Luna Aurora novel (Alpha Fenrir) novel Chapter 22

The morning was unusually still, the crisp air carrying none of the lively chatter that usually filled the pack grounds. Aurora walked the perimeter of the central square, her basket slung over one arm, her thoughts swirling as heavily as the low clouds above. The silence felt like an omen, pressing against her chest.

She passed by a group of wolves stacking firewood near the main hall and caught snippets of their conversation.

“…Cassian will handle it,” one of them said.

“Sure, but it’s not like he’s immune,” the other replied. “Not after what happened last time.”

Aurora slowed her steps, feigning interest in a flower bed nearby.

The first wolf lowered his voice. “You mean with her?”

“Who else?” the second wolf muttered. “She ruined him. And now everyone’s talking about how he’s spending time with that rogue.”

Aurora’s grip on the basket tightened, her pulse quickening. She forced herself to move past them, her mind racing.

By the time she returned to the cottage, her hands were trembling. Lila was sitting at the table, sipping tea, but she immediately set her cup down when she saw Aurora’s pale face.

“What happened?” Lila asked.

Aurora hesitated, setting the basket down with deliberate care. “They were talking about him. About his past.”

Lila’s brows knit together. “What did they say?”

Aurora sank into the chair across from her, her voice barely above a whisper. “That his mate betrayed him. That it ruined him.”

Lila sighed, leaning back in her chair. “It’s no secret, Aurora. Everyone here knows about it—even Cassian himself. But it doesn’t define him. If anything, it made him a stronger Alpha.”

Aurora pressed a hand to her abdomen. “And yet they still talk about it. What if they talk about me that way when they find out the truth?”

Lila reached across the table, taking her daughter’s hand. “You can’t control what people say, but you can decide who you trust. Cassian has already proven himself, and he’s more than capable of handling a little gossip.”

Aurora nodded, though the knot in her chest didn’t ease.