Aurora's POV The front door swung open before my mother could knock, and I found myself staring at the most beautiful man I had ever seen. Then his eyes settled on me, and disgust twisted his perfect face. Rain poured down behind us, soaking through my jacket, but I could not move. He stood in the doorway, easily six foot four, with damp dark hair falling over his forehead and a jaw that looked permanently clenched. His cold grey eyes travelled over me, and the expression on his face made one thing painfully clear. He didn't want me here. My wolf stirred inside me, an unusual sensation that made my breath cease. She was always quiet, always dormant, but now she whimpered softly in recognition of something I did not understand. His eyes raked over me slowly, starting from my wet sneakers to my rain-soaked hair, and then his expression hardened into something cruel. "So this is her." It was not a question nor an accusation. The words cut through the sound of rain like a knife. "Logan." A deeper voice came from behind him, warm and welcoming, everything his tone was not. A man appeared, older but just as striking, with kind eyes that crinkled at the corners. Vincent Pierce. My new stepfather. He moved past Logan and pulled my mother into an embrace. "Elena, you made it. Come in, come in, you must be freezing." Logan stepped aside barely enough for us to enter, his jaw still tight. "I will be in the east wing." He did not wait for a response before walking away, his footsteps echoing through the massive foyer. My hands clenched at my sides as my wolf snarled inside me. I had never felt her react this way, never felt this kind of anger bubbling up without reason. Vincent smiled apologetically as he took our wet coats. "Do not mind Logan. He is protective of pack territory. The adjustment period is always difficult." I glanced up at the curved staircase and froze. Logan stood on the landing above us, arms crossed, his grey eyes locked directly on me. He was not moving. He was not pretending he was not watching. He was making sure I knew he was. The house tour passed in a blur. Vincent talked about the history of Shadowpine Pack, about the territory that stretched for miles, and how we would be safe here. I barely heard him. My mind kept replaying the look on Logan's face, the way his scent had hit me when I walked past him, pine and oud, something that made my wolf pace restlessly. American pack scents were sharper than what I was used to in Vancouver, more aggressive, more demanding. Even the house felt territorial, like every corner was marked and I was trespassing. My new bedroom was massive, three times the size of my old one, with floor-to-ceiling windows that overlooked dense forest. My mother, Elena, followed me in and immediately started unpacking my suitcase, her hands moving too quickly, her chatter too nervous. "This is a fresh start, Aurora. A good thing. You will see." I turned on her. "You gave me five days, Mom. Five days to say goodbye to everything." My voice cracked despite my effort to keep it steady. Five days to leave my pack, my friends, my entire life in Vancouver." She stopped folding my clothes and looked at me with those pleading eyes I had seen too much of lately. "Vincent's pack is powerful. We will be safe here. Protected." "From what?" I stepped closer. "You keep saying we'll be safe here, but you won't tell me what we're running from." Mom's hands stilled over the clothes in her suitcase. For one moment, she looked frightened. Then she lowered her eyes and continued folding my shirts. "Dinner is at seven. Wear something nice." I stared at her. She hadn't answered my question. She hadn't even tried. I walked out, heading to my room. I stood alone in the too-big room, culture shock settling over me like a heavy blanket. Everything here felt different, more dangerous. I reached into my bag and pulled out the small bottle of herbal supplements my mother had given me years ago. I swallowed one without water, as I'd done countless times before, and waited for the restless energy inside me to settle. Through the window, a movement caught my eye. A massive black wolf patrolled the forest perimeter, moving with grace through the trees. Even from this distance, even in wolf form, I knew instinctively it was Logan. Dinner was worse than I imagined. The formal dining room felt cold despite the fireplace, dark wood, and high ceilings. Vincent sat at the head of the table, my mother beside him looking happier than I had seen her in years. I sat across from an empty chair, picking at my salmon. "So, Aurora," Vincent said warmly, "tell me about your studies. Elena mentioned you are transferring your credits to Shadowpine University?" My Canadian accent slipped through as I answered, pronouncing "about" differently, adding "eh" at the end without thinking. I saw my mother wince slightly. Before Vincent could respond, footsteps echoed from the hallway. Logan entered, fresh from another shower, apparently, his hair still damp, wearing a black shirt that made his grey eyes look almost silver. He took the seat directly across from me without a word. His scent hit me immediately, pine and rain and Alpha dominance so strong it made my wolf whimper inside me. I was horrified. My wolf never responded to anyone, never showed interest or submission or anything. But now she was reacting like he was something important, something necessary. His jaw tightened. He noticed. Vincent continued talking, oblivious to the tension crackling across the table. "Aurora is starting at Shadowpine University on Monday. Same campus as you and Lucas." Vincent glanced at the empty chair beside Logan. "Lucas had a pack patrol tonight. He should be back soon, though with Lucas, you never know." He smiled fondly. "My sons are very different. Logan