Aurora's POV
The hall was as silent as a graveyard after the prince's declaration. My mind was in shock, unable to process anything coherent. I just stood there, observing the chaos unfolding around me.
"What is the meaning of this?!" my father's roar echoed through the silent hall, jolting everyone back to life.
"This is absurd! You cannot do this, Prince Lucent!" My father pointed his sword at the prince, his fury palpable.
"Lord Cornelius, how dare you point your sword at the royal family!" Seraphina's father, Lord Augustine, bellowed from his seat.
"Shut up, you fool! Come to me and speak that rubbish, and I'll have your tongue!" my father lashed out at the lord of the Second House, Seraphina's father. "I demand an explanation for this atrocity, my king!"
"No need for the king to answer, Cornelius. There is no explanation to be given. Your useless daughter is trash. Can't you see it? She can't even light up the lowest light in the testing stone. She's a disgrace, a good-for-nothing, a decorated doll for your house to admire," Prince Lucent retorted, showing no respect for my father or his position.
My already shattered heart couldn't bear to hear any more. Hot tears began streaming down my face as I weakly walked on trembling legs to face Seraphina, who was holding the hand of the man I once loved.
"Why…?" It was the only word I could manage, the only thing my exhausted mind could process amidst the torment and piercing pain in my heart.
"Aurora, open your eyes. Prince Lucent has never loved you. It was out of duty that he, the strongest in Pine city, will date the girl from the strongest clan,he courted you out of duty not to love Rory, but who would have known that you can't even light up the lowest colour" she laughed evily.
"I've always been his true love," Seraphina said, smiling at me from where she sat. "I'm sorry as a friend, but this is how it was meant to be. As your best friend, I hope you can understand my plight, and be happy for me"
"Unbelievable… you're a demon…" My father couldn't take it any longer. "If I don't have your tongue, I am not Lord Cornelius of the First Family of Pine City!" he declared, rising from his seat as the aura of an Alpha wolf descended upon Seraphina and the entire hall.
"Enough!" The king's voice washed over the room, dissipating my father's aura. "I won't decide who my son chooses to marry. He made the right choice. Lord Cornelius, for your unbefitting actions this night, you are hereby stripped of your rights as the king's right hand, and Augustin is to be offered the position"
"Thank you my king, my clan is honoured to serve the royal family diligently" Seraphinas father bowed, smiling at my father who was already seething in rage.
My tears spilled faster, blinding my vision. The shock threatened to overwhelm me as I stood trembling, refusing to give them the satisfaction of watching me fall. I could feel the taunting eyes of everyone in the hall and hear the murmurs spreading through the crowd.
"She is cursed!" someone shouted.
"She's an abomination who can't even light the lowest level of the potential stone!"
"We can't have a wolfless wolf as the Luna! Hail Prince Lucent for having sharp eyes!" another voice sneered.
I closed my eyes, trying to block out the venomous words. My gaze fixed on Prince Lucent, memorising every feature, how his mouth curved into a cruel smile as he listened to the vile things being said about me. "Do you accept it or not?" he asked again, his tone devoid of any warmth.
I wished for the ground to open and swallow me. Summoning what little strength I had left, I looked him in the eyes, and then at Seraphina, who clung to him like a lover from the past.
"I accept your rejection," I declared, embracing the searing pain that ripped through me. When I could no longer bear it, I passed out. The last thing I saw was my mother running toward me before everything went dark.
*****
Two Days Later
If there could be a day worse than any other in my life, it would be the day of the selection, the night of the king's ball. Remembering the events that took place brought back tears I didn't know I had left, as I had cried myself dry that day.
The moment Lucent, my once love and sweetheart, rejected me as his mate, a part of me died along with his fake love.
I tried convincing myself that none of it was real, that he had not been pretending to love me all this time, that everyone around me had not been pretending, especially Seraphina. I tried to find excuses for her, telling myself she was forced into this, or that her father had pushed her. But seeing how close she was to the prince, it was clear their love had been blossoming long before.
She knew all along. I had told her everything about me, considered her my friend, supported her, and cheered for her as she won trophies in various fighting competitions. And how did she repay me? By stealing my supposed mate and rubbing it in my face.
I heard my mother's footsteps before she knocked and entered, followed by maids carrying trays of food and mixed herbs.
"My sunshine, you're finally awake," my mother said, smiling softly at me.
Looking at her warm expression, I was filled with shame. "Mama, I disappointed you…"
"No, my sunshine. It's not your fault," she cut me off, holding me close as I cried harder.
"I'm sorry, Mama, for causing you and Papa so much trouble."
"We still love you, sunshine," she consoled me.
"How is Papa, after he was demoted?" I asked, worried.
"Sunshine, Papa doesn't blame you for anything that happened. He went to the palace for an emergency meeting," she replied. "I brought you some food. You need to eat."
"I'm not hungry, Mama," I said, my appetite nonexistent.
The maids set the food on the small table beside my bed before leaving. "Whenever you feel hungry, you can eat your food," my mother said, not forcing me.
"Mama, do you believe I'm wolfless?" I asked, my voice trembling.
She looked at me with a complicated expression before sighing. "My sunshine, no matter what, you're still our only daughter, and your father and I love you," she said tenderly.
Held in her comforting embrace, I drifted back to sleep.
*****
I awoke to the sound of an argument, a dull pain throbbing in my head. As I focused, I could make out my father's and mother's voices, speaking in hushed tones.
I got out of bed and noticed the untouched food beside me, sighing at the sight. I hadn't eaten since my mother brought it. Following the voices downstairs, I saw my father, fresh from the meeting, arguing with my mother about something.
"It's the best thing for her, Caroline," he said in a low tone.
"No, love, we can't abandon our only child when others have already done so. I need to be here for her," my mother argued back.
"I know, but this is the only way for her. Darling, she hasn't eaten in days, only holed up in her room. She needs a change."
"What change?" I asked, cutting into their discussion.
"Oh, sunshine, you're awake!" my mother exclaimed with joy.
"What change, Mama? Don't lie to me, I heard everything," I repeated.
My mother stood motionless, unsure of what to say. "Sunshine, I can explain. Your father and I have been thinking over the past few days, and we believe it would be best if…"
"If what?" I shouted.
"Aurora," my father began, "your mother and I think it would be best if…"
"If what, Papa?" I asked, my eyes darting to my mother, who was already in tears.
"If you are sent to live with your aunt in Greenfall, sunshine, for the time being until…"
I didn't let him finish. I couldn't bear to hear another reminder that this was real, that I was considered trash and even my parents wanted to bundle me away. I ran to my room, shutting out the world that had suddenly turned so cold.