Aurora’s P.O.V
The dining room soon filled with more and more people. The familiar sight of the patrol guards returning from their night shifts brought back memories of what my life was like here at the pack house, and I began to feel more at ease.
Ashton and Maggie brought out plates of their own, piling up food to their liking as they joined us once again. It was actually delightful to see that Caleb got along well with Ashton, and so did Jade and Damien. It felt comfortable having all of them around, like my family was growing.
I hesitated, a new thought forming in my mind, a realization that made my heart stutter. If I was half-priestess, then my brother—he had to be, too. I looked up, meeting Ashton’s gaze. "Ashton…what about my brother? If I am half-priestess, then that means he must be the same. Right?"
Ashton sighed, rubbing a hand over his jaw as if trying to find the right words. "He is," he admitted. "But with a diluted bloodline, his connection is much weaker. It’s possible he doesn’t have any powers at all. In every way that matters, he’s just human."
A slow exhale left my lips. The tension that had coiled in my chest suddenly loosened, giving way to something unexpected—relief. Relief that he would never have to bear this weight, that he would never have to face the struggles I had. He could live a normal life, untouched by the complications that came with this revelation. And somehow, that made me happy.
I smiled—a small, genuine smile. "That’s good," I said softly. "That’s really good."
Maggie and Ashton exchanged a glance but said nothing. They didn’t need to. They understood. They understood that, for the first time in what felt like forever, I finally felt like I had some semblance of closure. And for that, I was grateful.
Finally, as we all finish breakfast, Caroline leans back in her chair, stretching with a satisfied sigh. Then, with a glint in her eyes, she claps her hands together, demanding everyone’s attention.
“Alright, ladies, listen up. Aurora and I are heading out. Just the two of us.”
I pause mid-sip of my juice, raising a brow. “Just us? Why?”
Caroline grins, leaning forward as if she’s about to let me in on a top-secret mission. “Because we need some girl time. Just you and me. Spa day, shopping spree—trust me, it’s going to be fun.”
I glance around at the other girls, Avery and Maggie, who are now eyeing us with curiosity, and I can’t help but ask, “Why aren’t they coming?”
She waves a dismissive hand, rolling her eyes playfully. “Because they’ll be invited to the late-night pajama party. That’s when we’ll all hang out together. But right now, I want some one-on-one bonding time with you. No arguments.” She gets up and grabs my wrist before I can protest.
“Now, come on. We have a full day ahead of us, and I am not about to let you waste another minute.”
Before I can even process it, I’m being dragged away, the others laughing as I stumble behind her.
“Caroline, I haven’t even finished my—”
“Nope! No excuses. You’ll thank me later.”
And, surprisingly, she’s right. The moment we step into the luxurious spa, the scent of lavender and eucalyptus envelops us, immediately putting me at ease. We’re greeted by soft-spoken staff who lead us into a private room for our massages. As soon as I lay down on the massage table, I feel my tension melt away under the expert hands of the masseuse.
Caroline, beside me, groans dramatically. “Oh my god, Aurora, this is heaven.”
I let out a hum of agreement, feeling the knots in my shoulders dissolve. “Okay, maybe you had a good idea.”
“Of course, I did,” she huffs. “You never give me enough credit.”
After the massage, we get facials, and I nearly doze off under the warm towels. Caroline chatters the entire time, telling me about the date she had with Damien last week, and they had the misfortune of being seated next to an ‘awful pompous ass’ who split the bill with his girlfriend/date.
“I mean…seriously!” She sighed dramatically. “Why even bother dating if you’re going 50-50?”
I laugh, shaking my head. “Maybe he was just being practical.”
She gasps, clutching her chest dramatically. “Aurora, don’t you dare defend him! Every woman deserve to be spoiled.”
“I’m not arguing with that.” I smirk, watching as the nail technician meticulously paints my nails a deep crimson red. “So, what’s next?”
“Shopping, obviously.” Caroline winks. “You need some new clothes, and I refuse to let you leave without at least three new outfits.”
