A Werewolf's Human Mate

17

Secrets in the Silence

Aurora rushed inside her house, her heart racing as she bolted the door behind her. The air felt thick with an unspoken tension. She moved swiftly, ensuring each window was tightly shut.

She paced near the window, her mind spiraling. "What’s going on?" she muttered under her breath, frustration bubbling.

The police announcement had been vague, offering no explanation, just a blunt warning. No details. No answers. Just the unsettling command to stay indoors.

Her phone buzzed, breaking the silence. It was a message from Lily: "The office has closed down for the day. I'm home now, like everyone else. The whole town seems deserted. The streets are completely empty except for the police cars patrolling."

Aurora glanced outside, her breath catching. The streets, usually alive with people, were now desolate, as if the town itself was holding its breath. Not a soul in sight, only the occasional police cruiser slowly rolling by, its presence both comforting and unnerving.

Just as a wave of worry about Edwin washed over her, her phone rang. She froze for a second before picking it up. His name flashed on the screen.

"Hello?" Her voice wavered.

"Yes, Aurora," came Edwin's voice, steady and calm.

"I was just about to call you. Did you hear what’s going on in town—?"

"I’m right outside your house. Open the door." Edwin interrupted in between, but the words sent a jolt through Aurora.

" Hm?" Confused, she hurried to the door, unlocking it quickly. As she pulled it open, there he stood—Edwin, his expression serious, his presence both reassuring and unsettling. "Oh, you're really here!" she exclaimed, a mixture of relief and surprise in her voice.

They both ended their calls as Edwin stepped inside. Aurora swiftly locked the door behind him, a subtle sense of unease lingering in the air. She fetched him a glass of water, her mind still reeling from the strange events of the day. Once they were settled on the couch, the weight of the situation seemed to press down on them.

Edwin, his tone firm and serious, broke the silence. "Aurora, there’s a dangerous situation in town right now. You need to be extra careful. Don’t go out late at night, and keep some form of protection on you—pepper spray, a rod, a knife, whatever you can find."

The concern in his voice, the way he looked out for her, made her heart soften. "And you need to be careful too!" she urged, her voice laced with genuine worry.

"Just because you're a wolf doesn't mean you're invincible," she added. "You can still be in danger! So be smart about when you shift, and don't get caught, okay."

Edwin’s lips curled into a small, knowing smile at her concern, but his eyes remained dark with seriousness.

"So, what’s going on? Why did they suddenly impose a curfew without giving us a reason?"

Edwin’s gaze dropped for a moment, his silence stretching before he finally spoke. "A body was found."

"What?" Aurora's breath hitched. " A b-body? You mean like a ...dead body?!"

Edwin nodded slowly, "Yes. It was discovered earlier today."

Aurora’s voice shaking as she spoke, "So, does that mean it was a murder? Or… is there a serial killer on the loose, like the ones you hear about in those TV shows? If that’s true, why weren’t we told?!"

Edwin responded, "The police got wind of it, but by the time they reached the scene, the body was gone. Just vanished. And now, there have been more reports of strange noises at night. The officers think it might be some kind of illegal activity going on."

Aurora’s eyes widened in disbelief. She hadn’t expected this.

"Really?!" Her voice was a mix of shock and disbelief. "I never would have imagined that a place as peaceful and beautiful as Moonbridge could be hiding something like this!"

Edwin leaned forward, his tone more serious now. "But that’s just the police’s theory. They could be wrong."

"Wrong?" Aurora blinked, confused
" Then what’s the real truth?"

Edwin paused for a moment before answering, his voice low and firm,
"We think it might be the work of a wolf from our neighbour werewolf pack. Someone might have come here to steal secret documents from our Moonbridge pack. If they were spotted, they would’ve had no choice but to silence whoever saw them."

Aurora sat back, trying to process what he was saying.

"So… you’re saying that a neighbour werewolf pack might actually be planning an attack on Moonbridge?"

Edwin’s expression darkened. "I don’t know for sure yet. It’s too early to say. But our entire pack is working on this, trying to get to the bottom of it."

Aurora’s fear settled deep within her chest, her heart racing as the weight of Edwin’s words sank in.

Her mind spun with thoughts of danger lurking just outside, but Edwin’s warm embrace pulled her back from the edge of panic.

He held her close, his voice low and steady as he reassured her, "But don’t worry, Aurora. I won’t let anything happen to you. I promise, okay. "

For a moment, the world outside seemed to blur. Aurora looked up into his eyes, her fear easing as she saw the fierce determination in his gaze. She managed a small smile, comforted by his presence, feeling safer in his arms.

But then, a nagging question crept into her mind. "So… the body. Did that outsider wolf hide it?"

Edwin shook his head slightly, his expression serious. "No," he said quietly. "Our own pack members hid the body."

Aurora blinked in disbelief, confusion knitting her brow. "What?"

" But… why?!"