I stood outside the house where I grew up. Ten years had passed, but nothing had changed except me. I was no longer the weak girl who let her stepmother and stepsister burn me with scalding coffee. That girl was gone forever.
My father never saw my pain back then. Or maybe he chose not to.
I pressed the doorbell. The door opened, and I stepped inside to find my father and stepmother sitting in the sitting room. Codysa sat in the corner, her unfriendly stare unchanged after all these years.
I ignored her and took a seat.
"I am here, Father," I said.
My father, Ned Bluey, studied me with hard eyes.
"Where are your manners, Aurora? Could you not greet your father and me properly?" Emily Bluey snapped.
"I left them at home. Please lend me yours," I said.
Emily glared at me like she wanted to claw my eyes out with her sharp nails.
I stared back. She wanted to teach me manners? She should start with her own daughter first.
My father coughed.
"How have you been, Aurora?" he asked.
I looked at my wristwatch instead of answering. If he did not get to the point quickly, I would leave.
He sighed.
"You have been away for ten years. Your failed engagement to Ethan and..." he started.
"Will you just tell me why you invited me here?" I interrupted.
"Very well. I promised you to the eldest son of the Keyamo pack years ago. It is time to fulfill that promise. I took a loan from their Alpha and could not pay it back. I will be imprisoned for debt unless I give my eldest daughter in marriage to his eldest son."
I felt anger rise in my chest.
"How is that my business? You want to throw your daughter at a family known for illegal dealings to save yourself? Give her to whoever you want, but do not invite me to the wedding."
I stood and grabbed my bag.
Emily and my father exchanged glances.
"Aurora, have you always been this stupid, or did you learn it? Did you hear what your father said?" Emily asked.
I looked around the room.
"I am talking to you, Aurora Bluey."
"Oh, me. I learned to be stupid. I studied at the school you founded, Emily Bluey."
Emily looked like she might explode. Her face turned red.
"Aurora!" she yelled.
"You are impossible. Mother and Father worried about you, and now you only insult," Codysa shouted.
"Where is the cat that just meowed?" I asked, looking at the floor.
Emily became even more furious.
"You just called me a cat? Me, a cat?" Codysa screamed. She rushed toward me, but my father stopped her and told her to go to her room.
"Why should Codysa leave when your horrible daughter insulted me? Was it my fault that Aurora's careless mother got killed by rogues?" Emily shouted.
My father ignored his wife and glared at me.
"You will marry the eldest son of the Keyamo pack in a few weeks. Get ready, and do not think you can run away from me this time."
I picked up my bag and headed for the door.
"Send my regards to her. Goodnight."
I walked out quickly. Outside, I glanced back at the house one last time. I left ten years ago and returned only to be angered. I did not know when I would return again.
They called me here to tell me I would marry the eldest son of that drug dealer. The Keyamo family had a reputation for illegal activities.
What did I care about my father's debt? All his wealth had disappeared because of the woman he married.
I checked my wristwatch. Nonna had not called yet. I could rush back and pretend I had never left.
Meanwhile, at Nonna's apartment, Richard delivered shocking news.
"Cody has been taken by Alpha Jack Hudson's guards," he said.
Nonna looked confused.
"Jack Hudson? Is he related to John Hudson?"
"Jack is the Alpha King. John is his younger brother. Cody looks exactly like both of them."
Nonna sat down slowly.
"What do we do? Aurora will not rest without Cody. Should we involve the pack council?"
Richard shook his head.
"Alpha Jack Hudson is not someone we can fight. I will confirm Cody is safe, and we wait until morning."
Nonna nodded reluctantly.
Richard tried calling John several times with no success.
John was at a nightclub, dancing with a woman. His phone kept vibrating.
Nicolas found him and delivered a message.
"Your brother says to meet at the hospital tomorrow morning. The DNA test needs to happen now."
"They found the boy?"
Nicolas nodded.
John left the club immediately. His phone vibrated again with Richard's name.
"Hi, Richard," John answered.
"I need to see you about a boy," Richard started.
"Yeah, I already know. I am having a DNA test done tomorrow with the little guy. I have a lot to tell you about Aurora. Tomorrow would be best," John said loudly.
The woman kissed his neck.
"Baby, I am on the phone," John said.
Richard hung up.
Back at the apartment, Richard looked at Nonna.
"Cody is having a DNA test with John tomorrow morning."
"So Cody is with Alpha Jack Hudson?"
Richard nodded.
Silence filled the room.
"Do you suspect that Cody might be..." Nonna trailed off.
"I have suspected it for a while. Have you seen Jack, John, and Cody side by side? The resemblance is undeniable."
Nonna slowly turned to look at Richard, and he nodded.
"What do I tell Aurora? She expects me to bring Cody home tonight."
"I will talk to her."
He dialed Aurora's number. After a long conversation, he convinced her to let Cody stay away for one night. She agreed reluctantly, saying she was taking the greatest risk of her life.
Richard promised that by morning, she would be with her son again. Nonna sighed, knowing tomorrow would change everything.