~Emeric~

　　Should I take the step towards them...or not?

　　She seems happy to be in a conversation with that man. My presence will only bring silence to the field and it will be terribly awkward. Do I shift on my feet and turn back around? Go back using the same pathway I've come from?

　　'Emeric. Only a coward will do it. She is our mate! If anything, we are her type! Not the white geek!'

　　'White geek? Look who's naming people out of jealousy now.'

　　'Don't lie to yourself as well, Emeric. You are crazily in love with her and it is pretty, pretty evident.'

　　'Whatever. Leave me alone. I have to...'

　　'So you've made up your mind.'

　　Oh no...

　　Curse you, Marrok!

　　He laughed inside me as I watched my foot take a step, without my permission! Marrok took over my senses briefly and purposefully made me crunch up a few dried leaves! The sound caught their attention as i quickly gained composure.

　　"P-Prince, Emeric!" My mate had yelled in surprise,

　　"Your majesty," the white geek swiftly stood up and bowed down to me, his fist against his chest to show respect. I watched them with my head tilted upwards. With my chin, I pointed to Aurora.

　　"I've been told by the emergency that you have encountered danger. I was sent here by the authorities. Since it is, indeed, my responsibility." Aurora's almond eyes widened as Odin Blackwood stepped aside. I walked to the woman, my voice had softened tenfold than previous.

　　"Are you alright?" I looked into the eyes of Aurora.

　　...That seemed to be a mistake I've committed, accidentally. My heart wouldn't stop beating out of my chest. It's uncontrollable. Even Marrok cannot control whatever was going on inside my body. I acted cool, but deep within, I prayed profusely that my heartbeat won't be heard by any of them both.

　　"My lord, we could have some assistance from the paramedics. I think her ankle has broken." Odin Blackwood spoke from behind me. Jealousy spiked inside my heart as I controlled my impulse to reciprocate with something nasty!

　　"Do not impose that you haven't read the rules, Odin Blackwood. We all know that the paramedics are incapable of passing through the labyrinth to reach all the way here. It is the outer ring of the dark forest. Norms and rules don't exist in a wild place like this." I said to the male. A small amount of guilt consumed me for speaking rudely with someone who was suggesting my mate's wellbeing. But the feeling faded as quickly as it was perceived by my heart.

　　"If you trust me, Aurora Fangborn, I know some tricks to fix your ankle as well. I have a vial of healing potion with me too, physical pain can be deducted with this formula." I said, handing the small bottle to her from my pocket. Her eyes widened, making the most adorable expression I've ever seen on a person.

　　"Thank you...Prince Emeric." I looked up at her once more. She remembers my rule to address me the way she does. I am delighted to think that she thinks we are 'alone' and that's why she addresses me as Prince Emeric. It gives me happiness, because I can ignore the existence of Odin Blackwood that way.

　　"It's going to hurt initially. But I want you to chug the vial contents down as soon as I fix your ankle, alright?" I instructed her. Fear was evident in her eyes as she nodded hastily.

　　I gave her a few seconds to relax, and I began preparing to take her shoes and other gear from her feet.

　　"Oh— My lord, let me help you—" Odin Blackwood tried to assist. But I won't give him a chance to touch her cute little feet. They're so tiny! I had to hold my smile back for this reason.

　　"Prince Emeric, please let him assist. You shouldn't be doing these things for me..." the way she said it made me twist my neck to look at Odin.

　　"A person to another person, is still someone with nature. I don't discriminate amongst people, Odin Blackwood. It's alright." My words made him fall back, "Yes, your majesty. I understand."

　　I took my time with it, removing her sock painstakingly slowly. I held back a chuckle when she made a face at me,

　　"This foot doesn't hurt as much, Prince Emeric. You can um...pull it off." My only response to Aurora's suggestion was a glare. Her eyes widened for a second and she looked away. She knows I don't like being disturbed. Experience she's gained from training with me at the equipment room.

　　Holding her foot with both hands, I gave her one last look. She was prepared with the vial, ready to chug it down as soon as I twisted her ankle back into position. There was a loud snap to which she almost screamed! But her shaky hand swiftly threw the vial towards her mouth as she gulped it. Few drops spilled out because of her hasty movements, but she recovered quickly.

　　"Whoa..." Odin was surprised as well.

　　"Good job, Cadet. Now, we can start moving towards the exit. It will shut down after approximately an hour. The timer is fixed."

　　"Th-Thank you for looking out for me, Prince Emeric. But in all honesty, Odin and I can reach there quickly. You should go back to observe the participants. I...don't want to cause a bias or any other issues for you. People are quick to assume things if it is to their liking."

　　"People are quick to assume, you say? Well, doesn't it also mean I have been a responsible host for the trails? Don't fret too much, Cadet. I've been doing this for years now, spectating for even more." Saying, I stood up over her. I was about to offer my hand for her to take, but my probably rival has beaten me to it. I lost my smile, I looked to my side to watch Odin slowly bringing her up to her feet.

　　He had even assisted to put her shoes, gear and everything back on her legs. It should have been me. Not him.

