Aurora’s P.O.V
Caleb’s room was on the other side of the building, on the same floor as me, and I was only just realizing this as Caroline led me down the hall to the left wing of the building.
“We all have spare rooms on this floor.” She told me as we walked, pointing to random door and naming who they are supposed to be for. “We don’t really crash here often, since our homes are all within the pack, but on special occasions, we are allowed to have sleepovers. But you know how sleepovers are, no one really sleeps there. We just stay up all night with some booze and game consoles.”
Just by looking at her posture, at the way Caroline was suddenly feeling so chatty…I could tell that she was nervous, anxious even. She knew how I had felt about this, that I was still debating if I should stay with Caleb and become his mate, or just give up and disappear from their lives. But I also wasn’t going to abandon Caleb when he needed my help.
Caleb had been there for me when I had been the most vulnerable and desperate. He had saved me time and again even before he knew we were mates. Then how could I be selfish and leave him to suffer alone, knowing that I was the cause of it.
As we came to a stand in front of the last door in the hallway, Caroline let out a huge sigh, her hands balled by her side as she said, “This is it.”
Reaching out, I took Caroline’s hand, squeezing it lightly as I turned to face her. “Care…you don’t have to worry. I’m sure of what I’m doing. I want to help Caleb; I want him to stop hurting. I know that I’ve been unreasonable about this in the past, but I guess…I’ve come to realize that I couldn’t really escape fate.”
Caroline’s expression softened, and her shoulders sagged from relief. With a soft smile playing on her lips, she reached out to tuck a hair behind my ear before cupping my face in her hands. “Thank you, Aurora. I know this isn’t the future you may have wanted, and I know you’re still uncertain about how things would pan out, but just know this, the Moon Goddess doesn’t make mistakes, and if she has chosen you for Caleb, she had done so for a reason. And no matter what, you’ll always have me by your side.”
Nodding, I gave her a small smile, even though my heart was about to burst out of my chest. Taking in a deep breath, I pushed the door open…and stepped right into Antarctica.
Fuck! This place was freezing!
I rubbed my hands together to warm them up as a shiver ran down my spine, and my breath actually fogged in front of my face as I breathed out. My teeth were starting to chatter from the cold but I took a deep breath, steadying myself for what was to come.
Looking around the dimly lit room, I found the bed pretty easily, surrounded by at least five coolers. Caleb was lying on a bed in what appeared to be hospital wear, and he didn’t seem to be bothered by the cold at all.
I moved closer to the bed, and reached out to touch his arm, wondering if he felt the cold at all, but it was only when I touched his skin that I realized that he was still burning up, and if possible, his temperature seemed to have gone up further than this morning.
Swallowing my nervousness, I placed my hand on his chest, feeling the hard planes of muscles under my fingers. I felt him stir then, as a groan of pain escaped his lips.
“Caleb?” I called out, my voice barely above a whisper.
But suddenly, Caleb’s eyes snapped open, and he lunged up, his hand going to my neck as he was in front of me in an instant, his eyes a molten amber that stared straight into my soul.
A gasp escaped my lips as I was practically yanked on top of him, my legs on either side of his thighs as I found him straddling him on the bed.
H-how…did this happen? I blinked, my breath coming in short pants as I tried to make sense of what was happening. How had I ended up on Caleb’s lap? I was just standing next to the bed and now…
And to make matters even worse, I felt Caleb’s arms wrap around my waist, pulling me closer until I was flush against his body.
This time, the shiver that ran down my spine had nothing to do with the cold, as I felt Caleb lean closer and take a whiff of my neck.
“Aura…” His voice was a husky whisper, but I could hear the strain in them. It felt like he was fighting for control, fighting a war with his own emotions.
“I’m right here, Caleb” I whispered, not knowing where I got the courage from as I wrapped my arms around his shoulders.
His warmth felt inviting, addictive even, especially with the chill in the room.
Caleb brought his face closer to my neck once again, using one hand to brush my hair to the side. His touch sent tingles through my whole body, and this time, he didn’t just stop at one sniff…I felt his tongue dart out to lick at my skin, making me gasp out in shock.
But it wasn’t just shock I felt at that lick. Something else seemed to awaken inside me as well, something that made my skin tingle and my toes curl…my heart beating a little faster inside my chest. My blood rushed to parts of my body I didn’t think was possible and I felt an odd sense of tingling in the pit of my stomach. My thighs clenched almost automatically, and I had to grit my teeth to stop this sensation from wrecking havoc all over my body.
But that gasp seemed to have done more than just turn me on. It seemed to have gotten through to Caleb as well, because the next thing I knew, he was pulling back and away from me, his eyes wide as he stared at my face, and the golden amber of his eyes faded to be replaced by a deeper blue.
“A-Aura?” Caleb swallowed audibly, his voice trembling from the force of his emotions. “Y-you should-d stay a-away from m-me. This…how? How did you get here?”
“T-that…” I cleared my throat, swallowing nervously as I moved away from him and sat on the edge of the bed. “Caroline told me what is happening with you. And…I want to help you, Caleb. I want you to stop hurting.”
Caleb sucked in a breath, as if he was worried about what kind of impression I had gotten from Caroline. Or was he just worried that he might end up hurting me when he was in this state…barely holding onto control?
“Aurora…I don’t know what Care told you, but you really can’t be here right now!” Desperation seeped into his voice as he pleaded with me with his eyes, trying to make me understand. “I’m…not fully in control of myself right now and my wolf is unstable. I can’t risk hurting you when I’m like this.”
I don’t know why but seeing him like this made my stomach twist in pain. My heart hurt. I’ve never felt this way for anyone. Caleb was someone who I had come to care for deeply and even without the bond, I could feel that he was trying his best to hide the pain. The room was freezing, but I could still see perspiration bead on his forehead. He was struggling to stay sane, to keep his eyes open and to keep his wolf in control. And I didn’t want him to keep struggling like this.
“Mark me.” I blurted out. “If this is the only way to make you stop hurting, then do it.”
“W-what…?” He looked up at me through drowsy eyes, as to trying to understand what I just told him.
“Mark me, please. I’m ready.” I told him, this time my voice was firmer than before. “Caroline told me your wolf is in pain because I’m not connected to you. Then mark me. I want that connection, Caleb. I can’t bear to lose you, not now, not ever.”
“Aurora, you don’t know what you’re talking about!” He shook his head, fighting to remain calm, but he spoke through gritted teeth, as if talking itself was hurting him. “This isn’t some child’s play! A mark is forever. Once I mark you, you’re mine, Aurora; there will be no turning back, no changing your mind! Ever!”
“What makes you think I don’t want that, Caleb?” I asked, my heart hammering in my chest. “What makes you think I’m not ready?”
“Because you were ready to leave me, leave everything behind not too long ago.” He countered. “I know you still have doubts about us, about the future. Then how can we move forward if you’re not yet sure if you want to be with me?”
I narrowed my eyes at him. I knew he was right, that none of us really knew what the future held. But I wasn’t about to back down just yet.
Reaching forward, I grabbed his hand and placed it on my chest, the rhythm of my heart erratic and rushed. Caleb’s eyes widened slightly as he felt my heart thundering, and I took the opportunity to step closer to him once again.
“Do it, Caleb.” I said, my voice soft but firm. “I’m sure about this. I want this.”