Chapter 145 AURORA I fout him , my mind pulling back from everything this creature was , everything it wanted from me .


    But he leaned over me , grinned , and inhaled .


    ck smoke rose from my chest and curled into a ball of ck obsidian that hung between us , like a dark mirror image of the pearl pendant that had channeled my power as a healer .


    I felt my heart start to turn cold as one by one , my memories of the good things in my life began to wink out like dying stars .


    Evanders easy smile .


    Trajans steadying voice .


    Dane kissing me .


    Dane … My childrenughing as I read them a story .


    It was all slipping away .


    No ! I cried .


    I tried to fight him , to hold on , but it was like water slipping through my fingers .


    My heart screamed for what I was losing and started to freeze .


    Chapter 145 At the same time , memories of my life as a young woman in Broken Forest were revealed .


    The Reeds twisting my mind as a little girl , corrupting me , forcing me to believe that the only way I could be worthy and loved was to embrace loss , pain , and the dark .


    Tha .


    s what the Nameless wanted from me .


    To be his beacon of pain .


    To spread it across the world .


    I had to fight .


    Desperately , I flung my mind , and my heart out , searching for an anchor .


    Something to hold just a small part of me .


    There was no moon tonight , only darkness outside the windows .


    And yet … I suddenly felt the smallest touch of … something … and a voice whispered , Even in the darkest times , I am here .


    I grasped that power .


    It was all I needed .


    Dane … ! **** DANE I ran in my big , dark gray wolf body at the head of my newly erged pack back to the pack house .


    The nighttime forest whipped by as we surged downhill through trees and undergrowth .


    Piper needed me .


    Holden was there .


    Id lost Aurora already , I Chapter 145 3/5 couldnt lose my sister , too .


    I had to get to her in time .


    I had to Dane … ! My paw caught on a root at the edge of an outcropping .


    I stumbled and my head mmed into a stone .


    Darkness washed Ove AURORA I blinked , and suddenly I wasnt in the terrible , cold pce with the Nameless .


    I was on a hill , overlooking a wideke in the middle of thick woods .


    Theke and sky were blue withing evening .


    The trees were golden with autumn leaves .


    Aurora ? I spun .


    It was Dane .


    He ran down the hill toward me and caught me in his arms .


    I pressed my face against his chest .


    I couldnt believe it , but he looked and felt and smelled so real , so good .


    Like himself .


    Dane … youre alive ? His face was grim , but he lifted the pearl pendant I had dropped near his hand .


    Thanks to you .


    Where are we ? I dont know , I- My gaze caught on the sky just above the trees , where a round , white moon hung .


    It was muchrger than it was supposed to be .


    4/5 Chapter 145 But that didnt make any sense .


    It was the new moon right now .


    The sky was supposed to bepletely dark .


    I cannot give you much , a feminine voice whispered .


    I cant stop whats happening to you only you can .


    But I can give you one .


    moment to cling to .


    One moment of hope .


    One stolen second .


    of ti .


    between time .


    Dont waste it .


    The years ahead will be dark … The voice faded .


    I met Danes dark eyes .


    That was the goddess .


    What did she mean , years ? he growled .


    He still held me in his arms , and they tightened around me .


    Weve been through so fucking much .


    Were the goddesss chosen , arent we ? We tried to do what she wanted and free the relic but found shadows instead .


    Why should we have to deal with more ? Another person might not have heard the anguish hidden in the powerful Alphas voice , but I did .


    I knew him so well .


    I raised my hand to his cheek .


    Were the goddesss chosen , I said in a heavy voice , though I managed to hold back my tears .


    Were needed .


    By her .


    Maybe by the whole world .


    Danes eyes were shadowed by a fall of his dark hair as he cupped my face and tilted it back so he could brush his lips over mine .


    I dont give a damn about the world , Aurora .


    All I care about is you and our family .


    I would burn the world , myself if it meant I could have you .


    My breath caught .


    You cant say things like that .


    Im not worth Chapter 145 it .


    5/5 His fingers tightened , gently digging into my chin .


    To me your are .


    To me , youre everything .


    What will happen to our children if the world burns ? I want you .


    tears choked my voice , and it took everything in me to push them back down .


    … but we have to think about them .


    Their future .


    I swallowed .


    The moon goddess had said that we were in a moment of time between time .


    Already , I can feel it slipping away from us .


    I hesitated , then said , My body is somewhere , tied to a throne with cords of silver , while the dark creature that opposed the goddess is drawing out all of my memories one by one .


    No , Dane growled .


    The response was a knee jerk reaction , as if he couldmand me to remain myself .


    Theres nothing we can do , I whispered , We dont have much time … Danes eyes seared into mine .


    What do you need me to do ?