　　And then, we got going. Before the timer is cut off, I need to bring them both to the exit at any cost. Although, I'd be very pleased to let Odin drop off anywhere in the middle without being harmed. Any situation where he can run away from us, never to return until the end.

　　Ugh! What am I even thinking!? I shouldn't be praying for a contestant's downfall even if it means a lot to me, on a personal level. Few minutes later, I looked at Odin and Aurora having a conversation ever since the beginning of our journey. I could feel my eye twitching. I can't bear to hear them keep talking!

　　"I think the labyrinth doesn't end. I am very concerned for the ones who haven't found an exit despite having a map. Our team had encountered a centaur, a rogue one! We had a tough time collecting the quest reward from him." Said Odin Blackwood. I listened to their conversation which took a sudden turn, in silence.

　　"Oh! Oh! My team encountered the land kraken! I crawled my way towards here and oh boy, it was big!" Odin gasped at what Aurora said. That's right, Odin. She's special, she will be awarded more points because of the dangers she's encountered and tackled with bravery.

　　"No way! Was that the reason why you fell from the cliff!?" Aurora nodded vigorously. She proceeded to iterate her journey, her feelings and the way she rolled off the cliff after saving her teammate. She is such a courageous girl.

　　Odin, and myself as well, heard her speak about the experience of this trial. In all honesty, my emotions escalated at a few instances during her narration. I've been watching her from the cameras placed in the maze, but that wasn't quite enough. Her viewpoints, few of the ups and downs, opportunities, everything from her perspective weighed heavily on my mind.

　　Soon, I even joined their conversation while exchanging views. Mostly, I was talking about why we chose what was supposed to be there in the maze. What purpose it shall serve in testing our contestants for leadership. Everything.

　　By the end of it all, Aurora had her cute little mouth gaped. The other man didn't seem to like me anywhere near her as his expression read so.

　　'Bingo! Your assumptions about them are right, Emeric! I say you remove the threat before you lose her to him! Listen to me!'

　　'No. It'll be lame.'

　　'Fine. Don't mind me if I take over you then,'

　　'Wait, what—!?'

　　There was a shift in the air, and I was locked out of my own body! Marrok had taken over my consciousness as I desperately tried to break through the space! Marrok shouldn't be this powerful! How is he capable of locking me inside my own body!?

　　'Just wait and watch, Emeric. Learn from the God of Love~'

　　'...I am so doomed...'

　　"Ahem!" Suddenly, Marrok cleared his throat as I released a sigh of defeat. Of course, it couldn't be heard. Odin gave me a side eye as I watched Marrok ask Aurora to give the 'men' some privacy.

　　'You seriously have to take a leak? Here?'

　　'Yeah! We walked out of the labyrinth ages ago! Besides, you held your piss in long enough for it to start vaporizing. Yuck!'

　　'Fuck you, Marrok.'

　　Odin and I got into the stance. He gave me a side eye, yet again. It's as if he's been trying to talk to me as well!

　　"Your highness—"

　　"Odin Blackwoo—"

　　We looked at each other, dead in the eye.

　　"Okay, this is going nowhere. Listen here, Emeric. I know you're trying to hit up on the girl but it's not working. Not working, as long as I'm here, protecting her." My eyes widened! Apparently, Marrok stayed quiet and didn't show a shred of emotion for his words! This is concerning! I don't want to reveal to anyone that she's our mate!

　　"Well, that's a terrible statement."

　　"What was it?" Raising an eyebrow threateningly, the disrespectful male gazed at me. How dare he call me by my name!

　　"You're being protective of her. That's because I am protective of her against you! You're a vague person whose morals are built below the ground! Don't ever think you have a chance with her, Odin."

　　"Oh yeah? And you think you have a chance with HER!? You made her hate you, Emeric! That's right. I hear everything about you from her. Apparently, guess which books you are interested in. Not the good ones, I'll tell you!" My eye had started twitching already.

　　'You know what, Marrok? Go all out on him. But don't ever mention she's our mate.' Oh, I can feel my boy smirking, my wolf is about to chew him up.

　　'You leave it to me, Emeric.'

　　"And what makes YOU think you have a chance with her!? You're nowhere close to my royalty. So what is the Stormchaser pack that is a great ally with beautiful, pretty boys like yourself? Aurora has much more character than that. She'd always choose someone who is in power. You don't even have the title of 'Alpha' in front of your name!" I feel like Marrok has pressed a point which made the white haired male grab my collar,

　　"That's not what I think she'd look for in a man, Prince Emeric. She'd choose a great heart over a great sac of gold under his seat, any day. Aurora Fangborn is mine.

　　I won't let her fall for you. Ever."

　　I scoffed at his confidence. In my territory, in my trial, he dares to give me a challenge which he knows I'd win with ease. Aurora Fangborn is my fated! He cannot change that fact any time in the future!

　　Without my knowledge, I looked to the front and noticed my hand grabbing his collar as well. Marrok says the same lines I'd never forget,

　　"Aurora Fangborn is the most beautiful wolf I've ever crafted to perfection. She will be mine, and you'll never, ever even have a piece of her. Even through the distance, I'll keep loving her. And I will win her heart, effortlessly. Just keep watching me, Odin Blackwood."