Chapter 3 Pack's Vote

Morning sunlight filtered through the curtains, painting golden streaks across the soft bedspread. Aurora sat at the edge of the mattress, brushing her hair slowly, her thoughts far away.

Irene had brought clothes earlier a soft black tank top, a pair of loose gray joggers, and a hoodie that still smelled faintly of lavender detergent. Nothing fancy, but warm, clean, and hers for now.

She slipped the hoodie over her head and stared at her reflection in the full-length mirror across the room.

She looked better. A little less pale. The bruises were fading. Her ribs still ached, but not as sharply. The dark circles under her eyes were still there, but softer.

Still, something felt... incomplete.

Like part of her was still missing.

Her hand paused at the edge of her jaw. She looked into her own eyes, as if searching for something behind them.

And that's when she felt it.

A spark.

Faint but undeniable.

Like a ripple under her skin. A flicker of heat low in her chest. A pull toward something inside her that hadn't stirred in days.

She stood up quickly, her heart hammering.

The sensation built quietly, like a presence pressing up from under the surface of her thoughts. Then came a voice familiar, fierce, and wrapped in the kind of strength that felt like home.

"Miss me?"

Aurora gasped softly, her eyes widening.

Her knees buckled slightly, and she sank back down onto the bed, her fingers curling tightly into the blanket.

"...Sphere?"

"It's me."

The voice wasn't external. It was in her mind inside her exactly where it was supposed to be. Warm, steady, full of calm power.

Aurora's eyes filled instantly with tears.

"I thought I lost you," she whispered.

"You didn't."

"I thought you were gone..." Her voice cracked.

"You can never lose me."

Aurora covered her mouth with one hand, trying to keep quiet even as her shoulders shook. A sob escaped the kind born of relief, not grief. Of finding a piece of yourself you thought was lost forever

"I've been here. I fell into unconsciousness that night"

Aurora closed her eyes, focusing on the connection. The bond between them hadn't been broken after all just buried under the trauma. Her wolf, her other half, had gone silent out of survival. But now...

Now she was back.

"Do you remember anything from the night?"Aurora asked

"I don't,I went blank that night"

Aurora's face fell

"I missed you so much," Aurora breathed.

"I missed you more." A pause. "You've been strong. Even without me."

She let out a shaky laugh. "I didn't feel strong."

"But you were."

Aurora stood again, slowly this time. She moved to the window and pulled the curtain aside. Outside, the trees of Blackmist stretched into the distance. The estate was quiet, but somehow it felt different now.

More alive.

More grounded.

Because she wasn't alone in her own skin anymore.

She closed her eyes and reached deeper inward, feeling Sphere settle again like a heartbeat she hadn't noticed was missing.

....

Aurora stepped out of her room slowly, tugging the sleeve of her hoodie down over her hand. The hallway was warm with soft morning light, but her stomach was knotted. Today was the day.

The day they would decide if she was allowed to stay.

Irene was already waiting for her outside the door, dressed in jeans and a fitted top, her curls tucked under a dark scarf. She offered a small, encouraging smile.

"You ready?"

"No," Aurora answered honestly.

They walked side by side through the corridor, their footsteps soft against the long rug. As they turned the corner leading toward the grand room, Aurora's heartbeat picked up. She could already hear voices low murmurs, the occasional laugh, the shifting of chairs.

"Don't panic. Just sit beside me." Irene said

They reached the large double doors. Two guards opened them, and instantly, all conversation inside the room slowed.

The living room was vast high ceilings, leather furniture, floor-to-ceiling windows that filled the space with light. Every seat was taken. Some wolves leaned against the walls, others stood near the fireplace.

All of them turned to look at her.

Aurora froze for half a second.

Irene gently bumped her with her elbow. "Come on."

They walked inside together, and Aurora felt the weight of every gaze pressing against her. She kept her chin up, her eyes down, and followed Irene to one of the long couches near the front.

She sat.

Irene sat close, crossing her legs. "Breathe," she murmured.

Aurora inhaled slowly, forcing her shoulders to drop.

Then one of the guys leaned forward from the opposite couch.

He was tall and lean, with dark brown hair and a slightly cocky grin. His sleeves were rolled up, revealing tattoos along his arms, and his eyes sparkled with playful interest.

"You're the mystery girl," he said, flashing a grin.

Aurora blinked.

"I'm Jack," he added. "Resident troublemaker. You can sit next to me next time, in case she" he gestured at Irene..."starts talking too much."

"I will slap you with this pillow," Irene muttered without looking at him.

Another boy spoke up from the end of the sofa. Blond curls, sleepy eyes, lazy smirk. "Don't let Jack flirt with you. He does that with everybody. I'm Matt, by the way. The one who actually has manners."

A shorter boy with light brown skin and glasses raised a hand slightly. "Philip. It's nice to meet you."

