Chapter 6 – Fever & Forbidden Desires

Aurora’s POV

I barely slept last night.

Not because of nightmares.

But because of him.

Because of the way he touched me, the way his lips brushed my skin, the way his golden eyes burned through me.

Even when I closed my eyes, I could still feel the heat of his breath against my skin.

It was maddening.

And now, my body was punishing me for it.

My head throbbed, my skin felt too hot, and every movement made my limbs feel heavy.

The second I opened my eyes, I knew—I wasn’t going to school today.

Dragging myself out of bed, I barely made it to the kitchen before a wave of dizziness hit me.

Mom turned from the stove the second she saw me, her eyes widening. “Aurora! You look awful, sweetheart.”

Dad put down his coffee, his brows furrowing in concern. “What’s wrong? You’re pale.”

I sighed, pressing my fingers against my burning forehead. “I think I have a fever.”

Mom immediately rushed over, her hand cool against my overheated skin.

“Oh, honey, you’re burning up,” she said, frowning.

Noah, my little brother, snickered from the table. “Maybe she’s love-sick.”

I glared at him. “Shut up.”

Dad arched an eyebrow. “Love-sick, huh? You been hiding something from us?”

Mom ignored them and gently pushed me toward the couch. “You’re not going anywhere today. No school. Rest.”

I groaned, but didn’t argue. I felt too weak to fight it.

Dad sighed and folded his arms. “Have you been eating properly? You’ve seemed… distracted lately.”

I swallowed. Yeah. Distracted by a certain someone who suddenly decided to mess with my life again.

Noah smirked. “Or maybe she’s sick because of a certain Damien Blackwood.”

I choked on my own saliva. “What? No! Shut up!”

Mom and Dad both turned to me at the mention of his name.

I wanted to die on the spot.

Why was Noah like this?

Why did he even know Damien’s name?

Mom’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Damien Blackwood… isn’t he the one who stood up for you at school?”

Kill me now.

I tried to play it cool. “It wasn’t a big deal.”

Dad looked unconvinced. “Hmph. Still… I don’t like the sound of him.”

I threw myself onto the couch, groaning loudly into a pillow. “I’m going to sleep now. Conversation over.”

I could hear Noah snickering. “She’s totally in love with him.”

I kicked blindly in his direction. “Shut. Up.”

Little did I know—outside, someone else was freaking out.

---

Damien’s POV

She wasn’t at school.

She wasn’t here.

The moment I walked through the doors, I searched for her.

Expecting to see her at her locker, expecting to see her in the halls.

But she was nowhere.

The second I overheard her classmate say she took the day off, a tight, cold feeling settled in my chest.

She was sick.

She was alone.

And I wasn’t there.

Panic twisted in my gut.

My wolf snarled inside me.

"Find her."

"She needs us."

I clenched my jaw, my hands tightening into fists.

I had spent years keeping my distance.

But the thought of her, weak, sick, alone—

That was enough to break me.

I didn’t care if it was a bad idea.

I didn’t care if she would be shocked to see me.

I didn’t care about crossing the line.

I grabbed my keys and left.

She was mine to protect.

Even if she didn’t know it yet.

---

Aurora’s POV

I must have fallen asleep.

Because the next time I opened my eyes, I was in my bed, my body aching worse than before.

I groaned, barely able to move.

Then I heard knocking on my bedroom door.

“Sweetheart, you have a visitor.”

I blinked groggily. “Tell them to go away.”

The door opened anyway.

And I nearly stopped breathing.

Damien Blackwood stood in my doorway.

My fever-ridden brain short-circuited.

What the actual hell?

He looked… different. Tense. Uneasy.

And… worried?

Behind him, my dad stood with crossed arms.

Mom stood beside him, looking stunned.

I wanted to disappear.

Damien? In my house? In front of my parents?

Why was he even here?

Why did he look like he was about to start a fight with my dad?

I sat up weakly, my vision still blurry. “I—uh—”

Damien’s golden eyes locked onto mine.

And just like that, everything else faded.

He took one step forward.

Then another.

And before I knew it—he was right beside my bed.

Too close. Too intense. Too… Damien.

“You’re sick,” he murmured, his voice low, rough.

His hand brushed against my forehead.

I swore I saw my mom’s jaw drop.

Dad’s eyes narrowed. “Okay, kid, what’s going on here?”

Damien didn’t even look at him.

His entire focus was on me.

Like no one else in the room existed.

And then, to my absolute horror—

He sat down beside me on the bed.

On my freaking bed.

Noah’s snort broke the silence. “Wow. This is getting good.”

I wanted to die.

---

Damien’s POV

She looked so small.

So fragile.

Her skin was too pale. Her lips too dry. Her pulse too weak.

I hated it.

I hated seeing her like this.

I clenched my fists, forcing my wolf back into submission.

She needed me.

I didn’t care that her parents were watching.

I didn’t care that this was crossing the line.

I only cared about her.

Aurora.

I had spent years keeping my distance.

But right now?

That distance no longer existed.

I reached out—**ignoring the stunned silence in the room—**and brushed my fingers against her cheek.

Soft. Warm. Mine.

Her breath hitched.

Her eyes widened.

She felt it too.

I leaned closer, my voice barely above a whisper. “You scared me.”

Her lips parted, her gaze searching mine. “Why do you care?”

I inhaled sharply.

Because I always had.

Because I always would.

Because she was mine.

And soon…

She would know it.

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