Chapter 97
Aurora walked through the palace grounds in the late afternoon. The sun was low, casting long shadows across the stone paths and flower beds. She needed fresh air after another day of wedding fittings. The dress was almost complete—white silk with silver threads that caught the light like stars. The maids had clapped when she tried it on. The queen had said it was perfect. Kairo had kissed her hand and called her beautiful.
But Aurora felt like she was wearing someone else’s skin. The preparations moved too fast, and her mind moved even faster. The nightmare from two nights ago still lingered. The fire. The mocking faces. The boy who saved her. She tried to push it away, but it came back in quiet moments.
She turned toward the stables. She did not know why. Maybe to see the horses. Maybe to think alone. The air smelled like hay and earth. She heard voices. Soft. Laughing.
She stopped behind a wooden post. Looked inside.
Hardin was there. He sat on a small stool. His shirt sleeve was rolled up. A cut on his arm bled a little. He was scrubbing a saddle with a brush, but the brush had slipped. Hurt him.
A maid stood close to him. Young. Pretty. Blond hair in a braid. She held a clean cloth. She pressed it to his arm.
“You need to be careful,” the maid said. Her voice was light. Teasing.
Hardin smiled small. “It’s nothing. A small cut.”
The maid laughed. “You guards think you are tough. Let me wrap it.”
She took a bandage from her pocket. Wrapped it around his arm. Her fingers touched his skin. Slow. Gentle.
Hardin said, “Thank you.”
The maid smiled. “You are welcome. You are new here. What is your name?”
“Hardin.”
“Nice name. I am Lena. If you need help again, find me.”
She touched his shoulder. Laughed again.
Aurora watched from the shadows. Her stomach twisted. Her chest hurt. She felt hot. Angry. Sad.
She did not know why.
Hardin was a guard. The maid was helping him. Talking to him. Flirting a little.
Why did it hurt so much?
Aurora stepped back. Her foot hit a bucket. It made a noise.
Hardin looked up. Saw her.
His eyes widened.
The maid turned. “My lady!”
Aurora said, “Nothing. I… I was walking.”
The maid bowed. “Do you need anything?”
Aurora said, “No. Go.”
The maid left quickly.
Hardin stood up. “Aurora.”
Aurora looked at his arm. The bandage. Then at his face.
She turned away. Walked fast.
Hardin followed. “Wait.”
She did not stop.
He caught up. “Aurora. Rhianna.”
She stopped. Turned. “Don’t call me that.”
Hardin said, “What is wrong?”
Aurora said, “Nothing. I saw you with the maid. She treated you. Talked to you. Laughed.”
Hardin said, “She helped me. I cut my arm scrubbing.”
Aurora looked away. “It doesn’t matter.”
Hardin said, “It does to you. Why?”
Aurora felt tears in her eyes. “I don’t know. It feels messed up. Seeing you with her… it hurts.”
Hardin stepped closer. “Because you remember something. Your heart knows.”
Aurora said, “No. I don’t.”
But she did.
Pieces started to fit.
The boy in the dream. Dark hair. Protecting her.
Hardin’s face. Dark hair. Protecting her last night.
The scent. Familiar. Like home.
The kiss. Familiar. Good.
She saw flashes. Lost memories.
A pack house. Big. Warm.
A boy—Hardin young—giving her a flower. Red rose.
Laughing together in the woods.
Sebastian’s face. Cold. Breaking the bond.
Pain.
Sickness.
Running.
River.
Aurora held her head. “Stop.”
Hardin said, “What do you see?”
Aurora said, “You. Young. Giving me a rose. Laughing. Then pain. Bond breaking. River.”
Hardin’s voice softened. “Yes. That is real. You are remembering.”
Aurora said, “I don’t know what to do. It hurts. It confuses me.”
Hardin said, “Let it come. Don’t fight.”
Aurora cried. “I can’t. The wedding. Kairo. This life.”
Hardin said, “This life is not yours. Come home. With me.”
Aurora stepped back. “No. Leave me alone.”
She ran back to the palace.
Hardin watched her go. His heart hurt.
Aurora reached her room. Closed the door. Sat on the floor. Cried.
The memories came more.
Sebastian. Her mate. Leaving her for Brittany.
Pain in her heart. Dying wolf.
Hardin. Always there. Protecting. Loving.
She saw him in her dreams. In her lost memories.
But now she was Aurora.
Happy. Safe.
With Kairo.
She did not know what to do.
She wiped her tears. Stood up.
She heard a knock.
The door opened. A messenger came in.
“My lady. News from the border.”
Aurora said, “What?”
The messenger said, “Wolf hunters entered the village. They are armed. They kill wolves. The king says we must stop them.”
Aurora’s heart stopped. “War?”
The messenger said, “Yes. Prince Kairo will lead the warriors. He goes soon.”
Aurora felt cold. “When?”
The messenger said, “Tomorrow. Or the next day. The king will decide.”
The messenger bowed. Left.
Aurora sat on the bed.
Kairo going to war.
Danger.
Hunters with silver arrows. Poisons. Traps.
She felt fear.
For Kairo.
He was good. Kind. He loved her.
But also… for Hardin.
He was a guard. He might go too.
She felt messed up.
She lay down.
Closed her eyes.
Memories came again.
Hardin.
Protecting her.
Loving her.
She did not know what to do.
The palace prepared for war.
The wedding was still on.
But now everything felt different.
Danger on the border.
Hunters.
Kairo leaving.
Hardin… who knew?
Aurora felt lost.
She needed to decide.
Remember or forget.
Stay or go.
Love Kairo or love Hardin.
She cried again.
The sun set.
The palace lights came on.
Aurora did not sleep.
She thought all night.
About the past.
About the future.
About the man who hurt himself scrubbing.
About the maid treating him.
About the jealousy.
About the puzzle pieces fitting.
She did not know the answer.
But she knew one thing.
She could not ignore it anymore.
She had to face it.
Soon.
Before Kairo left for war.
Before the wedding.
Before it was too late.