Aurora

“I want to assume you’re in your right senses as you say those words,” Dominic mused. “Because last I checked, you said you’d never ask a rogue like me for help.”

I pressed the phone tighter to my ear, swallowing down the shame. “I changed my mind.”

"You sure you're not just calling because you missed me, little wolf?"

"I’m not calling because I missed you... I’m calling because of your promise." My fingers twisted in the hem of my apron as I forced the words out. "Treat it like you handed me a gift certificate six years ago, and I’m just... finally cashing it in. That night you let me live, you gave me a chance. I’m taking it now."

Silence stretched on the other end, tense and unreadable.

My pulse stuttered. "You meant it, didn’t you? That I could call you when I changed my mind?"

Then came a soft, dark chuckle—one that wrapped around my nerves like smoke.

"Now that's more like it," he murmured. "Alright. I’ll fetch you at the Moonlight Gala. Be ready. And wear something scandalous. Wouldn’t want your Alpha to forget what he threw away."

Then the line went dead.

My chest rose and fell in uneven breaths as the memory of our first meeting.

That arrogant rogue. That infuriating, sharp-tongued man who should have left me to die but didn’t. Who haunted me with his promises.

I wasn’t sure if I was making the biggest mistake of my life.

Or finally reclaiming it.

My mind drifted back to the night he first spared my life.

Six years ago, a rogue siege was underway along Riverbank's northern border. I had been sent along with some scouts to the outskirts as a diplomatic envoy, told to negotiate peace with a rogue faction. Dunstan insisted it was safe.

But it was a trap.

I was tied to a tree, beaten, and readied for execution by sunrise. They called it justice for Riverbank's past sins.

That was the first time I saw Dominic.

Out of nowhere, a massive wolf lunged from the shadows of the firelit grove—dark as obsidian. His body slammed into the rogue holding the blade, fangs sinking deep with a sickening crunch.

The others shouted in shock, stepping back as the black wolf shifted mid-motion, bones cracking and reforming into a tall, dangerous man whose wolf aura still shimmered around him like lightning stitched into his veins.

"You kill her and you start a war none of you are prepared to finish."

They called him mad. But no one dared stop him.

Dominic fished into my pocket and pulled out my phone, casually unlocking it like he’d done it a thousand times before. My brows furrowed. Then I gasped as he dialed a number and let it ring once—his own.

“What are you doing?” I asked, stunned.

He handed the phone back, his smirk slow and maddening. “Would you believe me if I said I saved you because I wanted us to be phone pals?”

I stared at him, speechless.

"Don’t mistake this for mercy," he said, now in a serious tone "I just don’t like cowards using women to fight their wars."

I ran, and the forest behind me burned. And after that day, the messages started coming.

[Still pretending he loves you?]

[One day, little wolf, you'll stop lying to yourself.]

[Next time, scream louder. I’ll be closer.]

I never answered. But I kept every message.

---

Aubrey's voice snapped me back to the present.

“Why are you so slow?”

I was in what used to be our bedroom—mine and Dunstan’s.

Now it reeked of sex and satin and betrayal. Lust hung thick in the air, along with bitter traces of her perfume and his sweat.

My hands scrubbed harder.

Aubrey strutted toward the bed, pointing to a deep stain on the desk. “Oh, forgive me for that,” she said sweetly. “Dunstan was working there last night, and I was working on him.” She giggled.

I didn’t look at her. I just kept cleaning, even though my stomach roiled and my throat burned with bile.

She continued talking, describing in crude detail the things they did in every corner of that room—on the rug, against the mirror, in the shower.

Even though I tried to block them out, the pain still seeped in.

Especially as I looked around.

Everything in that room was mine—my dresses, my jewelry, my memories. All handed to her like leftovers.

When Dunstan forced me into the servant quarters, Aubrey handed me a former maid’s torn apron and shoes.

When I finally finished, I straightened and murmured, “Excuse me, Luna. I have other things to do.”

“Wait.”

I paused, spine stiff.

“Anything else?” I asked without turning around.

She walked toward me, her heels clicking sharply against the floor.

“Is this how stupid you are?” she sneered. “Still clinging to a man who sees you as trash? Honestly, I think he values garbage more.”

I turned to her slowly, meeting her gaze.

“If there’s someone stupid between us, it’s not me. Stupid is the one trying to fit herself into something that was never hers to begin with.”

She stiffened. Her wolf flashed in her eyes, but she didn’t attack.

I returned to the servant quarters and took a long, scalding shower. Scrubbing until my skin burned. Until the stench of them was gone. Until I could almost pretend I wasn’t suffocating.

When I stepped out, dripping wet, there were warriors in the room.

My body tensed.

“What’s the meaning of this?”

Aubrey stood in the corner, crying into her hands.

Dunstan barged in. “What happened, babe?”

She sobbed louder. “The bracelet you gave me… it’s gone.”

I blinked. “And what does that have to do with me?”

One of the warriors held something up—gold, glinting. “Luna, is this the one you’re looking for?”

