Chapter 21
Tears blurred my vision as I rode through the darkened woods, the cold wind stinging my skin. My mind was spinning, replaying what I had just seen over and over again, like some twisted nightmare I couldn’t wake up from.
Amaya. My best friend. With my father.
I felt sick.
Betrayal burned deep in my chest, coiling around my ribs like a vice. I had trusted her. I had confided in her. She had comforted me when I cried over Tyler, when I was rejected, when I thought the world had turned against me.
And the whole time, she had been hiding this from me. No wonder she knew so much about the curse. She didn’t read about it. She fucked
I urged my horse faster, desperate to put as much distance between myself and the truth as possible. I needed to get away, to be alone, to think—
Hoofbeats. A chill ran down my spine. I didn’t have to turn around to know who it was. Oh my god. Not this again.
I gritted my teeth, gripping the reins tighter. Maybe if I ignored him, he’d just go away. No such luck.
“Aurora!”
I swore under my breath.
Tyler’s voice carried through the trees, firm and unrelenting. His horse pulled up beside mine, keeping pace effortlessly.
“Aurora, stop.”
I didn’t.
He reached out, fingers brushing against my arm. “Why are you crying?”
“Go away, Tyler.” My voice came out thick, raw.
But, of course, he didn’t listen.
“Aurora, stop the damn horse.”
I yanked the reins, bringing my horse to a sudden halt. Tyler did the same, blocking my path before I could make a run for it.
I wiped my tears quickly, refusing to let him see me like this. “Just leave me alone.”
Tyler’s eyes narrowed. “Not until you tell me what’s wrong.”
I let out a bitter laugh, shaking my head. “Did you know?”
He frowned. “Know what?”
My throat tightened, my voice barely above a whisper. “That Amaya is sleeping with my father. That they’re together.”
The second the words left my mouth, I saw it. The way Tyler’s entire body tensed. The way his jaw clenched. The way he didn’t look surprised. My stomach dropped.
“Oh my god.” My breath hitched. “You knew.”
Tyler didn’t say anything.
“You knew,” I repeated, my voice rising. “And you didn’t tell me?”
Still, silence.
Something snapped inside me.
I swung off my horse so fast my legs wobbled beneath me, but I barely noticed. I stormed toward him, shoving at his chest with both hands.
“So what else did you know, huh?” My voice shook with fury. “You knew about the curse, didn’t you? You knew my father was alive this whole time, and you didn’t tell me!”
Tyler exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck. “Aurora, listen—”
“Don’t you dare.” My hands curled into fists. “How long have you known?”
“I didn’t know Amaya was dating your father,” he finally said. “I just knew she was with someone from that pack.”
I let out a sharp, humorless laugh. “That’s supposed to make me feel better?”
“And yes,” he admitted, “I knew your father was alive. And I knew about the curse.”
My vision blurred again—not from tears this time, but from sheer, blinding rage.
“And you didn’t tell me?” I whispered.
His jaw clenched. “I didn’t tell you because I wanted to protect you.”
I took a step back, staring at him like I had never seen him before. “Protect me?” I shook my head, disbelief coursing through me. “You wanted to protect me?” I let out a harsh, bitter laugh. “I am now Killian’s Luna, Tyler. How exactly did you protect me?”
His nostrils flared. “It’s not my fault that you jumped on Killian’s dick the second he waved it at you.”
My breath caught in my throat.
I stepped forward, my palm colliding with his cheek before I could stop myself. The sound of the slap echoed through the trees.
Tyler barely flinched.
He just stood there, golden eyes burning into mine, his chest rising and falling with uneven breaths.
I swallowed, my hand trembling from the impact. “Fuck you, Tyler.”
