From what I witnessed tonight, it’s clear that even Aurora isn’t sure of her abilities. I’ve never seen her perform such magic, and it seemed to come as a surprise to her, too.
When a distant howl echoes in the forest, I grab Aurora’s arm instinctively and pull her toward the front of the building. The sign hanging slanted above the glass doors twitches with a faulty light, reading “Bear Cove Motel.” Being amongst humans in a familiar town is the only thing that will keep us safe for now.
We need to blend in, but the unholy hours of the morning mean that we can’t travel through the streets safely. We need a crowd, but since there isn’t one at this hour, the market is empty and the streets barren, so I begrudgingly make a calculated decision.
“We’ll wait here until daybreak, when it’s safe to travel through the forest,” I tell Aurora, tugging on her wrist to pull her through the door and enter the motel lobby.
Sensing her diffidence, I choose to ignore it, squaring my shoulders as I tend to booking motel rooms for both of us. The receptionist behind the desk gives me the unfortunate news that the town’s Winter Solstice festival has garnered the attention of many tourists, and they only have one available room for the night.
Grumbling as I reach for my wallet in my back pocket, the only consolation is that I hadn’t left it behind in Girdwood. I peep a glance at Aurora as I pass cash to the receptionist, noticing that she avidly avoids looking my way, her arms crossed over her rapidly heaving chest.
I know exactly how she’s feeling, because I’m still reeling from the events that occurred in the forest myself. Adrenaline is raw and rich as it pumps through my bloodstream, and I want nothing more than to lock myself in a room and wait out the rest of this eventful night.
Bringing Aurora to a motel was not part of the plan, but neither was witnessing her wield powers that I suspect explain the delay in her wolf abilities. If she were anything like me, she could have shifted into wolf form and attempted to outrun the demon from the cave.
What she did was far more impressive.
The receptionist passes a single key over the counter, and we’re on the move again. This time, I don’t need to use force to lead Aurora to the stairs, and she follows me without uttering a word.
A long, drawn-out sigh escapes me as soon as I enter the room. The dreadfully bland interior is welcoming only because of the absence of danger, and I shut the door gently behind Aurora.
“I’ll take the sofa,” I mumble uninterestedly, dragging exhausted feet into the living area. “Get some rest. You must be tired.”
Huffing as I plop my weight onto the sofa, legs splayed out, I tuck an arm behind my head and close my eyes. The overheard light that remains faint through my eyelids darkens, and I wonder if Aurora has dimmed the lights to go to bed.
I shouldn’t care about what she’s doing, but a deeply ingrained curiosity has me peeking through the slit of one eyelid, only to find her towering form blocking the light as she stands in front of me with her hands on her hips.
“What now?” I groan irritably, shifting on the sofa to sit upright and opening my eyes resentfully.
Aurora glowers at me, equally resentful, her eyes deep pools of dark fury.
“What now?!” she spits with a derisive scoff. “Are you serious, Alpha Elias?!”
Brows furrowing with tight confusion, I straighten up and stare at her disbelievingly. I know the lowly omega as a timid creature who sticks to the shadows and walls in Girdwood, never mingling with the others or making a squeak.
The she-wolf is standing in front of me with boldness that is so uncharacteristic for her, and I’m mildly intrigued to see what she’s on about.
“Speak clearly, Aurora. I would like to get some rest.”
She throws her arms up with an exasperated huff. “Of course you wanna get some rest after almost getting me killed tonight!”
Whatever curiosity I had fizzles out and quickly turns into irritation.
Is she serious right now?
I don’t believe this!
But then again, what else was I expecting when tonight’s turn of events was highly unanticipated? Perhaps my curiosity hasn’t fully subsided, a tiny flicker of it evident as I raise a brow, chuckling ruefully under my breath.
Does she not realize that I actually saved her when I should have let the demon take her, according to the elders’ plan?
Chapter 6 - Aurora
Riding the wave of the adrenaline coursing through my veins, I can’t bear to see Elias resting as if nothing had happened. Now that I’m standing before him, it’s nearly impossible to ignore how fragrant he is, inhaling his potent scent in.
The cocktail of sweetness and citrusy tartness is exquisite on my tongue, fueling the venom that escapes when I speak my mind.
Just because he’s the main alpha of the Snehvolk Pack didn’t give him the right to come between me and what would have been the height of my existence. I could have fought the demon. With the way I’m feeling now, stronger and fearless than ever, I’m certain I would have found a way to immobilize it.