"Edward," another guy added, sharp jawline and a soft voice. "Glad you're feeling better."

One of them tall, stocky, with piercings and a lip ring winked. "Toby. If you need anything... absolutely anything... I'm always around."

Aurora opened her mouth to respond, but Irene groaned and leaned forward. "Toby. Beat it."

"What?" Toby asked innocently. "I was just being nice."

Aurora bit back a smile. The teasing, the sarcasm, the loud personalities it was strangely comforting, a distraction from her nerves.

Then the room shifted.

The energy changed subtle, but immediate.

Someone was coming.

And then she saw her.

The girl walked in like a queen head high, lips painted a deep red, black heels clicking softly on the floor despite the rug. Her hair was long, glossy, and absolutely flawless. Not a strand out of place. She wore a fitted black top and tailored pants that looked expensive without even trying.

Every step she took made space bend slightly around her. Wolves moved to make room without being asked.

Aurora's chest tightened.

Irene leaned over and whispered flatly, "That's Ellie."

Ellie was beautiful. And she knew it.

Her eyes scanned the room skipping over most, pausing briefly on Jack, barely glancing at Irene and finally landing on Aurora.

Her brows lifted slightly.

So this is her.

The girl sat down elegantly across the room, legs crossed, shoulders back like she owned the entire house.

And maybe she thought she did.

Aurora looked down quickly, fiddling with the edge of her sleeve.

"Hair's perfect," Aurora murmured.

"Told you."Irene replied

Aurora risked another glance and Ellie was still staring.

Not cruelly. Not kindly. Just... evaluating. Like she was trying to figure out how much of a threat Aurora might be.

The room buzzed with murmured conversations and quiet anticipation. Everyone had gathered not just for the usual morning update but for something more serious.

They were here to decide her fate.

Aurora sat stiffly beside Irene on the couch, her fingers tugging at the sleeves of her hoodie, knuckles pale. The flirty boys from earlier had gone quiet now, straightening up slightly. Paris leaned forward from where she sat on the arm of a chair, her expression unreadable. Toby leaned his elbows on his knees, and even Jack had stopped smiling.

The doors opened.

A silence fell over the room like a wave.

Aurora's breath caught as two men walked in.

One led slightly, his steps measured, graceful without even trying. Dressed in an all-black suit that hugged his form, his presence sucked the air from the room. The lines of his jaw were sharp, his expression unreadable. Power rolled off him in slow, quiet waves the kind that didn't need to be announced. You felt it.

His eyes, cold grey and molten silver at the edges, scanned the room.

Then briefly they landed on her.

Aurora froze.

Him.

The man from the study.

The one who touched her ear and whispered goodnight, little wolf like he owned her breath.

Irene leaned close, whispering, "That's the Alpha."

Aurora's heart dropped. "That's...?"

She couldn't finish. She was already staring.

He moved without hesitation, taking the chair at the head of the room poised, still, a little too calm.

Behind him, the second man took the seat beside him.

He looked nothing like his twin dark hair instead of platinum blonde, warm hazel eyes, a smile that wasn't present but always felt near the surface. And yet, something about him was no less intense.

"That's Elijah," Irene whispered again. "Ellie's twin. Second in command. Kind of dreamy if you're into the quiet, calculating type."

Aurora tried to nod, but her thoughts were spinning. Her wolf stirred faintly in her chest alert, sensing something big.

Elijah was the one who spoke first.

"We'll keep this short. We've got rogue activity near the west ridge, and the security team is checking the outer perimeter by nightfall. But that's not why we're here."

His voice was calm, clipped, professional. A born leader.

"We're here," he continued, "to decide whether or not the girl"...his eyes briefly flicked to Aurora "stays."

Aurora's breath hitched.

Silence.

"She was brought in bleeding, unconscious, and alone," Elijah went on. "She has no memory of who she is. No history. No information about where she came from or what was after her. We don't know if she's a risk."

Every eye in the room turned to her.

Even his.

Caelum.

She could feel his gaze heavy, unreadable, lingering far too long.

Aurora looked down, fingers twisting into knots in her lap.

Then someone else spoke, her voice sharp and dripping with disdain.

"Absolutely not."

Heads turned as Ellie stood from her seat, arms folded, lips curled in a polished sneer. She looked flawless, as always every hair in place, every inch of her glowing like the spotlight belonged to her.

"She might be a spy," Ellie said, looking directly at Aurora. "We know nothing about her. For all we know, she was sent here."

"I'm not a spy," Aurora said quickly, her voice shaking but firm.

Ellie turned slowly, like a cat circling prey. "Then what was after you?" she asked, her voice sharp. "What did you do to whoever you were running from?"

"I don't know..."

"Exactly," Ellie cut in. "You don't know. So how can we? How can we trust you?"

The room shifted. A few murmurs echoed.

