Chapter 139 AURORA Danes golden eyes searched my face .


    He stroked my cheek .


    Then , quietly , he said the words I had been aching to hear for eight long years .


    I love you , Aurora .


    I grasped his hand , unable to speak .


    My whole body shook .


    His fingers traced my face , and he said .


    I should have seen who you were so long ago .


    I should have appreciated what I had when I had it .


    I closed my eyes , letting his words wash over me .


    They were everything I had waited so long to hear , but they also hurt so badly .


    The world was cruel to give this to us now , only after a promise that it was about to yank it all away .


    I- Whats going on , pet ? I can feel all sorts of emotions surging through our bond .


    You seem very unhappy .


    Is the ritual not going well ? Holden ! I wanted to kill him for disrupting this .


    I tried to push Chapter 139 his voice from my mind .


    Dane , 1- 2/5 Answer , Holden demanded , using his power on me through the bond .


    And tell me the truth .


    Against my will , words were pulled from my mind .


    I thought them robotically .


    The Reeds are here .


    They did have our children .


    It was a trap for Dane , like we thought it would be .


    They were going to kill our kids .


    Now theyre going to kill him instead .


    I think when hes dead theyre going to attack Blue Ridge .


    But Waylon has sworn the children and I will be safe from Broken Forest for as long as hes Alpha .


    Aurora ? Danes brows drew together .


    He looked hurt and unhappy .


    Is it that hard to say ? No ! I- Interesting , Holden interrupted again .


    Well , I cant let the Reeds have Blue Ridge .


    Not when I want it for myself .


    But it will be good to have Dane out of the way .


    Since Waylon is killing him for this ritual and not officially challenging him , Danes Alpha powers wont automatically pass to Waylon when he dies .


    His mental voice turned wicked .


    That means Blue Ridge will be up for grabs .


    Panic tightened the muscles of my stomach .


    No , it doesnt ! Piper Chapter 139 is alive .


    Shell be Luna .


    Blue Ridge has a leader .


    3/5 If Piper died , I didnt know what would happen .


    Both Seraphina and Tristan had Holdens blood , but they were so young , I didnt think the Alpha powers would pass to them .


    In fact , I feared what would happen if they did .


    Pathetic , Holden replied .


    She doesnt have a clue how to lead .


    Shell be easy to challenge and kill .


    No ! I startled when Dane released me and stepped back .


    You were right .


    I shouldnt have said anything to you .


    His voice was rough and low , and he looked angry .


    Shit ! Dane , no .


    Please , Im sorry .


    Everything is just so much Its always so much , he snapped back .


    Were leaders , Aurora .


    We deal with it .


    This is all the time we have .


    You asked me to say the words .


    I said them .


    Now youre just ssy eyed ? I wanted to tell him about Holden more desperately than Id wanted anything in my life except the return of my children .


    But I didnt want to spend myst moments with him choking .


    Besides , what good would it do Dane to know that he was leaving me behind in a world where I was enved to Holden ? Chapter 139 None .


    It would only hurt him .


    I didnt want him to die .


    My brain was darting around , seeking any way I could think of to keep him alive .


    But if I didnt seed and the unthinkable happened , I couldnt let him leave this world with Holden on his consciousness .


    If he had to leave me … I couldnt let myself think about it .


    I stepped close to him and took his hands in mine .


    Im sorry .


    You have to know I feel the same way you do .


    You know Ive been desperate to hear those words from you for so long .


    I went on my toes and wrapped my arms around his neck .


    Our bodies pressed together .


    His hands went to my hips .


    I could feel his hard muscles against me , and my heart lurched .


    This was all I wanted .


    He was all I wanted .


    I kissed him .


    At first he was stiff , but as soon as our lips touched , he turned molten .


    He jerked me against his body with a guttural groan and imed my mouth .


    His hands were on my hips , then on my back .


    Then his fingers tangled in my hair , tilting my head back so he could im me with his tongue and teeth .


    Say it , he growled .


    You got to hear it .


    I want to hear it , too .


    Tell me you love me , Aurora .


    Silent tears escaped the corners of my eyes as his lips moved Chapter 139 from my lips to my jaw , my neck .


    Dane , I- Someone ripped aside the sheltering draped branches of the willow tree .


    Waylon Reed red down at us .


    Times up , he growled .