bChapter /bb209 /b

Caleb’s PO.V

I was bin /ba different room with Jade and a couple of other boys from the pack, trying to bfigure /bout bwhich /bshirt would work best for the party.

“This one, or that one?” Jade asked, holding up a dark grey button–down in one hand and a bin /b

ck tee in the other.

“Neither,” one of the boys piped up, smirking as he lounged against the dresser. “He looks like he’s trying too hard either way.”

I groaned, rolling my eyes. “Maybe I’ll just go shirtless, make it easier for everyone.”

Jade chuckled, tossing the shirts aside. “At least you’d get some attention. Aurora might even-”

‘Caleb.‘ Caroline’s voice suddenly burst through my mind like a lightning strike, her urgency slicing

through the easy banter.

I stiffened immediately, catching the concerned looks of the others as they noticed my change in

demeanor. ‘What is it? What’s wrong? You sound panicked.‘

Her response was swift, almost breathless. ‘It’s Aurora. Caleb, listen to me. I was helping her put on her earrings when I saw it.‘

‘Saw what? Caroline, what are you talking about?‘ I pressed, my chest tightening.

“The symbol.‘ Her words hit me like a punch, ‘That same symbol, Caleb. It’s new into her skin,

right behind her ear.‘

“What the hell?b” /bI muttered aloud, feeling the room fade around me as a my focus shifted to the mind link. The others were asking questions, but I waved them offb, /bpacing now. ‘How is that possible? Are you sure it’s the same one?‘

‘Of course, I’m sure!‘ Caroline snapped, and then her tone softened slightly, though the urgency was still there. ‘I don’t know how, Caleb. I just know it’s there, clear as day. And we both know what that

might mean.‘

My stomach churned. ‘This can’t be happening. There’s no way-b‘ /b

‘There’s no time to figure out the “how” right now,‘ she interrupted sharply. ‘The fact is, it’s there, and we’re not ready for whatever this could bring, I need you to go to Harmona. Now. She has to know about this. I’ll stay with Aurora, but you need to moveb./bb‘ /b

b1/3 /b

bChapter /bb209 /b

bI /bbran /bba /bbhand /bbthrough /bbmy /bhairb, /bbmy /bbfingers /btrembling bslightly/bb. /bYou’re sure she’s bokay /bfor now? Auto bI /bmean. bShe’s /bnot in pain or~!

b‘/bbShe’s /bbfine/b, physically,‘ Caroline said quickly. ‘But she doesn’t know about the symbolb. /bbShe /bhasnt seen it yet. I didn’t tell her. I didn’t know what to say.‘

I nodded, though she couldn’t see me. ‘Alright. I’m going. Stay with her, and don’t let her out of byour /bsight. I’ll go over this with Harmona.‘

‘Be fast, Caleb. This could change everything.‘

The link cut off, and I looked at Jade and the boys, who were all staring at me now. “What’s going on?” Jade asked, his tone losing all the casualness from earlier.

I grabbed my jacket from the back of a chair, already heading for the door. “No time to exin. Just… get ready for the party. I’ll handle it.”

I didn’t wait for their responses. My mind was already racing with possibilities, none of them good.

The symbol behind Aurora’s ear? It couldn’t be a coincidence. But if it wasn’t… then we were in

more danger than I’d ever imagined.

Without a word, I abandoned the task, striding out of the room. The sound of my boots on the hardwood floor echoed down the corridor, but I didn’t stop or look back.

“Caleb!” Jade’s voice rang out behind me. I heard his hurried footsteps as he caught up. “Hey! What’s going on?b” /b

I didn’t slow down, but I threw a nce over my shoulder. “Just follow me, Jade. You’ll find out soon enough.”

He groaned audibly. “Cryptic much? Seriously, you’re not even going to g

e a hint?”

“Not here.” I gestured vaguely ahead. “We need to talk to Harmona. This can’t wait.”

Jade muttered something I didn’t quite catch, probably about my dramatic exits, but he didn’t push further. He just followed. By the time we reached my father’s office, the voices inside were already engaged in some heavy discussion. I didn’t knock–I rarely did when urgency wed at me.

The door swung openb, /brevealing my father, Alpha Camden, seated at his desk with Harmona standing across from him. Papers and maps cluttered the space between them. Both their heads snapped up at my abrupt entrance, and Harmona’s eyes narrowed slightly as Jade stepped in behind me, clearly confused.

“Calebb?/b” my father began, his bvoice /bcarrying the faintest edge of annoyanceb. /b“This had better be important.”

213

“It Is,” I bsaid /bbquickly/b, bignoring /bbthe /bsubtle tension bin /bbthe /bbroom/b. bMy /bbeyes /bbdarted /bbto /bbHarmona/b. “I need to btalk /bbto /bbyou /bbboth /bbof /byou–about Aurorab./bb” /b

bAt /bbthe /bmention bof /bher name, Harmona straightened, her expression turning bcautious/bb. /bWhat is bit/bb? /b

I crossed the room, leaning against the desk to brace myself. “We found something. On her ear. bA /bsymbolb./bb” /b

“A symbol?” Alpha Camden frowned, his tone sharp. “Exin.”

“It’s the same one we found on her father’s chest…” I trailed off, my hands gesturing vaguely. “1 don’t know how to describe it exactly, but it’s etched into her skin. Almost like it’s burned there.”

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