Nowhere to Hide

Aurora’s POV

I felt my entire body turn cold. The day I always feared had finally arrived. The truth was exposed like the full moon—impossible to hide—and Thea, of all people, had been the one to unveil it. I’d worked so incredibly hard to keep this secret. This was my shame to bear, and now everyone knew. Sebastian knew. Out of everyone here, he was the last person I wanted to discover the truth.

Every pair of eyes in the yard was fixed on me, including his. I lowered my head, unable to look at his expression. My wolf whimpered and shuddered inside me, howling in distress.

“Wyatt? The Wyatt who’s always hanging out with Leo?” Damien’s voice was thick with shock.

I flinched at the name. I’d tried so hard to separate myself from that reality, to sever any possible connection. No visits, no participation in his life. And now everything was a mess.

“Yes, Damien, quite the coincidence, isn’t it?” Thea answered, stepping closer to me. “If he and Jaxon hadn’t moved near my house, if those two boys hadn’t become friends, I never would have discovered your secret. And you would have continued your deception, continued hurting that pup who desperately wants his mother’s love.”

I could feel the anger radiating from Thea. It burned hot and fierce. I’d never seen her look at me with such contempt, never felt this kind of power from her. Without a wolf, she somehow commanded more presence than any Alpha in this moment.

I cursed her luck. I had no idea Jaxon had moved next door to Thea, much less that our son had become best friends with Leo. If I’d known, I would have demanded Jaxon move away.

“You’re talking nonsense!” Roman suddenly shouted. “Aurora would never do something like that. You’re just trying to get revenge on us, just like your Kincaid family tried to destroy our Pack!”

I knew Roman was just confused and angry, or he would never have spoken to Thea that way. Not when he’d been trying so hard to repair his relationship with her. But his words only fueled the fire.

“Shut up, Roman,” Thea said coldly, turning her gaze on him. “This is between me and your sister. And as for Pack feuds, if you say one more word, I promise I’ll make sure the Kincaids completely crush any pride the Sterling Pack has left.”

Roman’s energy immediately diminished as he realized he’d provoked her. That was my brother’s problem—his mouth always acted before his brain. I loved him, but it made me wonder how he functioned as our Pack Alpha in real life.

“Thea, please calm down,” Sebastian’s father stepped forward. He was a very composed man, skilled at diffusing situations—something acquired from nearly forty years as Alpha. “Roman’s words were inappropriate, but you must understand your accusation is quite serious. You can’t accuse Aurora without evidence. If Aurora truly had a child, we would know. Margaret especially would have been the first to know.”

He was right. If I hadn’t been so terrified of all this, my mother would have been the first to know about my pregnancy. I never wanted to bear any male’s pup except Sebastian’s.

When I became pregnant, I was terrified. Terrified of the truth behind the pregnancy and the consequences it would bring. I never told anyone except my best friend. Helena was the only person who knew I had a son.

“The evidence is right in front of you,” Thea growled. “If I’m wrong, why is she still silent? With Aurora’s personality, if I were lying, she’d be raging by now. Yet look at her—she’s as quiet as a grave.”

They all turned to me, and I had nowhere to hide. My wolf had retreated deep into my mind, refusing to face this judgment. On this matter, she stood with Thea. The decisions I’d made about all this came solely from my human side, and she’d never approved, scolding me more than once. But I never listened. Now it seemed I was finally facing the consequences.

My mind went blank. If I could, I’d call Helena for guidance. But facing the aftermath of Thea’s revelation, I was completely alone.

I hated Thea for forcing me into this corner. Everything had been improving. Despite the distance between Sebastian and me, I believed we’d work it out. He would take me back, and we’d rebuild our relationship.

But now? Now that he knew I had another male’s pup, how could I expect him to continue regretting losing me? He would let go of his regret because we were even. I know that makes me sound selfish, but I didn’t want that. I wanted him to keep suffering. It was punishment for sleeping with Thea.

“Listen,” Thea’s voice became strangely gentle, which frightened me more than her shouting. “I actually don’t care if any of you believe me. I didn’t come here for any of you. I care about that child. I’m here for that little boy who doesn’t understand why his mother wants nothing to do with him. The one who lies awake every night wondering why his mother doesn’t love him. How do you sleep at night, Aurora?”

I’m not a psychologist, but I suspected Wyatt’s situation reminded her of her own trauma—mother and father wanting nothing to do with her throughout her childhood.

I kept my head down, unable to bear the accusation in her eyes. Those eyes belonging to the wolfless girl I’d always despised now seemed to see into every dark corner of my soul.

“Look at me,” her voice carried an undeniable power. “I’m talking to you.”

My body betrayed my will, obeying without consent. I raised my head to meet her gaze. I’d never seen Thea like this—strong and unshakeable. The old Thea was always the one who backed down, but now her presence made me want to submit.

“Why would you do this to Wyatt?” she asked, genuine confusion in her voice. “Especially you, Aurora. You’ve always wanted pups of your own. So why treat your son this way? Do you hate him enough to live and pretend he doesn’t exist?”

Before I could speak, she cut me off. “I always thought you were perfect, my role model. Even when things went bad, I still thought you were just spoiled. But it turns out you’re just a real bitch. Because only a heartless bitch would abandon her pup the way you abandoned Wyatt. Even the lowest Omega knows better than that. And you, the eldest daughter and pride of an Alpha family, did something even an Omega wouldn’t do.” Her words stabbed like daggers into my heart.

“I hope your reasons for abandoning Wyatt are strong enough, because that child doesn’t deserve this. He shouldn’t suffer because of your selfishness.” With those final words, she turned and left, not sparing any of us another glance. Sebastian tried to follow her, but Damien grabbed his arm, stopping him. He whispered something in his ear, and Sebastian’s shoulders slumped in defeat.

“Aurora,” my mother’s voice trembled beside me, “is it true? Do you really have a son?”

Part of me wanted to lie, but what was the point? I should have prepared myself for this moment from the day I made my choice. The seed was planted. A simple DNA test would confirm the truth I’d been trying to escape.

I sighed in surrender as tears filled my eyes.

“Yes. Wyatt is my son.”