Chapter 45
For the first time in what felt like forever, I was able to stand on my own. My wounds have completely healed, but there were still marks of different leaves in my body. There were no more matrons hovering over me. I can finally move and I was stable enough to leave.
To return to my room. To my life.
But as I walked through the halls of the Silver Moon Pack estate, something felt… off.
It wasn’t the same as before. Or maybe I wasn’t the same.
When I reached my room, I let out a slow breath. The bed was perfectly made, the curtains were slightly open, letting in just enough sunlight to cast golden streaks across the floor. Everything was untouched. As if I had never left.
As if I hadn’t just spent two months in a coma, fighting for my life. I sat on the edge of the bed, my fingers lightly brushing the soft fabric.
And for a moment—just a moment—I allowed myself to feel…
But I felt empty. Because no matter how much I tried to convince myself otherwise, no matter how much I tell myself that coming back was the right choice…
A part of me still felt lost.
Later that evening, my mother, Arla, and Alex threw me a welcome back party.
It was small—just family, a few pack members, and some of the warriors who had fought beside me. It’s as though no secrets have been unveiled, as if my mother never lied about who I really am. It’s like we were the perfect happy family again.
The dining hall was decorated with warm golden lights, and the scent of roasted meat and freshly baked bread filled the air. But even with the laughter, the clinking of glasses, the warmth of the people around me…
Something still felt off.
I sat at the head of the table, picking at my food, my thoughts elsewhere. That’s when Arla spoke.
“I’m happy you’re back home.”
I looked up, meeting my sister’s soft brown eyes. There was a genuine warmth in them. A warmth I wasn’t used to seeing.
“Thanks,” I murmured, offering her a small smile.
She hesitated for a moment, then leaned in slightly.
“But what are you doing back in the Silver Moon Pack?” she asked, her voice careful. “Why didn’t you stay with Killian?”
The table fell silent. My mother glanced at me from across the table, her lips pressed into a tight line.
Alex shifted uncomfortably in his seat, pretending to be focused on his drink.
But I could feel it. The tension. The unspoken questions. I set my fork down, exhaling slowly. Then, I lifted my chin and met Arla’s gaze head-on.
“Because Tyler is my fated mate.”
Her brows furrowed. “What?”
“I will stay with him,” I continued, my voice steady. “Because that is what the Moon Goddess decided the first time. And I will go with that.”
Silence. A long, heavy silence.
Then, Arla let out a breath, shaking her head.
“Aurora…” She paused, as if choosing her words carefully. “Are you sure?”
I forced a small smile. “Yes.”
