Page 130 of The Aurora Marelup Complete Saga Omnibus

My thoughts wander then I look up to Dimitri. “What was Aurora like before her having mates?”

Dimitri almost chokes on the drink that Jayce has handed him. He motions to the logs near the fire for us to sit. He takes a seat, looking at the four of us. “She defined the word hellion. But from what we’ve recently learned from Oberon, it really wasn’t her fault. Aurora has always been a loving and curious creature.” He starts to laugh then shakes his head before starting again.

“I remember this one time this female decided to track me back to where we lived. Aurora was a little over a hundred and fifty years old at the time. The woman, another bear shifter, was trying to get me to accept her as her mate. Aurora happened to be the one to open the door. She yelled in the woman’s face in a blend of her wolf and human voice that I was hers and to fuck off.” Dimitri starts laughing then goes pale, seeing Aurora approaching.

“That was a fun night indeed, D. I thought my wolf was insane ’cause D showedzerointerest in me. I launched that bitchand we proceeded to brawl across the whole front lawn and into the woods.” Aurora smiles and laughs a little.

“Poor Andre was beside himself, and Dimitri didn’t know what to do to stop two possessive females from fighting.” Aurora starts to laugh softly. “D took the hose and started spraying our animals with water as we came rolling out of the woods. My beast hated to get wet unless she wanted to swim.” Alaric comes and sits next to me, listening to the story.

“So there I was, hose in hand and two drenched females. I knew I was a dead man the way Aurora was looking at me. Soon as the other female got the hint and left, Aurora shifted and walked up to me.” He tilts his head to the side and smirks. “You know how impossible it is to not look at her naked? She stood there, looking deep into my eyes, then broke down crying. I didn’t know she felt I was hers, at least not till that point. My bear kept telling me she was ours, but I guess that tea that Elena had kept sending us kept me from connecting the dots.”

Dimitri draws in a deep breath and shakes his head slowly. “I’ve got a chubby at this point, and she’s in hysterics. I did the only thing I could think of. I scooped her up and carried her into the house and let Andre try to calm her down. Me? I went and took the coldest shower in the history of cold showers so that I could be there for her. You think a mad Aurora is scary, try one that’s sad; that switch can flip in seconds flat.” Dimitri smirks as he looks over to Aurora and snaps his fingers to help visualize the switch flip.

Aurora rolls her eyes, then stands up and walks over to hug Dimitri. “Do you have a clue how many times I woke up standing in the doorway of your bedroom in the middle of the night because my wolf wanted you? She wanted me to bite you and make you ours since I was about a hundred.” A single tear rolls down Aurora’s cheeks and evaporates before it hits her jaw. “So much time was stolen from us.” She gently cups Dimitri’s cheeklooking up into his eyes. “Vladimir is going to suffer as no one has ever suffered before. I swear this to you, my love.” Aurora raises up onto her tippy toes to kiss him before leading him off.

Dom and Jayce share a look then turn to the rest of us. “They have been royally fucked over by Vladimir’s bloodline. Over two hundred years together. Almost a hundred and thirty, they could have been mates.“ Dom shakes his head, then looks at each of us. “If any of us find Vladimir or any of his relatives, we take them prisoner till Aurora and Dimitri can handle them. They deserve payback.” Everyone nods in agreement with Dominik; he’s right, after all, they’ve suffered enough.

“We should get some rest. We don’t know what we’re going to run into over the next few days,” I suggest gently. After all, I am the new guy in the group.

“Arnulf is correct; we should rest. The next two days’ journey could be the most dangerous just before reaching the castle,” Klaus says, his eyes becoming that of his beast. I look over to see Dominik’s and Alaric’s eyes are also shifted. I can feel through the bond they are setting up sentries and telling everyone it’s time to sleep. I follow suit and reach out to my clan, relaying the same message to them as well.

We decide to sleep outside the tent tonight, giving Aurora and Dimitri the time alone they so desperately craved earlier. The next few days will definitely be a challenge, but I know that we will be up to it as a team.

