Chapter 86 - A Question and a Familiar Scent
Aurora walked beside Prince Kairo in the palace garden. The sun was warm. Flowers bloomed everywhere. Birds sang in the trees. She felt light today. The day before, they had gone to the village market. They ate, laughed, and talked. People smiled at them. A little girl even said they looked like the best couple. Aurora had laughed then. The laugh came easy.
Now they walked slowly. Kairo looked happy. He kept looking at her with soft eyes. She noticed it. He liked her. A lot. She could see it in the way he smiled, the way he listened when she spoke, the way he stayed close without pushing.
They stopped near a small fountain. Water splashed gently. Aurora turned to him.
“Kairo,” she said quietly.
He looked at her. “Yes?”
She took a breath. “Why don’t we get married?”
Kairo’s eyes went wide. Then he smiled. Big smile. Happy smile.
Aurora continued. “I can see that you like me. You are always kind. You protect me. You make me feel safe. I like being with you. The market yesterday… it was nice. People think we look good together. Maybe it is time.”
Kairo laughed. Not loud. Soft. Full of joy. “Aurora… you just said the words I wanted to hear for weeks.”
She smiled small. “You were waiting?”
“Yes,” he said. “I did not want to push you. You still don’t remember your past. I wanted to give you time. But I like you. More than like. I want you to be my wife. My queen one day. If you want it too.”
Aurora felt warm inside. Not love yet. Not full love. But something good. Something safe.
“I think I want it,” she said. “You make me happy. I don’t feel lost when I am with you.”
Kairo took her hands. His hands were warm. Strong.
“Then I will tell my parents today,” he said. “The queen and king will be happy. They already like you. They will say yes.”
Aurora nodded. “Okay.”
They stood there. The fountain splashed. The sun shone. Kairo looked at her like she was the most important person in the world.
He leaned in. Kissed her forehead gently. “Thank you,” he whispered. “For choosing me.”
Aurora closed her eyes for a second. It felt nice. But deep inside, something small moved. Like a whisper. Like something was missing.
They started walking back to the palace. Kairo talked about the wedding. How it would be beautiful. How the pack would celebrate. How he would make sure she had everything she wanted.
Aurora listened. She smiled. But her mind wandered a little.
Then it happened.
They passed a group of guards near the garden gate. One guard stood tall. Dark uniform. Short hair. He looked straight ahead. But his eyes met hers for one second.
Aurora stopped.
The guard’s scent hit her. Strong. Familiar. Like forest after rain. Like something from a dream she couldn’t catch.
Her heart ached. Sharp pain. Quick. Like someone pulled a string inside her chest.
She stared at him.
The guard did not move. His face stayed calm. But his eyes… they looked at her like he knew her.
Kairo noticed. “Aurora? What is it?”
She blinked. The guard looked away. He walked past. Normal. Like any guard.
But the ache stayed.
Her heart beat fast. Too fast.
She touched her chest. “I… I don’t know. I feel strange.”
Kairo looked worried. “Are you okay?”
She shook her head. “My heart hurts. Like… something is wrong. I want to go to my room.”
Kairo took her arm gently. “Of course. Come.”
They walked fast. Aurora kept looking back. The guard was gone. But his scent stayed in her nose. Familiar. Painful.
They reached her room. Kairo opened the door.
She went inside. Sat on the bed.
Kairo stood at the door. “Do you want me to stay?”
Aurora said, “No. I need to be alone. Just for a little while.”
Kairo nodded. “Okay. I will go tell my parents. Rest. I will come back later.”
He left. The door closed soft.
Aurora lay on the bed. She stared at the ceiling.
The ache in her heart did not go away.
She thought about the guard. His eyes. His scent.
Who was he?
Why did it hurt so much to see him?
She closed her eyes.
A flash came. Quick. Like lightning.
Dark woods.
Running.
Someone calling her name.
Not Aurora.
Something else.
Then it was gone.
She opened her eyes. Tears fell.
She did not know why she cried.
But she did.
The scent stayed.
The ache stayed.
The question stayed.
Who was that guard?
And why did her heart know him?