CHAPTER 228: _FUCK GRIEF

Aurora’s POV

*****

"You... You’re joking, right?" Her breath hitched after Lucian revealed their parents’ big secret.

They had a younger brother. One who was eighteen years old.

"I can’t joke around with something so serious, sister." Lucian’s tone was apologetic as he stepped down the dais. "I haven’t asked mom about it yet but—"

"Why not?" Aurora’s frown deepened. "She... She’s in on this too. A whole ass sibling, Lucian! They’ve kept this from us for eighteen years!"

How the heck was this even possible?

No matter how hard she tried racking her head, she couldn’t recall any moment when their mother was pregnant.

That was probably because she was barely a year old at the time, but still. No records. No mentions during the dozens of strained family dinners they’ve had.

Nothing.

"I understand how... This feels like a lot." Lucian finally got to the bottom of the dais, his arms spread in an attempt to calm her.

Feels? FEELS?

"This IS a lot, Lucian." Aurora let out an exasperated breath, brushing both hands through her hair. "I–I can’t handle it. I can’t handle any of it."

Why did this keep happening to them?

Why did so many things keep hitting this family all at once?!

"Wait, why did your father tell you though?" Elian surprisingly sounded put together, probably because most of this didn’t affect him directly.

Aurora’s mind was still plagued by the nightmare she had last night before they all rushed to Axel’s—Garrick’s—room.

When she blinked she could see the cloaked woman whispering those incomprehensible words to her:

The moon blessed and the ’thing’ which slept below the Dark Lands.

She’d already figured out that the ’thing’ referred to the crystal piece of divinity which caused the Blight.

But who was the moon blessed? And how does she even begin to explain it all to the others?

"Maybe he wants us to find him," Lucian responded to Elian’s question, folding his arms. "Maybe he was tired of keeping secrets from us."

Kyren scoffed behind him. "Right. Yet he didn’t mention anything about the experiments he helped Garrick and my mother with."

Lucian glanced over his shoulder. "You have that information box, don’t you?"

"Which your mother gave to me—yes. What? That washes away his sins?"

"Your father literally hid himself in a body so he could fuck our mate and mess with our lives, Kyren." Lucian turned back to Kyren now, sounding riled up.

The Rogue king sniggered. "What has gotten into you? Are you seriously trying to defend your father or make him seem—"

"I’m not trying to do anything. Just pointing out how twisted we Stormborns are. You know... Since you’re one of us now." The sarcasm in her brother’s voice was jarring.

She watched them glare at each other, Lucian’s eyes brimming with a storm still brewing, while Kyren was calm. As always.

But as for her?

Yeah, she couldn’t handle any of this.

With a final glance at Elian, she turned toward the throne room doors. She moved quickly, not looking back at any of them.

"See? You’ve overwhelmed your sister." Kyren echoed behind her but she merely closed her eyes, her heart thudding as she grabbed the handles.

"Aurora..." Lucian called. "Aurora, wait!"

His voice drowned out when she stepped out, closing the doors behind her.

"Fuck this." She whispered, ignoring the looks a few maids gave her when they walked past.

They bowed and greeted but she barely registered it, stomping toward an Ascension platform.

.

.

Aurora’s need for peace and quiet led her to the palace’s western garden.

She sat on the white wooden bench, staring at the calm pond and the morning sunlight reflecting off it. Birds chirped, hopping off trees while the soft breeze carried colourful leaves.

Sadly, her mind was in contrast to the serenity around her.

"I’d be storming to your room to confront you if you were still alive." She muttered with a wry smile, her eyes falling on her wrists. "We’d... We’d argue. You’d probably give me an excuse that you and mom were..."

Her voice cracked, giving in to the despair sitting deep in her stomach.

She swallowed hard, her breathing strained as she raised her head toward the clear sky. "... That you and Mom were only trying to protect us. I–I miss that, Dad. I miss you."

