around her trembling frame, it was her only thing keeping her from being naked as she
m room. Her hair clung to her damp face, a wild mess,
ce, his wide eyes flicking to the thin nightgown peek
at'
atly. Her lips twisted into a
d his fists. "
dropped to the floor as she tried to blink back her tear
e lump in her throat and kept speaking.
hing-anything-that might undo the damage Maverick had inflicted, but words felt useless.
me," Easton said, h
blanket tighter. "I didn'
the sound of approaching fo
oice came before the person a
red, she did nothing to hide mocking smile. Beside her was Maverick, his broad
ing in front of Aurora, his body
ant?" he demanded, his
a moment before sh
ter all..." Her eyes flicked to the blanket, the corne
n which made the woman mildly irritated. But before she could act in it Maverick steppe
a fleeting moment, she thought she saw something-remorse, hes
ack to the man she used to know, the man who cared about her and would give her anything and everyth
s hand, palm u
he small pills in his hand. It took h
emotion and Aurora almost heard the howl of her
s were a blade, cutting deep
ars she was keeping at bay were shining brightly in her eyes now. The only sound
. Her hands trembled as she took the pills, the weigh
red how they got to this level that the though
three years! If he didn't want anything to d
uld experience endle
her so much, what
expression
w, Aurora. Wh
but Maverick caught his fist mid-air, his l
id coldly, shoving Easton back with
a hand to stop Easton from retaliating. She swallowed the pills, the
o long on the borrowed nightgown. His eyes softened for a millisecond, but before
hind them, leaving a suf
-
expression a mixture of ang
fine." Her voice was barely steady, a wh
ping her shoulders gently but insistently. "He c
oddess herself paired us. This-" She gestured vaguely to the empty room, to the pills she ha
g. "This is what he's making you beli
e, to agree, or to even admit that a part of her still h
shoulders shaking as Easton pulled her into a hug. For now, in h
::::::::::::::
the smooth surface. The laughter and chatter of the ceremony filled the air,
his arm resting lightly on Phoebe's waist as he introduced her to the guests.
to be her stan
rs threatening to spill. She wouldn't giv
ton said softly, his voice p
nst it since they started dating in secret seven years ago. He had always been sceptical of what kind of relat
even dreamt of meeting Aurora. The secrecy with which they carried out their plans as friend
sion blank. "I'm the Luna, Ea
rustration. "But he's made it painfully clear he doesn't see you as that.
ed to the ground. S
or abruptly going missing- the loads of paperworks dumped on him and the whips of her
mony where Maverick would proclaim Aurora the Luna, shut
ity as Luna, leaving her in a position that was nothing more than a titl
e barely above a whisper. "If I do, I lose
ing as he fought back his ange
and Phoebe approached. Aurora's heart clenched at the sig
r eyes flicked over Aurora's plain dress, her lips twitching with amusement. "
lot of people who know that you are just the side chick," Aurora replies calmly and Pho
o Easton. "Is there a reason you're standing so clos
use you're too busy parading some
was thick
out, but he didn't. Instead, he stepped closer
uietly, his tone devoid of emotion
ed herself to meet his gaze. "I'm the
, but before he could respond, Phoebe looped her arm through his. "Come on, darling
ing on Aurora. Then he turned and walked away, leaving h
-
low curse. "He'
elt numb, the weight of Mave
is, you know," Easton sa
hoice do I have, Easton? He's my mate. This bon
tone firm. "Start over somewhere else. Hell
are trying to say," her tone was flat but her eyes were stormy. "And you are
brushing against hers. "The
believe him, to let herself lean on him completely. But s
lling her hand away. "But this is
n't. Instead, he stepped closer, his presence gro
make sure that he regrets it," he sa
ion were too much, and all she wanted was to get throug
Maverick and Phoebe bask in the adoration of their pack. She
ld find a way to reclaim herself. To rise from
e would be