The Rogue Witch Luna

"We had sex again and I don't know how it happened," Aurora said, clutching the blanket around her trembling frame, it was her only thing keeping her from being naked as she felt. The words tasted bitter, like a heavy lid on her tongue, but she forced them out.

Lightning flashed outside, illuminating her in the dim room. Her hair clung to her damp face, a wild mess, and her feet, bare against the cold floor, felt numb.

"Wait... what?!" Easton's voice cut through the silence, his wide eyes flicking to the thin nightgown peeking from beneath the blanket. His expression darkened.

"That's-"

"Phoebe's," Aurora finished flatly. Her lips twisted into a bitter smile. "Of course it is."

Easton clenched his fists. "That bastard-"

"Don't." Aurora cut him off, shaking her head. Her gaze dropped to the floor as she tried to blink back her tears. "I don't need you defending me. Not from him. Not now."

Her voice cracked, but she swallowed the lump in her throat and kept speaking. "He threw it at me. Told me to get out."

Easton exhaled sharply, his nostrils flaring as he paced the room. He wanted to say something-anything-that might undo the damage Maverick had inflicted, but words felt useless. The silence between them grew heavier, broken only by the soft rumble of thunder outside.

"And then you called me," Easton said, his voice softer now.

Aurora nodded, pulling the blanket tighter. "I didn't know who else to turn to."

Before Easton could respond, the sound of approaching footsteps echoed in the hallway.

"Of course, you don't," The voice came before the person and they knew just who it was.

Both of them turned, their gazes snapping toward the door just as Phoebe appeared, she did nothing to hide mocking smile. Beside her was Maverick, his broad shoulders filling the space as his cold, calculating eyes locked onto Aurora.

Easton moved instinctively, stepping in front of Aurora, his body shielding her from their intrusion.

"What the hell do you want?" he demanded, his voice low and dangerous.

Phoebe flinched for a moment before she laughed venomously.

"Relax, Easton. We're just here to check on Aurora. After all..." Her eyes flicked to the blanket, the corner of her lips curling. "She had such a memorable night."

Aurora's stomach churned, and she averted her gaze, refusing to pay Phoebe any attention which made the woman mildly irritated. But before she could act in it Maverick stepped forward, brushing past Phoebe with an air of authority that made the room feel smaller.

He stopped in front of Aurora, his presence suffocating. For a fleeting moment, she thought she saw something-remorse, hesitation-in his gaze. But it vanished as quickly as it appeared.

Aurora couldn't depict his thoughts like she used to be able to do but she wishes that he would go back to the man she used to know, the man who cared about her and would give her anything and everything. A flick of his stony blue eyes were all she needed to know that it was all her wishful fantasy.

He held out his hand, palm up. "Take these."

Aurora blinked, her gaze falling to the small pills in his hand. It took her a moment to realize what they were.

"Contraceptives," he said, his voice devoid of emotion and Aurora almost heard the howl of her non-existent wolf. "I don't want any mistakes."

Her breath hitched. The words were a blade, cutting deeper than she thought possible.

Easton scoffed in restrained anger while Aurora's heart stuttered in pain, the tears she was keeping at bay were shining brightly in her eyes now. The only sound she could hear was her uncontrolled thoughts that keep tumbling over one another.

"Mistakes?" Aurora's voice was barely above a whisper. Her hands trembled as she took the pills, the weight of them heavier than anything she had ever carried.

As she stared into his cold eyes, Aurora wondered how they got to this level that the thought of her carrying his pups disgust him so much.

She was his mate, and had been his mate for three years! If he didn't want anything to do with her, why did he accept her as his mate?

Was is just so he could experience endless wave of torture?!

They loved each other so much, what the hell changed?!

Maverick's expression didn't waver.

"Take them now, Aurora. While I'm here."

"Bastard!" Easton exploded, lunging forward, but Maverick caught his fist mid-air, his lycan strength effortlessly stopping the blow.

"It's Alpha Maverick to you," he said coldly, shoving Easton back with enough force to send him stumbling.

Aurora's instincts took over, and she stepped between them, raising a hand to stop Easton from retaliating. She swallowed the pills, the bitterness coating her tongue as her tears threatened to spill over.

Satisfied, Maverick's gaze raked over her one last time, lingering for a second too long on the borrowed nightgown. His eyes softened for a millisecond, but before she could decipher it, he turned and walked away, Phoebe quickly rushed after him.

The door slammed shut behind them, leaving a suffocating silence behind.

---

Easton moved toward her, his expression a mixture of anger and heartbreak. "Aurora..."

She shook her head, cutting him off. "I'm fine." Her voice was barely steady, a whisper that didn't convince either of them.

"You're not," Easton said firmly, his hands gripping her shoulders gently but insistently. "He can't keep doing this to you. You deserve better."

Aurora laughed bitterly, the sound hollow. "Deserve better? I'm his mate, Easton. The Moon Goddess herself paired us. This-" She gestured vaguely to the empty room, to the pills she had just swallowed, to the invisible chains binding her to Maverick. "This is what I deserve."

"No," Easton said, his voice hardening. "This is what he's making you believe you deserve. There's a difference."

Aurora didn't reply. She couldn't find the words to argue, to agree, or to even admit that a part of her still hoped for Maverick to turn back into the man she once knew.