Chapter 4 I know you feel it too

There was a soft knock on the office door.

Caelum didn't look up from the page he was pretending to read.

"Come in," he said smoothly.

The door creaked open.

When Aurora stepped in, he already knew it was her. That scent wildflowers after rain always gave her away. His eyes lifted as she stood uncertainly near the doorway, fingers laced in front of her.

He leaned back in his chair, lips curling faintly.

"Lily."

She frowned slightly at the name, but didn't correct him.

"Thank you," she said quietly. "For letting me stay."

He tilted his head, voice casual. "It wasn't my command. The majority of the pack voted."

She hesitated, then added, "But... you voted for me."

He didn't respond. Just watched her.

His gaze was steady, unreadable but something in it shimmered, low and quiet, like a storm waiting to break.

Her wolf stirred in her chest.

Sphere.

And almost instantly, she knew.

Her heart beat faster, her hands tingling. There was no denying it.

He was her fated.

Aurora glanced away quickly and crossed the room toward the tall bookshelf near the corner. The room smelled faintly of bourbon, cedarwood, and him. She traced her fingers across the book spines, needing something to focus on.

"You have quite the collection," she said softly.

"I know."

She reached up and pulled out a worn hardback the title in gold ink, edges softened by time. Caelum's eyes followed every movement.

When she turned slightly toward him, he was already beside her.

She hadn't even heard him move.

He was close too close his presence wrapping around her like the heat of a fire she hadn't meant to stand near.

"Lily," he said again, voice like velvet and shadows.

She didn't correct him. She couldn't.

The way he said it slow, deep, like it belonged to her sent goosebumps rippling down her arms.

"You know," she said, trying to sound composed, "you're very..."

"Flirty?" he offered, stepping closer, eyes gleaming.

She raised a brow. "I was going to say insufferable."

Caelum chuckled, low and soft.

"You're coming out of your shell," he murmured. "Impressive... Lily"

Her lips twitched at the corners, but she said nothing. Instead, she opened the book and flipped through the pages.

He leaned over her shoulder.

"Did you finish the one you took the other night?" he asked.

She nodded.

"That was three hundred pages, Lily."

"I read fast," she said simply.

Caelum exhaled a slow breath, watching her. "Smart. Quiet. Secretive. You keep surprising me."

She didn't respond.

His fingers brushed the edge of the shelf beside her head as he leaned in, whispering again just beside her ear.

"I really love this side of you," he said, voice like a promise. "And I have a feeling... I'll be seeing more of her soon, won't I, Lily?"

Her breath hitched.

His warm breath stirred the fine hairs along her neck, and her skin tingled. Her wolf was almost buzzing now pacing, alert, drawn to him like gravity.

Aurora didn't answer. She just closed the book, turned slightly, and stepped away from the shelf.

"I should go," she said, her voice low.

He didn't stop her.

She reached the door and wrapped her fingers around the handle.

And then just as she was about to step out his voice came again.

Soft. Certain.

"I know you feel it too."

She froze.

The words hung in the air between them.

Her pulse thrummed in her ears. Her heart beat too fast.

She didn't turn back. She didn't speak.

But she didn't deny it either.

---

The fresh air hit her face the moment she stepped outside.

Aurora paused on the wide stone steps, letting the sun warm her skin as the cool wind swept through her hair. The tension in her chest still hadn't left not after what Caelum said.

"I know you feel it too."

Her fingers curled slightly against her sides. She didn't know what shook her more the truth of the words or the fact that he said them so boldly, like it wasn't this impossible thing resting between them.

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

Voices echoed from the open field near the estate.

Down on the grass, several of the pack members were training sharp movements, laughter, the thud of feet against earth. Jack tossed a dagger at a wooden target. Matt was stretching shirtless and dramatically, as if waiting for someone to comment on his abs. Elijah was standing at the far end, giving quiet instructions to a few younger wolves.

Aurora blinked, slowly descending the steps.

"Aurora!"