And she’s not joking. The moment we step into the boutique, she goes full personal stylist mode, throwing dresses, skirts, and accessories into my arms before I can even blink. “Try these on,” she commands, shoving me toward the fitting rooms. “And don’t even think about arguing.”
By the time we’re done, I have bags upon bags of new clothes, and Caroline looks thoroughly pleased with herself. “Now, wasn’t this the best decision ever?” she asks as we walk out of the store, arm in arm.
I roll my eyes but can’t hide my smile. “Okay, fine. You win. This was fun.”
She beams. “That’s what I thought. Now, let’s get some dessert before we head back. I think we deserve it after all that hard work.”
I laugh, shaking my head. “Caroline, shopping is not hard work.”
“Says you,” she quips. “Now come on, my treat.”
As we head toward a little café, I realize that maybe, just maybe, I needed this day more than I thought.
But unfortunately, I had underestimated Caroline, because she then dragged me into another grooming session before we headed back home.
Finally, After what feels like hours of sitting through endless pampering—my hair curled to perfection, my nails painted with the utmost precision, and my skin feeling like silk from all the treatments—I am more than ready to go home. My body aches for the comfort of my bed, and my mind is drained from the constant chatter of the salon ladies who, while undeniably sweet, have been fussing over me as if I were some kind of doll they needed to perfect. I sigh, stretching slightly in my seat as I glance at Caroline, who’s been waiting patiently, scrolling through her phone.
"Alright, I think I’m good to go," I say, already rising from the chair, eager to get out of here.
But Caroline doesn’t move. Instead, she lifts her gaze from the screen and gives me this look—one that instantly puts me on edge. It’s the kind of expression she wears when she’s hiding something, when she’s about to drop something unexpected right into my lap. I narrowed my eyes on her. "What?"
She smiles, but it’s mischievous, and before I can question her further, she waves at one of the salon ladies. "There’s one last thing left."
I don’t get a chance to ask her what she means because, within seconds, one of the women steps forward, holding something draped in a garment bag. My brows furrow as she unzips it, revealing a dress—deep, striking red, the fabric cascading down like liquid fire. The sight of it makes my breath hitch slightly, and I blink, taken aback.
"What is this?" I ask, looking between the dress and Caroline, who is now practically beaming.
She stands, smoothing out the skirt of her own dress—one I hadn’t even noticed before, a beautiful sky-blue piece that hugs her figure perfectly. "It’s the dress Maya got for you…you know…before…," she finally says, as if that explains everything.
I stare at her, completely lost. "Okay… and why am I suddenly supposed to wear it now?"
"You’ll find out soon enough," Caroline replies cryptically, her eyes twinkling with excitement. "For now, just get ready."
A sinking feeling settles in my stomach. I don’t like surprises—not when I have no clue what’s coming. "Caroline," I warn, folding my arms. "If this is some elaborate scheme—"
"It’s not!" She cuts me off, laughing as she gently nudges me toward the dressing area. "Just trust me, Aurora. You’re going to love it."
I huff, but there’s no point in arguing. The salon ladies are already ushering me behind the curtain, their hands working with an efficiency that leaves no room for protest. Within minutes, the red dress slipped onto my body, the fabric hugging me in all the right places, the skirt flowing elegantly down to the floor. I barely have time to admire it before they move on to my makeup, their brushes and palettes working their magic.
It’s only when I finally get a proper look at myself in the mirror that I realize just how much effort has gone into all of this. The woman staring back at me doesn’t look tired or worn down from the day. She looks… breathtaking. My hair falls in soft waves over my shoulders, my makeup enhances every feature just right, and the dress—God, the dress makes me feel like I’ve stepped right out of a dream.
Stepping out of the dressing area, I find Caroline waiting, her expression softening the moment she sees me. "Wow," she breathes, shaking her head. "You look stunning."
I swallow, suddenly feeling a little overwhelmed. "Caroline, seriously—what is going on?"
She only offers me her arm, her smile growing. "Let’s go home," she says simply.
And despite my confusion, despite the unanswered questions swirling in my mind, I take her arm—because something tells me that whatever’s waiting for me, it’s about to change everything.