Aurora’s P.O.V
I could barely contain my excitement. For the first time in what felt like forever, I wasn’t just admiring beautiful dresses from afar—I was going to try them on.
“Oh, Aurora, look at this one!” Caroline exclaimed, holding up a gorgeous emerald gown. “It’ll look divine on you.”
I laughed, overwhelmed by the choices. “Caroline, we’ve only just started, and I already feel like I want them all.”
We moved from rack to rack, trying on everything from sleek, figure-hugging gowns to extravagant, flowing dresses fit for royalty. Each time I stepped out of the dressing room, Caroline’s eyes would light up, and we’d gush over the details—the lace, the beads, the way the fabric caught the light.
“Aurora, that gold one you tried on earlier was practically made for you,” Caroline insisted as I stood in front of the mirror, turning this way and that in a blush pink gown.
“It’s beautiful, but…” I trailed off, my gaze drifting to the growing pile of contenders. “How am I supposed to choose just one? They’re all perfect.”
Before I could dwell on my indecision, the boutique owner appeared, holding a garment bag with a mysterious smile.
“Aurora, I think this might help you decide. Mrs. Blackburn specifically requested this gown be made for you.”
“For me?” I repeated, stunned, as she unzipped the bag to reveal a red gown that took my breath away. The fabric shimmered like liquid fire, the delicate embroidery and crystals catching the light in a way that made the entire room seem brighter.
I pressed a hand to my chest, suddenly overwhelmed. “This is… Maya did this for me?” My voice broke slightly as I turned to the owner, who nodded warmly.
Without a second thought, I slipped into the gown. The moment I looked in the mirror, tears welled in my eyes. It wasn’t just the beauty of the dress—it was the thought behind it, the care Maya had taken to make me feel special. I rushed out of the dressing room, unable to hold back.
“Maya!” I called, spotting her near the entrance.
She turned, startled, and before she could say anything, I threw my arms around her. “Thank you,” I whispered, my voice trembling. “Thank you for this. It’s perfect. I don’t deserve this.”
Maya pulled back slightly, cupping my face in her hands. “Aurora, of course you deserve this. You deserve all the happiness in the world. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.”
I nodded, trying to smile through the tears, but the moment was interrupted by a sharp voice.
“Well, if Aurora gets a special gown, then my daughter should have one too,” Moira declared, striding up to the shop owner. “Bring out the most expensive dress in the store. Nothing but the best for her.”
The boutique owner didn’t flinch, her composure steady. “The most expensive dress in this store,” she began, gesturing toward Caroline, who stood nearby in a stunning blue gown adorned with sapphires and pearls, “is the one Miss Caroline is wearing.”
Caroline blinked in surprise, then glanced down at herself, her cheeks flushing. “This? I had no idea…”
Moira’s face hardened, but she didn’t argue. I exchanged a glance with Caroline, then turned back to Maya, who smiled knowingly. It wasn’t just about the price tag or the glamour—it was about the people who cared enough to make us feel worthy of it all.
"I love this dress, Mom! This one’s perfect," Caroline chirped, spinning in front of the mirror with a grin that could light up the room. Moira nodded, her smile tight, and though her lips curved, her eyes betrayed her. I could feel it—the subtle crackle of disapproval radiating off her. She was trying, but her efforts to mask her irritation weren’t enough to fool me.
I grabbed the dress I had been trying on and headed for the dressing room, determined to avoid the undercurrents of tension. As I closed the door behind me, I couldn’t help but wonder what Moira’s deal was. Why did everything have to be some kind of competition?
When I came out of the dressing room after changing back into my clothes, I froze.
Moira was standing right there, arms crossed, lips pursed, her glare cutting through me like a blade. Her voice was low, laced with venom.
"No matter how hard you try, Aurora, you’ll never be like Caroline."
For a moment, I was too stunned to speak. The weight of her words crashed into me, making my heart skip a beat.
"I don’t want to be like Caroline," I finally managed, my voice firm even as the sting of her comment lingered. "I’m my own person, Mrs. Atkinson. I don’t need to compete with her or anyone else."
Her laugh was bitter, mocking. She leaned in closer, lowering her voice to a whisper so the others wouldn’t hear.
"Cut the act. No one’s watching now." Her words dripped with disdain, each one sharper than the last. "If you hadn’t been here, Caroline could’ve been Caleb’s mate. Do you have any idea what you’ve taken from her? From us?"
My breath caught in my throat, her accusation hitting me like a slap. My mind raced, trying to process her words. I squared my shoulders, refusing to let her see me crumble.
Her eyes narrowed, her mouth a thin line. But before she could say another word, Caroline’s voice called out from across the room, breaking the tension.
"Mom, Aurora, what’s taking so long? Let’s go!"
Moira straightened, her glare softening into a smile as she turned toward her daughter. "Coming, sweetheart," she said sweetly, her mask slipping back into place. But as she walked away, I knew this wasn’t the last I’d hear of it.
I could feel the anger bubbling up inside me like a boiling kettle ready to spill over. My fists clenched at my sides, and before I could stop myself, the words flew out of my mouth. "You can hate me all you want, Moira, but you can't fight fate. The Moon Goddess chose me for Caleb. Not Caroline. Not anyone else. And no matter how displeased you are with that fact, I will be Caleb's mate, and I will be the future Luna of this pack. So, the least I deserve is to be treated with respect and not constantly looked down upon by you."
The silence that followed was deafening. My heart pounded in my chest as I braced myself for Moira’s wrath. She had always been so sharp, her words slicing through me like knives whenever she found the opportunity. I expected her to lash out, to call me weak or unworthy or whatever insult she had lined up this time. But instead, to my utter surprise, she smiled. And this time, it seemed oddly genuine.
"Well, it’s about time," she said, her voice carrying an amused edge. Her arms crossed over her chest, and she leaned back against the counter, studying me like I was some kind of puzzle she’d finally solved.
"I was starting to think the Moon Goddess made a mistake picking you. But it turns out, you’re not the useless doormat I thought you were."
I blinked, completely taken aback. "Excuse me?"
"You heard me," she said, tilting her head slightly. "You’ve got fire in you. That’s good. A Luna needs fire. Caleb might be the Alpha, but you’re the one who’s supposed to keep him and the rest of us in line when things get tough. If you’d just sat there and taken my crap like you usually do, I would’ve written you off for good. But standing up to me? Now, that’s something I can respect."
I didn’t know what to say. My anger was still there, simmering just beneath the surface, but her words threw me completely off balance.
"You...respect me?"
"Don’t get ahead of yourself," Moira said, rolling her eyes. "I said I respect that you stood up to me. That doesn’t mean we’re best friends now or anything. You’ve got a lot to prove before I’ll fully accept you as my Luna. But this? This is a start."
I stared at her, unsure whether to feel relieved, confused, or still angry. "So, what now?"
"Now?" Moira shrugged. "Now you show me that you’re serious about this. Being Luna isn’t just about being Caleb’s mate or barking out orders. It’s about earning the trust of the pack, proving you’re worthy of their loyalty. You’ve got the fire, Aurora. Let’s see if you can use it."
Her words lingered long after she walked away, leaving me standing there, torn between wanting to yell at her and wanting to thank her for finally seeing me.