She turned to see Irene waving, a wide smile on her face. She was walking toward her with two girls beside her one short and curvy with big brown eyes and a killer highlight Vivienne, and the other tall, light-skinned, and lazily twirling her hair around her finger Paris, looking half-asleep and amused by everything around her.

"Look who finally came outside," Irene teased.

"Hey guys"She said

"You remember Vivienne," Irene said, bumping shoulders with the curly-haired girl. "And this one here is Paris. Don't mind her, she talks slow but it's not a glitch. It's just vibe."

Paris grinned, chewing gum. "Hey. You're prettier than Ellie said."

Irene choked. Vivienne laughed out loud.

"Paris!" Irene scolded.

"What? I'm being nice. I'm supportive."

Aurora laughed really laughed for the first time in what felt like forever.

Vivienne hooked an arm through hers casually. "So, before Paris makes things more awkward, we came to ask if you'd like to join us tonight."

Aurora blinked. "Join you?"

"For the full moon," Irene added, nudging her. "There's a hunt planned. Not official, just for fun. A few of the guys are going some of us girls, too. It's nothing intense. Just a night run through the woods. Clears your head."

Aurora hesitated.

"You don't have to shift," Vivienne said quickly. "I mean, you can if your wolf's ready, but you're also totally allowed to jog, walk, or vibe with Paris's slow commentary."

Paris raised a finger. "It's not slow. It's... atmospheric."

Aurora smiled again, but her heart thudded quietly. Her wolf,Sphere, had only just returned. The thought of shifting felt... huge. But the idea of being surrounded by other wolves, running under the moonlight?

It stirred something in her. Something alive.

"I'll think about it," she said.

"You better think fast," Irene said. "Because Jack already called dibs on racing you, and he's been annoying about it all morning."

Vivienne rolled her eyes. "If you come, we'll protect you from his flirting."

Aurora laughed again lighter this time.

And for a moment, the memory of Caelum's breath on her ear faded into the background. Not gone. Just... floating beneath the surface, waiting.

Tonight was a full moon.

And something told her, this would be no ordinary hunt.

---

The study was dim, lit only by the soft orange glow of the fireplace and a pair of low lamps. The scent of aged leather and old books lingered in the air, blending with the sharp burn of whiskey.

Caelum stood by the window, glass in hand, swirling the amber liquid slowly, eyes focused on nothing and everything beyond the frosted glass.

Elijah sat across from him at the large table, sleeves rolled up, a folded map of the estate spread out before him. His glass sat near his elbow barely touched. The third chair was occupied by Elias, who leaned back lazily, but his eyes were sharp with quiet focus.

"They've been tracking rogue movement around the east perimeter again," Elijah said, tracing his finger along a red-marked path on the map. "Two sightings this week. No breach, but close."

"They're testing the fence line," Elias muttered. "Looking for a weak spot."

"Elgin and Theo are reinforcing the boundary near the quarry," Elijah added. "Should hold for now."

Caelum took a slow sip of his drink, silent.

"The council in the southern border pack wants a meeting," Elias continued. "They're uneasy. Heard about the rogue attacks farther north."

"Let them come," Caelum said finally. His voice was smooth, deep. Unrushed. "We're not the ones who should be afraid."

Elijah exhaled through his nose, glancing at his Alpha. "Still. If the rogues keep sniffing near Blackmist's territory, we'll need to act."

"I know," Caelum said simply, then drained the rest of his glass and set it down with a quiet clink.

There was a stretch of silence.

Then Caelum moved back toward his desk. He didn't sit.

He turned his back to them, hands folded behind him.

"The girl," he said quietly.

Elias arched a brow. Elijah looked up.

"Aurora?" Elias asked.

Caelum nodded once. Then:

"She's my mate."

For a heartbeat, neither Elijah nor Elias said a word.

Then Elias chuckled low and disbelieving.

"You're serious?"

Caelum didn't respond.

Elijah sat straighter, frowning. "You're sure?"

