The packhouse is right where Aurora said it would be, it’s just larger than any of anticipated. We linger in the woods, waiting to see if he has wolves running guard or waiting at the entry points in case of attack but surprisingly, my brother doesn’t seem too concerned with being attacked outright. He doesn’t know I rejected our father’s pack so he could be left vulnerable like this if I hadn’t and instead showed up with every royal warrior available.But we’re here to get a commoner back, and the royal warriors wouldn’t be interested in that.We’ve made it here in the dead of night and for a second, I truly think this place to be dead. Not a single light is on inside or outside the massive packhouse. It still smells of fresh cedar, most of this house unpainted, and I can tell it’s still new from being built. It’s surprising to see Xander getting this much done, though, he was never one to take charge. Only in taking my mate does he take initiative.I look to Paul and Row, wishing we

I’ve known Ann Hastings the longest. She is a small spitfire, a fighter, and I’ve envied her a lot throughout my life. She is tougher than anyone other girl I’ve ever met, so seeing her in worried shambles makes my heart hurt. She is anxiously rattling her leg as we sit on the porch steps, the stars splattered all over the dark sky overhead.We point out shooting stars as we wait, as though it will make things better. As if mindless wishes on stars will make a damn difference in this situation. We want everyone to be okay, we want everyone to be safe, and afterwards we will settle into this new normal. Whatever this new normal may come out to be.“When did life get so difficult?” Ann asks, speaking to the moon above like a star will fall into our laps with an answer tied to it.“When I found my mate,” I mutter. “Or I should say, he found me.”She glances over to me for a moment, as if examining me, and I feel on display. “You rejected him, right?”I only nod.“And he hasn’t accepted i

Aurora“Eggs?” Jaxson asks, moving fluidly in the kitchen, his hands working to cook pancakes. I taught him how make the perfect flipped pancake a few days back and ever since I have been waking up to warm, syrupy breakfast. “Sweetheart,” he hums, craning around the kitchen partition to meet my eyes here in the living room. “Do you want any eggs?”I shake myself out of the haze I’ve been placed in, my hands working on stroking our little kitten that seems heavier and more lanky than I recall he is being when I left. “No, thanks, Jaxson. Are you going for another run this morning?”He gives a sure nod before returning to his cooking capades. He has been building a routine here since we’ve settled two weeks ago into this new life. He goes on his morning run; let’s his wolf take a sprint down and back up the length of the beach. Then he works for the new Alpha, does a few little chores around the tiny pack in exchange for some gold coins that we take to the market a few packs over, buyin

AuroraToday has been a whirlwind, but I can’t keep my hands off of Jaxson since we got home and he showered off all the blood. He didn’t have to step in, and he could have talked the warriors out of hurting the commoners, but he showed which side he is truly fighting for. he stuck up for commoners like me, scared unmated females who I always thought would face the same fate as I; killed by royal warriors looking for a kick of pleasure.He is still damp from the shower. I don’t care. I am hiked up in his arms, letting him hold me to his chest, while our lips tingle against one another in a long, breathless kiss. I don’t want to stop, I don’t want him to let go of me, and thankfully he doesn’t want that either. He sits down on the couch, letting me straddle his lap, still pressing his tongue into the lower bay of my lips.His hands lightly press into the small of my back, taunting me under the cloth of my shirt, feeling his warmth and needing it all, needing it to never stop. I press m

AuroraI gasp, shooting awake, sand covering my back and water trickling down my face. I cough slightly, wiping my face, seeing Jaxson blink awake at a slower, more gentle pace. He looks to me instantly and cages me into his arms, holding me to his chest while his arms press heavily into my back. I want to shatter; I want to break. He mumbles something into my neck, his breath warm and exasperated.For a moment, I wonder if he had a bad vision, unlike mine. I want to share it with him, to tell him I got a sign from the moon goddess that was so perfect, so happy, that it made my entire world fill with joy.Instead he picks us both up abruptly, leaving the bonfire while holding me to his chest, cradling me in his arms as he struts back to our little beach hut. I don’t ask him anything. Instead, I brush my palm against his cheek, watching his saddened eyes flicker with a little light. He is beautiful even when he is upset.He skips straight through the hut, lightly laying my back into ou