Chapter 13
I opened my eyes and found myself in the infirmary. I looked around and saw Jaxon and Marcus. They were standing in the corner looking worried.
“Glad to see you’re awake,” Jaxon remarked, attempting to sound upbeat.
However, as I tried to sit up, the room began to spin around. I had to lie back down again. “What happened?” I croaked, my throat dry.
While I drank the water, they explained what happened after I passed out. The strange wolves ran away because of the energy I released, but the danger wasn’t gone. The group was cautious now, with more guards and better protection.
“We have never seen anything like it,” Jaxon said. “You saved us all, Aurora.”
I nodded, understanding their words. “I have no idea how it happened. I am… I am scared,” I said, surprised by my feelings.
To my surprise, they didn’t laugh or ignore my fears. Instead, Marcus leaned forward, his eyes serious. “It’s alright to feel afraid, Aurora, but keep in mind, you have our support.”
Jaxon nodded in agreement. “We’ve got your back. And hey, maybe being the ‘White Wolf’ comes with a user manual or something.”
I couldn’t help but laugh, thankful for their effort to make things less tense. We spent the next hour talking about ideas regarding my powers and what the name “White Wolf” might signify. It felt good to voice my concerns, to have someone listen without judgment.
Our conversation was interrupted by Xander’s arrival. The relief on his face when he saw me awake was palpable, but I could see the tension in the set of his shoulders, the tightness around his eyes.
Jaxon and Marcus exchanged a look before standing. “We’ll give you two some privacy,” Jaxon said, squeezing my hand before they left.
As soon as the door closed behind them, As soon as the door shut after them, Xander came over to me. “How are you feeling?” he asked, his voice rough with feelings.
“Like I’ve been hit by a bus,” I admitted. “But I’ll be okay.”
Xander nodded, then started to explain the security steps he had taken. I listened, but I felt something was bothering him.
“Xander, what’s really bothering you?” I asked.
He sighed, running his hand through his hair. “You’re not safe, Aurora. What happened in the forest… you’re a target now. And the power you showed, it’s… I have never seen anything like that. What if you can’t control it? What if-”
“What if I’m a danger to the pack?” I finished for him, my voice barely a whisper.
The silence that followed was answer enough. Anger and hurt welled up inside me. “I would never hurt our pack, Xander. How could you even think that?”
My job is to protect this pack, Aurora. Even… even from you, if necessary.
His words felt like a punch to me. I would never hurt anyone or put the pack in danger, why would he think that? I thought.
“This isn’t helping,” he said. “You are going to stay with me from now on. Let’s go.”
Before I could argue, he was helping me up and leading me out of the infirmary. We walked in tense silence through the pack house until we reached a door I’d never seen before – Xander’s room.
As soon as the door closed behind us, the atmosphere changed. The anger and frustration seemed to disappear, leaving behind a raw vulnerability that was almost scarier than our fight.
I was sitting on Xander’s bed, feeling really worn out. “I am so sorry, I murmured softly. “I’m just… really freaked out, Xander.”
Xander’s expression softened. He sat next to me, holding my hands, “I’m scared too, Aurora. I’ve … The idea of you leaving or getting hurt really frightens me.”
I looked up at him, surprised by what he just said. “Really? But you always seem so strong, so confident.”
He gave a sad laugh. “That’s what everyone sees. The strong, confident leader. But inside? I’m always doubting myself, wondering if I’m making the right choices for our pack. And now, with this new danger… I feel like I’m in way over my head.”
His words moved me deeply. Without thinking, I reached out and took his hand. “We’re in over our heads together, then,” I said softly.
Xander’s eyes met mine, and suddenly the air between us was charged with a different kind of tension. He moved closer gradually, giving me a chance to step back if I wished. But I didn’t wish to. I moved towards him, and our lips touched in a kiss that began gently but soon grew into something more intense.
I sighed against his lips and murmured his name, and I could feel his smile. My hands moved into his hair, that hair that I’ve been wanting to touch all night, and he kissed me harder. His hand cupped her cheek, and the gentle touch on her skin as she felt the heat of his mouth had her nerve endings on fire.
“Can I touch you?” He whispered in my ear and I let out a choked sound. He paused and lifted his head for a moment, we made eye contact, his pupils wide and dark. “Everything okay?” he muttered,”If I do something you don’t like, just tell me. Or if you want me to stop.”
“Everything is okay,” I whispered back, my voice barely audible. His eyes searched mine, making sure I was comfortable, before he leaned back and captured my lips again, making my heart race. His hands moved slowly from my cheek, going down to my shoulder, living trails of warmth.
He deepened the kiss, his mouth moving with mine in perfect rhythm. His hands lightly brushed my waist, and with every little touch, every tiny caress, I just knew I wanted more of that.
He glanced at me with a cheeky smile, whispering, “I’ve been dying to do this for so long,” and it hit me like a ton of bricks-I’d never felt so cherished, so truly adored, like this before in my life.
Subsequently, we just lay together, all cozy-like, with my head on Xander’s chest as he gently drew circles on my back. For a bit, all the craziness and doubt about our whole situation just vanished, and it was like we were in this little bubble of pure bliss.
Then, I had to go and bring it up, whispering, “So, what’s the plan?” I didn’t wanna mess with the vibe, but we couldn’t pretend everything was cool forever.
Xander’s arms tightened around me. “We face it together,” he said firmly. “Whatever’s coming, whatever you’re becoming… we’ll figure it out. You and me.”
I smiled, feeling more secure than I had in days. “You and me,” I repeated.
However, our quiet time was disturbed when, unexpectedly, I felt a severe headache. I took a sharp breath, my body becoming rigid as various scenes flooded my thoughts.
I visioned the wolf with glowing red eyes, standing on top of a hill. Below him stretched an army larger than before, filled with the twisted wolves and… something else. Something darker, more terrifying. The vision shifted, showing destruction on a massive scale. Packs falling, forests burning, the very fabric of our world being torn apart.
As quickly as it came, the vision faded, leaving me panting and shaking in Xander’s arms.
“Aurora? Aurora, what is it? What did you see?” He asked, holding my face gently with his hands while looking into my eyes.
I took a deep breath, struggling to speak up. When I did, the words came out in a whisper:
“They’re coming, Xander. And they’re bringing something worse with them. Something that could destroy everything.”
Xander’s face turned pale, but he gritted his teeth with resolve. “Then we’ll be prepared for them.”