Aurora's eyes slowly opened, her gaze blurry and unfocused. Her head throbbed with a dull ache, and her mouth felt dry and sticky. She tried to lift her head, but a wave of dizziness washed over her, forcing her back onto the pillow.
As she lay there, fragments of memories began to resurface. The party, the music, the laughter... and Ethan. Her mind raced to piece together the events of the previous night, but her memories were hazy and unclear.
With a groan, Aurora finally sat up, her eyes scanning the room. Marina and Raven's room was next door, and she could hear the sound of muffled voices and laughter coming from inside. She swung her legs over the side of the bed, her feet dangling in the air.
Her gaze fell on a note on her bedside table, scribbled in Liam's familiar handwriting. "Hey, meet me for breakfast at 10? -L"
Aurora's heart skipped a beat as she stared at the note, her mind racing with questions. What did Liam want to talk about? And why did she feel a pang of guilt whenever she thought about him?
Aurora's gaze lingered on the note, her thoughts a jumbled mix of confusion and anxiety. She rubbed her temples, trying to massage away the lingering headache. Why did Liam want to meet her for breakfast? And what did it have to do with last night's events, which were still shrouded in mystery?
Mia, who was still fast asleep beside her, stirred and rolled over. "Hey, Rory, what's going on?" she mumbled, her voice husky with sleep.
Aurora hesitated, unsure how much to reveal. "Just a note from Liam," she said finally, trying to sound nonchalant. "He wants to meet for breakfast."
Mia's eyes fluttered open, and she sat up, her expression concerned. "What's going on, Rory? Does it have something to do with last night? I hope he didn't see you and Ethan together because you know Ethan and Liam don't get along. So What's Liam want with you?"
Aurora shrugged, feeling a pang of unease. "I don't know, Mia. But I need to find out."
Mia's eyes narrowed slightly, her gaze piercing. "Aurora, what's going on? You're not telling me something. What happened last night before Liam brought you here?"
Aurora's heart skipped a beat as she hesitated, unsure how much to reveal. She didn't want to lie to Mia, but she couldn't bring herself to tell the truth either. Not yet, at least.
"I...I don't know, Mia," she stammered, trying to sound convincing. "I just remember leaving the party with Liam, and then...nothing. I must have gotten drunk and passed out or something."
Mia's expression was skeptical, but she didn't press the issue. Instead, she threw off the covers and got out of bed, her movements fluid and graceful. "Well, you'd better get ready for breakfast with Liam, then," she said, her voice neutral. "I'll go take a shower."
As Mia disappeared into the bathroom, Aurora felt a wave of relief wash over her. She had dodged a bullet, at least for now. But she knew she couldn't keep her secret hidden forever. Eventually, she would have to confront the truth, and face the consequences.
Aurora got out of bed and began to get ready for breakfast, her movements mechanical and lacking her usual energy. She couldn't shake off the feeling that she was walking into a trap, that Liam knew more than he was letting on.
As she brushed her hair, her mind wandered back to the previous night. She remembered the feel of Ethan's hand on her arm, the way he had looked at her with a intensity that made her heart race. And then...nothing. Just a blank space where her memories should be.
She sighed and put down the brush, her frustration growing. Why couldn't she remember? And what did Liam have to do with any of it?
The bathroom door opened, and Mia emerged, her hair damp and her eyes sparkling. "Hey, you okay?" she asked, her voice soft. "You seem a little off."
Aurora forced a smile, trying to reassure her. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just a little hungover, I think."
Mia raised an eyebrow but didn't push the issue. "Well, let's get you to the cafeteria for breakfast then. I'm starving and Liam is probably waiting!"
As they left the room, they met Raven and Marina coming out of their room, they said good morning to each other and headed to the cafeteria together even though Aurora still couldn't shake off the feeling that she was walking into a storm, one that would change everything forever.
As they entered the cafeteria, Aurora's eyes scanned the room, searching for Liam. She spotted him sitting at a table in the corner, his eyes fixed on her with an intensity that made her heart skip a beat.
"Hey, Liam," she said, trying to sound casual as she and her friends approached the table.
Liam's gaze didn't waver, his eyes boring into hers with an unnerving intensity. "Aurora," he said, his voice low and serious. "We need to talk."
Aurora's instincts screamed at her to run, to get away from him and whatever secrets he was hiding and to forget about the guilt she was weirdly feeling whenever she looked into Liam's eyes. But her legs seemed rooted to the spot, unable to move.
