Chapter 24

AURORA

“You’ve heard what you needed to, Aurora. Why does it matter? You’re my beta, and I won’t let anything change that,” Rin said.

“It matters because I need to understand my role here! You’re supposed to be one of Jekia’s heirs, whether you like it or not. That puts me in a position similar to your mother’s. How can I handle that if I don’t even know what a beta is supposed to be?”

Rin huffed, clearly annoyed. “They’re filling your head with unnecessary worries. I’m taking care of you, and that’s all that matters. And don’t worry about them saying I’m an heir. I’ve told you, I don’t see myself as that. I’ll never take over Jekia’s position. That’s for Rayne, not me.”

His answer didn’t sit well with me. It echoed what Lana and the others had hinted at—that he was using me.

“Rin, I didn’t leave my home just to be controlled by someone else!” I protested.

“I’m not controlling you! I’m just taking care of you!”

“But you didn’t tell me the whole truth about what a beta is!” I shot back, standing up. “You said I’m supposed to be under you, that I’m supposed to always do what you want. But your parents say something different—that I’m supposed to be your equal. Is that how it’s really supposed to be?”

Rin started to respond but faltered. That only confirmed my growing suspicion. He was trying to hide the truth from me. He didn’t want me to think I could be independent.

But I wasn’t angry. I was disappointed. I wanted to trust Rin. I liked him so much. He was handsome and had been so kind to me. It hurt to think he might’ve been using me.

“Listen, Aurora,” Rin finally said, standing up with me. “I don’t want to keep things from you, and I’d never use you. I just don’t want to put you through more trauma than you’ve already experienced. I want you to be happy here with me.”

“Maybe you do, but I don’t want you to lie to me. I like you so much, and I’ve never done anything with you that I didn’t want to. Even when you said you were going to sleep with me to claim me, I accepted that. I wanted to do it, just like I’ve accepted everything you’ve told me. Please Rin, don’t make me regret trusting you,” I pleaded.

Rin looked regretful as he heard me say this, but he stuck to his story.

“You won’t regret it, and I’ll always be your alpha. That’s all that should matter.”

“I don’t see where I have a choice about that,” I said, feeling a bit defeated. I decided to change the subject. “I’m not saying I’m scared to be here with your family, but could you try to get along with them? After everything last night, I don’t think I can handle more arguing. I’ve heard enough of that from my parents.”

“I can try, for you. But I can’t promise anything when it comes to Rayne. We’re both stubborn about certain things, and I think you’re going to be one of them,” Rin admitted.

“He just wants to help me. He says he’s worried about me.”

“I bet,” Rin scoffed, but quickly reined in his disdain. “Anyway, what happened last night? I went out to check on some strange noises, and when I came back, you weren’t at the den and I couldn’t find you anywhere. How did you get past my barrier?”

I shook my head. “I don’t know. I can’t remember.”

“Nothing at all?”

“Well,” I decided to be honest about what I’d experienced. “I thought I was dreaming, but it was like a dream within a dream. I remember falling asleep in our bed, then waking up in my old bedroom. I thought everything that happened here was a dream, and it made me really sad. But when I left my room, my house was dark and quiet, and I couldn’t find my parents. Then I went outside and it was snowing, even though it was supposed to be September. There was this person at the end of my yard calling to me, and I felt like I had to go to her.”

“A dream within a dream, making you believe you were never really here. Sounds like a powerful spell. But how did it reach you? Even if that witch had become a puppet of something else, I was sure nothing could get past my barrier, except for Rayne, but he’s my twin,” Rin said, sounding puzzled.

“The Sprites would come in there,” I reminded him.

“Yes, but I allowed that because they’re harmless. I can let in whoever I want, but I wouldn’t have done so late at night and without me there,” Rin countered.

That’s when I remembered something else; something from earlier.

“What about butterflies?”

“Butterflies?” Rin echoed. “What are you talking about? There are no butterflies around here or in the Northern Lands. They stay in the Eastern.”

I was confused. Were we talking about the same thing?

“You guys don’t have butterflies where you’re from?” I asked Rin.

“Nope. All the butterflies are in the Eastern Lands. I’ve never seen one here. Believe me, I’d remember if I had. They’re stunning, especially the females,” Rin said, sounding sure of himself.

“Stunning females? You mean they look like humans?”

“Yeah, they do.” Rin paused, looking taken aback. “Hold on. Are you telling me you’ve seen a butterfly that looks like it belongs in your world?”

“Yeah. Just before Rayne showed up, this gorgeous golden butterfly flew across the field. It sailed right past me,” I told him. My eyes grew wide as I started to understand. “Oh my God. It was like the butterfly your dad pulled out of the witch’s head!”

Rin tensed up. “That can’t be…”

“What’s happening? What was that butterfly?” I demanded.

Instead of answering, Rin grabbed my hand and led me towards the door. “We need to see my dad. Right now.”

“Rin!”

“Just trust me, okay?” Rin’s voice softened as he touched my cheek. “We won’t let anything happen to you. Once I figure things out, I’ll explain everything.”

“You promise?”

“I promise.”

I wasn’t sure I was ready to trust Rin yet, but I needed answers about what had almost happened to me and what that butterfly was. So, for now, I had to go along with it. But a new resolve was growing inside me. I was going to find out what my real role was in this world.

I just hoped I could handle the truth when I found it.