Aubrey gasped. “Yes! That’s it!”

Then she glared at me.

“Why would you steal from me, Aurora? If you wanted jewelry, I could’ve given it to you as a gift.”

My mouth dropped open. “What—? I didn’t—!”

Dunstan’s voice cut through me. “I’m disappointed in you, Aurora. The more I tolerate you, the more disgrace you bring.”

“I didn’t steal it!” I shouted. “You think I would sink that low?”

But he wasn’t listening.

“Throw her into the Dire Oval.”

My blood froze. “No. Not there.”

He slapped me across the face, and I stumbled back, pain flaring.

“You’ll work day and night with the other slaves. Maybe then you’ll learn some respect.”

“Babe,” Aubrey said sweetly, pretending to plead. “Don’t be too cruel. Not that punishment.”

But Dunstan shook his head, jaw tight with mock regret. “Sorry, love. She crossed the line.”

Aubrey smiled like the snake she was as I was dragged out of the room, fists clenched, heart screaming.

But I didn’t fight. Not yet.

Aurora

This place used to be a silver mine, but now it was worse. A prison where they sent wolves to break us.

The silver in the walls burned if we shifted, so we didn’t. We just worked. And bled. And waited for something to change.

I was number 73 now. Not a name. Just a number.

“Move, 73!” a guard yelled, snapping a whip close to my back.

I kept dragging the heavy stones, hands raw and stinging. The others didn’t speak much. We didn’t have the strength.

One girl, young—maybe eighteen—collapsed beside me.

A guard stormed over, his face twisted in irritation, lifting his baton high above his shoulder. "Get up!" he shouted, though the girl hadn’t made a sound.

When she didn’t move, he brought the baton down—not once, but twice—slamming it against the stone just inches from her skull.

She shrieked, curling in on herself.

"She can’t even stand," I said quickly, stepping in front of her. "Her arm’s broken. She needs help."

He shoved me hard. I hit the wall and gasped.

“Don’t tell me how to do my job,” he said. “What, you think you’re still a Luna?”

He looked around at the other prisoners. “Everyone here deserves to be here. Especially you.”

He grabbed the girl and dragged her away. Her cries echoed down the tunnel.

---

At night, we slept on the cold floor. No beds. No blankets. Just dirt and pain.

But the worst pain didn’t come from the work.

It came from the bond.

Every time Dunstan touched Aubrey, I felt the mating bond twisted inside me like a knife. I curled into myself, biting my hand to stay quiet. Some nights, I failed. I screamed until my throat burned.

He didn’t care. He probably wanted me to feel it.

I used to love him. I used to believe him.

Now all I wanted was revenge.

Every night, I sat in my corner, dirty and bruised, planning. I drew lines in the dirt, whispered names under my breath, and begged the Moon Goddess to help me.

I had one hope left.

Dominic.

He said he’d come. He had to.

---

I was barely awake when someone grabbed me the next morning.

One grabbed me by the arm so roughly I thought it might pop from the socket. I clawed at the ground, but another yanked me by the hair. They didn’t care if I was awake or breathing—just that I moved.

“Get up, 73.”

I tried to fight, but I was weak. My body was shaking. I hadn’t eaten. I could barely see.

They dragged me out of the pit and threw me into the mud. My knees hit hard. My hands sunk into the filth.

I looked up and saw Aubrey.

“Bow to your Luna,” the warrior barked.

“I’d rather die,” I spat.

He raised a hand to hit me, but Aubrey stopped him.

“Leave us,” she said.

He stepped away.

“What do you want now?” I asked, voice rough. “Want to film how pathetic I look?”

She laughed. “Oh, you gave me a great idea.”

She pulled out her phone and started recording. “Look at her,” she said in a syrupy tone, stepping slowly around me like a predator circling its prey. “Former Luna, now just a filthy mutt in the mud. Face down like a kicked dog. Isn’t it tragic?”

My fists clenched in the mud. Every part of me wanted to lunge at her, to wipe that smirk off her face with blood and teeth. But I couldn’t—not yet.

She crouched low, angling the phone to catch every inch of dirt on my skin. Then she zoomed in on my bruised face and torn clothes. “This is what happens when you forget your place,” she continued. “Maybe I’ll send this to the council... or better yet, make it go viral in the territory’s network.”

She tilted the phone mockingly. “Smile for the rogues, sweetheart. They love a broken Luna story.”

I looked down at the mud.

Endure it, my wolf whispered. Soon she’ll beg for the same mercy she never gave.

Then I heard a voice I didn’t expect.

“Stop it, Aubrey.”

Dunstan.

Aubrey turned. “Babe?”

He didn’t even look at her.

“Get a maid,” he said. “Clean her up.”

Aubrey stared at him. “Why? She doesn’t deserve it.”

“I need her in the packhouse.”

Her eyes narrowed. “Need her? What, are you making her Luna again?”

He scoffed. “Of course not.”

I stood, shaking. Mud on my face. Fire in my chest.