"Do you all realize what you're doing?" Ellie snapped. "You're planning to let in a stranger a complete unknown right into the heart of the pack. You're giving her our protection, our walls, our secrets. She could lead an enemy right through the gates."

Aurora's voice cracked as she tried again. "I'm not please. I don't know who I am, but I'm not a threat. I just... I don't want to go back outside."

The room fell silent again.

She looked up, her eyes pleading. "Please don't send me out there. I don't have anywhere to go."

The door creaked, and Elias finally entered, wiping his hands on a handkerchief.

"Sorry," he muttered. "was busy in the kitchen"

He walked past everyone, leaned on the side of the table, and tossed his handkerchief down. "She doesn't look like a threat to me."

Ellie scoffed. "They don't write spy on their foreheads, Elias. She is one. Mark my words."

He glanced at Aurora and then back at Ellie. "She doesn't even remember her own name. Sending her back out would be unfair, and you know it."

"I don't care," Ellie snapped. "I care about the safety of this pack."

Elias sighed and looked at the Alpha. "We can vote."

Caelum's fingers were laced together on his knee. He didn't speak yet. Just watched.

Elias cleared his throat. "Fine. If you want her out, raise your hand."

Ellie's hand shot up first, perfectly manicured fingers stiff in the air.

Three others followed. A tense pause. Then, slowly, Elijah raised his hand too his gaze flicking to his sister

Five hands.

Elias turned. "And if you want her to stay?"

Philip raised his hand.

Then Matt,Edward,Jack,Paris,Toby, and a few more followed. Irene's hand shot up instantly.

Elias nodded. "And?"

All heads turned to Caelum.

The Alpha, still seated, his expression unreadable, lifted his hand slowly.

His voice was calm, but final.

"She stays."

Ellie's face went white-hot with rage. Her fists clenched at her sides, nails digging into her palm. Her eyes flicked to Elijah furious. He didn't meet her gaze.

Irene leaned in and whispered with a grin, "Told you."

Elias straightened, looking right at Ellie with a flicker of amusement. "Then it's settled."

He turned to Aurora. "You're staying."

---

The door slammed shut behind them.

Ellie stormed into Caelum's office first, heels striking the floor in sharp, angry taps. Elijah followed, expression blank, hands in his pockets. Caelum was last to enter, moving with calm, calculated silence.

The moment the door clicked behind him, Ellie spun around.

"I cannot believe this," she hissed, eyes blazing. "You let her stay?"

Caelum said nothing, walking toward his desk and unbuttoning his suit jacket. He sat slowly, a stark contrast to Ellie's fury.

"She's dangerous," Ellie continued. "You know it! She doesn't belong here. You know she doesn't."

Elijah leaned against the bookshelf with a low sigh, watching his sister unravel.

"She's harmless," he muttered, but not loud enough to stop her.

"She's not harmless, Elijah," Ellie snapped. "She has no memories. No history. She could be anyone. And now she's sleeping under the same roof as us like she's one of us? Do you not see how insane that is?"

Caelum looked at her sharp, silent.

Ellie took a breath, trying to regain composure. She stepped closer to his desk.

"She's not like us," she said, softening her tone. "She doesn't belong in this pack. And I know you, Caelum. I know how you think. You made a call, sure, but it's not too late to..."

"Ellie." His voice cut through her like steel.

She stopped. Her mouth parted slightly.

Caelum didn't raise his voice. He didn't need to.

He leaned back in his chair, lacing his fingers together.

"You've said your piece. Now listen to mine."

Ellie blinked. Elijah straightened a little from the wall.

"I've tolerated your attitude because you've earned your place here," Caelum said calmly. "You've trained, you've fought, and you've earned some respect. But don't confuse that with authority."

Her jaw clenched. "I'm not..."

"You are." His tone sharpened. "This isn't your decision. It was a pack vote. And I allowed it."

"She's a threat..."

"You don't know that," he cut in again. "And until we do, she's under this pack's protection. You're not to touch her, intimidate her, or speak for me."

Her eyes widened. "You're defending her?"

"I'm defending my judgment."

The office went cold.

Ellie's face twisted hurt, furious, embarrassed.

She took a few steps toward him, lowering her voice. "I can't believe you"

Caelum's eyes didn't blink. "Get out."

Ellie froze.

He rose from his chair slowly, towering, dark, composed.

"I let you speak because I owed you that much. Don't mistake that for permission to question me in my own office."

Her lips parted like she wanted to argue, but no words came.

Her cheeks flushed red as fire, her breathing sharp.

She turned swiftly, almost knocking over the side table on her way out. The door swung open with a loud crack and slammed shut behind her.

Silence followed.

Elijah glanced at Caelum, then back toward the door. "Damn."

Caelum sat again, finally releasing a quiet breath.

He didn't say it out loud.

But in the back of his mind, his wolf whispered the word again the name he'd been trying not to think about all day.

Aurora.