handles security and enforcement. Lucas handles... Well, Lucas handles whatever catches his interest that day." My mom laughed politely. Logan's expression remained stone cold. "You will meet him soon enough," Vincent continued, looking at me. "You will all be under the same roof, after all. It will be good for the boys to have someone their age around." Under the same roof. The words settled over me like a weight. I had not thought about that. Logan's fork froze midair. His eyes locked on mine. "You are a college student?" "Senior year," I managed. "I transferred my credits." "How convenient." His tone dripped with sarcasm, each word laced with something darker. Silence fell over the table. My mother reached for her wine glass. Vincent cleared his throat. I have had enough. "Is there a problem?" Logan leaned forward, elbows on the table, grey eyes boring into mine. "You tell me. Do weak wolves usually transfer into Alpha territories alone?" My fingers tightened around my fork. My wolf surged against the inside of my chest; I was furious in a way I'd never experienced before. For a split second, heat flooded my eyes. Logan stopped moving. His fork hovered halfway to his mouth, and the cold indifference on his face disappeared. His pupils widened. Why did he have that expression on his face? "Logan." Vincent's voice cut through the silence. "Enough." Logan lowered his fork slowly, his gaze still fixed on me. Then he stood. "I've lost my appetite." He walked out without another word. I stood at the window, shaking with anger and confusion. Why had my wolf reacted like that? What was wrong with me? The movement below caught my eye. Logan stood in human form at the edge of the forest, leaning against a tree, looking directly up at my window. Our eyes locked across the distance. He did not move. He did not look away. He just watched me with those cold grey eyes. My phone buzzed in my pocket. It was from an unknown number. I opened the message. Stay out of my way, Canadian. You don't belong here. My eyes narrowed. I glanced toward the forest, where Logan stood beneath the trees, his phone in his hand. "How did he..." Another message appeared. And whatever the hell you are, I'll figure it out. My fingers tightened around the phone. Slowly, I raised my eyes to the window. My reflection stared back at me. Except my eyes weren't their usual colour. They were silver. I stumbled away from the glass, my heart pounding. What the hell was happening to me? Outside, Logan finally lowered his phone and disappeared into the shadows.

Aurora's POV I had been in Seattle for forty-eight hours when the second Pierce twin decided I was his new toy. By Monday morning, I was beginning to suspect that Seattle hated me. The weather was cold, the campus was enormous, and every wolf I passed seemed determined to remind me that I didn't belong here. Wolves bumped shoulders without apologizing. They held each other's gazes a little too long, turning what should be ordinary encounters into silent challenges. Even the way they occupied a hallway felt deliberate, as though stepping aside for someone else would be an admission of weakness. Back home in Canada, pack life had been more communal. Here, everything revolved around hierarchy. Every interaction seemed to come with an unspoken question. Who is stronger? And who will back down first? I found my Political Science lecture hall fifteen minutes early and took a seat in the back corner, hoping to disappear. The room filled slowly, students trickling in with coffee cups and backpacks, giving me curious glances. Whispers floated through the air, just loud enough for my wolf hearing to catch. "New pack member." "Alpha's stepdaughter." "She smells off." I kept my eyes down, pretending I did not hear them, pretending their words did not make my wolf stir uncomfortably. The professor entered exactly on time, a middle-aged wolf with greying temples who immediately launched into a lecture about political power structures. I pulled out my notebook and tried to focus. Ten minutes into the lecture, the door swung open. Lucas Pierce strolled in with a coffee cup in one hand; he didn't look like he cared at all about being late. The professor didn't stop speaking. He didn't even look up. Interesting. I wondered whether that was respect or fear. Lucas scanned the room, passed several empty seats, and stopped when his gaze landed on me. His smile widened. Oh, no. He was coming over. He dropped into the chair beside me and stretched his long legs out into the aisle. "You must be my new sister everyone's gossiping about," he whispered, leaning close enough that I could smell him. Pine and vanilla and smoke, warm where Logan's scent had been cold and sharp. I kept my eyes on the professor. "And you must be the other Pierce." "Lucas. The fun one." "How unfortunate for me." He laughed, moving closer. "Oh, I like you." "That's a shame. I wasn't trying to be likable." "Sorry I missed dinner Saturday," he added casually. "Pack patrol. Dad's orders. Though I heard it was quite the event." His eyes gleamed with amusement. "Logan storming out, you looking like you wanted to disappear. I wish I had been there." "You did not miss much," I muttered. "Oh, I think I missed everything." His grin widened. "But we have plenty of time to make up for it. We are living under the same roof, after all." The reminder sent an uncomfortable shiver through me. Lucas did not take notes. He just watched me, his attention so focused it made my skin heat. He whispered questions that were far too invasive for a first meeting. Where in Canada was I from? Why transfer mid-year? Did I miss home? Was I finding Seattle too different? I tried to ignore him, tried to focus on the lecture about parliamentary systems, but his scent was overwhelming. Same