Chapter 90: jealous spark
Aurora stepped out of her room the next afternoon. The palace felt too quiet. The walls seemed to press in on her. She needed air. She needed to move. She needed to think.
The ache in her heart from yesterday had not gone away. The guard—Hardin—had left words in her mind that kept turning over and over.
Rhianna.
Sebastian’s brother.
You used to love him.
You belong with us.
She told herself it was nonsense. Lies. Tricks.
She was Aurora.
She was marrying Kairo.
She was happy here.
But every time she closed her eyes, she saw Hardin’s face. His sad eyes. His voice saying her name like it hurt him to say it.
She walked down the long corridor toward the servant stairs. Maybe she would go to the garden again. Or the library. Anywhere to stop thinking.
As she turned the corner, she froze.
Hardin stood near the wall. Still in his guard uniform. His back was to her.
A young maid stood very close to him. Too close.
The maid was pretty. Short red hair. Bright smile. She laughed at something he said. She touched his arm lightly. Playful.
Hardin smiled back. Small smile. Polite. But he did not move away.
Aurora felt something hot twist in her stomach.
It hurt.
She did not know why.
She did not know him.
He was a stranger.
A guard who lied.
But seeing the maid touch him… seeing him smile at her… it hurt.
Her chest tightened. Her hands made fists.
She walked forward before she could stop herself.
The maid saw her first. Her smile dropped. She bowed quickly. “My lady.”
Hardin turned.
His eyes met hers.
Aurora did not think. The words came out fast.
“Get out,” she said to the maid. Her voice was sharp. Cold.
The maid blinked. “My lady?”
“I said get out,” Aurora repeated. “Now.”
The maid bowed again. Hurried away. Her footsteps echoed down the hall.
Now only Aurora and Hardin stood there.
Hardin raised one eyebrow. “Jealous much?”
He chuckled. Low. Amused.
Aurora’s face burned. “Ugh… you… you wish!”
She stuttered. Her voice shook.
Hardin’s smile grew. “You just chased a maid away because she touched my arm.”
Aurora crossed her arms. “It’s not like it’s any of my business. I came looking for you because I needed you to escort me to the market. And now I see you flirting with a maid. Is that what you are here to do?”
Hardin stepped closer. His voice became serious. “I was not flirting. She asked for directions. I answered. That’s all.”
Aurora looked away. “I don’t care.”
But she did care.
She cared too much.
And that scared her.
Hardin watched her. His eyes softened. “Aurora… or Rhianna… whatever you call yourself today… why does it hurt you?”
She turned her head fast. “It doesn’t hurt.”
He stepped even closer. Not touching. Just close enough that she could smell his scent again. Forest. Rain. Home.
“It does,” he said quietly. “Your heart knows me. Your wolf knows me. Even if your mind fights it.”
Aurora stepped back. “Stop saying that. I am not her.”
Hardin did not move. “Then why did you chase the maid away?”
Aurora opened her mouth. Closed it.
She did not have an answer.
Or maybe she did.
But she did not want to say it.
Hardin’s voice became gentle. “I came here for you. Not for maids. Not for anyone else. Just you.”
Aurora looked at the floor. “You are lying.”
“I’m not,” he said. “And you know it.”
She lifted her eyes. Met his.
The ache came again. Stronger.
She wanted to run. She wanted to stay.
She wanted to scream. She wanted to cry.
Instead, she said, “Escort me to the market. Now.”
Hardin nodded. “As you wish.”
They walked out of the palace. Side by side. Silent.
The village was busy. Stalls open. People talking. Children running.
Aurora walked fast. Hardin followed one step behind. Like a guard. But she felt him. Every step.
They stopped at a fruit stall. She picked an apple. Bit into it.
Hardin watched her.
She looked at him. “Stop staring.”
He smiled small. “I can’t help it. You are beautiful when you eat apples.”
Aurora rolled her eyes. “Flattery won’t work.”
Hardin chuckled. “It wasn’t flattery. It was truth.”
She looked away. Her cheeks felt warm.
They walked more. Passed a flower stall. A woman offered her a rose.
Aurora took it. Smelled it.
Hardin said, “Red rose. Means love.”
Aurora looked at him. “I know.”
Hardin said, “You used to like red roses. In our pack. You planted them behind the house.”
Aurora’s hand tightened on the flower. “Stop.”
Hardin stopped.
They walked in silence again.
Aurora thought about the maid. The touch. The smile.
She thought about Kairo. His kiss. His kindness.
She thought about Hardin. His eyes. His voice. His pain.
She stopped walking.
Hardin stopped too.
Aurora looked at him. “Why does it hurt?”
Hardin’s face became soft. “Because you remember. Somewhere inside. You remember me.”
Aurora shook her head. “I don’t.”
But her voice was weak.
Hardin stepped close. Not touching. Just close.
“I won’t push you,” he said. “But I won’t leave either. I will be here. Until you remember. Until you choose.”
Aurora looked at him a long time.
Then she turned away.
They walked back to the palace.
The sun was lower now.
Aurora’s heart was full of confusion.
She did not know what she felt.
Jealousy?
Fear?
Memory?
Love?
But one thing was clear.
She did not want him to smile at any maid.
She did not want him to leave.
And that scared her most of all.