intrepidity

The house was never this loud.

Aurora knew that from the moment she stepped inside. The usual warmth of home—the quiet murmurs of conversation, the distant clatter of dishes, the occasional sound of a door closing—was drowned out by sharp, tense voices.

Something was wrong.

Her stomach twisted as she hesitated in the foyer, clutching the strap of her schoolbag. She could hear voices from the living room—urgent, hushed, like they didn't want to be overheard.

And then—

"Get the damn bandages, now!"

Aurora flinched. That was Elias. He never sounded like that.

She barely had time to process before she was moving, rounding the corner into the living room—

And freezing.

Alec was slumped on the couch, blood smeared across his shirt, his usually gentle face twisted in pain.

Aurora's breath hitched.

"Alec?"

His head lifted slightly, and he forced a weak smile. "Hey, sweetheart."

She didn't hear the rest. Her ears were ringing, her vision blurring as her chest tightened.

Blood. There was so much blood.

Her bag slipped from her fingers, hitting the floor with a dull thud.

"Aurora." Aiden's voice was sharp. Too sharp.

She barely registered movement before someone stepped in front of her, blocking her view. Antonio.

She tried to move past him, but his hands came down on her shoulders, holding her firmly in place.

"Don't look," he muttered.

"But—"

"Aurora, just—" His voice was tight, almost desperate.

She shook her head, panic clawing at her throat. "He's—he's hurt, Antonio, he's—"

"He's fine."

He wasn't. She could see the blood soaking through Alec's shirt. The way his breathing was shallow, his skin a little too pale.

"Why are you lying to me?" Her voice cracked. "Why—"

"Because you don't need to see this!"

The words came out harsher than Antonio meant, and the second they did, regret flashed across his face.

Aurora flinched, stepping back, her lower lip trembling.

"Aurora," Antonio muttered, his expression softening. "I didn't—"

But it was too late.

Her shoulders shook as tears welled up in her eyes, her breath coming too fast. "You—you yelled at me."

Antonio cursed under his breath, raking a hand through his hair.

"Good job, idiot," Atlas muttered, elbowing his twin before stepping forward.

Aurora barely registered the movement before she felt arms wrap around her, warm and steady. Atlas pulled her against his chest, rubbing slow circles on her back.

"Shh," he murmured. "It's okay. Alec is okay."

She shook her head against him. "But he's bleeding—"