Aurora''s POV


    Day of the Festival


    It was the day of the festival and I was all hyped up for it. I''d never witnessed it all my life and I couldn''t wait to be out there.


    Right in front of me was a long, emerald green dress which was adorned with golden stones. I had never seen a dress like that all my life; not until two days ago when it was brought to my room by a few maids.


    It was the perfect clothing for the festival; a dress capable of turning eyes and with the figure that I had, there was just no way that any man or woman could pass by without noticing my presence.


    I took out the dress from the hanger and the maids who were with me took it from my hands and began to adjust it very well to make sure that it was perfect. Then they handed it over to me so I could put it on, waiting patiently by the side so that they could offer help if I needed it.


    Knock knock!


    "Come in."


    My door was opened up and my mom walked into the room with a smile on her face. I had the dress in my hand and was about to put it on before she walked in so I just smiled at her and then donned it with the help of the maids.


    "You look astonishing, my Princess," she said to me with a smile on her face. "Your beauty knows no bounds, my child."


    I blushed. I loved it when she spoke to me that way. It always made me so happy and I always listened keenly with the hope that she was going to say something nice to me.


    "You know," she continued. "This dress used to be mine. I was the one who told the maids to bring it to you. You didn''t bother to ask, did you?"


    I shook my head. "It looked too good and I knew it had to be from either you or dad."


    "Well, I was the one who told them to do so. I gave it to you because I need you to look so good at the festival. This is your first festival as a princess and you have to look ravishing. Everyone must know that you, my child, have arrived."


    "Thank you so much, mom," I said with happy tears brewing in the corner of my eyes. It was a gesture that I appreciated so much and I couldn''t thank her enough for it.


    No one except her had treated me with so much care and affection. I was d I got to find out the truth. I was having the best period of my life and it wasn''t just about the change of status. I did miss the work part of my life. It was a fact that I could see genuine love from everyone around me, especially my parents. It was something that I never thought I would receive in my life.


    "Don''t cry, my darling. You don''t want to stain your makeup do you?"


    I put my right hand over my mouth andughed hard. I didn''t expect that at all. Sheughed hard too. Guess the joke was good for two.


    We spoke for a little while, as I tried to find out exactly what usually went on during the festival so that I wouldn''t look so confused when I finally stepped out. She was patient in her exnation and it ddened my heart. She was the mother that I had so yearned for so many years.


    "I''ll need to leave now, Aurora," she finally said, after a few minutes of very crucial chat. "Let me head out there and see what''s going on. I need to check up on the others and make proper preparations. Today''s the big day. Everything has to be done perfectly."


    I nodded and she pecked me on the right cheek and left the room.


    Alpha Bane''s POV


    I put on my white apparel with my diamond chain as I finally decided that I had to look important. Not that I loved that but if Aurora was going to be there, then I had to look my best.


    As I put on my clothes, Donald sat on my bed polishing my ck pair of shoes which I nned to put on for the asion.


    "You remember what I discussed with youst night, right?" He asked me, still polishing the shoes as I walked across to the mirror to see how I looked.


    "Nice," I muttered to myself, impressed with what I saw and forgetting to respond to Donald''s question.


    "Alpha Bane..." Donald called out, bringing my attention back to where it was supposed to be.


    I recalled all that he said to me that night. A part of me never wanted to believe all that he said;rgely because it looked impossible for someone to be that callous, but I knew that Donald was never one to tell a lie.


    "You won''t believe that I caught Sophia talking with her mother in the dungeon even after strict warning for no one to go there. I heard everything that they said, Alpha Bane..."


    Those were the first words that he spoke to me concerning all that happened and from then henceforth, until he was done with his story, my mouth remained wide open.


    Donald had only decided to take a little stroll around the Castle when he began to hear a few sounds that came from the dungeon area. That''s when he walked closer to hear a bit more and then he perceived it was Sophia and Mrs Scott.


    Sophia had gone to the dungeon to ask her mother to take her life using a portion she''d given her. It sounded strange to me that someone could suggest that to a woman who birthed her. She was nothing short of a beast.


    I began to understand that there was no repentance in thedy. She was only bound to do even more evil. I wasn''t going to let her do that. It irked me so much to have had anything to do with her. She was worse than a devil.


    No matter how bad I knew she was, I didn''t think she was capable of murder. Yet, there she was, trying to take the life of a woman that sacrificed her all for her. As much as Mrs Scott did something very evil, it was all because of her and the news that she was even aware of it all that time and just pretended not to know, even making things worse.


    How could she have known all that and made no effort whatsoever to free her mom? Instead, she chose to take her outpletely. Her wickedness knew no bounds.


    "I haven''t forgotten one bit," I said to Donald, snapping back to reality. "Today, I''ll be on the lookout. The truth has to be revealed but it''s going to be at the right time. I don''t want to ruin anything at all. The timing just has to be right."


    "So how would you know when the timing is right?"


    "Good question, Donald," I said, smiling and buttoning the top of my apparel. Then, I turned around to Donald, who was staring keenly at me, hoping to hear what I had to say. "I''ll watch how Sophia would treat Aurora today. I need to see how she''ll rte to her. I don''t know what her intentions toward her are, especially since her mother refused to take the portion. It''s the only thing that''ll make me reveal such a secret, especially in the presence of so many people and I promise you; I won''t hesitate to expose her if she tries anything funny."


    "You, my Alpha, are a very wise man," Donald said, patting me on the back. "Your shoes are ready to be worn. Are you?"