Third Person’s POV
+8 Pearls
Aurora, daughter of the Bluemoon Pack’s Beta, basked in the ttering words swirling around her like warm spring air.
The daughter of Bluemoon’s Beta is naturally unlike any ordinary woman.
Everypliment felt like a rich reward for the grueling years she had wed her way through to be the first female pilot of theBluemoon Airborne Wing.
“Where,” Aurora demurred with practiced humility, her voice as smooth as ss. “I was simply lucky to be the Airborne Wing’s first female pilot.”
“You certainly were lucky<b>.</b>”
Thezy drawl sliced through the polite hum of the gathering. Kade’s sharp gaze locked on her.
“I heard,” he continued, “that back when you were just an ordinary flight officer, you were sent abroad to deliver a shipment of aid. Your co–pilot died unexpectedly on foreign soil, and together with the captain, you managed to bring back a number of stranded pack members<b>–</b>earning yourself high merit. That’s how you were promoted to co–pilot. Without that… well, with your record, you wouldn’t have climbed that high so quickly.”
Aurora’s expression flickered–just for a second.
It meant Kade had looked into her. But why? She had never crossed paths with him before this night.
“That kind of merit is rare,” someone at her side quickly added. “And at the time, the territory she went to was riddled with war and bloodshed. That kind of courage isn’t something just any woman can match.”
Kade’s lips curved–not in a smile, but in a cold, mocking twist. “Then you must not have met many women.”
The well–meaning supporter’s <b>voice </b>died in their throat.
Aurora tilted her chin slightly, irritation pricking at herposure. She knew well that Kade ckridge <b>was </b>not someone she could afford to offend. But neither <b>was </b>she willing to let a few careless words trample on the hard–won glory she had bled for.
“<b>Kade</b><b>,</b><b>” </b>she said evenly, “I may have been lucky to be co–pilot, but not every woman can <b>step </b>into that role, even if fortune hands her the chance<b>.</b><b>” </b>
“So being a co–pilot is such an aplishment?” Kade’s tone was almost amused. “In the military wings<b>, </b><b>there’s </b>no shortage of women who <b>can </b>fly, Before <b>I </b>met <b>you</b><b>, </b><b>I </b>thought you were a self–reliant, relentless kind of woman. <b>Now</b>, <b>it </b><b>seems</b><b>… </b>you fly a <b>ne </b>and think yourself invincible<b>.” </b>
His mind flickered to someone truly formidable<b>–</b><b>Freya </b>Thorne<b>. </b>
<b>She </b>had once flown <b>a </b>warbird straight through the burning clouds <b>of </b>cannon fire<b>, </b>risking everything <b>to </b>saye pack civilians andrades alike. She had been prepared to die doing it.
The thought brought <b>a </b>faint warmth to Kade’s otherwise cold <b>demeanor</b>.
Aurora’s cheeks flushed red, then paled. <b>His </b>words were like <b>the </b><b>crack </b>of an Alpha’s strike across the face. The rest of the guests shrank <b>back</b><b>, </b>unwilling to get caught in the crossfire<b>. </b>
Fortunately, Caelum stepped forward, breaking <b>the </b>taut air. “Kade. An honor to finally meet you.”
Vaughn, Aurora’s uncle, seized the chance. “Kade, you’ve only just returned to <b>the </b>Capital, so you might not know–Caelum <b>is </b>one of the rising stars in the tech world. Hispany went from nothing to a full listing <b>in </b>just three years<b>.</b>”
hope we’ll have <b>the </b>opportunity to work together,” Caelum added smoothly.
<b>“</b>Young and aplished<b>?</b><b>” </b>Kade’sugh was low and edged with steel. “Vaughn, are you joking <b>with </b>me<b>? </b>You dare <b>call </b>a man who cheats on <b>his </b>mate ‘aplished‘?”
12:50 PM P <b>P </b>
The air thickened. Every gaze shifted toward Aurora and Caelum.
+8 Pearls
After all, the story of that fateful banquet night–when a giant disy had shown Caelum’s mother Eleanor and sister Giselle conspiring to ruin his own mate, just so he could cast her aside and be with Aurora–had already swept through the upper ranks of the Capital’s packs.
Both Aurora and Caelum flushed a furious crimson.
“<b>It’s </b>a misunderstanding,” Vaughn rushed to say.
“Yes,” Caelum echoed. “Aurora and I are only friends.”
“Friends?” Kade’s voice was velvet over razors. “I hear thatst month, while your mate traveled alone to retrieve her parents‘ remains from overseas after a tragic ident, you were right here in the Capital–keeping this ‘friend‘pany.”
Caelum’s heart jolted. How in the moon’s name did Kade know that?
“It <b>was </b>sudden,” he exined quickly. “Aurora got a headache, and I had to rush her to the medics. I couldn’t make it in time to apany my mate.”
“Headache?” Kade’s eyes were shards of ice. “So your friend outweighed your own mate’s grieving parents?”
The unspoken judgment rang through the room. Everyone here was too sharp to buy the word friend. Many already knew Caelum had concealed his marriage, letting the world believe he was unattached.
And the ckridge bloodline was infamous for its upromising loyalty to their mates. In their creed, betrayal was unforgivable.
No wonder more than a few of the guests now looked at Caelum and Aurora not with admiration–but with pity.
Send Gifts
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