THE AUNT EVERYONE LOVED

Lucas stood alone on a balcony in the Blackwood Estate. Far below, cars moved along the roads and music drifted from distant restaurants. Light glittered across the streets like stars scattered across the ground.

His eyes remained fixed on his phone with the picture of Maya Hart filling the screen.

He had taken the picture secretly during class a month ago. Maya wasn’t looking at the camera. Her head was bent over a notebook and a smile rested on her lips

Lucas locked the screen and shoved the phone into his pocket.

Ever since Maya left Mooncrest Academy, something inside him felt empty and broken.

Lucas remembered walking into the dinning hall and automatically looking toward the table where she usually sat.

He leaned forward against the balcony railing. The metal felt cold beneath his hands.

His wolf stirred restlessly inside him. For days, it had been impossible to calm down and training or running didn’t help him.

Every time he closed his eyes, he saw Maya, the shock on her face and the way the happiness shattered.

A knock sounded behind him. “Lucas?”

He recognized the voice immediately.

His aunt steeped into the room, looking elegant as always. Her silver dress moved gently in the wind. Everyone loved Princess Victoria Blackwood.

“There you are.” Victoria studied Lucas carefully.

He looked exhausted. Dark shadows sat beneath his eyes and his shoulders looked tense. Even though he was standing still, he seemed restless.

It worried Victoria because Lucas had always been driven, focused and disciplined.

Lucas forced a smile. “What’s up Aunt”

“I’ve been looking for you all afternoon.” She stepped beside him.

“Your trainer says you’ve skipped training twice this week,” Victoria said, folding her arms.

Lucas looked away. “It’s not a big deal.”

“From what I’ve learnt, that usually means it’s a very big deal,” Victoria said with a little laugh but Lucas didn’t laugh back.

Victoria’s smile faded slightly. “You have not been yourself since you came home from school,” she said, looking concerned.

“I’m fine.”

“No, you’re not.”

Lucas looked away.

“Lucas,” Victoria’s voice softened. “You can talk to me.” She leaned against the balcony railing. “I know the last few weeks have been difficult.”

He remained silent. He remembered standing in the arena while his phone buzzed with the message. Reject her. Or everyone learns the truth.

His blood had gone cold. He had looked across the altar and seen Maya smiling at him with pure happiness. Then, he had destroyed that happiness himself.

Victoria looked at Lucas lovingly. She had watched him grow from a stubborn little boy into the future Alpha of Lunaris.

She remembered teaching him how to ride horses, helping him study for exams and sneaking him sweets whenever Damien became too strict.

 For years she had known exactly how to read him but this felt different.

“You didn’t make the wrong choice.”

Lucas looked at her. “What if I did?”

Victoria seemed surprised. For a moment, she considered her words carefully. “Lucas, listen to me. You are thinking too much, you did nothing wrong.”

Lucas looked away again.

“Maya Hart seems like a sweet girl,” Victoria continued. “But being someone’s mate is not always enough.”

Lucas clenched his fists but Victoria didn’t notice.

“You’re the future Alpha King,” she said clearly. “One day, you will lead the entire kingdom.”

Lucas said nothing. Those words follow him everywhere. Future Alpha King.

He wondered what Maya would say if she knew how trapped he felt? Would she understand? Or would she hate him even more?

“Maya comes from a completely different world.” Victoria shrugged lightly. “Her background and her status is different from ours.”

Lucas looked down at the city lights. He knew Victoria wasn’t being cruel. Status mattered to the royal family.

He remembered Maya standing alone after the ceremony with tears in her eyes. The way she had looked at him made his chest hurt.

“Sometimes things happen for a reason,” Victoria said, smiling reassuringly.

“A reason,” Lucas echoed.

“Yes.” Victoria touched his shoulder. “You’re young. You have your whole future ahead of you.”

He let out a slow breath. “I can’t stop thinking about her.” The words slipped out before he could stop them.

“You care about her more than I realized,” Victoria said carefully, studying him with a new kind of curiosity.

“You’ll be okay” she finally said with a smile.

Lucas wasn’t sure he believed her.

“Focus on your future.” Victoria continued gently. “Focus on becoming the Alpha King like your father.”

Lucas smiled.

“There he is,” Victoria exclaimed, smiling back with relief.

****

Darkness filled the room as the heavy iron door creaked open and a hooded figure stepped inside.

The room was illuminated by only a few candles and their flames danced across the ancient stone walls.

A messenger entered just as the figure sat behind the desk and immediately dropped to one knee. “My lord.”

The shadow figure folded their hands. “Report.”

The messenger lowered his head. “Everything is going according to plan. Maya Hart has transferred from Mooncrest Academy.”

“Good,” the figure said, tapping a finger against the desk.

“But there is a problem…”

“What problem?”

The messenger swallowed. “She transferred to Silverclaw Academy at Frostpine city.”

The shadow figure’s finger tightened slightly against the desk in irritation.

The messenger continued carefully. “What should we do?”

“Keep watching her,” he answered after several moments of saying nothing.

The messenger nodded.

“And?’ the shadow figure’s voice became quieter. “Let me know immediately if she meets with the King.”

“Yes, my lord,” the messenger replies and left.

The shadow figure reached into the desk drawer and brought out an old photograph faded with age. The picture showed four young teenagers standing together and smiling at the camera.

The figure brought out another newer picture of Maya Hart and stared at her face with an unreadable expression.

Outside thunder rolled across the distant mountains.

“It’s almost time,” the figure whispered.

The candlelight flickered and the room darkened.