Page 13 of Wolf Mate’s Forbidden Fire (Esoterra Shifters World #1)

Chapter Thirteen

Aurora

The morning sun filtered through the pines, casting golden patches over Moonridge’s clearing, where the pack gathered, weary but hopeful, to rebuild after the battle with Viktor’s Blackthorn Pack.

The air smelled of fresh-cut wood and earth, shifters hauling logs to repair damaged cabins, their faces marked with cuts and bruises but their spirits lifted by victory.

I stood at the edge of the clearing, my boots sinking into the soft ground, the woven bracelet and sacred amulet on my wrist glinting in the light.

Omer was across the clearing, directing a group of shifters as they raised a new roof beam, his voice steady, his gray eyes bright despite the exhaustion etched into his features.

My heart swelled watching him, our bond stronger than ever after the Forbidden Fire ritual saved us.

The pack had called a council meeting for noon, and the weight of it hung in the air, a chance to reshape Moonridge’s future.

Inside the war room, the pack crowded around the oak table, the mood tense but open.

Mara stood at one end, her silver braids adorned with bones, her staff tapping the floor to quiet the murmurs.

Omer sat beside me, his hand brushing mine under the table, his warmth steadying my nerves.

I adjusted my notebook, filled with research on wolf biology and the ritual, ready to make my case.

Mara raised her hand, her voice calm but firm.

“Moonridge stands because of our unity,” she said, her eyes sweeping the room.

“Aurora’s ritual turned the Forbidden Fire into our shield.

Viktor’s gone, Lukas fled, but we face a choice.

The law against human-shifter unions has kept us hidden, but it nearly tore us apart.

We vote today: does Aurora stay as Omer’s mate, or do we cling to the old ways? ”

Toren, the burly shifter with a shaved head, stood, his voice gruff. “She’s human,” he said, crossing his arms. “The law’s kept us safe for centuries. Why change it now?”

Kael, the young shifter, stood next, his gray eyes fierce. “Because she saved us,” he said, his voice steady. “Aurora’s not just human, she’s Omer’s mate. The Fire didn’t burn us, it protected us. That’s a sign. I say she stays.”

Murmurs rippled through the room, some nodding, others frowning. Rhea, the woman with tight braids, spoke up, her voice soft but clear. “I was against her at first,” she said, glancing at me. “But she stood with us, risked her life. If the spirits chose her for Omer, who are we to argue?”

I squeezed Omer’s hand, my heart racing, and he leaned closer, his voice low. “You’ve got them thinking,” he said, a smile in his voice. “Speak up, Aurora. They need to hear you.”

I stood, my voice steady despite the eyes on me.

“I came here to study wolves, not to change your world,” I said, looking around the table.

“But I love Omer, and I love Moonridge. I’m not here to break your laws, I’m here to help.

My research can strengthen your connection to your wolf side, help you heal, maybe even grow.

I’m asking for a chance to be part of this, to prove I belong. ”

The room went quiet, and Mara nodded, her eyes warm.

“Well said,” she said. “Let’s vote. Those for Aurora as Omer’s mate, raise your hand.

” Hands went up, Kael’s first, then Rhea’s, then more, until most of the room was with us.

Toren hesitated, his jaw tight, but he raised his hand, his eyes meeting mine with a grudging nod.

“It’s decided,” Mara said, her voice final.

“The law is overturned. Aurora is one of us.”

The room erupted in cheers, and Omer pulled me into his arms, his lips brushing my ear. “You did it,” he said, his voice thick with pride. “You’re mine, and you’re Moonridge’s.” I hugged him back, my heart soaring, the amulet on my wrist warm against my skin.

That night, the pack gathered under a canopy of stars for a moonlit ceremony, drums echoing through the clearing, the air alive with celebration.

Torches lit the sacred circle, the runes still faintly glowing from the ritual.

Omer stood at the center, his black shirt open at the collar, his gray eyes locked on me as I approached, my dress catching the breeze.

The pack formed a circle around us, their faces lit with smiles, the tension of the battle replaced with hope.

Omer took my hands, his voice clear, carrying over the drums. “Aurora,” he said, his eyes soft but strong.

“You walked into my world, turned it upside down, and made it better. You’re my mate, my partner, my everything.

I want you with me, always.” He pulled the sacred amulet from his pocket, the one matching mine, and held it out.