Memories of the Alpha king flashed through her mind, some warm others mildly bitter to recall.

However, in all, she loved the man.

And now he’s—

"It’s just not fair." She shook her head, her jaw tightening. "They’ve had you under their control. Restricted you. Made you a puppet. Or... Or did you willingly let yourself get controlled?"

Silence.

The man wasn’t here to answer her. And he never will be.

That painful realisation caused Aurora’s eyes to water, her chest tightening so much she clutched it with her right hand. Breathing became more of a chore now.

"Argh... Fuck grief." She sobbed through a bitter smile, sniffling through the tears and snort.

"A line I’m all too familiar with." A voice suddenly chimed softly, breaking the solitude like a whip.

Aurora gasped, quickly wiping her tears as much as she could before swerving her head backwards.

Her heart stuttered when she saw who it was.

"S–Seraphyne."

The latter smiled, her arms resting in front of her.

Seraphyne wore form-fitting black pants and a dark purple blazer to match. Her short black hair seemed to catch the light from the sun, her hazel eyes gleaming with warmth.

"I... I didn’t expect to see you." Aurora managed to speak before the staring became too awkward. "I thought you said—"

"I’d leave by dawn?" Seraphyne completed with a soft chuckle. "I was preparing to do that. Already contacted the Howling Wolf hotel to check if there were any more Umbra beast attacks. But then..."

She moved from the garden’s entrance, waltzing toward Aurora.

The princess’s heart beat like drums, each beat heavy in her ears.

"But then I felt this weird urge to find you." Seraphyne continued, her expression laced with confusion. "And it led me here."

More silent staring.

Aurora’s cheeks flushed, uncertain of what to say.

She wasn’t really hoping for anyone to be here. That’s the whole point of it being an "alone time".

"Can I sit with you?" Seraphyne suddenly asked, already making her way to the bench.

Aurora’s lips parted, her mind telling her to decline and find another quiet spot.

But her body froze her in place, her heart beating so fast now it might as well jump out of her throat.

"S–Sure."

Seraphyne sat beside her, lips still curled in that warm smile that sent sparks surging through the princess’ being.

"How... How much of my grieving princess monologue did you catch?" Aurora couldn’t help asking, her face already heating up with embarrassment.

Seraphyne sighed, her lips twisting for a moment. "Just enough to know you’re probably hurting more than anyone else."

Gods above...

Aurora fiddled with her fingers, looking away from her.

Her eyes were still moist with tears, her face streaked with snort running down her nose.

Suddenly, Seraphyne tapped her shoulder, making her whip her neck back to her.

"Here." Aurora watched her dangle a handkerchief in front of her face.

The Princess hesitated, gaze flicking from the little white cloth to Seraphyne’s gentle features.

Nothing could’ve prepared her for what happened next.

"Grief is an overwhelming emotion." Seraphyne leaned closer, dabbing the cloth on Aurora’s face. The latter stiffened, holding her breath while Seraphyne continued.

"It’s like drowning. It eats at you until it pushes you into the deepest waters of despair. And getting out..." She paused, her lips parted as she stared into Aurora’s eyes.

They stayed still for a few seconds before Seraphyne regained herself, carrying on:

"Getting out can be difficult alone. If you’re drowning in a pool, your only hope is usually other people helping you out—unless you magically learn how to swim, of course."

A smile cracked across Aurora’s lips. Small. But a smile nonetheless.

Seraphyne finally withdrew her hand and the handkerchief but her eyes were still glued on Aurora.

And Aurora? She couldn’t afford to tear her gaze away.

Not when her heart ached for something more than the grief.

It happened so fast. One second, she stared into those hazel eyes like she wanted to peer into her soul.

The next she broke the distance, her lips meeting Seraphyne’s in a kiss. Soft. Grounding. Nerve-racking.

But deep with a longing that Seraphyne soon reciprocated.

And as they melted into the moment, something whispered softly from Aurora’s soul.

Her wolf.

"Mate..."