Future

RORY

And then her eyes close.

And the continuous burning sensation stops.

And she looks like a lifeless corpse.

And I suddenly feel no pain, and the mate connection is restored.

I turn my attention back to Everett and observe that his gash has closed completely. He’s no longer hurt. What just happened? He’s not dying anymore. He was, and now he’s fine.

I wasn’t strong enough to save him. I couldn’t give him my life force because mine was waning itself. But I no longer have a stab wound either. What the hell?

“Aurora,” an angelic voice says.

I look up to see Selene again with a dazzled expression.

“You defeated her. You were too weak to give Everett your life, so you took Nemesis’s and healed yourself and Everett and all the wolves.”

I glance around, expecting to see hurt and dying wolves along with titans. But the titans have disappeared.

And although there is blood, there are no signs of scratches or wounds or gashes. The wolves even search themselves in confusion, knowing that they were hit and suddenly they’re not.

And I look back down at Everett, my Everett.

“You saved me, little one,” he whispers, regaining his strength.

And I pass out on top of him from the exhaustion, a pleased expression on my face.

We’re going to be okay. We’re going to live. The pack is going to live. And Nemesis is gone.

***

“She must be worn out,” a voice says as I fade in and out of consciousness.

“Everett?” I call out, a little panicked, needing to know whether he is alright.

I feel sheets on top of me, indicating that I’m in a bed.

“I’m right here, little one.”

My eyes flicker open to see Everett’s concerned face, and Ace and Lucius too.

“Is everyone okay?” I croak out, pouting a little in fatigue.

“Yes. Thanks to you, Aurora.”

“Good,” I reply with a small smile, extending my arms like a little child in need of a hug.

“Leave,” he growls out to his Beta and Gamma before crawling into bed with me and taking me into his arms.

“How long have I been out?” I ask, pecking his lips and missing his taste.

“A week,” he answers, making my eyes widen in alarm.

“A week?”

“I was really worried about you, but you were still alive and still breathing. I figured all of it took so much out of you that you just needed to pass out for a week. But you’re awake now.”

“What did I miss?”

“A lot, little one. I got Alpha Nick and Luna Victoria jailed for what they did, and because everyone else heard about what happened here, they’re all backing down.

“They’re scared of us, of you, of how strong and powerful you are. You can cure seven packs of wolves and rogues and save my life.”

“Why did you jump in front of that knife?” I ask, although, of course, I know the reason why.

“You know why. I would protect you with my life.”

“I can’t live without you.”

“You don’t have to now. There’s no more danger, little one. We did it. We defeated them. And everyone in the pack loves you now.”

“Who knew it would take healing all their wounds to get them to like me?” I say with a little giggle.

“They always loved you—well, most of them. The warriors were hesitant, but they aren’t now. They all call you Luna Aurora.”

“What day is it?”

“Thursday.”

“I want to go to school tomorrow,” I reply.

“What? Why? After what those humans did? And you’re not even human. You belong here, in the pack.

“I know you loved school because you felt like you belonged there, but the pack accepts you, and you belong with me.”

“But I like my friends. Freya and Skye and Bethany and I have almost finished senior year and graduated. I’m closer to human than wolf.”

“Are you? You can resurrect yourself and heal people. That doesn’t sound very human to me.”

“Doesn’t sound very wolf either.”

He chuckles and pulls me up further so we’re face-to-face, with our noses touching.

“If you want to, I won’t stop you. There’s no more danger, no more threat. I understand that you have friends there. I’ll take you tomorrow. I have a lot of time, having caught up on work over the past week.”

I press my lips to his, snuggling even closer. I don’t know what I would have done without him. He means everything to me.

“What about Mama? Did she go back to Red Moon?” I question.

“No, I invited her to join the pack and she agreed. We’ve had many conversations, and she’s been up here watching over you whilst I’ve been working.”

I smile brightly at him and kiss his lips again.

“I don’t know if she likes me. I’ve never had to worry about impressing a parent, and now I don’t know how I’ve done.”

“I’ll talk you up,” I tell him with another giggle.

“She’ll love you. I love you. And even though I don’t like the way you moved in front of that knife, I know you did it because you love me and you want to protect me. And I love you for that.”

“I’m just lucky you’re so special. I’ll always protect you, little one.”

~I know.~

***

The next day, after breakfast, we head out, and I have never had greetings like this in any pack. They wave, or smile, or say, “Good morning, Luna.”

Everett walks beside me, pulling me into him by the waist, leading me to my mama.

When we arrive at the small house he set my mama up in, we enter to see my mama’s grinning face. She runs and hugs me tightly, sighing with relief.

“Oh, Rory, thank the goddess you’re awake and safe,” she says, tears of happiness pooling in her eyes.

“I missed you, Mama,” I whisper.

“I missed you, too, Rory,” she replies. “I’m so glad that you found your way without me. Your mate seems to care for you a lot, and he’s an Alpha.”

She glances back at Everett with a genuine smile, showing me that she definitely approves of him.

“We should get going if you want to get to school, Aurora. We’ll come back after,” Everett informs me, and I nod in response.

I hug my mama goodbye and let Everett lead me out to his car.

***

“I don’t know how that whole brainwashing thing worked, but I’d be wary of all three of them. Everything has probably worn off now that she’s dead, but you never know,” Everett warns me as we near the school.

“You’re right. I’ll just test the waters and stand back,” I reply, easing his fear that I could still get hurt.

He kisses my lips and helps me out of the car. Unfortunately, even though Nemesis, the curse-maker, is dead, I’m still cursed. Curses stay for life.

So I’m always going to be clumsy, but I don’t think anyone in the pack is judging me for that now. They seemed to practically kiss my feet this morning.

When I spot Freya and Skye, I skip over to them, minding my feet, and their eyes widen.

“Where have you been?!” Freya exclaims, hugging me.

I’ve only been away for a couple of weeks though.

“I’ve just been dealing with things at home. I found my mom, and the people in my old neighborhood who hurt me got arrested,” I tell them.

“Really? Wow,” Skye says, smiling sadly, maybe at the fact that I got hurt in the first place.

Throughout the day, everything appears to be normal—not like the normal before I met Everett, but Oliver doesn’t seem any more interested in me than as his girlfriend’s friend.

Bethany, Skye, and Freya all seem to notice his disinterest, not even knowing why he’s changed.

Eddie just returns to giving me a small smile and a few words in passing. And I see him chatting up other girls.

I don’t think the guys even remember what they did when they were under Nemesis’s control. They definitely don’t remember what happened at the pack.

Jax does talk to me—flirts with me, rather—in our lessons together, but he flirts with other girls, too, returning to the player I originally thought he was. He certainly is less intense. But we’re still friends.

I like that. I like him, as a friend. He’s funny and entertaining. He sits with me and Freya and Skye at lunch, whilst Bethany and Oliver take seats at their normal popular table.

Everything appears to have settled down now. Nothing is out of the ordinary, and my days are a lot calmer and smoother.

Everett and I continue to run the pack together, and I even join in on warrior training sessions, with no one giving me side-glances like the previous time.

They just accept me and my clumsiness, knowing I can’t help it and that they want me as their Luna. The pack wants me, and I feel like I belong.

I’ve struggled with belonging my entire life. But now, with Alpha Everett of the Shadow Blood pack, I finally belong.

End of Book One