Aurora couldn't sleep. Her mind was filled with memories of Kael—the fierce silver wolf, the man with the intense, burning eyes. She felt like she was being pulled into a world that she'd only ever heard whispers about, a world both terrifying and thrilling.
The next morning, her father, King Reginald, called her to his study. His face was stern, his eyes hard as he looked at her. "There are rumors spreading, Aurora," he said, voice low. "You were seen at the arena. Is it true?"
Aurora's heart skipped. She tried to stay calm, looking down to avoid his gaze. "Yes, Father," she admitted softly. "I wanted to understand why… why we treat the wolves as we do."
The king's face darkened. "Those creatures are dangerous. They've attacked our people, threatened our kingdom. They are beasts, nothing more. Do not let your heart deceive you, Aurora. They are our enemies."
Aurora wanted to argue, to tell him what she had seen, but she knew it would only anger him. The king had made up his mind long ago. He saw wolves as monsters, and nothing could change that. So she remained silent, bowing her head.
The king sighed, softening a bit. "I understand you have a kind heart, my daughter. But remember, kindness is a weakness they will exploit. Stay close to the castle, and do not wander off. I won't have you risking yourself for these… creatures."
Aurora nodded, though her heart rebelled. She was more determined than ever to see Kael again. She needed answers, needed to understand the truth behind the war between humans and wolves.
—-
That night, when the castle was quiet, Aurora slipped out of her room, moving silently through the corridors. She had memorized the guards' patterns, knowing when they'd switch posts. She made her way to the forest edge, where the shadows were deep and the air felt alive with mystery.
She didn't know if Kael would come. She didn't even know if he'd heard her, if he had felt the same connection she had. But as she reached the edge of the trees, she felt it again—that prickling sensation, that strange awareness.
And then, out of the darkness, he appeared.
Kael stood there, half-hidden by shadows, his silver eyes catching the faint moonlight. He looked at her with the same intensity as before, a mix of suspicion and something else—something she couldn't name but felt deep in her bones.
"Why are you here, Princess?" he asked, his voice rough, almost a growl.
Aurora took a breath, steadying herself. "I had to see you again. I need to understand… this war, the hatred between our people."
Kael's gaze hardened. "You've grown up in a palace. You don't know what it's like to live in the wild, hunted, your people seen as nothing but animals. Your kind fears what they don't understand. They see us as monsters, so we became what they fear."
Aurora flinched but didn't look away. "But not all of us see you that way," she said softly. "I don't see you that way."
Kael's eyes softened, his expression shifting to something almost… vulnerable. But it was gone in a heartbeat, replaced by the fierce look of an alpha. "You're different, Princess. But your kindness won't change what's coming. Your father and his army will hunt us until there is nothing left."
The words stung, but Aurora couldn't deny them. She knew her father would never give up his hatred for the wolves. And yet, standing here in the dark forest with Kael, she couldn't ignore the pull she felt, the strange connection that had started the moment their eyes had met.
"I don't want this war," she whispered, her voice breaking. "I want peace. I want to find a way… for our people to live together."
Kael's gaze softened again, and he stepped closer, so close that she could feel his warmth, the energy that radiated from him. His eyes met hers, intense and unwavering, and she felt like he could see right through her, into her soul.
"Peace," he murmured. "For wolves, peace means freedom. But your people don't want to give us that. They want control. They want us to be beasts in cages."
Aurora's heart ached as she realized the truth in his words. The wolves had only ever known oppression, and no matter how much she wished for peace, it might never be enough to heal the wounds between their kinds.
But she couldn't give up. "Maybe… maybe we can find another way," she said, her voice barely a whisper. "Maybe we don't have to fight."
Kael looked at her for a long moment, his eyes softening. And then, before she could understand what was happening, he reached out, his hand brushing her cheek, his touch rough yet gentle. Her breath hitched as he leaned closer, his voice low and raw.
"You're too kind, Princess," he whispered. "Kindness can be dangerous. It can make you vulnerable."
Aurora's heart raced, her skin tingling where his hand had touched. She felt drawn to him, to the warmth and danger that surrounded him like a cloak. And for a moment, she forgot everything—her father's orders, the hatred between their kinds. All she knew was the steady beat of her heart, the intensity in Kael's gaze.
But then, footsteps echoed nearby, snapping them both back to reality. Kael's expression hardened, and he stepped back, his hand falling away.
"You should go," he said, his voice tight. "It's too dangerous for you here. They'll come looking for you."
Aurora hesitated, a part of her wanting to stay, to defy everything and everyone. But she knew he was right. She had taken a risk, and if her father found out, it could mean disaster for them both.
"Will I see you again?" she asked, her voice filled with a mixture of hope and fear.
Kael's gaze softened, and for a moment, he looked almost sad. "Maybe. But remember, Princess… I am not the hero of your story. I am the wolf, the enemy. Don't forget that."
And with that, he vanished into the shadows, leaving her alone in the silence of the forest, her heart aching with questions she couldn't answer.
As she made her way back to the castle, Aurora felt a strange weight settle over her. She didn't know if Kael was her enemy or something more, but one thing was certain—her life was no longer her own. She was now a part of something bigger, something dangerous. And she couldn't turn back now.