Chapter 77 AURORA

“What?” My breath froze in my throat.

Dane moved toward me. “I don’t want to exile you, but maybe it would be better if you stayed somewhere else on pack land, like my grandfather’s house.”

“You want me away from the pack house?” I asked. “What about my children?”

Dane’s jaw worked. “They’ll be safer here.”

I rose. “Then the answer is no.”

“Don’t you dare defy our Alpha,” Evelyn said aggressively.

I whirled on her. “You won’t separate me from my children.”

I looked between her and Archer, my anger making me reckless. “I’m sure Archer wouldn’t want to be separated from you, would you, Beta?”

I thought I’d seen Evelyn with wide eyes before. That was nothing compared to now; they looked like they might pop out of her head.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Archer said without missing a beat. “I’m her protector. Of course, I wouldn’t want to be separated from her.”

Dane frowned at all of us. “I’m not sure what’s happening here, but I want everyone except Celia out of the infirmary.”

We moved outside while Dane stayed behind to check on his family. Once we were in the hall, Evelyn got in my face.

“I always knew you were evil. I wouldn’t be surprised if you used some kind of spell or something to trick the DeVeres into thinking you’re one of them. You’re the same you’ve always been, just some pathetic Broken Forest bitch.”

I leaned down and whispered, “At least my children are Dane’s.”

In a flash, she grew claws and pulled her hand back to slash my face, but Holden caught her hand and threw her back. “Go, Evelyn, or we’ll see how many of your secrets we know between the two of us.”

Evelyn’s eyes flared, but at Holden’s command, she backed off.

“What secrets of hers do you know?” I asked curiously.

Holden gave me his classic charming smile. “None. But if she thinks I do, that’s the same thing, isn’t it?”

But, unlike every other time he had smiled at me, it didn’t quite reach his eyes…

And I didn’t know if I believed him.

“Come on,” Holden said. “The last few days have been intense. Let’s go relax and spend the day with the twins.”

“I think I should wait to speak to Dane,” I said.

Holden shook his head. “Today is the exact reason your grandmother asked me to be here. We both know he could benefit from time to cool down.”

I worried my bottom lip between my teeth, but I hadn’t slept well the night before, and after the dream, I was so tired. A quiet day with the twins sounded like exactly what I needed.

I waited for Dane to come to me all day to talk about what happened. He didn’t. Even though I loved spending the day with my children and Holden was always welcome company, by the time night came, I was worried.

Holden brought me to his rooms. They were smaller than mine—just a sitting area and a large bedroom. But wolves from Fall Line were staying in all the rooms around us, and Trajan insisted on standing outside the door until I sent him back to be with the twins.

At least I knew we were safe from retribution from any Blue Ridge pack members who hated me.

“You have to stop pacing,” Holden said.

I didn’t realize I was pacing until he said it. I paused and took a breath. Since becoming Aurora DeVere, I hated it when my nerves showed. I could try to hide them now, but Holden would see through them anyway.

“Why hasn’t he come to me, Holden? The last thing that he said to me was that he wanted me to leave. When is he going to show up and tell me whether he’s going to force me to go?”

“He can try,” Holden growled. He approached me and held out a glass of wine. I took it. I didn’t usually drink, but I needed something to distract me. “But if he does, I think he knows your grandmother will retaliate.”

“But what if I should go somewhere else, like to his grandfather’s little house on the mountain? I would do it, but the twins have to come with me. I won’t leave them behind.”

“I know, I know,” Holden said soothingly. He gently stopped me and pulled me into a hug. I let him, taking comfort in my friend’s strength.

“Come on,” he said. He led me to the table and refilled my wine. I wasn’t sure when I’d drunk it all, but I wasn’t surprised, as unsettled as I was. “Things have been insane. We’re going to sit here and talk and drink and forget our problems. If Dane doesn’t come to speak to you early tomorrow, we’ll go speak to him.”

I gave him a grateful smile. “All right. Thank you, Holden. You’re a good friend.”

“Darling, I’m more than that. I’m your fiancé, remember?”

I laughed as he winked, then lifted my wine and drank.

I was woken the next morning by the sun slanting across my eyes. I groaned and turned over. My mouth tasted sour.

My hand hit something warm. I opened my eyes.

That’s when I realized I wasn’t in my own room.

I was still in Holden’s room, in his bed, and we were both naked.