The Alpha's Slave

CHAPTER TEN

The crisp autumn air nipped at Aurora's cheeks as she walked towards the familiar clearing, a haven of peace nestled amidst the towering pines. It had been a month since she had last seen Amelia, her closest confidante, her sister in all but blood. The recent attack, the aftermath of Jaxon's injury, the constant worry that gnawed at her, had kept her tethered to Dawnsville, unable to venture out. But today, she yearned for the comfort of Amelia's presence, the solace of their shared secrets, the warmth of their unspoken understanding.

As she reached the clearing, she saw Amelia sitting on a moss-covered boulder, her back against a towering pine, her gaze fixed on the distant horizon. Her hair, a cascade of auburn curls, was caught by the wind, framing a face that was both beautiful and strong, a reflection of the woman she had become.

"Amelia," Aurora called out, her voice a soft whisper carried by the wind.

Amelia turned, her eyes widening in surprise, a smile blooming on her face. She rose to her feet, her movements graceful, her energy radiating a warmth that instantly dispelled Aurora's anxieties.

"Aurora," she said, her voice filled with a genuine joy that warmed Aurora's heart. "It's so good to see you."

They embraced, their bodies fitting together like pieces of a puzzle, their shared history a silent language that spoke volumes. They had been friends since childhood, their bond forged in the crucible of shared experiences, their loyalty tested and proven time and again.

"It's been too long," Aurora said, her voice filled with a hint of regret. "I've been so busy, so worried…"

Amelia nodded, understanding flickering in her eyes. "I know," she said. "I heard about the attack. I was so worried about you, about Jaxon."

Aurora sighed, a wave of exhaustion washing over her. The attack had been a harrowing experience, a reminder of the fragility of their world, the constant threat that loomed over them. Jaxon, her alpha, her mate, had been gravely wounded, and the fear of losing him had been a constant shadow, a chilling presence that had haunted her dreams.

"He's recovering," Aurora said, her voice laced with a hint of relief. "He's strong, he'll be alright."

Amelia smiled, a reassuring gesture. "I know," she said. "He's a fighter, a survivor. He'll overcome this."

They sat down on the boulder, their bodies close, their conversation flowing easily, their shared history a comforting backdrop to their present conversation. They spoke of their lives, their dreams, their fears, their hopes. They shared their secrets, their joys, their sorrows, their vulnerabilities.

"I've been thinking about you a lot," Amelia said, her voice soft. "I've been wondering how you're doing, how you're coping."

Aurora smiled, a flicker of warmth in her eyes. "I'm doing alright," she said. "I'm adjusting to life in Dawnsville, to my new role, to my new responsibilities."

"It must be a lot to take in," Amelia said, her voice filled with empathy. "A new world, a new life, a new identity."

Aurora nodded, a sense of melancholy washing over her. She had been adopted by the pack, welcomed into their world, given a place, a purpose, a family. But she couldn't shake the feeling of being an outsider, a stranger in a strange land, a wolf who had been born into a world that was not her own.

"I've been thinking about my past," Aurora said, her voice soft. "About my life before I came here, about my family."

Amelia leaned closer, her eyes filled with concern. "What about them?" she asked. "Do you miss them?"

Aurora hesitated, a wave of conflicting emotions swirling within her. She had been raised by a loving family, a family that had given her everything she had ever needed. But she had always felt a sense of disconnect, a feeling that she didn't truly belong, that she was somehow different.

"I miss them," Aurora said, her voice barely a whisper. "But I also feel a sense of… of relief. I feel like I've finally found my place, my purpose, my home."

Amelia nodded, understanding flickering in her eyes. "I know," she said. "It's not easy, letting go of the past, embracing the unknown. But you're strong, Aurora. You're resilient. You'll find your way."

They sat in comfortable silence for a moment, the rustling of leaves and the distant call of a wolf the only sounds that broke the stillness. Aurora felt a sense of peace, a feeling of being understood, a reminder that she was not alone.

"I have something to tell you," Amelia said, her voice a soft whisper. "Something that might surprise you."

Aurora looked at her, her eyes wide with curiosity. "What is it?" she asked.

Amelia took a deep breath, her gaze fixed on Aurora's face. "I've been doing some research," she said. "About your past, about your family."

Aurora's heart skipped a beat. She had always been curious about her past, about her origins, but she had never dared to delve into it, afraid of what she might discover.

"What have you found?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly.

Amelia hesitated, her expression a mixture of concern and excitement. "I found something interesting," she said. "Something that might change everything."

She leaned closer, her voice barely a whisper. "You were adopted, Aurora," she said. "You were not born into the family you call your own."

Aurora felt a jolt of shock, a wave of disbelief washing over her. She had always known, deep down, that something wasn't quite right, that there was a piece missing from her life. But she had never dared to imagine that her entire identity was a lie.

"What?" she whispered, her voice barely audible. "What do you mean?"

Amelia reached out, her hand resting on Aurora's. "I mean," she said, her voice filled with a gentle determination. "That the family you call your own, the family you love, the family that raised you… they are not your biological parents."

Aurora stared at Amelia, her mind reeling, her heart pounding in her chest. The world around her seemed to tilt on its axis, the familiar landscape suddenly unfamiliar, the ground beneath her feet unsteady. She had been adopted, a secret that had been kept from her, a truth that had been hidden from her for so long.

"But… but why?" she asked, her voice trembling. "Why didn't they tell me? Why didn't they tell me the truth?"

Amelia shook her head, her expression filled with empathy. "I don't know," she said. "But I'm sure there's a good reason. Maybe they were afraid of hurting you, of shattering your world."

Aurora felt a surge of anger, a wave of betrayal washing over her. Her entire life, her entire identity, had been built on a lie. She had been raised by a loving family, but they had kept a secret from her, a secret that had defined her life, her sense of self.

"I need to know," she said, her voice firm. "I need to know the truth. I need to know who my real parents are, where I come from."

Amelia nodded, her eyes filled with understanding. "I'll help you find out," she said. "We'll find the truth together."

Aurora felt a surge of hope, a flicker of light in the darkness that had descended upon her. She had Amelia, her sister, her confidante, her anchor. Together, they would find the truth, together they would unravel the mystery of her past, together they would find their way.