Caroline’s PO.V

I stared at Aurora for a few seconds, my mind nk as to what I had just heard, and trying to make a connection with this nagging bfeeling /bin my head:

“You liked Caleb.” I realized with a start. “I would’ve never guessed.”

“Because I’m a stupid girl and I wanted a stupid fairy tale…” she shook her head, looking down at her hands on herp. “The hottest guy in school falling for a loser…sounded like the perfect fairy tale right?”

“Aurora…” I didn’t like it one bit when she called herself a loser. If anything, she was a fighter. She was standing tall despite everything going on in her life. She was stronger than most people our age.

“This isn’t a fairy tale…not after what happened.” Aurora answered, the smile falling from her face to reveal a hint of disappointment. “It doesn’t matter if some all–mighty Goddess bound us together or not…I don’t believe in fairy tales anymore. How can I like someone who let me get humiliated like this? Yes, he didn’t do it himself, but he didn’t protest either.”

“Caleb didn’t let it slide either, Aurora.” I told her quickly, before she misunderstood the situation. “Right after you left…he beat Shane up bpretty /bbed before he went out to look for you. He regrets not getting to you on time. Trust me on this, Caleb bisn’t /ba bad person. Us wolves…we aren’t really allowed to get involved with humans unless one of us is linked to them directly or indirectly via a mating bond.”

“That doesn’t make this any better, does this, Caroline?” She asked me, her eyes losing bits /bshine. “Because if Caleb hadn’t imprinted on me, or whatever bit /bis that happened…he wouldn’t have cared enough toe after me…and tomorrow, I would be just another ‘poor girl‘ who got raped and left to die by drunks and addicts, and no one would’ve cared less because of who my father is.”

“That’s not true!” I protested immediately. “I would’ve cared! Even if you weren’t Caleb’s mate, I consider you my friend, Aurorab! /bAnd I would’ve bcared/b!”

Aurora stayed quiet, as if absorbing the new information. It was a lot, even for me. And I didn’t want to stress her anymore than she already was.

“Why don’t you lie down for now?” I offered, after getting my own emotions in check. “Get some sleep, try to digest what byou’ve /blearned today and then, when you wake up tomorrow, things might not look so gloomy.”

“Will you stay with me?” She asked hopefully. “Just…until I fall asleep.”

“Of course.” She didn’t have to ask twice.

Iid down on the bed next to her, holding her hands in mine. “And before you start to get worried, our pack leader, the Alpha, who just happens to be Caleb’s dad… has already made sure that your house is being guarded. So your brother can be brought here directly, as soon as he’s returns from his sleepover.”

“Riley!” Aurora eyes widened on a sudden gasp. “I totally forgot about him! That’s never happened before!b” /b

“You just went through hell and back, got injured badly and then learned about the existence of werewolves.” I told her with a smile, pushing her hair back from her forehead, careful not to disturb the bandage there. “You can give yourself a break, just for today.”

Aurora nodded unsurely, but then, her eyelids dropped and soon enough, she was fast asleep. I bet even she hadn’t realized just how tired she was given what she had been through. I stayed beside her for a little while longer before heading back to my own house. Thankfully, my parents were asleep and I didn’t have to answer any of their ridiculous questions.

‘She’s asleep now.‘ I told Caleb through the mental bond. ‘But I think you should talk to her once again tomorrow. She’s shaken up.‘

‘I will.‘ Caleb promised, but his voice sounded distanceb, /bas if he was away from pack territory.

But I was still worried about Aurora. She had just stepped into a world not only full of wonder but, dangers that even we weren’t aware of.

I had a feeling that her inclusion into a packb//bcentered on mostly wolves meant more than what it looked like. And only time would tell what the future held

for all of us.

imed by My Bully Alpha