We give each other a nod of acknowledgment. Then, as the adrenaline fades, I shift back to my human form, barely noticing my nakedness as I scan the clearing for Aurora. I spot her kneeling beside an injured wolf, her hands steady as she applies a poultice to a nasty-looking, infected wound. Even now, after everything, she’s still being the amazing woman that I know.
I snag a pair of shorts from my pack, which is torn and ragged from making it through battle, then approach her. As I get close, she looks up at my bare chest. For a moment I feel a surge of masculine pride—until I realize she’s looking at the still-healing wounds on my skin.
Satisfied that I’m alright, she lets her eyes travel further north. Our gazes meet, and the world narrows down to just the two of us.
She’s beautiful, even covered in dirt and sweat. Hell, the dirt and sweat makes her that much more attractive. Seeing the strong woman and warrior she’s become, I feel a twist in my chest at the knowledge that I ruined it all.
Approaching me, Aurora wordlessly takes me in, the fire in her mismatched eyes like nothing else. We’re both breathing heavily from exertion. The air between us feels charged with possibility, as if anything could happen at any moment.
I want nothing more than to pull her into my arms and finally claim her as my mate. My wolf is howling, pushing against my skin, desperate to complete the bond we’ve both denied for so long.
I can smell her scent lingering in the air, a contrast to the stink of fae magic: lilac and honey, mixed with sweat and the metallic tang of freshly spilled blood. It calls to me on a primal level, urging me to bury my face in her neck, to breathe her in until her scent is all I know. I can imagine what it might feel like to lick the dirt from her skin, delicately part my lips, and sink my fangs into her.
But as I look into her eyes, I see an echo of old pain there. Pain that I caused. I’m reminded suddenly that I’m one of the reasons why she’s become the amazing warrior she is now. My rejection of her pushed her to prove me wrong—to show me how strong she really is, wolf or no wolf.
Guilt churns in my gut, dousing the fire of my desire. I’ve hurt her so deeply—do I even deserve a second chance? Can I trust myself not to hurt her again? After all, nothing has changed.
Memories flood my mind—the day I rejected her, the look of devastation on her young face. The years of avoiding her, ofpretending the bond didn’t exist. The harsh words I’ve spoken, the resentment in her eyes, the walls I’ve built between us. Walls I’m not sure anyone can break down.
The moment stretches between us, full of tension. Aurora’s lips part, drawing my gaze to them. It would be so easy to close the distance between us…
With a Herculean effort, I tear my gaze away from hers and clear my throat. “We should check on the others,” I manage to say, my voice rough with suppressed emotion. Inside, my wolf howls a mournful note, his triumph turning to self-pity.
“Right,” she says, her voice small as she pushes her hair back behind her ears. “We should.”
I turn away from her, my heart pounding in my chest. As I walk toward the gathered Pack Quartz members, I can feel Aurora’s eyes on my back, and I wonder if I’ve just made the biggest mistake of my life.
Again.
The clearing is a mess of fallen trees and scorched earth. Pack members mill about, tending to the wounded and taking stock of the damage. Jacen approaches me, his face grim.
“We need to talk,” he says, his voice low. “This attack… the quarantine isn’t enough. And I’m afraid I haven’t been telling you everything.”
“You don’t say?” Raising a brow, I cross my arms over my chest and push my wolf’s dominance into my voice. “Tell me what’s really going on, Jacen. Where’s your father?”
“Gone,” he admits, leaning close and lowering his voice. “To the fae realms, I think, though… I’m not sure. I’ve been covering with everyone except a few people I trust. I’m pretty sure he’s not coming back.”
Shock goes through me. “So the quarantine?”
“A way to make sure everyone who knows what really happened is kept away from the rest of the pack, so panic doesn’tbreak out.” Guilt flashes across his face, followed by resignation. “You won’t tell anyone, will you? The madness is real. I didn’t lie about that part. Just about my father’s orders.”
“I won’t tell anyone. But Jacen…”
“You have to figure this thing out.” Taking me by the upper arms, he steps closer, real humility on his face. “My father, he… he’s a good man. He didn’t even take the bargain they offered him. But they showed him proof that my mother is in their realms, and now…”
“He’s gone.” I don’t have to guess how Jacen feels. We both have in common the undeniable fact that our fathers loved their fated mates more than the sons they received from them. “I’ll figure this out, Jacen. For the packs.”
“Thank you.” His gaze travels to Aurora, and he raises a brow at me. “Is she really…?”
“The last surviving member of Pack Onyx.” I lick my lips, then tell him, “She knows her fae lore. This thing… Aurora will figure it out, one way or another.”
Me? Well, I’m just along for the ride.
Hope I don’t screw it all up before we reach our destination.
Chapter 15
Aurora
