~Emeric~

　　'Hey...' Marrok spoke within me.

　　'It's not the end of the world. He's simply touching her hair, making her feel alright before they resume their walk. It's friendship, Emeric. Besides, I am sure that Aurora and us are destined to be with each other. There is no destiny alternative to this occurrence. We are a Fated pair for a reason.'

　　Marrok spoke as I opened my eyes again.

　　There...I saw Odin looking into her eyes which shimmered against the moonlight reflecting on her beautiful face. Her hair was messy, that was why he was trying to fix it for her. Her beauty was captured by the slightly rippling water from the pond beneath her.

　　I swear, and I do, that I saw something twinkle in her eyes as she stared back into his odd colored eyes.

　　My heart, I could hear it shatter within my ribs. It felt as though someone pinched it physically, it must have been Aurora herself. Have I not confessed about my feelings and the truth about our pairing any sooner, none of this would have happened.

　　Odin and Aurora wouldn't have been friends, and I wouldn't be stalking them like a creep. Aurora would not have to go through such a tough phase if it wasn't for me, who withdrew myself from expressing who she really is to me. If she is suffering, it is because of me.

　　'Emeric. Stop catastrophizing. You're ruining our peace. Let's go back, I'm sure Odin has now gained awareness that someone's following them. Let's go.' Marrok spoke sternly as I held my head down. Is this what I'd do if I'm facing a distorted resolution? Escape from the situation?

　　However, like Marrok suggested, I should protect my peace and get the hell out of here. Before things escalate and I would be forced to see things that I shouldn't...

　　The announcement for a banquet was given a day before. I had a formal invitation sent to a list of guests, and was working on the arrangements, all by myself. Distracting myself from the situation seemed fair and well. I don't remember getting a wink of sleep either, but I was content with the fact that I'll be seeing Aurora. I've got information that she will be attending the banquet at the palace main hall.

　　The next day had arrived. Mainly, I was looking forward to the event, and someone's appearance that will blow my mind away.

　　I am pretty sure that everything and anything that my mate wears, she looks like a runway model.

　　And when she finally walked through the doors of the hall...Marrok and I swore on one thing.

　　If she deserves anything from us, it is all the respect and love in this world. She's way too beautiful to be called an angel, too. The way her shy persona takes over, and her walk, which seemed confident at first slowly retorted to a slow and steady walk through the crowd....

　　My conscience told me that she's hearing something she doesn't want to. So I paid attention to what the crowd around her were saying. My eyes are shut for improved concentration, and I could hear their words.

　　They weren't very kind to her. Jealousy is what I think triggered the ladies around her to speak so lowly of Aurora Fangborn. If only I could jump down the elevated aisle and scream at the women, defending Aurora and telling them that my mate is far, far better than any of their rotten personalities.

　　However, I felt enraged by the man holding her delicate hand. It should have been me...it should always be me holding her hand. Reassuring her that she's the most beautiful, stunning and gorgeous woman on earth and other realms if possible.

　　'In our wolf realm, I've already considered Aurora's unawakened wolf to be the prettiest. This realm classifies too, I bet.' Marrok spoke in my head as I chuckled under the glass. I was greeting a few guests, having finally turned around and began mingling with people of my kind and status.

　　'That's good to hear. I don't mind what color her wolf would be.' I replied to Marrok, while holding a trivial conversation with a man,

　　'Me neither, Emeric. We don't discriminate~'

　　You bet, Marrok.

　　It was funny how I stayed so close to the corridor and refused to listen to Roman. He was insisting that I walk around and talk to my guests. And not stay stoic in one position and expect my guests to start talking to me by their own initiative. No, I would rather stay here and gaze lovingly at my mate whom I've realized...

　　...that I've fallen in love with.

　　Few moments have passed by. Few more people have tried to talk to me, only to find that my interest was deviated from their trivial, useless talk about businesses. They seem to assume I don't have enough experience in the field of business, given my age. I'm not that old yet, 21 is a decent age for a Prince, I think. I'm not being shady, but the fact that people speak without knowing the truth makes me walk out of their conversation. Besides, if it were an interesting topic as well, I'd not pay attention to them. Because my eyes are following Aurora wherever she walks around the hall.

　　Gulping the champagne, I looked at Roman who was in a world of his own. I bet he is tipsy. But he's got to do me a favor, 'Roman. I'm going to have to make a nature visit. Take care of the guests for my absence. I'll owe you,'

　　'Good Goddess...you always make me do this, your majesty.' His drunken self replied in a bitter tone.

　　All the way to the restroom, I had to keep my eyes down for a few reasons. One being...my wolf was unstable because of the alcoholic effect and will threaten anyone who comes our way. We have to go to our mate, and talk to her. My eyes were glowing red, too. I could feel it.

　　Tonight...is the night.

　　Whilst a couple walked out of the restroom, holding hands, I watched Aurora walk in. I waited for a few moments, and signaled the guards to come to my 'safety'. Since it is a public event, I might be attacked by anyone, right? In my most vulnerable state.

　　Using my Prince card for my purpose, I entered the restroom behind Aurora. I leaned against the wall, purposefully hiding myself in the shadows. All the while, I kept thinking about my decision. Was tonight the only night I could do this?

　　All was solidified when the whiff of her scent hit my nose. I opened my eyes, and stared at her oblivious figure washing her hands by the sink. I tried to control my breathing. But as she saw my reflection in the mirror, she freaked out!

　　"Pr-Prince Emeric..." she called my name, her gaze moved down to what I was holding.

　　What? I carried the champagne glass all the way till here without my conscience. How drunk was I?

　　Placing the glass down, I waited for her to approach me. She wiped her hands with the paper towel, and walked to me as I kept dangling like seaweed planted to the ground.

　　"Prince Emeric, you should go back."

　　......

　　She listened to my rant about how she treated me back then, close to two years ago at the bar!

　　I guess few memories just stay in the unconscious mind until they resurface with a trigger. And the trigger...was that I want her to feel connected with me. I wanted her to know that I'd ask her for a dance regardless of who she was. That was exactly why, at her birthday party, I offered to give her a dance. And I offered myself a second chance, thinking she would've changed by then.

　　But...no! Aurora Fangborn was still Aurora Fangborn, and it hurt me for the second time! Not as much as the first time, but it did!

　　She kept apologizing, and later, kept spacing out in her plethora of thoughts. I grew annoyed and brought her eyes to face me. Her eyes were widened for the umpteenth time that night.

　　Things will go in a direction planned by destiny, right?

　　At that moment, my tipsy mind was convinced that my kiss would make a seal of love that I've grown for her. That she would accept my love, before I reveal that I'm her mate.

　　I leaned forward to kiss her frozen state. As a man, I thought she was allowing me to. What I've failed to recognise...was that she was feeling powerless.

　　...Because of me.

　　By instinct, she slapped me across the face. And that had sobered me up almost instantly.

　　She spat some words at me, tears filled in her eyes as I stayed in my position like a statue.

　　Shouldn't my cheek sting because of the slap? Instead, why was my heart aching so much?

　　What have I done...?