Alpha bloodline as Logan but completely different, warmer, more inviting, more dangerous in its softness. "You know," he leaned even closer, his breath warm against my ear, "you are the first wolf who has not immediately introduced herself to me. I'm intrigued." I finally looked at him, a mistake I realized immediately. He was identical to Logan facially, the same sharp jaw and grey eyes, but where Logan was ice, Lucas was fire. Everything about him was warmer, from his lazy smile to the way he looked at me like I was something interesting he wanted to unwrap slowly. "Maybe I have heard the rumors," I said quietly. "Oh?" His smile sharpened. "What do they say?" "That you are dangerous." Lucas laughed softly, drawing looks from students around us. "Only to wolves who bore me. You, little Canadian, are anything but boring." When class ended, he followed me out into the hallway despite my quick pace. He offered to show me around campus, get coffee, and introduce me to people. I declined politely, not meeting his eyes. He was undeterred, matching my stride easily with his longer legs. "You will say yes eventually," he said cheerfully. "How about this: meet me at The Den tomorrow night. It is where the pack socializes. You need to make friends." "I do not need anything from you." I stopped walking and faced him directly. Lucas tilted his head, studying me with those grey eyes that saw too much. "You know, most wolves would jump at the chance to get to know their new... What are we, exactly? Stepbrothers?" He said it mockingly, like the label was a joke. "We are living in the same house, Aurora. Sharing the same space. You can avoid me at school all you want, but every night, you will come home to me." His smile sharpened. "And Logan. Do not forget Logan." My throat tightened. "I am aware of the living arrangements." "Are you?" He stepped even closer. "Because you are acting like you can keep your distance. But there is no distance, little Canadian. Not where we are going." Then he walked away backwards, that grin still in place, and other students parted for him like water around a stone. I hid in the library for two hours between classes, overwhelmed and needing silence. The building was old, smelling of books and wood polish, the most familiar thing I had found in Seattle. I claimed a table in the back corner and tried to study, but my mind kept replaying Lucas's words, his proximity, the way he looked at me. Two she-wolves sat down at the table next to mine, their voices carrying despite their attempt at whispers. "Did you see Lucas with the new girl?" "Of course I did. He's probably already decided she's his next conquest." "She should be careful." "With Lucas?" "With both of them. Logan doesn't exactly have a reputation for kindness, either." "At least Lucas makes you feel special before he breaks your heart." My stomach twisted. What had I walked into? My wolf stirred restlessly, getting worse each day, more agitated, more present. I reached into my bag for the small bottle of herbal supplements and swallowed one without water, needing my wolf to calm down before she did something I would regret. When I looked up, Logan stood across the library between two shelves, watching me. How long had he been there? Our eyes locked and I saw the exact moment he registered what I had just done. His expression shifted, suspicion darkening his features. I grabbed my bag and fled. The parking lot was nearly empty, dusk falling fast and turning the sky purple. I rushed to my car, keys already in hand, desperate to get home and away from this entire day. Logan appeared from behind my vehicle, blocking the driver's door. I jumped, my heart slamming against my ribs. "What the hell," I started, but he cut me off. "What are you taking?" "Excuse me?" He stepped forward, closing the distance. "I saw you. In the library. Pills. What are they?" "Herbal supplements." I lifted my chin defensively. "Not that it is your business." His jaw clenched, a muscle ticking. "Everything in this pack is my business. You are hiding something." "The only thing I am hiding from is you." The words came out sharper than I wanted them to, fueled by exhaustion and frustration. Logan moved closer until I was trapped between him and my car, his body radiating heat despite the cold air. His voice dropped, dangerous and low. "Stay away from Lucas." I laughed bitterly. "You do not get to tell me..." "He is a player. He will use you and throw you away. You are already weak; you will not survive him." My wolf snapped. I shoved his chest with both hands, shocking strength behind the movement. Logan stumbled back half a step, his eyes going wide. We both froze, stunned. I had never been strong, never been able to move an Alpha male, but I had just pushed him like he weighed nothing. Logan grabbed my wrist and pulled me close, studying my face with an intensity that made my breath catch. "What are you?" My heart pounded so hard I thought it might stop working. His scent surrounded me, his proximity making my wolf scream inside me, but not in fear. In recognition. In want. The heat between us was suffocating. Logan seemed to realize how close we were and released me as I had burned him. He stepped back quickly, putting distance between us. "This is not over." Then he walked away into the darkness, leaving me shaking. I got in my car with trembling hands and locked the doors. My phone buzzed. It was a text.... "Dinner tomorrow? I don't take no for an answer." Followed by a smirking emoji, then his name, Lucas. I looked in the rearview mirror, and my blood froze. Logan stood in the shadows of the parking lot, still watching my car. My wolf was going haywire, pulling me in two directions at once. I was caught between two predators, and I had no idea how to escape.

