The next day, the afternoon was surprisingly warm, but the air was filled with the sweet, crisp scent of autumn's approach.
In the heart of the city, within the grandiose confines of a prestigious hotel, Sebastian sat in the lounge, his long fingers cradling the Emerald Zion necklace as he stared at it with fascinated attention.
"What makes this necklace so valuable that she priced it so high?"
Christophe, seated across from him, looked on in disbelief. "What were you thinking? You do not even have a use for it."
"I am checking a detail," Sebastian said, his tone chilly and slightly hesitant.
Christophe let out a heavy sigh. "No wonder you stopped stalking her."
Sebastian chuckled. "Who says I have?"
Christophe's jaw dropped in disbelief, but he bit back his response, taking a moment to collect his thoughts.
Fortunately, Henri arrived at the scene, his face grim. He sat down with a heavy sigh.
"She has fallen back into the hands of the Dumonts, a troubling sign for all wolf shifters."
Christophe chuckled. "It is a troubling sign for our Alpha, but she is a grown woman now, capable of defending herself. There is no way she will be exploited again as a weapon to annihilate packs."
He swallowed, a flicker of unpleasant memory crossing his mind, before shrugging nonchalantly.
"Unless they possess some leverage," Henri caressed his chin thoughtfully. "they won't be able to control her."
Sebastian's face darkened, his eyes flashing with dread. "Our children."
Christophe and Henri exchanged a knowing glance, a silent acknowledgment of the secret they were keeping about Aurora's pregnancy a decade ago.
Henri sighed and turned back to Sebastian, whose thoughts were clearly elsewhere. "What are you planning to do? We must return to the pack."
"You cannot seriously expect me to leave without my mate," Sebastian grumbled, standing up. "There are too many eyes on her. Aurora Devereaux, Duchess of Rouvray, remember?"
And with that, he turned and walked away, still toying with the necklace as he went. "Besides, we have our children to consider now."
Christophe and Henri let out a synchronized sigh, stood up, and followed Sebastian to the carriage, which was drawn by eight majestic horses. They boarded the grand carriage, their eyes fixed on their Alpha, who remained entranced by the necklace.
"Do you think the Ocean Fire pack will have their eyes on her?" His aura surged, filling the carriage with an intense, suffocating pressure that weighed heavily on Christophe and Henri.
Ordinary werewolves wouldn't last a second in their position. But as Lycans, they enjoyed certain... privileges.
Lycans were the superior form of werewolves, often revered as gods due to their enhanced strength, heightened senses, and superior abilities.
"Indeed. She is your weakness, after all." Christophe replied, clearing his throat loudly.
Sebastian nodded curtly, tucking the necklace away and looking out the window, his eyes unfocused, lost in thought.
His heart was twisting in agony, he was fighting the urge to scream out in frustration.
How did it come to this? Why did she have to be dragged back into the clutches of her deranged family, doomed to return to her life as an assassin?
He let out a deep breath, rubbing his forehead tensely. "I do not like this one bit."
Meanwhile, Christophe and Henri both looked at each other, knowing that they were going to fall into very big trouble very soon.
...
Aurora sat in the carriage, her fingers nervously fidgeting with her bag as she attempted to calm herself. This was the first time she had been summoned to her children's school since their arrival in France, and her anxiety was evident.
That afternoon, Theodore arrived with a letter bearing distressing news. Lucien had bitten a young boy, causing the child to faint and require hospitalization.
This was a disaster, a total disaster!
Her children, only ten years old, were already exhibiting signs of their lycan heritage, courtesy of their Alpha bloodline. As a result, their transformation was progressing earlier than usual.
Her heart sank as she realized Sebastian's overpowering genetics were taking hold.
With a heavy sigh, she braced herself for the challenges ahead, knowing that the next few years of solo parenting would be the most daunting of her life.
The carriage lurched to a stop, and Theodore quickly ushered her out onto the school's grounds. She hid her uneasiness behind a mask of calm, her eyes fixed on the huge structure before her.
"Stay here, Theodore," she instructed, her voice steady, before turning to enter the building.
Upon entering, she was greeted by a middle-aged woman in the hallway, whose expression was etched with worry. The moment their eyes met, the woman's eyes widened in surprise.
Aurora promptly approached her, her tone courteous as she asked, "Could you kindly show me the way to the headmaster's office?"
"'You... You are Aurora Devereaux, Dowager Duchess of Rouvray!" The woman's voice trembled with awe and astonishment, her eyes aglow with excitement.
But in an instant, Aurora's eyes transformed into a deep, ominous purple, her gaze piercing as she grasped the woman's wrist with a strong grip, a sinister smile spreading across her face.
"And you are a wolf who belongs to the Rouvray Pack." La Mort hissed with great displeasure.
The woman's eyes flashed to amber, her body quivering with terror. She was utterly perplexed, unable to comprehend the sudden shift. But one thing was clear. The Aurora who had politely asked for directions was a far cry from the Aurora who now stood before her.
"I... I mean no harm, I promise..." The woman stuttered, her voice trembling as La Mort's grip tightened.
"What business does a member of the Rouvray pack have here?" Her eyes slitted, her ears perked up, catching the faint sound of Adrien's voice.
"Mama?" The innocent tone confirmed her suspicions. They had detected Aurora's scent the moment she entered the premises.
Her eyes shifted back into their ocean blue form, and she released the woman's arm, her attention drawn to the direction of Adrien's voice as she walked away.
Meanwhile, the woman's eyes returned to their natural state, and she rushed to the entrance, only to find Sebastian standing before her.
"Alpha," she acknowledged, bowing her head in respect.
"I received your letter. Lead me to the headmaster's office."