تسجيل الدخولAurelia's POVSoren had made it halfway down the corridor when his left leg began trembling."Don't even think about pretending you're fine," Hobbs warned, moving closer with the wheelchair she'd brought along."I wasn't going to," he replied, although the look he gave the chair suggested otherwise. "I was considering whether the window at the end of the corridor was worth all this trouble."The physiotherapist smiled and encouraged him to take a moment before turning back.I watched from beside the nurses' station, pleased to see him walking again. Two days ago, he'd been in so much pain that sitting upright was difficult.Now he was completing short, supervised exercises, and Ardis had agreed to continue his current treatment as long as his condition remained stable.Soren noticed me watching and raised an eyebrow."You're enjoying this far too much.""I'm enjoying the fact that you're following instructions for once.""That's because Hobbs threatened to carry me back if I didn't."
Darius's POV"Why hasn't this woman received her assistance?"I looked up from the file Isaac had placed on my desk.The application was nearly three weeks old. A warrior had been injured during a border patrol, leaving his wife struggling to cover his treatment expenses while caring for their two children.Isaac glanced at the document."Her case was transferred to the welfare department, Alpha, but nobody followed up after the initial assessment.""Why?""The staff thought another officer was handling it. By the time they realised nobody had been assigned, several more applications had come in."I turned another page.There were notes from earlier visits, including one written in Aurelia's familiar handwriting. She'd helped the family before, arranging assistance when the warrior's eldest child became ill.Now the woman had submitted another request, and nobody had even contacted her."How many others are waiting?""Seventeen cases need attention. Some are new, but others were previ
Aurelia's POV"Now tell me what you think we should do instead."Dr Halloway stood at the foot of Soren's bed, waiting for my answer. Ardis said nothing, although she was watching me closely enough that I knew she expected a proper explanation."I'd continue what we've been doing, but watch him more closely for the next couple of days," I said. "His pain was improving, and his wolf was returning without medication. Even the smaller induction doses made him worse before. We shouldn't assume his body can handle them now because of one stronger response.""And if he has another episode?" Halloway asked."Then we reassess. We don't know yet whether this is a setback or a new pattern."He turned to Ardis. "I still think we may eventually need to help his wolf maintain the connection.""We may," she agreed. "But not today. We'll continue managing his pain and checking him regularly, then review what happens over the next forty-eight hours."Halloway glanced at Soren. "You understand that wai
Aurelia's POV"Good morning, Your Highness."I stopped with my identification card halfway out of my bag.The receptionist, Mara, smiled nervously from behind the counter, and I noticed two women in the waiting area turn toward me."Good morning, Mara. You can still call me Aurelia.""Of course. Sorry, I wasn't sure what you preferred now.""Nothing's changed about how I work here."She nodded, although her expression suggested she wasn't entirely convinced.By the time I reached the ward, another nurse had addressed me as Your Highness, and a porter who usually joked with me had stepped aside without saying anything.Hobbs was checking some paperwork when I arrived."Please tell me you're not going to start doing that too," I said, placing my bag beneath the counter.She glanced up. "Doing what?""Treating me like I've suddenly become somebody else."Hobbs looked at my blue lanyard, then checked the clock."You're twelve minutes earlier than usual. That's the only change I've noticed
Aurelia's POVI was reviewing Soren's latest treatment notes when someone knocked on my bedroom door the following morning."Come in," I called, setting my pen beside the folder.Mother appeared carrying a small breakfast tray, followed by a maid with a teapot. She looked better rested than she had the previous evening, although Adrian had apparently insisted she eat before coming to see me."I hope I'm not disturbing you," she said, glancing at the papers spread across my desk. "Helena told me you weren't working today.""I'm not. I was just going through some notes."She watched me gather the documents into a neat pile before setting the tray on the small table beside the couch."You were always fond of books," she said. "I suppose some things haven't changed."I smiled and joined her.For the first few minutes, we talked about her journey home and how much the residence had changed during her absence. She complained that Ronan had rearranged her favourite sitting room, then admitte
Aurelia's POVMy mother stood beside the car, looking at me as though she was afraid I might disappear if she came any closer.Adrian spoke quietly beside her, but she didn't seem to hear him. Her eyes remained fixed on my face, moving slowly over my hair, my eyes and my mouth before returning to my eyes again."Aurelia?"I opened my mouth to answer, but nothing came out. Laura took a hesitant step forward, then looked toward Evander as though she needed him to confirm what she was seeing."It's her, Mother," he said gently. "She's right here."I couldn't remember deciding to move, but suddenly I was walking down the steps toward her.Laura lifted both hands as I approached, although she hesitated before touching me. Up close, I could see the fine lines around her eyes and the silver threaded through her dark hair. She looked older than the woman in the photographs, but I recognised the shape of her face.It was the same face I'd spent years studying in mirrors without knowing where i