Aurora's POV By the fourth day, I was breaking. The worst part was that I couldn't tell whether it was my wolf or my heart. I woke drenched in sweat, my sheets twisted around my legs. Fever burned beneath my skin, and every breath felt like a struggle against something desperate to claw its way out of me. My wolf. She was no longer content to stir restlessly in the back of my mind. She was fighting me, pushing against my ribs with a desperation that frightened me. I stumbled into the bathroom and gripped the sink. My reflection stared back at me. Silver eyes. Not a fleeting flash this time. They remained, flickering beneath my lashes like a warning I couldn't understand. I was running out of herbal supplements. Only three left in the bottle. My hands shook as I splashed cold water on my face, trying to calm the fire under my skin. "She's showing signs." My mother's voice trembled. "We need to tell her." "Tell her what?" Vincent's voice was harder than I'd ever heard it. "That you've been poisoning her for nineteen years?" My fingers tightened around the sink. Poisoning? "I was protecting her!" "And how long do you intend to keep lying to her?" "If they find out what she is..." A door slammed and then followed. I stood frozen, with water dripping from my chin. What am I? I dragged myself to campus, trying to act normal despite the fever making my vision blur at the edges. Lucas found me at my locker before I had even opened it, appearing out of nowhere like he had been waiting. "You look like hell, Canadian." His usual grin was absent, replaced by something that looked almost like worry. "Thanks. Exactly what I needed to hear." I fumbled with my combination lock, my fingers not working properly. Lucas reached out and touched my forehead, his hand cool against my burning skin. "You are burning up. Let me drive you home." I pulled away. "I am fine." "Stubborn and beautiful. My favorite combination." But his eyes showed genuine concern, searching my face like he was trying to solve a puzzle. He took my bag from my shoulder without asking and walked me to class, staying close enough that I could feel the heat from his body. Other she-wolves glared as we passed, their expressions a mix of jealousy and disbelief. Lucas Pierce did not show care. Between classes, he cornered me in an empty hallway. "Have dinner with me tonight. Not The Den. Somewhere quiet with just us." "Why are you doing this?" I asked. For once, Lucas didn't answer immediately. His gaze searched my face, and the familiar amusement in his expression softened. "You really don't know, do you?" "Know what?" "Most people decide what they want from me before they even speak to me. They either want my attention or they're terrified of getting it." "And what do you think I want?" "That's the interesting part." His smile returned, although it wasn't quite as careless as before. "I haven't figured you out yet." "Maybe there's nothing to figure out." "Maybe." He stepped aside to let me pass. "Have dinner with me tonight, and I'll decide." I saw honesty in his eyes for the first time, vulnerability hiding behind his usual confidence. Against my better judgment, against every warning in my head, I heard myself say, "Fine. One dinner." His grin was victorious, lighting up his entire face. "Be ready by seven, sister. I have something to do, so I'll meet you at home by that time" As he walked away, I caught movement across the quad. Logan stood there watching us; he looked so furious, his hands clenched into fists at his sides. I stormed home early, my body shaking with fever and rage and confusion. I found my mother in the kitchen and did not bother with pleasantries. This particular question has been in my mind all day. "What did you mean, you were protecting me? Protecting me from what?" Her face crumbled. "Aurora, please..." "Tell me the truth. Now." My voice came out harsh, but I was done with secrets. Elena's hands trembled as she gripped the edge of the counter. "Sit down. Please." "I don't want to sit down!" I slammed my palm against the granite. "You've been lying to me my entire life. Vincent said you poisoned me. He said nineteen years. What does that mean?" She flinched as I had struck her. Tears filled her eyes and spilled over, but I refused to feel sorry for her. Not yet. Not until I understood. "You are a Silver Wolf," she whispered. I stared at her. "A what?" "A Silver Wolf. Your grandmother was one, too." I waited for her to explain, but she only looked at me with frightened eyes. "Mum, you're going to have to do better than that." She swallowed. "Silver Wolves are incredibly rare, Aurora. Most wolves believe your kind is extinct. Your bloodline carries extraordinary power, and the strength you could bring to a pack makes you valuable to every Alpha who knows what you are." "Valuable?" The word tasted bitter. "I'm your