Alpha Bane''s POV


    Some Days Later


    "You can go ahead, Aurora. I''ll be right behind you," I said to Aurora who stood beside her mother, right in front of me and the Alpha King.


    I needed to thrash out a few things with him before going into the carriage, especially since he wasn''t going to my Pack with us.


    "Don''t be long," she replied, as they both walked toward the carriage, talking as they moved.


    "I won''t, my love. I promise."


    "I love the way you both love and respect yourselves. It''s a beautiful sight, Alpha Bane," the Alpha King said with a smile on his face. "You remind me of how I and her mother used to be when we were still very young, like the both of you."


    "You''re still that way, even now," I said to him. "You both look inseparable. I am even in shock that she agreed to go with us to my Pack."


    "She has to. I know, it took a lot from her to do that. She can''t miss the wedding of her darling daughter. I''d have gone with you too. No father would love to miss the special day of his child, but an Alpha has to do what he has to do."


    "I understand. Sometimes, we make such sacrifices, even though it may not feel good at all. Yet, the people on the outside barely understand us. To them, we''re beings without emotions who only do things for the good of the Pack."


    "Indeed," he concurred. "They''re right about the second. The Pack alwayses first. Yet, that doesn''t mean that we have no emotions. It is our emotions that guide us as Alphas and keep us from being tyrants. It''s why we put the Pack first instead of our families, understanding that the rest of the Pack aren''t worthless, but are deserving of our love and protection, just like our families."


    As we slowly walked, I couldn''t help but see the truth in what he was saying. Each time I walked about in my Pack, I always noticed a few gloomy faces, amidst some others who stared in awe. If only they knew what we had to go through by the virtue of being the Alpha of the Pack, perhaps, they''d have had more sympathy for us.


    "When would the wedding be held? Any idea yet?"


    "None yet," I answered as I hadn''t quite given it any thought. I only knew we were going to have our wedding but since the preparations hadn''t gone so far, I couldn''t ce my hands on when exactly it would happen.


    "It needs to be quick though," he advised. "The earlier we get done with it, the more prepared we''ll be for Dn and his proposed attack."


    "I''m sure you want your wife back as soon as possible," Iughed. "Don''t worry, she''ll be home in no distant time."


    "The troops too. They''ll be with you as soon as you make contact. If you hear anything about Dning to your Pack, do reach out very quickly."


    I nodded. Just as I tried to say something to the Alpha King, I heard a sound to my right and I quickly turned to see who it was.


    I spotted a few guards, dragging Ivan to another carriage. The Alpha King finally consented to my request to take him with me and I was d.


    "Thank you," I said to him and he nodded. "I guess I''ll be seeing you soon then." "Indeed, you are."


    We shook hands and I walked to the carriage where Aurora and her mother were already waiting for me.


    Aurora''s POV


    "Mom, I''m scared," I said to my mom as we got into the carriage.


    Alpha Bane and my father were still having a conversation and so I felt the need to share my fears with my mother before he''d join us.


    I had no idea that my mother was going to join me on the journey. I was so ted when she told me that she was going to travel with me so she could witness my special day and also help out with the arrangements. I wished my father could have joined us too but I could understand why he had to stay.


    Yet, I was so scared. I didn''t know what would happen when we got there. If for any reason, Dn decided to attack, my mother too was in harm''s way and that was not alright.


    I had heard a few tales about her experiences in wars. I heard she fought so valiantly and was well-feared and respected by all. Yet, those were so many years ago, long before I was born and I didn''t know if she still had it in her. Even if she did, it was still a dangerous thing to be in a war.


    "Don''t be scared, my child," said my mother, in a bid tofort me. "I''m right here with you and I''m not going anywhere my darling. There''s no need to be afraid."


    "That''s one of the reasons why I''m so scared, mom. You''re here with me and if an attack happens, you''re already in harm''s way and it''ll be all my fault. If not for this wedding, you''d have been in our Pack, away from any form of chaos."


    "I''d rather die by your side, my love, than hear of your death from our Pack," she stroked my hair. "Here, I can make sure that no one would harm you at all."


    I wished in my heart that I could believe all that she said to me. Not like I didn''t believe her. I did. I just didn''t think she could do what she said because I knew how dangerous Dn could be. I had heard about him from some of the maids too and since he was with someone as cunning as Sophia, there was barely anything they couldn''t do."


    "I''ve been having some dreams, mother," I revealed to her, looking up into her eyes. "I''ve been having bad dreams. So many of them and they never seem to stop."


    "Have you told Alpha Bane?" She asked, with her mouth wide open.


    "No, mum. I haven''t. He doesn''t seem to have my time so often so I haven''t had the chance. Besides, he''d likely brush them aside. I don''t want him to know about them yet."


    "Well, it''s your choice. I''d always advise openness in any situation at all. So tell me, what are the dreams about?"


    I''d already opened my mouth to speak before realising that I didn''t want to share them with anyone yet. I closed them back and just stared at her nkly.


    "Hey. You have to say something to me," she tried to convince me. "You can''t just keep it to yourself, can you? I''m your mother."


    She kept on pestering me with so many questions and I could tell that she was never going to give up. I resigned that I was going to tell her and I had to do that as quickly as possible before anyone else woulde.


    "Okay, a few days ago," I began. "I..."


    "I''m so sorry that I took longer than I had expected," Alpha Bane cut in, arriving at the carriage and catching us unawares. "Pardon me."


    I quickly turned to my mother, locking eyes with her. I couldn''t say a word about


    the dream anymore as I wanted it to be a secret.


    "I''ll talk to youter, mom," I muttered to her.


    She nodded, and I ced my head on Alpha Bane''s shoulders just as the carriage began to move.