Aurora''s POV


    The Next Morning


    I opened my eyes and I couldn''t believe what was happening. I saw a body beside me and on closer look as my vision got clearer, I saw that it was Alpha Bane.


    It wasn''t just the fact that I slept beside him that got me surprised. It was the fact that my arms were wrapped around him in a cuddle.


    I took my hands away from his body as I recalled all that happened the previous night and instead of being upset, I was quite happy. I also noticed that he looked so much better that morning and it made me even happier.


    I faced him and stroked his hair gently as he slept and I watched the way he reacted, even though he was unconscious


    After a while, I decided that it was time to get out of bed and I did just that. I stood, adjusted my dress and prepared to leave his room. I had a very tough decision to make too as my parents were to leave that morning. Leave with them or not? Time was always going to tell.


    As I began to walk toward the door, I heard Bane groan from behind me. Then, he began to call out my name from the bed. I froze and turned to look at him with a smile on my face. I couldn''t help but blush as it was so adorable.


    I watched him search around the bed for me as he kept moving his hands. It was so amusing and got me emotional too. My chest clenched at the sight of it.


    Shaking my head and discarding the thoughts so I wouldn''t fall any deeper than I had already fallen for him, I quickly left the room and began walking down the corridor as I headed straight outside to see if my parents were already there waiting for me and Sophia.


    Just as I had predicted, as soon as I got outside, I saw that the carriage that my parents nned to travel with was already ready and I looked around to see if I could spot them.


    I couldn''t for a while but then I saw theming from the left side of the carriage, chatting andughing. They must have gone over to the front area and were probablying back from there.


    I smiled at them as they approached me and they did the same. They looked so happy to see me. I was happy to see them too. But the smile was soon knocked off my face as soon as I spotted Sophia by their side.


    That snake! I hated her so much and I knew the feeling was mutual. She was always so full of herself and for no reason at all. She wasn''t even of royal blood and so I didn''t know what made her feel like she could still boss me around and carry herself up and down like she was something.


    I ignored her and walked over to my parents waving my hands and letting the smiles reappear on my face.


    Princess Sophia''s POV


    As soon as Aurora came to meet with my parents, they instantly stopped talking to me and turned all of their focus to her. I couldn''t contain the anger and jealousy that built up inside me that instant. It was so annoying; just like everything that had to do with her.


    It was even worse for me because I had only just cracked a joke for my parents which I was sure was going to get them tough out loud. They were almost there and I could see their cheeks getting wider just before they saw that moron. She ruined my joke and made it look like it wasn''t funny. But it was; it was really funny, the funniest joke I had told in a while and she just happened to show up right on time to ruin it! She was just a pain!


    I couldn''t let them see that I was jealous or anything. It would have been proof that she was gaining the upper hand. I couldn''t grant her that pleasure of having one over me. Never! I just had to maintain my visage as if nothing was wrong. Even though I knew that something was.


    " Hey, mom. Hey, dad," she greeted us as soon as she got close to us.


    "Hey, Aurora," my mom greeted as my dad just nodded to acknowledge the greeting and smiled at her.


    "Why are you not dressed yet, Aurora," mom asked her, seeing how shabbily she dressed. "Where are your bags?"


    Aurora paused a bit and bit her lip and I interpreted that to mean that she was probably about to make up a flimsy excuse as to why she wasn''t going to go back with us.


    our


    I didn''t have an issue with that, especially since Alpha Bane was nowhere to be found. It was only going to be a matter of time before she''d be irrelevant there without Alpha Bane''s presence and she''ll have no choice but to return Pack. Only then, I''d have carried out my n and established myself as the true princess and she''d have no ce there either.


    "Mom," she began to exin. "I''d have loved to go with you. I want that so much, but I just can''t leave now."


    "And why''s that?" My father asked, visibly unhappy with her decision to stay back.


    "Alpha Bane is sick and I''m catering for him for now. I''d be back once I''m done taking care of myself. He needs me now and I just can''t leave him alone at this crucial time."


    My parents gasped, very surprised at the news. I was surprised too and also very upset as my eyes shot daggers.


    I couldn''t believe that Bane was sick and I wasn''t aware. He did not think about saying something to me but he chose to open up to the lowlife. I felt greatly insulted by that.


    I had asked the maids about him but they always maintained that they had no idea no matter how hard I pressed. One of them even swore by the goddess which made me believe what they had to say. How then was Aurora able to get such information?


    "What exactly is the problem with the Alpha?" My mom asked Aurora as I listened with all keenness to know what it was that troubled him.


    "It''s his head. He had an injury on his head and the pain has refused to go away. He has been indoors all this while, groaning in pain. It hasn''t been easy for him at all."


    "How pathetic. We wish him the best recovery by the goddess," my mom said to her, cing her hands on her waist and shaking her head.


    "I understand you, my child," said my father. "You can take some time and be back when he''s fine."


    "Thank you, dad."


    I turned to her as soon as I heard those words, I turned around and shot Aurora a re and to my surprise, just like thest time, she did the same. Her audacity marvelled me. The young fearful maid, now stood fearlessly before me, doing her utmost to challenge me.


    I knew exactly what to do. As I opened my mouth to give her the insult of her life, a guard ran to us panting.


    "The carriage is set for departure," he said to us. "We will leave on yourmand, my Alpha."


    My parents asked the guard a few questions which I presumed he answered satisfactorily as I didn''t notice anyone scolding him. They just nodded when he got done exining himself and he left them.


    Soon, we were all set and we proceeded to the carriage. As we got there, about to get inside, my parents stopped and turned to Aurora.


    "Take great care of yourself and also Alpha Bane, my darling," said my mother to Aurora. "We hope to have you back home soon."


    She drew Aurora in and hugged her tightly, shutting her eyes to show the emotions involved. I was certain she loved her dearly.


    My blood boiled as I saw them and u had the urge to do something stupid but I


    held myself back, knowing it wasn''t going to be of any profit to me.


    As she broke the hold, my mother turned to me. "You should hug Aurora goodbye, Sophie."


    I didn''t want to and nothing was going to make me do that. Instead, I preferred to snidely wave at her and then climbed into the carriage, ready to head back home.


    All the time, she just stood there and made no effort whatsoever to exchange pleasantries with me so I had no obligation to do the same. Although, I''d have shunned or snubbed her, had she tried. Yet, she didn''t and that was all that mattered.


    In the carriage, I faced away from Aurora, unwilling to have a look at that loser. We were going to meet, sooner orter.