Chapter 92: A memory and a kiss
Aurora sat in her room after lunch. The sun came in through the window. The curtains moved with the breeze. She held a book in her lap, but she did not read it. Her mind was full of thoughts. The wedding plans. The dress. The vows. Kairo’s smile. But one thing kept coming back. The guard. Hardin. His funny faces during the meeting. His sad eyes when she kissed Kairo. His words in the hall yesterday.
She stood up. The book fell to the floor. She picked it up and put it on the table. She needed to see him. She needed answers. The ache in her heart was too strong to ignore.
She opened the door. Looked left and right. The hall was empty. She walked fast. Her shoes made soft sounds on the stone floor. She went to the garden gate. He was not there. She asked a servant. “Have you seen the guard with dark hair? Tall?”
The servant shook her head. “No, my lady.”
Aurora kept looking. She went to the east wing. The halls were long. She passed doors. She saw guards. But not him.
She turned a corner. There he was. Hardin stood alone. He polished his sword. He looked up when he heard her steps.
“Aurora,” he said. His voice was low.
Aurora stopped. “We need to talk.”
Hardin put the sword down. He looked around. “Here?”
She said, “No. Somewhere private.”
He nodded. “Follow me.”
They walked to a small door. He opened it. It led to a hidden garden. Small. Quiet. Only trees and a bench.
They went inside. He closed the door.
Aurora sat on the bench. Hardin stood in front of her.
“Tell me,” she said. “Who am I really?”
Hardin took a deep breath. He sat next to her. Not too close. “Your name is Rhianna. You are from our pack. You were Sebastian’s mate. Sebastian is my brother.”
Aurora asked, “Mate? Like… fated by the Goddess?”
Hardin nodded. “Yes. The bond was strong. But Sebastian broke it. He bonded with his baby mama, Brittany. He knew you were not strong. He knew it would hurt you. But he did it anyway. To keep the Alpha title.”
Aurora’s heart hurt. “Why was I not strong?”
Hardin said, “You were always weak. Your wolf was weak. The healer said your heart was dying. Your wolf could no longer activate. You had less than a year to survive. But seeing you now… surviving… this is a miracle.”
Aurora asked, “What happened after he broke the bond?”
Hardin looked at the ground. “You became weaker. Sick. You ran away. Brittany sent men to chase you. To kill you. You fell into the river to escape. We thought you died. But you survived. You washed up here. With no memory.”
Aurora touched her chest. The ache was stronger. “And you? Who are you to me?”
Hardin looked at her. His eyes were soft. “I am Hardin. Sebastian’s brother. I protected you. Always. We… we loved each other.”
Aurora asked, “Loved? But I was Sebastian’s mate.”
Hardin said, “Yes. The bond was with Sebastian. But our hearts were with each other. We kept it secret. But it was real. Strong. Sebastian did not love you like that. He chose power. I chose you.”
Aurora’s eyes filled with tears. “How did I come to your pack?”
Hardin smiled small. “Sebastian found you. In front of our door. When we were little. You were young. Wet from rain. Scared. Hurt. My mother brought you in. She took care of you. Ever since then, I protected you. You became part of our family. Part of me.”
Aurora asked, “What was I like?”
Hardin said, “Strong in heart. Kind. Funny. You laughed a lot. You loved the woods. You loved red roses. You loved… me.”
Aurora wiped a tear. “It feels weird that I don’t remember any of this.”
Hardin nodded. “It is weird. For me too. To see you here. With a new name. A new life. A new man. It hurts.”
Aurora looked at him. “Why did you come here?”
Hardin said, “To find you. To bring you home. I searched every day. I left the pack. I gave up the Alpha title. For you.”
Aurora asked, “Alpha? You were Alpha?”
Hardin said, “Yes. I took it from Sebastian. To have power to search. But now… the council has it. I don’t care. I only care about you.”
Aurora’s tears fell. She did not know when they started. She felt sad. Confused. Lost.
Hardin reached out. Wiped a tear from her cheek. His touch was gentle. Warm.
Aurora looked at him. His face was close. His eyes full of love.
She leaned in. Slow.
Their lips met.
The kiss was soft. Slow. Full of feeling.
It felt familiar. Good. Like coming home.
Aurora closed her eyes. The world disappeared. Only the kiss. Only him.
It lasted a moment. Then she pulled back.
Her heart beat fast. Her cheeks were red.
Hardin whispered, “Remember now?”
Aurora touched her lips. “A little.”
Hardin smiled. “That is enough for now.”
Aurora stood up. “I need to think.”
Hardin stood too. “I will wait. As long as it takes.”
Aurora left the hidden garden. Her mind was full. The kiss stayed on her lips. The words stayed in her heart.
She walked back to her room. Sat on the bed.
Rhianna.
The name felt right.
The kiss felt right.
But the palace. Kairo. The wedding.
What was right?
She did not know.
But the tears kept falling.
And the memories started to come. Small. Like flashes.
A boy protecting her.
A brother breaking her.
A love that never left.
She lay down. Closed her eyes.
The kiss played in her mind.
It felt good.
It felt like home.