Chapter 280. The Divide

Aurora’s POV

The evening had turned sour, a dark cloud hanging over everything as Alice led Ashton away to a room that no one in the pack was allowed near. I could feel the tension creeping up my spine, twisting into a knot as she whispered something in his ear before the door closed behind them. But it wasn’t just Alice and Ashton I had to worry about. Avery and Maggie were on the other side of the room, their eyes shooting daggers in my direction, seething with anger. The room felt suffocating, the air thick with the unspoken accusations, and as if on cue, the sounds of the searchers rummaging through their rooms echoed in the silence.

They didn’t speak. They didn’t need to. Their stares were enough to make me feel small, as if I were the one in the wrong, as if I were the one betraying them. The minutes stretched into hours, the silence between us heavier than any words could convey. I could feel Maggie’s eyes burning into me, her fury simmering beneath her cal