The rest of my words were cut off when the door opened, revealing my mother.
“Darling, are you feeling pain anywhere?” she asked, rushing to sit on the edge of the bed where he lay. Confusion washed over her face as she locked her gaze on me.
“What are you doing here? I thought you were supposed to be in your room having fun?” She tried to force a smile onto her worried face.
“She already knows,” my father’s weak voice interrupted her. “Save the pretense.”
“And now it’s gotten worse!” he lamented, heaving a deep sigh.
My mother’s face creased with worry as her hand met his firm jaw, stroking it tenderly.
“What happened?” she asked before turning to me. “Your father and I need to have a private discussion. Please, go to your room.”
What? No!
“Let her stay. This concerns her,” he said, stopping me from standing. He gave me a pitying look.
“Dad, are you okay?” I found myself asking again, my curiosity eating away at me. I couldn’t wait to know the reason for his reaction.
“We shouldn’t have gone with your idea,” he started, shaking his head slowly in regret.
The pride I had felt earlier crashed, leaving me lightheaded. I thought I had said something brilliant. Why did my dad make me feel stupid?
That was it. I was never going to interfere in anyone’s business again, be it the pack’s affairs or personal matters. Whatever was eating someone up could go ahead and consume them!
“What are you talking about?” my mum asked, her brows arched in confusion.
“Somehow, she found out that the pack was under severe attack and came to confront me about it. She offered her piece of advice, but it turned out to be a boomerang,” he said, turning to look at me with that same pitiful expression still plastered on his face.
“I warned you that the Alpha King’s conditions were extreme. We could have just stuck to the original plan of running away like cowards. At least that doesn’t involve anyone being taken away forcefully,” he said, emphasizing the last sentence. His gaze avoided my mother’s, which was now filled with questions.
Wait, what?
What did he mean by someone being taken away forcefully? Who did the Alpha King want to take?
“What do you mean by the last sentence?” my mother shot him a look, adjusting her sitting position.
Tense air gushed out of my father’s mouth as he exhaled slowly. A feeling of dread crept up from the depths of his stomach as he stared at me. I could hear his heartbeat, irregular and loud.
Were the words too heavy for him? Was the message that horrifying?
“In exchange for helping me, he wants our daughter as his property,” he revealed before shutting his eyes in pain. My heart stopped beating, freezing in place, and my stomach turned icy.
My head went blank for a few seconds as I stared at my dad, waiting for clarification. Maybe I hadn’t heard him correctly.
He placed the phone before my eyes, and my mother’s widened as I read the message in bold letters. He was so specific that he mentioned my full name. I was certain there was no mistake. He meant every word of the text.
“I don’t know what to do, Rory. It’s either he gets you as his property, or he watches us crumble without lifting a finger to help,” his voice shook.
“No! He won’t take my daughter! I won’t let that monster take Aurora away from me,” my mother broke down in tears, screaming at the top of her voice, refusing to be consoled.
Without warning, she grabbed me, hugging me tightly to her chest as if trying to protect me from the invisible Alpha King.
“After years of not bonding with her, he wants to take her away from me? Anything but my daughter,” she cried, more tears streaming down her face as she helplessly sat on the floor. My heart ached as I stared at my parents’ expressions. Though my father wasn’t crying, I could sense his heart bleeding. And for the first time in my life, I knew what it felt like to be truly loved.
I understood the feeling of not wanting to let go of the person you cherish most.
“Pack your bags, Aurora. Go with your mother to her pack,” my father instructed, setting his phone aside. “He is not getting my daughter.”
I fled to my room at once, burying my head in my pillow, allowing all the tears in my eyes to soak into it.
How did my advice backfire on me? Why was my happiness always so short-lived? What did I do to deserve this kind of life, Moon Goddess?!
I couldn’t even think straight as my head ached from my sobs. I didn’t know which option was best. Become the Alpha King’s property forever, or flee to my mother’s pack?
The latter meant the death of my people-and perhaps my father. He was still badly injured, and he wouldn’t survive. Only a few would make it if we chose that option. But I would save myself. I didn’t need to become a cruel king’s property.
Confusion swept through me as I thought hard. The hope of everyone was resting on me. The enemies were getting closer to the packhouse with each passing minute. Time was running out with every thought. I needed to act fast, or I would regret it.
The clock was ticking. The choice was mine to make.
Tick-tock. Tick-tock.
Aurora
Weighing the dangerous options one last time, I took a deep breath, forcing my nerves to settle as I tried to choose the lesser of two evils.
But there was no lesser evil. Both choices were suicidal.
I wiped the dried tears staining my cheeks with the back of my hand and stepped out of my room, ready to make the final arrangements with my father.
Be strong, Aurora. Now wasn’t the time to break.
I had already spent hours in my room, soaking my pillow in tears until I had none left to shed.
The moment my feet hit the hallway, the air shifted.
A heavy silence fell over the crowd, the weight of their stares pressing down on me. Hope flickered in their eyes, fragile and desperate.
News traveled fast.
Guilt clawed at my chest as I walked through them. Their unspoken pleas were suffocating.
I avoided their gazes. I wasn’t going to be anyone’s savior at the cost of my own life. I couldn’t afford to let emotions push me into reckless decisions.
But then, as if fate had other plans, my eyes locked onto a boy’s.
His small, innocent face sent a jolt through me. My heart twisted painfully.
I knew him.
His parents had been killed in the attack, leaving him orphaned. He was one of the few who would be transported to my mother’s pack.
Pain gripped my chest as I tore my gaze away, forcing myself to move forward.
Still, something in me felt… wrong.
I turned back, unable to stop myself, only to meet his eyes once more.
Betrayal twisted in my gut.
He was staring at me as if I were his last hope.
Why did I feel like I was letting him down?
Why did his gaze make it seem like I was his savior?
I was just like him-helpless, confused, uncertain about the future.
What was wrong with me?
Where was the selfless Aurora?
Put your people first or save your own life?
I had to think about my own happiness.
What did I really want?
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