Chapter 1

Aurora's POV

I gripped Orion's small hand tightly as we walked into the hall I'd sworn never to set foot in again.

Five years. The Silver Moon Pack's gathering hall in Washington looked exactly the same—ancient oak beams displaying portraits of past Alphas, the air thick with pine and wild musk.

"Mommy, there are so many people." Orion looked up at me, his deep blue eyes nervous.

"Don't be scared, baby." I knelt to adjust his little tie. "Remember what Mommy told you—we're just here to see Uncle Thomas, then we're leaving."

The pack members began to notice us. Whispers rippled through the crowd like a tide.

"Isn't that Aurora?"

"Why is she back?"

"That child is..."

I stood, straightening my spine. Five years of independence had taught me one thing—never show weakness.

"Elders." I nodded to the group of older wolves gathered in the center of the hall. "I'm Aurora Thorne. Thomas asked me to return for the full moon ceremony."

Elder Whitfield, his hair silver with age, approached us, his kind gaze settling on Orion. "Child, is this your son?"

"Yes." My voice was unnaturally calm. "This is my son, Orion. His father died in the territorial wars up north."

I felt no guilt telling this lie. To me, Caspian had died five years ago on that night.

Just when I thought I could handle this quietly, the crowd fell silent.

That kind of silence—like the calm before a storm—made my heart race.

Then I saw him.

Caspian emerged from the shadows at the back of the hall, just like five years ago—tall, imposing, devastatingly handsome. Time had barely touched him, only making him more mature and captivating.

When our eyes met, the world stopped.

The mate bond I'd suppressed with medication for five years roared back to life like a caged beast, electric shocks hitting my nervous system. My knees went weak, my chest heaved—as if I was truly breathing for the first time in five years.

"No..." I fought against the feeling in my mind.

Memories crashed over me like waves. I remembered that night, sitting on the living room couch until 2 AM, clutching the pregnancy test. I'd been so excited imagining his reaction, practicing how to tell him: "Caspian, we're having a baby!"

But he came home reeking of alcohol, eyes tired, barely glancing at me.

"Why aren't you asleep?" he asked irritably.

"I need to tell you something." I tried to contain my excitement.

"Tomorrow. I'm exhausted." He headed straight upstairs.

While he showered, I saw a text pop up on his phone: [Thanks for driving me home tonight.]

That's when I realized—I had never mattered to him.

Now, looking at that familiar face, I forced myself to remember the pain of being ignored, dismissed. The mate bond wanted me to go to him, but logic screamed at me to run.

"Aurora?" His voice was rough, complex emotions flickering in his eyes. "You're... back."

"Just passing through." My reply was ice-cold as I instinctively moved Orion behind me.

Caspian's gaze fell on the child beside me, and I saw shock flash across his features—like he'd seen something impossible.

My heart began to race. No. He couldn't discover the truth.

"Orion, we should find Uncle Thomas." I took my son's hand, trying to escape this dangerous situation.

"Wait." A female voice called out.

I turned to see the face I never wanted to see again—Evangeline.

She was still beautiful, still had that fragile, pitiful quality. Dressed in white like some pure angel. Even though she was the one who stole Caspian from me.

"Aurora, I can't believe you had the nerve to come back." Her tone seemed gentle but dripped with malice. "How have you been all these years?"

Looking at her fake, saccharine face, memories flooded back.

That night that changed everything, when she called sobbing hysterically: "Caspian, I'm so scared. The doctor says my condition might be getting worse..."

I'd been curled up with Caspian on the couch watching a movie, my stomach cramping mysteriously, but I endured the discomfort to spend time with him. After her call, he immediately pushed me away and stood up.

"I have to get to the hospital." He rushed toward the door without even grabbing his coat.

I found the courage to say: "Could you stay with me tonight? I'm not feeling well, and I have something important to tell you..."

"Aurora, don't be unreasonable." He cut me off, irritation clear in his eyes. "Evangeline needs me. She needs me more than you do."

Now, looking at Evangeline's still-pitiful face, I felt sick.

"Very well," I answered flatly. "Better than when I was here."

The tension in the air thickened. The surrounding pack members sensed trouble and began backing away.

Evangeline's gaze fell on Orion, a flash of barely concealed malice in her eyes. "This child looks so much like—"

She didn't finish, but I knew what she was thinking.

"Like his dead father," I finished coldly. "We should go."

Just as I was about to leave, disaster struck.

Whether sensing the tense atmosphere or frightened by all the strangers staring at him, Orion suddenly clutched my skirt.

The next second, an overwhelming aura of power erupted from his small body.

The entire hall fell deathly silent.

Every adult wolf, including the Alpha-level pack members present, instinctively stepped back. This aura was too pure, too powerful—stronger than any Alpha in the room.

My blood turned to ice.

Caspian stared at Orion in shock, his face a mixture of amazement and dawning realization. His gaze moved back and forth between me and the child.

Evangeline's face went deathly pale.

"Orion!" I quickly scooped up my son. "We're leaving right now!"