CHAPTER 105

Jayce

The camp is brokendown quickly, and barely a trace is left behind in our wake. I’m back in the same wagon as Aurora, but there are no dragons in the wagon with us this time. Ellis, Klaus, a Dire Wolf, and one of Ellis’s Polar Bears are with us. Aurora has decided to use Klaus and me as a pillow and a footrest. Oddly, she doesn’t allow the others onto the bench we’re on.

“How much longer?” The Dire Wolf asks.

“As long as it takes, pup,” Aurora says, then cracks an eye to look at him. “I may not be your Alpha anymore, but I am still just as dangerous.” As Aurora’s arms transform into gauntlets, a surge of power pulses through the air, tingling against my skin. The faint crackle of purple energy dances over the tips of her talons, casting an eerie glow in the dim light of the campfire. The scent of ozone hangs heavy in the air, a potent reminder of the raw energy coursing through her weapons.

The wolf’s eyes widen in astonishment as it beholds Aurora’s formidable arsenal, the strange energy crackling ominously over her gauntlets. Ellis, ever the jester, decides to test her newfound power, dropping an apple into her outstretched hand. In an instant, the fruit disintegrates upon contact with the pulsating energy, leaving behind nothing but a fine mist.

Unfazed by the display, Aurora offers a playful wink in response, shifting her hand back to normal with ease. Her smile is radiant as she turns her gaze towards me, her fingertips tracing lightly along my jawline. As the crackling energy envelops us both, I feel a curious sensation wash over me, a strange mix of warmth and tingling. Somehow, against all odds, I remain immune to the potent effects of the newfound energy.

“What the actual fuck!” Ellis screams and flails his arms around like he’s trying to take flight.

“What seems to be the problem, E?” Klaus asks as calmly as possible, studying Aurora and me.

“She just obliterated a mother fuckin’ apple, and she’s touching him with the same energy. You fuckers are scary as fuck.” Ellis exclaims, then looks to the others in the wagon.

As Aurora sits up, the air seems to crackle with anticipation, her energy pulsating with an electric intensity. My senses are overwhelmed as her eyes lock onto mine, sparkling with mischief and a hint of danger. The air feels charged, almost tangible, as her fingers trace over my face, sending shivers down my spine.

I can practically feel the crackling energy coursing between us, a vivid display of her power that seems to dance through her hair like tendrils of lightning. The scent of ozone fills the air, sharp and invigorating, as her purple energy envelops us in its electrifying embrace.

“Awe, baby, the poor marshmallow can’t handle me,” Aurora teases, her voice a playful taunt that sends a thrill through me. With a wink, she rises gracefully from her seat, her movements fluid and confident, reminiscent of a powerful storm gathering on the horizon.

With a sudden burst of energy, Aurora strides over to Ellis, her presence commanding attention like a force of nature. In an instant, she seizes him by the neck, her grip firm and unyielding,and he cries out in surprise and fear he screams like a little girl and passes out. Ellis drops like a ton of bricks to the floor of the wagon and his clan mate thinks it’s the most hysterical thing he’s ever seen. This big, bad Alpha passed the fuck out.

“That was the shit. Dude, you gotta do it again.” The bear that came with Ellis says. Without hesitation, he extends his hand to Aurora. “I’m Lamonte, Monte for short. It’s an honor to fight with the one who brought down that giant ass Black Dragon in Alaska. That shit was dope.”

Aurora examines his hand then shakes it gently. A wicked gleam in her eye tells me she’s up to no good. I watch that purple energy race down her hand to Monte. He doesn’t flinch in the slightest when it flirts with touching his skin. He just smirks and nods his head lightly. “Did I pass, ya Highness?” Monte says in a humorous tone.

“Yeah, you’re cool for a marshmallow,” Aurora says, letting a giggle slip before she resumes her position with her head in my lap.

“I’ve been called many things in my life, but a marshmallow is definitely new, as you can see,” he motions to his body, “I’m far from being white.” He’s still smiling. He’s more curious than anything at this point.

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