Tuesday morning, after a sleepless night for the Dale and Maddox families. The moment of truth was upon them.
Morel appeared in Aurora's room. Waiting inside were Anderson, Aiden, Cherise and Renee. She conjured up a restraint for Aurora's head to keep it locked in place so if there was a struggle, Aurora won't accidentally break her neck.
Morel then looked at everyone in the room, and as expected, Anderson was the further away from everyone else in the room.
A rift had been formed in the family. Morel didn't wish to see it like this, especially since she agreed with Anderson's decision.
"I can show them if you want." Morel offered to Anderson. He looked at her coldly and shook his head.
"If they want." Anderson dismissively said. Morel pursed her lips and sighed.
"This cannot continue, they are misunderstanding you." Morel rubbed her forehead in frustration.
"And what of it? Will they forgive me for making the decision?" Anderson asked and Morel didn't answer. He was right, it couldn't possibly make it better, but she was unwilling to give up, so see showed them regardless.
"I hope you understand this is the only path to take, it's the safer path. And one Aurora will be thankful for it." Morel mumbled, Aiden, Renee and Cherise looked at Morel then back at Anderson.
In real time, what she showed them only took a few seconds, but in their minds it was like watching a twenty-minute video.
And as Anderson predicted, though they understood why this path was the right one, they couldn't see clear due to their emotions. To Anderson, this was alright, he would gladly take on everyone's resentment if it meant keeping Aurora safe.
The room was silent, only the slight shuffling of movement or breathing was heard. It felt like hours were passing them by slowly. Yet everyone was focused on the girl lying on the bed.
"Whatever you do, don't speak and listen closely to my instructions, otherwise I will teleport you away." Morel said to them, he eyes trained on Aurora.
When she began to stir, everyone held they breath in fear of startling her. Aurora let out a groan, her head was aching badly. The unconscious movement of her wanting to move her hand to rub her forehead was what she intended to do.
So when she moved her arm to lift it and was met with resistance, she panicked. She let out a gasp, her foggy mind woke up immediately.
Opening her eyes, a familiar ceiling greeted her. It took her one second to figure out she was strapped to the bed.
"What the hell?" She grunted out, her throat sore. Her body was aching and itching. "What's going on? Ren?"
Aurora asked out loud, she didn't realize everyone was staring at her intently. Morel was readying her spell to knock Aurora out at any giving moment. Because when that last barrier collapsed, it was either Aurora went all out or she went into her last shift. None of that was good in the state she was currently in.
"Ren?" Aurora's confused voice sound out again. "Mom? Dad?"
Her voice was barely above a whisper because of her sore throat. Renee wanted to open her mouth and answer, but Morel was quicker and shot her a look.
"Ren? What is going on? I'm scared mom. Dad, something is wrong. Why am I tied up." Aurora's fear could be felt by them, it was choking them. Morel looked at Aurora with a pity filled gaze.
She wanted to help her, but this hurdle was hers alone to jump over. Aurora mind went blank. She didn't call out or ask anything anymore.
"It's happening!" Morel warned the family. "Be prepared,"
Aiden, Cherise and Renee exchanged looks, what exactly did they need to prepare for? Renee glanced at Anderson, whose gaze was fixated on Aurora.
'He knows.' Renee concluded, Of course he would know. Maybe she would have known to, but they haven't spoken a word to each other in the last couple of hours.
While the family waited, Aurora was pulled into her mind by Ren. It was an odd thing, the feeling was out of this world.
A pure white space, nothing but vast emptiness. So hollow and white, Aurora didn't like it. It scared her badly.
"Aurora," Ren's weak voice woke Aurora from her stupor, the wolf's voice came from behind her, so she turned.
Lying on her side was the wolf form of herself. Her other half, Ren. Aurora watched as Ren took deep, rapid breaths.
"Ren?" Aurora called out as she walked towards the wolf. She stretched her hand out and touched the black and brown fur. The warmth radiating off Ren's fur made Aurora more aware that what ever this was. It was one hundred percent real.
"How is this possible? Why can I touch you? This makes no sense." Aurora mumbled.
"Aurora," Ren gasped weakly, Aurora frowned and moved closer to Ren pressing her hand deeper into her fur.
"What's the matter, Ren? What's going on?" Aurora asked, in that instant she felt it. The pain struck her off guard. "Arghhh!"
Aurora body convulsed as she fell to her side still clutching Ren's fur loosely, she could not keep down her screaming. It felt like her body was being crushed slowly.
"Arghhh, It hurts! Ahhh Ren!" Aurora screamed for her wolf. Ren could only watch as her human experience the pain that has been crippling her ever since Alaric rejected them.
She couldn't do anything. Ren was completely powerless, Tears soaked her furry face, it was the first time she had ever cried.
Ren moved her head and touched Aurora's head with her snout. "I'm so sorry, Aurora. This pain, I promise I'll make it go away."
And slowly the pain went away. It took a long time for the pain to recede completely. Aurora's chest rose and fell in quick successions, as if she was running a long race.
When Aurora finally got a grip on herself, she sat up. Ren was still lying on her side, but that rapid breathing from earlier became shallow.
Ren's breathing was weak and when Aurora realized this she panicked. "Ren! Ren what's wrong with you?"
She shook Ren gently, Ren weakly opened her eyes and looked at her human counterpart.
"My human, my sweet human." Ren voice was even weaker than before, not to mention softer. "I'll take the pain away. I promise you won't feel that pain anymore."
"No," Aurora cried out mournfully, "What's going on? Ren, why are you like this? Ren, Ren!"
"Don't you remember, he rejected us." Ren whispered, "He rejected us as a wolf, body and soul. That pain is the pain you'd always feel if I don't take it away. The pain of an incomplete soul, An incomplete werewolf."
"No," Aurora cried, "No Ren, give me back the pain. It's killing you, I can feel it, I can feel you slipping away."
"This is the last thing I would ever do for you, Rory. There is no need for you to die in constant pain. My love for you transcends. Please understand, please respect my wish." Ren was telling her goodbye, just that alone sent Aurora into a frenzy. She threw herself onto Ren and hugged her wolf into her body.
"No, I won't let you! You can't leave me! We'll find away, Ren please." Aurora screamed, and begged Ren. In the end, Ren let Aurora cry and scream as much as she liked.
And when Aurora calm down a bit she spoke once more, "Aurora, my human half. I'm sure you can live without me. Please don't let my sacrifice be in vain."
"No Ren!" Aurora cried, she wanted to say more. She had more thing to say to the being that has been with her since she was born. Their memories together, the up and downs, the arguments and all the fun times they had together all flashed in Aurora's head.
From their first shift and to their first run. Everything of significance they shared. Felt so fleeting.
"Live my human!" Ren said once again as her form began to fade. Aurora felt Ren slipping from her embrace, then her fingertips.
It took five seconds for the warm body in her embrace to become nothingness. Aurora was alone in the vast white space.
Aurora felt empty, she had never felt so empty in her life. And she knew why, Ren was no more. Her wolf was dead!