~Emeric~

　　I was monitoring the activity of all trial participants this time. I had no escape into the operating room, unlike the other times for, well...you know.

　　It was so hard for me to admit I still like the woman, even after everything that happened on the night of the banquet. The slap still stings in my heart. The rejection made me overthink, but I barely had time to ponder over it. Preparations for the next Trial, managing authoritative work from the cabin and attending meetings. All of them have kept me busy. In fact, I haven't winked a sleep since last night.

　　Suddenly, Marrok was going feral within me. I could sense Beta Roman suddenly stop his coordination duties between us royal spectators. He could sense the turbulence in me.

　　'Marrok. What's happening?' I enquired the wolf in me,

　　'Emeric, I sense something bad is happening to Aurora. She's not as responsive, I can't seem to sense her the same as before. She's...she's in danger.'

　　My eyes widened. Before I could try and find a way to escape from here, since I'm bound by strict protocol this time, I wanted more evidence. How bad is the problem around her? Marrok says her energy he's been sensing is depleting gradually. What is happening?

　　"Zoom in on camera 47-South." I give out my instructions, as the large monitor in front of me displays the team that stayed there.

　　There were only...two people.

　　My eyes widened even more.

　　"What's the reason for the zoom in, your Highness?" Asked the male adjudicator, turning his seat towards me. I didn't care if I'm being a bother to their rules and protocols at the moment.

　　My mate is in peril!

　　Marrok says so.

　　There is enough evidence in my hands now to tell myself that she is indeed in danger! Or surrounded with danger.

　　I remember the south part of their camp, towards the geographical south of the outer ring, is filled with poisonous mushrooms. Poisonous, as well as hallucinogenic. A chill ran down my spine at the image of her being in that dangerous situation.

　　There was nothing else clicking my mind.

　　She has to be there. Trapped, or...

　　No. I don't think she'd have enemies. Even if there are loopholes where her culprit might be caught by the cameras, I don't think anyone is glad to do such a thing. The contestants are warned sternly over such practices or tactics.

　　Cheating is highly punishable in my Kingdom. The whole world knows this fact.

　　Just as I was about to stand up by impulse, a hand pushes me back down into the seat.

　　"What do you think you're doing?" Roman bent down and whispered in my ears. I took a brief second to analyse my surroundings. All attention was suddenly on me.

　　"Aurora is in danger. She can die any moment if I don't go there, Roman. Don't stop me." I have warned him.

　　"Don't even think about it, Emeric. These people are from different kingdoms, spectating and analyzing. They will judge you. Besides, there is a protocol that you shouldn't be helping anyone in the trials. Don't forget that we've let people almost die in the past trials in our kingdom." He kept whispering as each word only sparked worry in me. He wasn't helping much.

　　"Where do you think you're going, your Highness?" The adjudicator this time was a different man, from a different kingdom. I raised my head high, taking a deep breath. I didn't want rude words to escape me at the moment. But I was also convinced that these words shall help me go to her.

　　"None of your business, adjudicator. And Roman, I don't care if I'm breaking the protocol this time. There is someone who is close to dying in my Kingdom. As the Prince and future king of this glorious kingdom, I'd rather break the protocol and save a life than follow it." Saying the words in anger, which was definitely unnecessary, I sprinted out of the large monitoring room.

　　Taking the fastest transport to the south gate of Whispering dark woods was more of an impulsive decision. The garage where my keepers maintain my personal transportation vehicles suddenly jumped at my appearance.

　　"Is this still working?" I asked, pointing at the covered object. The older mechanic who put his hand on his nephew's shoulder, took over the response as he said,

　　"It's as good as new, Your Highness." That's all I needed to veil down the bike.

　　My Harley Davidson...

　　It's been three years since I've touched this beautiful piece of metal.

　　As I climbed on it, the engine revved upon kickstart.

　　The sound of it burned the passion back in my dying heart. The passion to get to Aurora and make sure that she was alright.

　　And I raced down the lanes thrice as faster than I would have in my wolf form. I was going at the highest speed possible, not using breaks anywhere needed.

　　"Y-Your majesty!" The heavy security around the gates which opened several hours ago got into positions upon sensing me coming up. It was around night time, and the headlights of my bike were glaring them down significantly.

　　"Allow me access to go within."

　　"B-But, your majesty—"

　　"Do you plan on disobeying the orders of your Prince? I'm the host of this trial. I have authority more than anyone else." Reminding him of the actual power I had, I watched the guards immediately work on opening the gates just wide enough for me to go inside.

　　I could hear the guards around me gulping. My alpha pheromones of rage must be affecting their delta ranks.

　　And then, I shifted into my wolf form. The big black wolf had taken over me.

　　'Like always, Marrok. I'm leaving the rest to you.'

　　'Ah. I know that.'

　　The earth immediately next to us shook a little as Marrok took the first big sprint. Rage and vigor helps us to keep predators away in this situation, too.

　　She's only three miles away. My preservation of Marrok's strength and fatigue helped him cover this distance within few minutes!

　　As we got closer to the treacherous, sinister allure of the Dark woods, I could already sense her out.

　　'She passed out cold in the middle of somewhere. Isn't she?' I asked Marrok, who was sniffing the ground for her scent.

　　'It appears so, Emeric. Calm down, I can still sense her.'

　　After he assured me once again, I shifted back into my human form. The poisonous plants and mushrooms around here might affect me. I'm entirely dependent on Marrok at this moment as he can regulate all my systems to function without breathing for at least twenty minutes.

　　With the concentration of her scent, I'm sure I'll find her within that time. If not, I'll just have to go back to a safe zone and come back again with my lungs filled with oxygen. As the process began, I felt light headed.

　　Marrok will take care of that as well.

　　However, I found Aurora within a few minutes. My eyes widened at the sight of her, lying cold on the mushy ground, unconscious.

　　I didn't notice how I've got a spectator, though. I was too concerned with Aurora. My mate…