Special Chapter 474: A Glimpse into the Future
Special Chapter 474: A Glimpse into the Future
Aurora’s P.O.V
The moonlight painted a silver sheen over the restless waves, their endless dance meeting the shore with soft whispers. I walked along the damp sand, the cool grains pressing between my toes as I followed the trail of footprints ahead of me. Large wolf paws, their weight sinking deep into the earth, followed by much smaller ones—tiny, hesitant steps pressing into the sand right beside them. My heart clenched at the sight, warmth spreading through me as I lifted my gaze, scanning the dimly lit beach. And then, I saw them.
Caleb emerged from the shadows of a large tree, his toned body gleaming under the faint glow of the moon, dressed only in his swim trunks. His hair was damp, clinging to his forehead, evidence of his earlier run through the waves. But it wasn’t just him—right beside him, waddling as fast as his tiny legs could manage, was Cameron. Our son. Only two years old, but already fascinated by everything his father did. His brunette curls bounced as he giggled, his chubby arms stretched toward Caleb as if seeking reassurance that he had kept up with his father’s strides.
A soft smile curled my lips as I stopped in my tracks, watching them. Caleb must have sensed my presence because his sharp eyes flickered toward me, and the way his expression softened made my heart skip a beat. He had always looked at me like that—like I was the only thing that ever truly mattered.
I took a deep breath, stepping forward to meet them halfway. "How did the shift go?" I asked, my voice gentle as my gaze lingered on him. I knew it hadn’t been easy. The first shift never was.
Caleb exhaled heavily, rubbing the back of his neck as his lips twitched in amusement. "It was rough," he admitted, glancing down at Cameron, who was now preoccupied with drawing shapes in the wet sand with his fingers. "When I was his age, I could barely control it at first. It was like my body wanted to tear itself apart, but once I let go, it felt... natural. I’m guessing it’s the same for our little champ. Still, he needs practice. A lot of it." His jaw tensed slightly, a flicker of frustration crossing his features before he shook it off.
I reached for his hand, intertwining our fingers as I squeezed lightly. "He’ll get there," I assured him, my thumb brushing over his knuckles. "It’s only his first time. The fact that you managed to help him shift and run with Cameron by your side says a lot."
He let out a low chuckle, glancing down at our son, who was now trying to fit his tiny foot inside one of Caleb’s paw prints. "Yeah, well, I couldn’t exactly fail when I had boasted about how magnificent the shift would be, could I?" His teasing tone made me roll my eyes, but I could see the truth behind his words. He wanted to be strong for Cameron, even though he was worried about our son. He wanted to show him that there was nothing to fear in the change.
"You’re already his hero," I murmured, stepping closer and resting my head against his chest. The steady rhythm of his heartbeat against my ear was comforting, grounding. "You did a great job and Cam loves you regardless."
Caleb sighed, wrapping his arms around me, pulling me closer as the waves crashed behind us. "I know," he whispered. "But I still wanted to help as much as I could…take the pain away."
I scooped Cameron into my arms, feeling the warmth of his little body pressed against mine as his tiny hands clung to my shoulders. His bright eyes, so full of curiosity and mischief, searched my face for reassurance.
"Soon enough, sweetheart," I murmured, pressing a kiss to his forehead, "you'll be just like your big sister. No one will mess with you and you’ll be the strongest wolf in the pack." His face lit up at my words, a delighted giggle escaping his lips as he turned to look at Violet, his admiration for her evident in the way he beamed.
Violet, my strong, beautiful girl, was crouched by the shoreline, her fingers digging into the wet sand as she shaped what was supposed to be a castle. Cameron squirmed in my hold, eager to join her. I let him go, watching as he toddled over to his sister, waving enthusiastically. "Vi! I'm gonna be strong like you!" he declared, his voice brimming with excitement.
Violet only laughed, reaching out to ruffle his curls before guiding his hands to help her mold the sand into towers. They worked together, giggling when a wave came too close, threatening to wash away their creation. My heart clenched at the sight, a bittersweet ache swelling in my chest. My Violet—named after the half-sister I had lost. A sister who should have been here, laughing with them, protecting them, teaching them things I never could.
I barely noticed Caleb until I felt his arms wrap around me from behind, his chin resting on my shoulder. His warmth seeped into me, grounding me in the moment, but his voice carried the weight of something deeper. "Do you still miss her?" he asked softly, the question cutting straight through me.
My breath hitched, and for a moment, I couldn’t answer. Of course, I missed her. Every damn day. The pain of losing her hadn’t faded—it had only settled into a dull, constant ache that I had learned to live with. I swallowed hard, blinking against the sting in my eyes as I watched our children play. "Always," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. "She should have been here, Caleb. She should have had this. A family. Love. Everything that was stolen from her."
Caleb tightened his hold, pressing a kiss to my temple, his grip firm as if he could keep me from breaking apart. "She would’ve loved them," he murmured. "And she’d be proud of you."
A sharp exhale left me, my hands clenching at his arms as I closed my eyes. Maybe he was right. Maybe Violet was watching over us, smiling as her namesake played in the moonlight. But it didn’t make the loss any easier. It didn’t fill the empty space in my heart. I forced a small smile as I opened my eyes, watching Cameron and Violet chase each other along the shore. "I just hope they never have to know what it feels like to lose someone like that," I whispered.
Caleb’s silence told me he wished for the same. But we both knew the world didn’t work that way.
I sat beside Caleb, my fingers idly tracing patterns in the sand as I watched the waves kiss the shore. The sky stretched endlessly above us, tinged with the cool hues of the night sky. The laughter of my children rang through the air, a melody of innocence and joy, but my heart carried the weight of a name I hadn't spoken in a long time.
"Even though I only knew her for a short time," I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper, "I loved her like a real sister. Violet." I let the name linger between us, heavy with memories. "She was just a little girl, Caleb. So full of life, so full of dreams. And maybe it’s just my wishful thinking, but I can’t shake this feeling that she’s still out there somewhere, waiting to be found."
Caleb exhaled, long and slow, his gaze fixed on the horizon. "Aurora," he said, his tone careful, measured. "If Violet were really out there, she would’ve found us by now."
I turned to him then, searching his face, looking for something—hope, belief, anything. But all I saw was the resignation of a man who had long stopped believing in miracles. I smiled, but it was a sad, quiet thing, a mere curve of my lips that didn’t quite reach my eyes.
"Maybe," I said softly, not agreeing, not arguing—just existing in that moment between hope and reality.
And then my eyes found my children, their small hands sculpting castles in the sand, their laughter unburdened by the ghosts of the past. My smile shifted, turning real, warm. "But if she is out there," I whispered, more to myself than to him, "I hope she finds her way back. Back to us. Back to her real home."
I closed my eyes for a brief moment, letting the ocean breeze carry my silent wish to the universe. Because even if Caleb had given up, I never would.
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Hey guys!!! And that’s a wrap!
Sadly, this story has finally come to an end. Aurora and Caleb have found their happily ever after and everyone is now doing well. I’m not sure if I’ll be writing Violet’s story but I’ll let you guys know when I do.
Till then, happy reading!
Lovage!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The End.