Aurora’s POV
The cool night air caressed my skin as I wandered through the moonlit gardens of the Alpha Gathering venue. My mind was a whirlwind of conflicting emotions after my confrontation with Mason and Ethan. I needed solitude, a moment to breathe without the suffocating presence of either man.
As I rounded a corner, I found myself in a secluded alcove, hidden from view by a curtain of weeping willows. I leaned against a stone bench, closing my eyes and inhaling deeply. The scent of night-blooming jasmine filled my senses, momentarily calming my turbulent thoughts.
"Well, well. What do we have here?"
My eyes snapped open at the sound of that silky, menacing voice. Alpha Conner emerged from the shadows, his predatory gaze fixed on me. My heart rate spiked, but I forced myself to st
