~Emeric~

　　"So, do you agree, Aurora Fangborn?" I stood her over the crowd and asked, in the morning. She questioned me about my proposal later, to which I couldn't help but reply,

　　"It's for your own benefit. Isn't it?"

　　'Oi,' Marrok suddenly spoke in my head, 'Aren't you being too harsh with the girl? She should have our complete trust and considerate of her. Poor Aurora, she's lost her parents and her own people have started looking down on her. On the same night.'

　　'Marrok. You wouldn't understand. As much as I want to help Aurora stand on her own feet, reach a point of revelation by herself, I want to handle things for her too. It's not that I'm not capable nor am I being harsh on her. It's for her growth.' I replied to Marrok.

　　The girl beside me wouldn't stop sniffling and bawling her eyes out. A part of me wishes to kiss her cheek gently and say, 'Everything is going to be alright from here on, sweetheart. You can lean on me.'

　　But at the same time, I don't reveal my aces so quickly.

　　'If you know what I'm thinking, Marrok.' I said to the wolf in me who has unlimited access to my thoughts.

　　'Ah. I get it now. You seem to be protective of her.'

　　'That's the right kind of protection. Probably the only kind of protection I can offer her at the moment. And I think whoever planned the murder of her parents, is targeting her as well.' Marrok went silent for a second.

　　'How are you so confident in stating that?' I shrugged my shoulders physically,

　　'Just a hunch.'

　　That's right. Unlike every other hunches of mine have come true, I'd hate to be powerless and do nothing about it while I can save my first chance mate. She's my only mate, if I may say so myself. I do not believe in second chance mates.

　　Protecting her from her own kind must be a secret at all costs. But at the same time, she must agree to comply with my demands within the trial. My demands will be naturally aiding her to solve her own mystery. Of how her parents were murdered.

　　I'm stressing on murder, because I've checked the case myself.

　　It wasn't rash driving by either of the truck driver which sent the car rolling off the cliff and blast, neither was it because of the driver who jumped out just in time.

　　All these sequences suggested nothing but a planned murder to me.

　　Looking beside me, coming back to reality, I was now fully convinced the girl is too little to know about the world around her. Growing up arrogant naturally slows down maturity.

　　It's as if looking at myself in the mirror.

　　However, things have changed drastically for me when I took over the alliance and the Lycan Kingdom last year. I had no time to grief. Work had kept me sufficiently distracted throughout.

　　I believe I've chosen the right thing for her. As she goes through the trials, she will understand that the world around her is going to be the same. It's SHE who has to grow stronger.

　　And the trials, if I may say so myself, are one of the toughest competitions to ever exist. I believe on Aurora, that she can do it.

　　We didn't speak further after that.

　　Evening struck quicker than I thought. And I found myself dragging her through the hallways, holding her frail wrist.

　　'Be gentle with her. As much as she means to you, she means even more to me.' Marrok warned me in a serious tone, so unlike him.

　　'I wouldn't want to see how protective you'd become of her if she awakened her wolf.'

　　'Oh-ho-ho! I'm going to be a different beast then, wouldn't I?'

　　'You sure will.'

　　Aurora climbs into the car, and i look back to see her people wearing different expressions each.

　　"I hope you've bid your goodbyes to the girl. She might never even come back." I heard no gasps. The elders looked down to their feet,

　　"Very well then." I walked to the other side of the car, settling in. I tried paying no attention to the sweet smelling girl beside me. My mate smells way too enticing. But I'm obliged to keep this as a secret. Until Aurora herself realizes that I'm her mate.

　　We reached my Kingdom in no time. I catch her staring out of the window, watching a city like structure around the citadel, where my palace is.

　　It's technically our Lycan pack house, but since I'm the royal blood, it's built into a palace and has been a palace since centuries.

　　"Dinner will be at seven thirty everyday. Use the training grounds wisely, you have a head start for trials selection since you've arrived here early. Candidates shall begin joining in two months." Her eyebrows jumped.

　　"I should have stayed at my pack house for two months then. Why have you brought me here...?"

　　Her innocence is her greatest drawback. The way she asks me, suggests me she is still incapable of being independent. On her feet, by herself. Thank Goddess, I've brought her here by pure instinct.

　　It was better not to answer her, and I continue with my phrasal explanation,

　　"You'll be assigned a room to yourself, your belongings have already started going there ahead of you. Do not expect to be treated like the Lady of a pack here. You're a candidate for trials. Best of luck." Saying that, I walked out of the car.

　　She sat there for a few seconds, I looked at her over my shoulder. And I kept walking away...with my hand tightly fisted, hiding in my pocket.

　　Deep into night that day, after working into midnight yet again, I walked to the common training ground past the east wing. It's my nightly routine to exercise for awhile before showering and hitting the bed.

　　As I walked closer, my ears picked up sounds of soft, muffled sniffles. By the scent that lingers around heavily, I quickly guessed who it must be.

　　My body leaned against the wall, and I looked into the chamber of gym equipment storage to the fag end of the training ground.

　　She was crying.

　　She was breaking her tough exterior that she's put up since yesterday. It must've finally burst after bottling it up for so long. I understand her.

　　Well, I could skip exercising tonight to give her some privacy at least.