“Then what?” I asked. “What do you want from me?”

I wanted to spit in his face. But I needed answers more than pride.

Aurora

I stood outside the study, still clutching the clipboard pressed to my chest, when I heard Dunstan and Aubrey arguing.

"Why bring her back to the packhouse? Is it because you won’t divorce her—and still plan to restore her as Luna?"

Dunstan scoffed. "I already have a Luna, and that’s you. Why be threatened by someone who’s already a loser?"

I knew he no longer loved me, but hearing the disdain in his voice seemed to crack my ribs into two.

"Then why?" Aubrey demanded.

"She may no longer be useful to me as a wife or Luna, but I need her brain. She’s good with paperwork and communications." Dunstan’s tone turned matter-of-fact. "There’s a deal that needs to be closed soon, and I’m assigning her as my temporary secretary to ensure it doesn’t fall through."

"What? No! You can’t be serious!"

"I am serious. If only you could do those things. When I handed you the inventory of our stockpiles, you didn’t even touch it." He exhaled loudly. "I was disappointed. You begged to be Luna, Aubrey, but you won’t even lift a finger to understand the logistics. What kind of Luna doesn’t know what her pack has in storage?"

"Umm..." Aubrey faltered. She shifted in her seat, eyes narrowing, but her voice softened when she finally spoke. "Of course, I’m not here to do those things. I’m your Luna. My task is to sit beside your throne, right?"

"Exactly. And that’s why I need Aurora for the real work," Dunstan said. "I won’t deny it—she’s good."

Aubrey's tone cooled. "Promise me you only brought her back for those things. Nothing else."

Dunstan let out a low laugh. "But of course. I’m not a dog who’ll consume something he already puked."

My fingers tightened around the clipboard.

I wanted to barge in, but instead, I stood frozen as my wolf said, 'Patience, Aurora. This is actually the opportunity we’ve been waiting for.'

I took a series of deep breaths and nodded.

Let them believe I’m broken.

---

I resumed my duties quietly, handling the council’s documents, read reports, and even presented summaries during meetings.

Dunstan was always impressed, though he barely said so aloud.

Aubrey, however, was always watching me.

One morning, I was preparing coffee in Dunstan’s office when he walked in.

"Thanks," he said as I handed it to him. But instead of drinking it immediately, he continued to gaze at me, saying, "You still haven’t changed, Aurora. Still got that exceptional ability."

I kept my tone cool, laying out the day’s paperwork. "You don’t need to flatter me so I won’t fail again."

He raised a brow. "I’m not flattering you. Just stating facts. I regret putting you in the Dire Oval. You didn’t deserve that."

My hand, which had been flipping through the pages stilled as I thought, 'And you don’t deserve my time either.'

I pushed the stack of reports toward him. "Here are the papers in their proper order. All you need to do is sign." I gave him an innocent smile.

He sat down, placing the untouched coffee beside him, and began signing the documents without reading. I stood by, composed and civil, watching the ink dry on decisions I no longer cared for.

Then the door burst open.

"Babe! Breakfast is ready!" Aubrey chimed. "I made your favorite coffee too."

Dunstan looked at the cup I had prepared.

"It’s okay," I said smoothly. "You don’t have to drink that. Please enjoy your breakfast. I’ll continue my work here."

He shrugged. "Alright. You drink it then. You need something in your stomach too."

I blinked. It was the first hint of concern I’d heard from him in a long time.

Aubrey's eyes narrowed. "Don’t get any ideas, omega. You may wear decent clothes now, but you still reek of desperation. This packhouse isn’t yours anymore. Remember that every time you breathe the air in here."

"Come on," Dunstan muttered, annoyed. "I don’t want negativity in the morning."

He pressed a kiss to her cheek. She giggled, pleased, and they left together.

Once they were gone, I returned to the desk and began sorting the signed papers.

My lips slowly curled.

He had no idea he had signed our divorce papers, along with the official severed mate bond declaration.

I was officially free and unmated.

---

Dominic

The bedroom was too masculine. All dark wood and sharp edges. It looked like it belonged to someone permanently angry. I leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, watching Tessa stroll in with her measuring tape and sketchpad.

"Make it unisex," I told her. "The current vibe is... testosterone and trauma."

Tessa gave me a look, one brow raised. "If I didn’t know this was just an arrangement, I’d think you had a crush on this Aurora."

I rolled my eyes, exhaling hard through my nose. "Just do the job."

She snorted but got to work.

Then my phone buzzed.

It was the office. My secretary’s voice came through the speaker. "Sir, I think you’ll want to see this. Riverbanks just submitted a bid for the Richmond account. And it’s... incredible."

I was already grabbing my coat.

Half an hour later, I stepped into the glass lobby of Richmond Tower. The city skyline blinked beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows. My secretary handed me the file, and I flipped it open on the elevator ride.

Then I saw the name.

Prepared by: Aurora Aspen.

I smiled. Just slightly.

"We’ll choose this one," I said aloud.

In my mind: I’m choosing you.