"Your majesty ", Elsie said with a curtsey.
"Well mannered too, you are welcome", Alan said with a warm smile.
"She has been training since she was fifteen at the golden river and top mountain", Shane said.
"I see...", Alan said, stroking his beard.
" She led other trainees when she was there, she is also very smart", Shane added.
" You flatter me brother ", Elsie said, chuckling.
"It is not a flatter if it is all true ", Shane replied.
"And she is of age", Alan said, sizing Elsie from head to toe.
"Yes she is", Shane said, nodding his head.
"Go, tell my people to plan a wedding. Elsie will be my new Luna.
"Surely", Shane said with a bow, hiding his wicked smile.
Shane and Elsie moved from the courtroom to the corridor.
"I hope no one is watching us", Shane said.
"I must say, you are good, the king is in your palm", Elsie said with a mischievous smile.
"Everything must go according to plan, now that I have you on the inside, it will be easy to take him down", Shane said.
"Everyone in this city will bow before us one day, it is just a matter of time", Elsie replied.
"I cannot wait, I have planned this for so long ", Shane whispered.
"I will do as you say brother, but remember what you promised me",
"Settled, now go and prepare to be the King's bride",
Elsie walked majestically out, humming a song and smiling widely.
******
Aurora turned from side to side, fighting in her sleep, she finally woke up screaming.
"She is awake, go get her water", Lucas said to the guards.
"Where am I?", Aurora asked, looking around the large room.
"My mother's room", Lucas replied with a smile.
"Your mother? I don't even know you ", Aurora said, struggling to get up.
"Do not try getting up, you are in safe hands", Lucas said, holding her hands.
"Safe hands?", Aurora asked.
"Yes, I believe you were looking for this place, I am the King here, your friend and I brought you as you passed out", Lucas said.
"Oh", Aurora replied.
"Your wounds have been treated, I had the poison drawn out of you", Lucas said.
"Thank you very much ", Aurora said.
"Do not thank me, thank my healer, he did a good job.
"You will have to rest for a while, the poison weakened your system", the healer said.
"I will" Aurora replied softly.
The Healer walked out of the room, leaving Lucas and Aurora together.
" You are such a beauty to behold, has anyone told you that?", Lucas said. He could not stop staring at her.
Aurora giggled.
"You flatter me, your majesty, I am sure you are telling your wife the same thing", Aurora said, looking into his eyes.
"Wife? Nonsense, I am still unmarried and you can call me Lucas."
"That is impossible", Aurora muttered.
"Why?"
"Look at you, you look like you have everything, you are also very charming and kind", Aurora said.
"Are you taken?" Lucas asked as his eyes widened.
Aurora paused for a bit, she wondered what she would say. Her ex-husband wanted nothing to do with her, and she was not going to hold onto him either.
"No, I am not", Aurora said firmly. She was ready to let go of the past,
"You are also very charming and single, so it is possible", Lucas replied. He could not hide his smile.
" I guess so", Aurora replied softly.
"I have told you my name, what is yours?", Lucas asked.
"Aurora, you call me Aurora "
"Or I could call you mine," Lucas said with a smile.
Aurora's smile faded, and she suddenly became sad. She could not get over how Alan had hurt her, she knew the wound that occupied her heart was large and deep, there was no space for another.
"I am just joking," Lucas said, noticing the change in her expression.
"Okay", Aurora replied.
"You did not tell me how you knew about this place", Lucas said.
"My mom used to tell me about it as bedtime stories, a very long time ago", Aurora said.
"What did she say?", Lucas asked.
"She said it was a peaceful place to be."
"Well, she is not entirely wrong. It is not because we do not have enemies, but because we find our enemies, but they cannot find us."
"How so?"
"You see, this place does not exist to so many", Lucas said.
"How does it feel to be invincible?", Aurora asked.
"Safe, you see years ago, Our pack was attacked by an Alpha pack, it was a pack made up of only Alpha werewolves. They were very strong and powerful.
"Alpha Packs?, I thought it was a myth", Aurora said.
"Not a myth, we faced constant attacks, my great-grandfather was just a little boy then", Lucas said, demonstrating with his finger".
"So what happened next?", Aurora asked.
"His father was the king, so he met with the sisters of fate and begged them to help him. He was losing his werewolves daily. Some were taken, captured and made slaves.
"Oh no", Aurora said.
"This protection did not come cheap, he sacrificed his life for his people. I truly admire and look up to him."
"What about your great grandfather? What happened to him?"
" He became King at age six"
"No way", Aurora said with her mouth agape.
"Yes, our city also became invincible to external eyes", Lucas said.
"It must feel good to finally be at peace", Aurora said.
"Two hundred and fifty years later, we have not had any form of invasion "
"That is amazing ",
"It is, I should let you have your rest now."
"It's a shame, I was enjoying our conversation."
"Please rest, this evening will be hectic. "
"Hectic?"
"Yes, I am throwing a feast to welcome you".
"Welcome me? You do not even know me."
"Nonsense, you are a werewolf, with a good Aura too."
"I am barely a werewolf, I have never transformed", Aurora said.
"Never?", Lucas asked.
"Yes"
"Well then, after you are well rested, you can join the Werewolf Training School. It is handled by someone dear to my heart, Chloe. She is one tough lady but you are in good hands", Lucas said.
" Thank you so much, I cannot wait to learn from her."
" I will take my leave now, we will talk more about this at the dinner table, be prepared to feast!"
Aurora watched the King walk out whistling. She felt at peace and finally accepted. Her thoughts were interrupted by a beautiful lady in trousers who walked into the room without knocking.
"Who are you?", the lady asked sternly.
"I uhm, you first. Who are you?", Aurora asked back.
"Since you are so interested in knowing, I am Chloe, Lucas' Wife", Chloe replied coldly.
"Wife?", Aurora asked again, her eyes widened in disbelief.
" Are you deaf or are you plain stupid?", Chloe asked.
"You said to his wife"? Aurora asked.
I am going to call Lucas, you should not be here when I return, Chloe said, walking out of the room.