~Aurora~

　　They say that the true nature of a person comes out when everyone else around them is in a vulnerable state. After the day, I was venting to Emeric about how stressful my day has been! It was a total wreck and everything was stressing me out on the first day!

　　"Aurora, darling, calm down! You're being hyper right now! It's always fine to feel a burn out on your first day trust me, it happened with me as well!"

　　"Wait…really? Out of all people, you?"

　　"Yes, haha! Looking at me right now, you are kind of taken aback that I felt a huge burnout during my initial days, right? And in your defense, you are one year younger than me when I took over charge of my Kingdom. I was nineteen!"

　　"...right…I never thought you were the kind of person who passed through that stage too…"

　　"Aww, you cutie. It's totally natural. And if you ever feel a burnout which is more than you can handle, you can always come to me. Just for a few hours. And I'd surely lighten up your mood." I closed my eyes, listening to his sultry, sexy voice moaning the last words against my ears.

　　"Say it again, Emeric…lighten my mood up…" I requested,

　　"Oh, I'd do things to you, unexplainable things, baby girl."

　　"Oh lord…" I melted into the mattress, listening to him dirty talk to me. The conversation escalated from there, however, a knock on the door suddenly woke me up from the bed. I whispered into the phone,

　　"Someone's here, Emeric. I'll call you later, alright? Bye, I love you!" Hastily wording it out and cutting the call, I fixed myself before leaping to the door. Maia says it is Torin. It is quite late into the night. What does he want to talk about?

　　"Good evening, Torin."

　　"Good evening, Aurora. Even though it is the night…"

　　"Yes, but I was trying to be formal. Well, tell me."

　　"I…haven't been able to sleep for a while. Something has been bothering me." I crushed my eyebrows together.

　　"What has been bothering you?" I asked, sitting next to him on the couch. The couch was big enough to accommodate three healthy people. And I was considered a healthy skinny woman.

　　"It's about your parents' sudden death."

　　The topic made my head go blank.

　　My main goal to achieve what I wanted, to regain control over my pack, was to reopen the mysterious case which took the lives of my parents. That is what I was here for. That is what I came home for…

　　I realized I've slacked off for two days, the thought of it hadn't crossed my mind until tonight! I kept staring at the ground in front of me.

　　I was trying to remember the conversation I had with Emeric. We were talking about the relic's location. It was very deep into the most dangerous woods of the country. Close to the territory of the outer ring of Whispering Pines kingdom…

　　"I think I might have something else of interest. But at the moment, I want to investigate how my parents have been involved in the accident. Because…the driver was alive. But my parents weren't. It's a huge— oh, well.

　　I might as well tell you,"

　　I could visibly see Torin's pupils widening. What was that kind of reaction?

　　"The artifact of our pack. I might have unlocked a memory of it. During a dire situation back at the Trials…" and then, further explained to him about the artifact, our Relic.

　　"Aurora…" Torin gently touched my chin.

　　"You brave girl…you've been through so many things and still made sure the victory was yours. You're admirable, strong…I am running out of words, dear." I chuckled sadly,

　　"Torin, it's really alright! I don't want to make you feel excluded. Hence, I am sharing this information with you." He gave a pause, a little one before speaking again.

　　"You are the alpha. You make the decisions from now onwards. Tell me what you want to do, Aurora. I'll assist you the best way I can." I was genuinely moved by Torin's support for me.

　　"I need an expedition team. Get the best men on the team, Torin. We are about to dwell into the lands of a formidable witch. In the worst case scenario, we might even lose our lives to the witch, or either to the creatures of that land. Be prepared for any challenge that will be thrown at us."

　　"It's a scary thing, isn't it? You will go back to the place which haunted the hell out of you when you were just a child. A part of me wanted to curse Den and Luna. But at the same time, more than being parents, they are the leaders of a pack. Oh lord…you sweet, innocent little girl." Torin hugged me, I needed some comfort anyway.

　　"I need to go back to that place, despite my nightmares about it. It's for the sake of the pack." I was determined to complete this mission. This Expedition will unlock all mysteries around the artifact of our pack. An artifact which is desired to ignite feelings of lust and greed within everyone.

　　In that sense, I had to warn Torin about one thing,

　　"Torin, this has to be our absolute, best kept secret. We should be moving in secrecy, across nations. You can do this, right?"

　　"Are you underestimating the warriors of our pack, Aurora? They've been spies, completed most of the treacherous missions, all for our pack! They will lead you to wherever you believe you remember is the artifact hidden. Safely, discreetly."

　　"Thank you, Torin. You've been a great support so far."

　　"All for our pack, Aurora. I'd be willing to move mountains for our pack. And for you, my little brave soldier."

　　All his sweet words were affecting me greatly. All in all, we have decided to form an expedition team within nightfall. Early in the morning, we will take the route by land as traveling by air is riskier. In terms of being navigated and seen.