~Emeric~

　　There is always hope for someone as hopeless as myself. I rubbed my nose and looked at the wall clock, a gymnasium always has a clock. It was way past the timing that she usually comes around here. And I wonder why no soul except for her tried to even enter the gymnasium to get fitter.

　　'Then there is my mate. An absolute unit who loves to be under the moonlight, train under a roof and keep us company~'

　　The words spoken by Marrok in my head made me throw up.

　　'Hey! That's not very nice! As a wolf in love with a delicate soul like her~ I am bound to fall into my character of hopeless romantic! Unlike you, you don't even have a heart— Oh wait. I take it back. There must be a reason why you are HERE in the first place. Right~?'

　　'What the actual fuck...? Marrok, are you in your senses? Do you need a concoction to set your thoughts right? I could go down to the healers right now and—' Suddenly, both of our talks stopped the moment a whiff of scent flowed into the gymnasium with the air from outside.

　　I took a deep breath...it wasn't Marrok who was forcing me to do this. It was me!

　　'See what you are doing, Emeric~' Marrok teased me once again. My cheeks are flushed hot and I'm sure of it. Well, it hasn't been a hindrance of our schedules 'clashing' with each other. I'd rather die than admit to anyone that I purposefully rescheduled my day's events to match my training in the gym with Aurora Fangborn.

　　Do NOT get me wrong!

　　I am here only to observe and track her progress. Otherwise, we each are in our own world and training side by side. Or rather, she situated herself far away from me to have her own private bubble. That's absolutely fine.

　　'Hmm...you're okay with our mate keeping distance from us because your impulsive ass could do anything to her while she is literally as vulnerable as a baby when she lifts weights. Oh...I wonder if her skin is as smooth as a baby too. She looks so soft and feminine...'

　　'What the hell is wrong with you, Marrok? Don't sexualize the poor girl!' I yelled at Marrok in my head, while my eyes were fixated on the door. She could walk in any time now, and I'll have to act unbothered.

　　'Oh! Is that your protective side which just jumped out, Emeric!?'

　　'Please shut the fuck up...'

　　And there she was, like an angel dressed in all gray. If I remember correctly, she had a crop top with a hood to the back which gave away to everyone that she was still recovering. She is hiding it now, and I don't want to be delusional.

　　Or maybe...she's truly hiding it from me taking notice of her injuries?

　　Well, I'm aware she's under treatment. I have taken her to the healers myself and left from the chambers just as quickly. But I don't have a complete idea of what they've done to her.

　　I was gazing at her subtly, until her eyes accidentally locked with mine.

　　'Oh Goddess, her cute doe eyes can also become as sharp as the siren. She looks like a dragon, Emeric!' Marrok was distracting me in my head,

　　"Good evening, Prince Emeric." Her cheerful voice made me lose streak of the set I was performing. The awkward greeting back was with a voice crack and an utterly disgusting sharp exhale.

　　I sounded like a dying frog trying to communicate...

　　She couldn't help but scoff out a laugh as well, and took her equipment to the spot she's picked and been using since a week. To the far corner, so far away from me.

　　'Ah, see? You do want her by your side. And that was totally embarrassing, Emeric. I feel so awkward with second hand embarrassment right now.'

　　'Marrok...please shut the fuck up.' I replied to my wolf...all while keeping an eye on Aurora. Her scent has now filled the whole hall, and it's quite big. The storage of equipment.

　　I gulped heavily, and put the weights down. I lost the streak anyway, and I don't wish to train my muscles aimlessly. However, I noticed something twisted on her face as she began training by herself. I furrowed my eyebrows, she seemed to be in agony.

　　If I'm not wrong...

　　I couldn't help myself but walk my legs towards her,

　　"Hey, Cadet Aurora." She stopped and looked up at me, but not before scrunching her face up in pain. I was right. She was enduring a little too much beyond her limits. She didn't even have a wolf to heal her!

　　Out of everyone else, I knew how badly this must be hurting her body. She's frail, too. If I could, I would take all her pain to myself and leave her happy and functioning normally.

　　"What is it, Prince E—"

　　"How long has it been since you woke up? Did you take the medications and rest well after today's trial?" I asked her quickly. She seemed baffled, but answered me after a second,

　　"I- I did take the medicines but couldn't sleep because of a- a few things on my head, Your Majesty. I'll go back to my room now,"

　　"That won't work." Confirming it for her, I quickly bent down and picked her up in one fell swoop.

　　"Your majesty!" Her voice squeaked out, her eyes wide as our gazes met. Oh my Goddess...this is the closest I've ever been to her and she's so, so pretty from up close. I'll have to control myself...

　　"We are going down to the healer's chamber. Right now." And I began walking down the hallway, exiting the gym. There was no one at this hour at night, lucky me.

　　"B- But I can walk there myself, your Highness, I-"

　　"With the pain in your body, I am surprised you are even talking to me right now." I subtly hinted to her to shut her trap, and she did, after mumbling out a soft apology.

　　How adorable!

　　I mean...ahem!

　　"Y-Your majesty!" Indeed, it is an odd hour even for me to come down to the healers chamber.

　　"Treat her right away. Keep her here for the entire night, and do what you must if she protests. It's an order." I say sternly to both of them. Aurora had her cute eyes widened once more, and I placed her down on the patient bed.

　　I overlooked a few procedures for her, as she laid on her stomach and three healers and their subordinates worked on her healing. I stayed there for a couple of minutes, and then left.

　　Although, it was coincidentally the same time where she twisted her neck to mumble out words of gratitude for what I've done. But I was already walking away, much to her dismay. She couldn't help but pout at my back.

　　In her head, after all, I'm still the 'hot-and-cold' guy she rejected at the bar, twice.