Despite spending hours pondering that question, I still couldn’t find an answer.
A part of me desperately wanted to be the hero, to sacrifice myself for the pack-just as a future Luna would.
My people needed me. Their voices echoed in my mind, pleading.
Think, Aurora. Time was running out.
But the harder I tried to think, the more my mind spiraled into confusion.
I halted before my father’s room, standing motionless for a brief moment before pushing the door open.
The somber faces of my parents greeted me as I stepped inside. They watched my every move, their expressions tense, as if they had already reached a conclusion before I even arrived.
My father’s Beta stood near the door, his gaze sharp and calculating, like a hawk watching its prey. Though his eyes remained fixed on his phone, likely monitoring the state of the pack, the moment I looked up at him, his expression hardened.
But behind his rigid stare, I sensed something else.
Sadness.
Why were men so determined to conceal their emotions?
My mother was the first to move. She rushed toward me, wrapping me in a tight embrace, her body trembling against mine.
Her tears spilled onto my cheeks as she wept like a child, refusing to let go.
Gently, I pulled away, wiping her tear-streaked face with my fingers before pressing a soft kiss to her forehead.
For a fleeting moment, a spark of hope lit her eyes.
“Rory, your father and I have talked. You don’t have to choose between the two options. You will come with me to my parents’ house. You don’t need to bring anything if you don’t want to-I’ll have your servants gather everything once we arrive safely at the pack. The ship is waiting for us at the port. We must leave quickly before our enemies catch up,” she said, giving my hand a reassuring squeeze.
I took a step back, slipping my hand from hers, a deep confusion settling in my chest as I stared at her.
“What about Dad?” My eyes met his, but he looked away, biting his bottom lip painfully.
I gasped in shock at the realization of my parents’ concluded arrangements. I would never be a part of it-not without my father. “Dad isn’t coming?” I half-screamed, breaking free from my mother as she tried to pull me into an embrace. “Why would we leave him behind?”
“Darling… He is the Alpha. He can’t leave in the middle of a war. He has to protect his people. Plus, he can’t travel by sea in his condition,” she tried to explain, but I shook my head vehemently, refusing to be convinced.
“I know, but it’s a very difficult option for me too, considering that he is my mate. But it’s for the best. I’ve prayed to the Moon Goddess to keep him alive. He and some warriors will hide in a secret basement where the enemies can’t reach them. After the fight is over, they’ll bring him to us. I promise everything will be fine. We will be fine.” Her soothing voice rang in my ears, and I was almost convinced by her compelling eyes.
But it didn’t sway me.
“But he won’t survive here. He’s too weak to fight, and he might get killed!” I screamed, looking at Dad, who had been silent throughout our argument.
“Neither would he survive on the sea. Don’t make this already difficult situation harder for me. It’s too dangerous to waste time. Let’s move now before it’s too late,” she said with an air of finality.
Tears welled up in my eyes as I rested my gaze on my father’s figure on the bed. Leaving without him would drive me insane. I loved him, and I would do anything for him to come with us.
“I’m not leaving without my father,” I said stubbornly, rushing to his side and clinging to him tightly.
“I’m not leaving you, Dad. I don’t know what I’d do if something bad happened to you. I’m sure I’ll never forgive myself,” I sobbed harder, holding him against me with a firm grip.
“Listen to your mother, Aurora. It doesn’t matter if I survive or not. What matters is that you and your mother are safe,” he replied in resignation, shattering my already bleeding heart.
“Aurora!” my mum yelled, glancing at her wristwatch before shooting me a stern look. “There isn’t much time.”
“You have to accept reality and let it go.”
“The sailor is ready to leave. Luna, please lead the way,” the Beta interrupted, cutting our conversation short.
Silence filled the room as all eyes turned to me, waiting for my next move.
I had no idea what argument I could make to convince my father to come with me.
All I knew was that I wasn’t leaving without him.
But running away to another pack-wasn’t that cowardice?
I was no coward.
One day, I would be Luna, and I would lead by example when faced with challenges.
Running wouldn’t solve anything. It would only lead to more deaths.
Innocent pups, newly mated wolves, and warriors alike-lives would be lost, wasted.
And I wasn’t sure I could live with that.
My conscience would haunt me until my last breath.
I needed to act fast. And I needed to act wisely.
“Baby, I understand what you’re feeling, but this is the only option we have,” my mother pleaded, her eyes filled with desperation.
“Except it isn’t,” I blurted, stepping back, widening the distance between us.
Pain weighed on my heart as I looked at my parents one last time.
“I’m not running away with you. I would rather become the Alpha King’s property if it means saving my people,” I said firmly.
“You must be crazy!” My mother’s voice cracked with fury as she stormed toward me.
It was the first time she had ever raised her voice at me in anger, but I didn’t care.
My mind was made up. Nothing could change it.
The image of the helpless boy flashed through my mind again, hardening my resolve.
“I’m sick of hearing about my people dying every day, and my father isn’t getting any better. The best solution is to let the King handle this. He has a reputation for winning every battle-let him vanquish our enemies.”
“At the expense of your life? Do you even understand the consequences of the choice you’re making?” Her voice trembled in shock as she stared at me, utterly dumbfounded.
“Do you realize that becoming the Alpha King’s property means you will belong to him? You will no longer be our daughter, and you may never see us again unless he allows it. We won’t have access to you, and he could do horrible things to you.”
Tears trickled down her cheeks as she continued, her voice breaking.
“You will belong to that cruel bastard forever. No, I won’t allow that.”
“Mum!” I called, drawing her attention.
“I know you want to save me, Aurora, but don’t do it at the expense of your life,” my father pleaded, unable to hold back the tears streaming down his face.
My heart shattered into a thousand pieces as I looked at him.
I’m sorry, Dad.
I had made my decision, and there was no turning back.
“I meant every word I said. We don’t have to run, and people don’t have to die. In exchange for our safety, I will surrender myself to the Alpha King,” I declared firmly, leaving no room for argument.
Blinking several times to fight back my own tears, I turned to the Beta, whose jaw had dropped in shock.
“Send a message to the Alpha King. Tell him to deploy his toughest warriors. And inform him that I, Aurora Gray, have agreed to become his property for the rest of my life.”
Aurora
It was astonishing how quickly news spread, like wildfire consuming everything in its path.
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