daughter, and you're talking about me like I'm something people can buy." "That's exactly what I'm afraid of." Her voice cracked. "I watched what happened to my mother. I watched Alphas destroy everything around them because they wanted her." My legs felt weak. I pulled out a chair and sat across from her. "If I'm so powerful, then why have I always been weak? Why couldn't I shift like everyone else?" "Because I made you that way." Her voice broke on the words. "I gave you wolfsbane from the time you were two years old. Diluted, just enough to suppress your wolf, to hide your scent, to make you seem ordinary. I told you they were herbal supplements for your health, and you trusted me." Horror crawled up my spine. "You poisoned me?" "I protected you!" She reached across the table, but I pulled my hands back. "Aurora, please understand. I was sixteen when three Alphas went to war over my mother." Elena's fingers tightened around the edge of the table. "They burned our territory. Wolves who had nothing to do with their rivalry died in the fighting. And when it was over, one of them took her." She stopped. For a moment, I thought she wouldn't continue. "He treated her like a breeding stock. He wanted children who would inherit her bloodline, and he didn't care what it cost her. By the time she died, there was almost nothing left of the woman I remembered." Her eyes filled with tears. "I was nineteen when I lost her." The pain in her voice was real, and it made my chest ache. But it did not erase what she had done. "So you decided to do the same thing to me?" I asked quietly. "You took away my wolf when I was two years old. You made me believe I was defective every time I failed to do something the other wolves could do." My voice cracked. "Do you know what it's like to spend your entire life wondering what's wrong with you? To watch everyone else grow stronger while you keep falling behind?" I shook my head, struggling to breathe. "You didn't just hide my identity, Mum. You made me ashamed of myself." "I gave you a normal life!" Her voice rose, desperate. "Do you know what would have happened if anyone knew what you were? Alphas would have come for you the moment you turned eighteen. They would have fought over you, claimed you by force, used you for your bloodline and nothing else. You would never have had a choice, never had freedom, never been anything more than a prize to be won." "So instead I got to be the weakest wolf in my pack!" My voice cracked. "I got to be pitied and overlooked. I got to thinking I was broken! Do you know what that does to a person, Mom? Do you know what it's like to hate yourself because you think you're not good enough, not strong enough, not whole?" "I know." Tears streamed down her face. "I know, and I'm sorry, but I would do it again. I would do anything to keep you safe." "Safe?" I laughed bitterly. "I'm not safe. You brought me here to Seattle, to a pack full of unmated wolves, and you stopped giving me the wolfsbane. Why? If you were so desperate to protect me, why did you stop?" Elena looked away. "Because Vincent promised he could protect you. Shadowpine is one of the strongest packs in the region. No Alpha would dare challenge Vincent for claiming rights." "Does he know?" I gripped the edge of the table. "Does Vincent know what I am?" "Yes." She met my eyes. "That's why he agreed to bond with me. He knew the risks, and he promised to keep you safe. This pack is strong enough to fight off challengers." My stomach twisted. "And the twins?" Elena hesitated, and that pause told me everything I needed to know. "Not yet. But Logan, he suspects. I can see it in the way he watches you." "Is that why he hates me? Because he can sense what I am?" "I don't know." She reached for my hand again, and this time I let her take it. Her fingers were cold and shaking. "Aurora, I never meant to hurt you. Every decision I made was because I love you. I watched my mother die because of what she was, and I swore I would never let that happen to you. Even if it meant you would hate me. I looked at her. I saw the guilt carved into the lines around her eyes, the fear that had been living in her chest for decades, the love that had twisted itself into control. She had caged me to save me and destroyed me in the process. "I don't hate you," I said quietly. "But I don't know if I can forgive you either. Not yet." She nodded, tears still falling. "I understand." I stood up, my whole body trembling. "I need to go." "Where?" "I don't know." I backed toward the door. "I just need to think. I need to figure out who I am without your lies covering everything." "Aurora, please be careful..." "I'm done being careful!" The words exploded out of me. "I'm done being weak and small and hidden. You took my wolf from me for nineteen years, and I will never get that time back. So now I'm g