Aurora’s P.O.V
I woke up slowly, the warm weight of Caleb's arm draped across my waist. The sunlight was soft, filtering through the curtains, casting golden rays across the room. It felt like a dream, the kind you want to hold onto for as long as possible. I blinked against the light, groggily trying to make sense of where I was. The storm from last night had passed, the sky outside now a calm blue, and for a moment, I felt a sense of relief wash over me.
Had it been an omen? That terrifying storm? That horrifying dream? A warning that something was off? It wasn’t the first time I’d wondered if the universe was trying to tell me something I wasn’t ready to understand.
Caleb's breathing was steady, his chest rising and falling beneath me in a quiet rhythm. He looked so peaceful, so unbothered by everything that had happened—by the tension between that still lingered, by whatever it was that had kept me up last night. It had been a long, emotional night, but right now, he looked calm to my storm.
I didn’t want to wake him. He’d been through so much lately, fighting off those rogues with his packmates, and he deserved rest, especially after everything we’d gone through. Carefully, I shifted my body, slipping out of his grasp without disturbing him. His warmth lingered in the air around me, a soft reminder of the connection we shared.
I tiptoed across the room, trying not to make a sound as I gathered my things for a quick wash-up. The floorboards creaked under my bare feet, but thankfully, nothing seemed to wake him. As I splashed my face with cold water, the coolness helped clear the haze from my mind. I had no idea how the nightmare from last night was connected to real life events or if it was connected at all, but I couldn't let it overwhelm me—not right now. Not when the morning seemed so gentle, like the world was giving me a moment to breathe.
I looked at myself in the mirror, my reflection still slightly disheveled from the night. My hair was tangled, and there were faint shadows under my eyes, but I didn’t mind. The storm had passed, and somehow, I knew things would get better, even if just for today. I threw on something comfortable—a loose sweater and jeans—and quietly made my way to the kitchen.
The canteen was a short walk, and as I walked, my mind kept wandering back to Riley. I hadn’t seen him this morning, which was strange, considering he’d been all over the place the last few days. It felt like every time I turned around, he was off playing with Millie, his laughter ringing through the halls, as if everything was fine. I wanted to laugh when I remembered the conversation we had when we were in the cafeteria earlier with Mia, and how he had been all grumpy with Millie around. He said he didn’t like her, but how could that be true when he was always playing with her?
I stifled a laugh as I stepped into the canteen, the smell of fresh coffee, bacon and eggs immediately filling my senses. I grabbed a tray, making sure to pick up enough for both Caleb and me. I wanted to bring him breakfast in bed—something simple, but something that might make him smile. It was the least I could do after what happened last night. A way of thanking him for always being there for me, for our pack.
That’s when a commotion from one of the tables drew my attention, and just as I had expected…there was Riley…and Millie, the sweet little kid who had declared she was going to marry Riley when she grew up.
I couldn't help but smile as I watched Riley and Millie, the two of them laughing and playing together. It was something so simple, yet it warmed my heart. They were so innocent, so full of life, and I wondered what would happen as they grew up. Would Riley start to develop feelings for Millie? Would that bond between them evolve into something more? The thought lingered in my mind, and I found myself chuckling softly. I could picture them as teenagers, both navigating the chaos of adolescence, perhaps holding hands in secret, or sharing a shy glance when no one was looking. But for now, they were just kids, and that made me smile even more.
With a shake of my head, I turned on my heel, heading toward the counter to collect my dish where I had left it. The hallway was buzzing with the usual noise—chatter, footsteps, the occasional burst of laughter. I was already lost in thought, imagining the years to come, when the sound of raised voices caught my attention. My gaze shifted instinctively, and my heart skipped a beat when I saw Riley standing in the middle of a heated argument.
But it wasn’t any argument…and it was who he was having that argument with that made my blood run cold.
Avery. My fourteen, almost fifteen year old half-sister, was standing toe-to-toe with him, her face flushed with determination. Avery was easily towering over Riley, and she had that sharp edge to her, the kind that made her a force to be reckoned with. I could hear the words, their argument growing louder as Riley's voice cracked with frustration.
"I’m telling you, it’s true! Aurora only has one brother, and that’s me!" Riley was saying, his little face scrunched up in defiance.
Avery scoffed, her eyes narrowing. "No, you’re wrong. Aurora is my sister. We’re family."
"No! No, she's not! You're not my sister!" Riley shot back, his small fists clenched at his sides. “Only Aura is my sister! Take that back!”
I wanted to smile at the sheer intensity of Riley's defense. He was so protective of me, even at his age, and it warmed my heart. But it was the way that things had suddenly started to crash and burn that made me freeze on the spot.
No…this couldn’t be happening…this wasn’t how I wanted Riley to find out the truth…
I needed Avery to keep quiet for once, to not escalate the matter. I had hoped that Avery wouldn’t cause trouble since she was almost a decade older than Riley. But Avery wasn’t backing down, and I could tell she wasn’t going to let it go. She stood her ground, stubborn and relentless.
"You don’t know anything!" Avery spat, her voice laced with bitterness. "Aurora is mine too. She’s my sister!"
The words stung a little more than I expected. I had always assumed Avery knew the situation—knew that I was her half sister, not someone she could claim as her own. But as I watched them argue, the confusion in Riley's eyes, I realized maybe I hadn't explained it well enough to him. He was just a little boy, after all and he didn’t deserve to know the truth in such a manner…
Riley’s eyes darted around in panic, his breath quickening as the tension mounted. He looked desperately toward me, as if seeking some sort of answer.
"Is that true, Aurora?" he asked, his voice quivering. "Do you have other siblings now? Is Avery my sister?"
I froze. My stomach twisted with an ache I couldn’t quite place. How could I explain this? How could I tell him that I was tied to Avery in a way he couldn’t understand yet? The words stuck in my throat, my mind racing for something—anything—that would make sense of this. But before I could even open my mouth, Riley's face fell, the realization hitting him before I could speak.
His lip trembled, his wide eyes filled with hurt and confusion. And just like that, the dam broke. His tiny body shook with sobs, and before I could move, before I could say anything, Riley turned on his heel and bolted, running down the hall with tears streaming down his face.
"Riley!" I called after him, but my voice was lost in the noise of the hallway, swallowed up by the chaos of it all.
I stood there, frozen in shock. I wanted to go after him, to pull him into my arms and tell him it was all okay. But I was paralyzed, unsure of how to explain what had just happened. Avery stood there, her arms crossed, watching the whole thing unfold with a mixture of smugness and something else I couldn’t quite read.
"I didn’t mean to make him cry," Avery muttered, her tone softer now but still holding that sharpness. “But it’s the truth!”
I didn’t know what to say to her either. How could I explain this was more complicated than just a simple sibling rivalry? But Riley was my priority, and I couldn’t just stand there. I took off after him, ignoring the fact that Avery was still standing there, looking after me with those unreadable eyes.
I had to fix this. I had to make things right with Riley, because I couldn't stand to see him hurt like that.