CHAPTER 2: THE CONDITION

Aurora did not stop walking until the pack hall disappeared behind her.

Even then, the whispers followed.

They drifted through the corridors in hushed voices, curling around her like smoke no matter how far she moved from the crowd.

“She actually asked for one month.”

“Why would Alpha Kael agree to that?”

“She still thinks she can change his mind.”

“How embarrassing…”

Aurora kept her expression calm as she walked past rows of silver-lit pillars. Her heels echoed softly against the polished stone floor, steady and controlled despite the storm raging inside her chest.

Years ago, those same hallways had once felt welcoming.

She still remembered her first night inside the Nightfang pack house after the Luna Choosing Ceremony. The servants had smiled warmly at her then. Wolves bowed respectfully whenever she passed. Some of the younger females had even envied her openly.

After all, Kael Ravencrest was everything most wolves dreamed of.

Powerful.

Respected.

Untouchable.

And fate had chosen her to stand beside him.

Back then, Aurora thought she had been blessed by the Moon Goddess herself.

Now the memory only hurt, as she turned into the quieter west corridor, the noise behind her finally faded. Moonlight streamed through the tall windows lining the walls, painting silver patterns across the empty hallway.

Aurora slowed her steps.

The moment she was alone, the smile disappeared from her face completely.

Her shoulders sagged first then her breathing, then everything else.

A sharp ache spread slowly through her chest, deep and familiar.

Lately it had been happening more often.

At first, she convinced herself it was stress then exhaustion.

But over the past few weeks, the pain had changed. Sometimes it felt like invisible threads beneath her skin were tightening around her heart, pulling harder every day.

Tonight, the pain felt worse than ever.

Aurora pressed a trembling hand against her chest and leaned briefly against the cold stone wall.

Not now.

Please not now.

She closed her eyes, forcing herself to breathe carefully until the sharpness eased enough for her to move again.

The corridor remained silent except for the distant sound of music still echoing from the celebration behind her.

How ironic.

The pack was celebrating while her marriage collapsed in front of everyone.

Aurora let out a weak laugh under her breath.

It sounded hollow even to her.

She eventually reached the quieter west wing where her chambers were located. Unlike the main areas of the pack house, few wolves came here unless necessary. Kael rarely stepped foot inside this part of the estate at all.

That used to hurt her.

At some point, she had simply stopped expecting him.

Aurora pushed open the doors to a small moonlit sitting room near her chambers and sank onto the stone bench beside the window.

Outside, the forest stretched endlessly beneath the night sky.

Beautiful.

Peaceful.

Nothing like the chaos inside her.

For several long moments, she simply sat there in silence, staring at the moon hanging high above the trees.

Then the tears finally came.

Not loudly.

Not dramatically.

Just quiet tears slipping down her face while her body trembled from exhaustion she could no longer hide from herself.

Three years.

Three years of trying.

Three years of pretending Kael’s distance did not slowly destroy her.

She remembered every failed dinner conversation.

Every night he returned late without explanation.

Every gathering where Selene stood too close beside him while the rest of the pack pretended not to notice.

Aurora had spent years convincing herself patience would eventually be rewarded.

That one day Kael would look at her and truly see her.

Instead, tonight he had publicly announced another woman.

A soft sound escaped her throat before she quickly covered her mouth.

No.

She would not fall apart over him anymore.

The sharp pain in her chest returned suddenly, stronger this time.

Aurora inhaled sharply and bent forward instinctively.

Her fingers tightened against the fabric over her heart.

Something was wrong.

Deeply wrong.

And she had been terrified of admitting it for weeks now.

Footsteps echoed quietly from the corridor outside.

Aurora wiped her face immediately and straightened before the door opened.

Elder Mira stepped inside moments later.

Relief flickered briefly across the older woman’s face when she spotted Aurora sitting upright.

“There you are,” Mira said softly.

Aurora forced a small smile. “I needed air.”

Elder Mira approached slowly before sitting beside her on the bench. Silver strands glimmered in her dark hair beneath the moonlight, and concern filled her eyes far too openly.

For a while, neither woman spoke.

Then Mira sighed heavily.

“You should not have asked for one month.”

Aurora stared at the moon outside the window.

“I know what everyone thinks.”

“And what do you think?” Mira asked gently.

Aurora’s lips curved bitterly.

“I think the entire pack believes I’m desperately trying to hold onto a man who already made his choice.”

Mira remained silent because there was no easy lie to offer.

Aurora lowered her gaze to her hands.

“The embarrassing part is that they aren’t entirely wrong.”

“Aurora…”

“I loved him.”

The confession came out quieter than she intended.

Painfully honest.

“I still do.”

The words lingered heavily between them.

Aurora laughed softly afterward, though there was no humor in the sound.

“Pathetic, isn’t it?”

“No,” Mira said immediately. “Loving someone is never pathetic.”

“It is when they never love you back.”

Silence returned.

Aurora could feel Mira watching her carefully, noticing the exhaustion beneath her calm expression.

After a moment, the older woman spoke again.

“You look pale.”

Aurora immediately looked away. “I’m fine.”

“You are a terrible liar.”

Aurora almost smiled at that, almost, instead, she reached into the pocket hidden within her dress and slowly pulled out several folded papers.

The moment Mira saw them, her expression changed.

Fear replaced concern instantly.

“Aurora…”

The healer reports trembled slightly in Aurora’s hands.

She remembered the exact moment she received them.

The uncomfortable silence.

The healer refusing to meet her eyes.

The warning she had desperately tried to ignore ever since.

An unstable mate bond could become dangerous if left unresolved for too long.

Especially when rejection and emotional strain were involved.

Aurora swallowed hard.

“The pain is getting worse.”

Mira’s face lost all color.

“You should have told him.”

Aurora looked up sharply.

“And say what exactly?”

“That you’re sick.”

Aurora laughed quietly again.

The sound cracked halfway through.

“He already made it clear tonight that I mean nothing to him.”

“That isn’t true.”

“Isn’t it?”

Mira opened her mouth, then closed it again.

Because both of them knew the answer.

Aurora folded the papers carefully before looking back toward the moonlit forest outside.

“I only need one month.”

Mira frowned. “For what?”

Aurora hesitated.

Because the truth terrified her.

One month to prepare.

One month to make arrangements.

One month before she disappeared from Kael’s life completely.

But before she could answer, heavy footsteps echoed from the corridor outside.

Aurora froze instantly.

She recognized those footsteps immediately.

So did Mira.

A cold voice broke the silence seconds later.

“What exactly do you need one month for?”

Aurora’s breath caught in her throat.

Slowly, she turned toward the doorway.

Kael stood there watching her.

And judging by the dangerous look in his eyes…

He had heard enough.