"What is it, Liam?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Liam's eyes flicked to her friends , who were watching the exchange with a concerned expression. "Can we talk alone?" he asked, his voice dripping with tension.
Aurora hesitated, unsure what to do. But something in Liam's eyes told her that she had no choice.
Liam's eyes never left hers as he stood up, his movements fluid and graceful. "Let's take a walk," he said, his voice low and mysterious.
Aurora felt a shiver run down her spine as she nodded, her heart racing with anticipation. She followed him out of the cafeteria, her eyes fixed on his back as they walked across the campus.
The sun was shining, casting a warm glow over the buildings and the lush greenery. But Aurora felt a chill in the air, a sense of foreboding that she couldn't shake off.
They walked in silence, their footsteps echoing off the buildings. Aurora's mind raced with questions, but she didn't dare ask any of them. She didn't know what Liam wanted, but she knew it wasn't good.
As they approached the fountain in the campus square, Liam finally spoke up. "Let's sit down," he said, his voice dripping with tension.
Aurora hesitated, her instincts screaming at her to run away. But her legs seemed rooted to the spot, unable to move. She sat down beside him, her eyes fixed on the water as it splashed and danced in the sunlight.
Liam's gaze dropped to the ground, his eyes fixed on a small crack in the pavement. The silence between them stretched out, tense and heavy. Finally, he spoke up, his voice low and even.
"Aurora, what happened with Ethan last night?" He paused, his eyes still fixed on the ground. "Please, don't lie to me or tell me nothing. I'm a werewolf, Aurora. I could smell his scent all over you when I found you last night." He looked up, his eyes locking onto hers with an intense gaze. "I didn't want to say anything then because you were drunk, but...please, tell me the truth."
Aurora felt a shiver run down her spine as Liam's eyes bore into hers. She could see the hint of a growl in his gaze, a reminder of the supernatural power that lay beneath his human exterior. She knew she couldn't lie to him, not now.
The fountain's water splashed and danced in the background, a stark contrast to the tension between them. Aurora's heart raced as she searched for the right words, her mind racing with the secrets she had kept hidden since she woke up this morning.
Aurora released a heavy sigh, her eyes dropping as she finally recalled the events of the previous night. She had kept it hidden, even from herself, but the memory was now crystal clear. She lifted her gaze, her eyes locking onto Liam's, and her voice barely above a whisper, she said, "My memories were a bit fuzzy when I woke up this morning, but I remember now."
Liam's eyes narrowed, his pupils constricting as he sensed the weight of her words. "What happened?" he growled, his voice low and menacing.
Aurora's voice trembled as she continued, "Ethan kissed me." The words hung in the air like a challenge, a provocation that Liam couldn't ignore.
Liam's eyes blazed golden yellow, his irises transforming into those of a wolf. His voice was a snarl, a growl that sent shivers down Aurora's spine. "What?" he repeated, his claws and canines elongating as he rose from the bench.
Aurora's eyes widened in fear, her heart racing as Liam's body began to shift. His muscles bulged, his skin itching with the urge to transform. "I'm gonna rip that bloodsucker's fangs right from his mouth and kill him," Liam snarled, his voice no longer human.
The air around them seemed to vibrate with tension as Liam's wolf surged to the surface. Aurora's heart raced, her mind frozen in terror as she realized the true extent of Liam's fury.
Just as Liam's transformation was about to become complete, he froze, his eyes fixed on something behind Aurora. She turned to follow his gaze, and her heart skipped a beat as she saw Ethan standing a few feet away, his eyes locked on Liam with a cold and indifferent expression.
"Liam, don't," Aurora whispered, her voice dripping with concern. "You don't want to do something you'll regret."
Liam's growl was low and menacing, his body trembling with restraint. Aurora's heart raced as she realized the situation was on the brink of spiraling out of control.
"Liam, stop," she whispered, her hand on his arm. "You won't hurt your little wolf, would you?"
Liam's eyes snapped back to hers, his gaze burning with intensity. He took a deep breath, his body relaxing slightly.
"No, I won't hurt you," he said, his voice still low and rough. "But I need to deal with him."
Aurora's grip on his arm tightened. "Not now, Liam. Please."
Liam's eyes narrowed, but he nodded. "Fine. But this isn't over."
Ethan scoffed, then looked at Aurora for a long, tense moment before turning around and walking away.