“Will you stay, be my mate, my wife, in front of our pack?”

My breath caught, tears prickling my eyes, but I smiled, my voice steady.

“Yes, Omer,” I said, taking the amulet, my fingers brushing his.

“I’m yours, always.” The pack cheered, drums pounding louder, and he pulled me close, kissing me under the stars, his lips warm and sure, the bond between us blazing.

The kiss deepened, his hands framing my face, and I melted into him, the pack’s cheers fading to a hum, the world narrowing to just us.

As the drums slowed, we spent the next days overseeing Moonridge’s rebuilding, walking through the clearing as shifters repaired cabins and cleared debris.

I worked with the healers, sharing my research, teaching them how wolf biology could guide their treatments, from faster wound healing to understanding their shifts.

Kael and Rhea joined me, their curiosity sparking as I explained pack dynamics.

“This is wild,” Kael said, flipping through my notebook.

“You’re saying we can use this to control our shifts better? ”

“Exactly,” I said, pointing to a chart. “Your wolf side, it’s not just instinct. It’s biology, too. If you understand it, you can be stronger, more in sync.”

Rhea nodded, her braids swinging. “You’re making us better shifters,” she said, a smile breaking through. “Omer’s lucky to have you.”

I grinned, my heart warm. “I’m the lucky one,” I said, glancing at Omer across the clearing, hauling a log with Toren, their laughter carrying. Moonridge was healing, and I was part of it.

That evening, Omer and I stole a moment alone, walking hand in hand through the forest, our fingers laced tightly, the bracelet and amulet glinting on my wrist. The trees seemed to hum, their energy welcoming now, no longer watching with suspicion.

The moonlight filtered through the branches, casting dappled patterns on the path, and the air smelled of pine and earth, alive with the forest’s pulse.

Omer’s hand was warm, his grip steady, and I squeezed his fingers, my heart full.

“This place feels different,” I said, my voice soft, glancing at him. “Like it knows we belong together.”

He stopped, turning to face me, his gray eyes soft in the moonlight, his thumb brushing over my knuckles.

“It does,” he said, his voice warm, pulling me closer, our joined hands resting against his chest. “You’re Moonridge’s heart now, Aurora.

You changed everything, made us stronger.

I can’t imagine this place without you.”

I smiled, stepping closer, our hands still locked, the warmth of his skin grounding me.

“I was thinking,” I said, my voice light but earnest, “about that sanctuary we talked about. A place for shifters and humans to learn from each other, to coexist. We could build it here, near the sacred circle, make it a symbol of what we’ve done. ”

His eyes lit up, and he squeezed my hand, his grip tightening. “A sanctuary,” he said, his voice warm with excitement. “I love it. A place where our worlds meet, where pups grow up knowing both sides. You’d run it, wouldn’t you? Teaching, researching, driving everyone crazy with your notes.”

I laughed, our hands swinging gently between us as we started walking again, the path winding deeper into the forest. “You know me too well,” I said, teasing.

“I’d have charts and data everywhere. But you’d be there too, showing them how to track, how to shift without losing themselves. We’d make it work, Omer.”

He nodded, his fingers tightening around mine, his voice soft. “We will,” he said. “A home for us, for the pack, for anyone who believes in what we’ve built. Maybe even a place for our own kids one day, running through these woods.”

My heart skipped, the idea sweet and vivid, and I leaned against him, our hands still clasped, the forest quiet around us. “Kids, huh?” I said, my voice playful but warm. “You’re already planning our family? Slow down, alpha.”

He chuckled, stopping again, pulling me close, our hands pressed between us, his breath warm against my cheek.

“Can’t help it,” he said, his voice low.

“I see it, Aurora. You and me, a cabin of our own, teaching our kids to love this place like we do. Nights by the fire, days exploring these trails, hand in hand, like this.”

I looked up at him, my heart full, our fingers still entwined, the bracelet and amulet warm on my wrist. “I want that,” I said, my voice soft. “All of it. This forest, this life, with you.”

He leaned down, kissing me softly, his lips lingering, the bond between us steady and bright. “Then it’s ours,” he said, his voice a promise. “We’ll build it, together.”

We stood there, hands locked, the forest wrapping around us like a vow, its pulse in sync with ours. “One more thing,” I said, grinning, pulling back slightly but keeping our hands joined. “You promised me a run, your way. Show me what this forest looks like from a wolf’s back.”