"I've known since she was carried into this house." Caelum's voice was low. "I could feel it. Smell it. And now her wolf is back. She felt it too."

Elias ran a hand down his jaw. "Shit."

"Yeah," Elijah murmured.

Elias looked at him. "So what now?"

Caelum didn't turn around. "I don't know."

Another silence followed.

"Well," Elias muttered, standing slowly. "This is going to be fun."

He brushed invisible dust off his shirt, then reached for the glass he'd finished earlier. "Whatever you decide... don't wait too long. Girls like that don't stay uncertain forever."

Caelum still didn't move.

As Elias reached the door, he turned slightly and said, "We're heading out for the hunt tonight. Some of the pack are going. Thought you might want to join."

No answer.

Elias nodded to himself, pulled the door open, and stepped out.

The room grew quieter.

The fire crackled. The shadows stretched.

Elijah leaned back in his chair, studying him for a moment.

"You're not going to be able to stay distant from her," he said after a beat. "Not for long."

Caelum's eyes flicked toward him cool, unreadable.

"I'm not planning to."

---

The air was crisp, kissed with the chill that only came when the moon was full and high in the sky.

From the distance came faint howls joyful, wild, free as members of the pack ran deep into the forest for the hunt. Laughter echoed, paws thudded across the land, but not everyone joined.

Aurora stood alone on the stone terrace outside the estate, her arms folded over her chest, her eyes fixed on the glowing orb above.

The moon looked different tonight. Bigger. Closer. Like it was watching.

She didn't shift.

She hadn't even tried.

Somehow, it didn't feel right like her bones weren't ready, like her soul was still waiting for something else to catch up. Or maybe... maybe she was just afraid.

The soft click of the double doors opening behind her broke her thoughts.

She didn't need to turn to know who it was.

Caelum.

His steps were smooth, deliberate. She could feel his presence before he spoke. That familiar wave of heat and stillness followed him like a cloak.

Their eyes met the moment he stepped beside her.

She held his gaze for a heartbeat too long... then looked away.

"Don't ask" she said before he could speak. "I didn't go. I just... didn't feel like shifting tonight."

He didn't push.

He only nodded once. "It's your choice."

She looked back up at the sky. The moonlight made her skin glow. "What about you?"

"I wasn't interested," he replied simply.

A breeze swept past them, stirring her hair. They stood in silence, side by side, before slowly wordlessly making their way to the low stone perch near the edge of the terrace.

They sat.

Not too close, not too far. Just enough to hear each other breathe.

The moon stared back at them.

"Do you want to remember everything?" he asked quietly.

She didn't answer immediately.

"I don't know," she admitted at last. "I think... I'm scared. What if remembering everything hurts more than forgetting?"

He said nothing, but waited.

"Losing my memory could be a curse," she went on softly. "Or maybe... maybe it's a second chance. But deep down, I think I do want to remember. Everything. Especially that night. What happened to me. Why I ran."

The silence stretched between them like a blanket soft, heavy, full of things neither of them had names for.

She turned to him again, her voice even quieter.

"I don't even remember my parents."

A pause.

"I don't know if they're alive or dead. And if they're alive... why aren't they looking for me?"

Caelum didn't speak for a long time.

When he finally did, his voice was low, controlled.

"I lost my father when I was eighteen."

Her eyes turned to him, instinctively softening.

"I'm sorry," she said gently.

He shook his head, still staring out at the woods.

"Don't be."

His voice was colder now not sharp, but distant.

"I hated that man. And I still do. I wish him nothing but pain in the afterlife. Whatever he finds there."

Aurora didn't know what to say to that.

She wanted to ask. Wanted to know what had happened. What could make a son speak like that.

But she didn't.

Because she saw it in his eyes, in his jaw, in the quiet fury sitting in his bones.

It was a wound. A deep one. Still healing. Still raw.

And it would be unfair of her to press her fingers into it.

So she didn't.

She just looked back at the moon, letting the silence speak for both of them