10

Morning dew still clung to the tips of the leaves when Aurora woke up. For a moment, she forgot where she was. The soft mattress, the warm blanket, and the faint scent of lavender filling the entire room felt unfamiliar. Then she remembered everything. The Moonveil Dominion, the Lycan palace, and Cassian Ravenshade.

Aurora let out a quiet breath. It was strange how quickly his name had become familiar to her. After getting dressed, Aurora decided to explore the palace gardens. The crisp morning air carried the fragrance of blooming white flowers, while birds sang from the branches overhead. In the distance, a group of Lycan sparred with wooden swords. Aurora paused to watch them.

“Lady Aurora.” A servant approached her with a respectful bow. “His Majesty is at the training grounds right now.”

Aurora nodded. “Thank you.”

She hadn’t actually intended to interrupt Cassian’s training session, but somehow her feet carried her in that direction anyway. The royal training grounds were far larger than anything she’d seen in the Silver Pine Pack. Dozens of Lycan warriors practiced in organized pairs, the clash of steel echoing across the arena.

At the center, Cassian faced Gareth. Aurora watched in amazement. Cassian’s movements were impossibly smooth precise, efficient, almost effortless. One swing exchange and Gareth’s sword flew from his hand, spinning through the air before landing several feet away. Cassian’s blade stopped neatly at Gareth’s throat.

“I yield, Your Majesty.” Gareth said with an amused girn as he raised both hands.

Cassian lowered his sword. “You let your guard down. Where is your focus?”

“I did it on purpose.” Gareth rubbed the back of his neck. He glanced toward the edge of the arena. “Lady Aurora is watching us.”

Cassian instinctively turned his head. The moment his golden eyes found Aurora, his expression softened almost imperceptibly. Aurora immediately felt embarrased.

“Sorry,” she hurriedly corrected herself. “Um, I mean...”

Cassian chuckled softly as he raised an eyebrow. “You almost forgot.”

Aurora scratched her cheek. “Right. I...” She thought for a moment. “I’m very patient when I’m baking.”

A faint smile tugged at Cassian’s lips. “I believe that.”

From several paces away, Gareth blinked in disbelief. ‘What? His Majesty smile again?!’

He thought, shocked and unable to believe what he’d just seen.

Cassian sheathed his sword before walking over. “Have you had breakfast yet?”

Aurora nodded. “Yes.”

“Then what brings you here?”

Aurora smiled shyly. “I just wanted to look around.”

Cassian sheathed his sword. “Come with me.”

She tilted her head. “Uh, where are we going?”

“I want to show you something.”

They left the training grounds and followed a quiet stone path through the palace gardens. Eventually, the gardens gave way to a grassy hill overlooking the entire Moonveil Dominion. Aurora stoppe walking. The city stretched beneath them like a painting. Stone streets, silver rooftops, and bustling marketplaces. Rolling forests surrounding the kingdom in every direction.

Aurora was mesmerized by the view. “Wow… it’s so beautiful…” She whispered.

Cassian stood beside her. “This is where I come whenever I need to think and calm down.”

Aurora turned her head. “Really?”

he nodded. “It reminds me that every problem looks different from a wider view.”

Aurora turned her gaze back to the view before her. “I understand. I was thinking the same thing too.”

Cassian golanced at her. “You were?”

She nodded. “Because standing up in a place like this, make everything that felt overwhelming suddenly seems much smaller.”

Cassian gave a faint smile. “That’s the same reason.”

A comfortable silence settled between them. Unlike the awkward silences Aurora had grown used to, this one flet peaceful. The breeze lifted a few loose strands of her hair. She closed her eyes for a moment, simply breathing. It had been a long time since she’d felt this calm.

“Aurora.” Cassian’s voice broke the silence.

She opened her eyes. “Hm?”

“May I ask you something?”

“Of course.”

Cassian seemed to think for a moment before finally saying, “What did you want before all this?”

Aurora frowned. “What do you mean?”

“Before teh Silver Pine Pack became your entire world.”

The question caught her off guard. No one had ever asked her about that. In the Silver Pine Pack, everyone only asked what she was going to cook. But no one ever asked about what she wanted. After a log silence, she answered quiety.

“I…” Aurora looked down at her hands. “I wanted to open a bakery.” Cassian watched her closely without interrupting.

“A small bakery that always sells warm bread every morning.” Aurora gave a faint smile.

“I always imagined children choosing pastries, parents sitting together over tea.” Her eyes drifted toward the city below.

“I wanted it to be a place where people felt welcome.” The smile slowly faded and she sighed slowly. “But dreams don’t always survive reality.”

“Why not?”

Aurora laughed softly. “I never had the money.”

She shrugged. “And I also don’t have a place to make my dream come true. Besides,”

She chuckled. “I’m too busy taking care of the pack’s kitchen.”

Cassian looked at Aurora’s face. This woman had buried so many dreams for the sake of others, and not a single one of them appreciated her.

“You still talk about it like it’s something you can picture.”

Aurora blinked. “I suppose I can.”

“Then... maybe it isn’t gone.” She looked at him. “It’s just waiting for you.”

Aurora stared at him, unsure how to respond. Cassian continued quietly. “Aurora?”

“Hm?”

“If the day some when you decide to chase that dream again, I hope you’ll let the people around you to support you.”

Aurora smiled awkwardly. “That’s a generous thing to say.”

“It’s practical thing to say.” He looked toward the city. “No one builds something meaningful completely alone.”

He continued calmly. “And I want to help you about it.”

Aurora’s eyes widened. “Your Majesty, that’s not necessary.”

“It’s not because you’re my mate.” Aurora fell silent immediately.

“Nor is it because I’m the Lycan King. But because everyone deserves the chance to pursue their dreams until they come true.”

Cassian’s voice sounded so sincere that it brought tears back to Aurora’s eyes. There were no conditions, no strings attached. He simply wanted to help her.

***

At the same time, at the Silver Pine Pack, Ryder presided over a meeting with the pack elders with great seriousness.

“The pack’s food supplies are starting to difficult to manage.”

“We’ll have to reduce the meat portions for the time being.”

The other elders immediately nodded in agreement. “Ever since Aurora left, the kitchen hasn’t been running smoothly.”

That name came up again. Aurora. Ryder clenched his jaw. Before anyone could continue, a  warrior suddenly walked into the meeting room.

“Alpha! We have a report.”

Ryder looked up. “What happened?”

“We found Aurora’s trail in the western forest.”

Ryder’s heart began to race. “Where is she now?”

The warrior looked down. “Her trail has gone cold. B-but,” he hesitated before continuing, “There are many signs of a battle with a Rogue in that forest, Alpha.”

The faces of all the elders instantly turned pale. “Rogues?!”

The warrior nodded. “Four rogues were killed. Their bodies were found with wounds not caused by ordinary werewolves.”

Ryder frowned. “What are you saying?!”

The warrior swallowed hard. “The scratch marks on the dead rogues belong to a Lycan.”

The room fell instantly silent. A Lycans? What were the Lycans doing in their territory? And if Aurora had actually encountered them, was she still alive now?

Meanwhile, far away in the Moonveil Dominion, Aurora laughed quietly after Cassian insisted that, if she ever opened that bakery, he expected an invitation on the first day.

“It wouldn’t be much of a bakery without customers,” She teased.

Cassian met her eyes. “Then I’ll make sure I’m early enough to get the first loaf.”

Aurora smiled despire herself. For reasons, she couldn’t quiet explain, the idea no longer sounded impossible.