that so hard to understand?”I sat up slow
Aurora."Ama, please just sit still for a second.""But Mommy, I still don't get it!" Ama bounced on the bed, her tiny legs swinging off the edge as she hugged her plush wolf to her chest. Her dark curls were wild around her face, cheeks flushed from excitement or maybe curiosity. “Who is Alpha Ethan really?”I sighed, combing through her hair with my fingers, gently detangling the ends as she wiggled beneath me. Her voice carried so much energy it practically buzzed in the air.I hesitated. The words formed in my throat, thick and heavy like honey refusing to pour. But this talk was long overdue.“He’s your father, Ama,” I said finally, quietly.She twisted around so fast I nearly dropped the brush. “Wait what?! Like… my daddy?” Her eyes widened like twin moons.I nodded slowly, waiting for the storm to hit. “Yes. Alpha Ethan is your biological father.”Ama stared at me, blinking. Her bottom lip trembled for a second, then stilled. “But… why didn’t you tell me before?” Her voice wave