Chapter 4 Nightmare

Blood.

Cries. 

Fire. 

Aurora shut her eyes tight, willing the gruesome battle scene to disappear. She opened her eyes again, but nothing changed. To her utmost horror, she found her 3-year-old sister Lily standing among the fighting wolves in her pajamas about 100 meters away. Lily hugged tight her favorite plush toy to her chest. Tears stained her chubby cheeks. “Momma, Aurora,” she cried. 

“Lily,” Aurora shouted, weaving with great difficulty among the snapping and thrashing wolves. 

“Kill them all,” a loud gruff voice ordered. 

“Lily,” Aurora called, pumping her legs to run faster toward her sister. Hearing her name, Lily stopped crying and turned her head. “Aurora.” She reached out her arms even though there was still distance between them. 

10 meters away, then she could take her sister to a safe place. Aurora used all the strength she could master to run to her sister’s aid. 

Their hands touched briefly. Then there was a rough hand lifting her sister off the ground. It was their warrior William Baker. He would help them, he would keep them safe, Aurora thought. 

But with a loud sickening crack, he snapped Lily’s neck easily like snapping a twig and tossed Lily to the ground like a ragged doll. 

“No,” Aurora cried, tears streaming down her face. Lily lay on the ground lifeless, her innocent eyes wide open with her golden curls covering half of her face.

“No,” Aurora let out a heart-wrenching howl. She ran to her sister’s body but got dragged back by two warm arms. A hand covered her mouth, stifling her cries and shrills. Her small body kicked and thrashed whoever was carrying her away from her sister. 

She bit the hand covering her mouth. “Lily,” she cried. 

“Aurora, wake up,” a low masculine sound reached her, dragging her from the abyss of the recurring nightmare. 

Opening her eyes wide, Aurora sat bolt upright and panted. A sharp pain pierced her body, making sweat fall down her face. 

“You need to lie down.” Two warm hands gripped her shoulder gently to put her in a rest position. 

Aurora looked at the face of the soothing voice. It was…Nicholas. Worry and concern were evident in his golden eyes. His big hand covered hers, sending warmth to her body coated by cold sweat. Oddly, Aurora felt relieved by the subtle yet warm tingles brought by his touches. Her head was fogged by the excruciating pain not only from her body but from the nightmare. She willed herself to recollect her consciousness, but she was too exhausted, too heartbroken after reliving her sister’s death.

A sob was about to release from her throat. “Hide your feelings. Never let your opponents know your fear.” She remembered the words Maggie drilled into her mind since the death of her family. She remembered her mission, and why she was here in the South. She swallowed the sob.

“It’s okay to cry,” Nicholas said gently, locking his eyes with hers.

Aurora was taken aback. How could he read her mind? She had become an expert at hiding her emotions after years of practice. What was more surprising was the genuine concern on his face. But Aurora couldn’t afford to let her guard down. 

“Where am I?” Aurora asked, taking in the environment. 

“In the hospital. You were attacked by rogues. Do you remember what happened earlier?” 

Aurora pursed her lips. Was he interrogating her? She fainted from blood loss before the patrol guards arrived. Did her pack members escape? 

“I…” The door swung open, interrupting her. 

A redhead in a healer’s outfit walked in carrying a pad. Aurora knew instantly she was Scarlett’s sister Amber Black by the red hair and green eyes. She saw her a few times at their family dinners. But Amber never talked to younger kids. 

Amber’s eyes lingered at Nicholas’ hand which was still holding Aurora’s. Aurora tried to take out her hand but only to make the hold tighter. Jealousy and bitterness flashed across Amber’s eyes. 

“Can I get some water?” Aurora asked with a dry throat.

Releasing her hand reluctantly,  Nicholas said, “I’ll be right back. Amber is the head healer. You are safe here.” Aurora nodded.

After Nicholas was gone, Amber went to check the IV drip and said, “So you are the one who made Nicholas lash out at my sister.” 

Aurora kept her mouth shut because she was too weak to have any argument. She had suppressed her wolf and chained her in her mind. Her wolf wasn’t happy but it was the only way to inhibit her healing ability. Right now, every part of her body screamed pain. 

“Playing dumb? Trying to get hurt to attract both Philip and Nicholas’ attention?” Amber raised her eyebrow. 

Aurora released a light snort with all her strength. She was not interested in either of them. “I don’t know what you are talking about,” she said. 

“Let’s see if I could help you realize what you are doing.” Amber went to the bed and bent over Aurora’s wounded leg. She reached out one finger and pressed the bandaged wound hard. Aurora bit her lips to swallow a cry that was about to escape her lips. Blood stained the gauze. 

“Trying to act tough?” Amber challenged. Ripping the bandage from Aurora’s leg roughly, she twisted her finger in the wounded hole. 

Beads of sweat coated Aurora’s forehead. Her wolf whimpered and begged her to let her out. But she couldn’t do that. 

“Let this be a lesson to you, wolfless girl. Do not antagonize the Blacks. Don’t even dare dream to take what is mine and my sister’s.” 

Aurora wanted to spit on her face, wanted to tell her she would destroy the Black family, but she bit her tongue. She would wait till the day the situation turned the other way around. 

The sound of approaching footsteps in the hallway stopped Amber’s action. She picked up the shredded pieces of bandage and threw them in the trash can. 

Philip pushed the door open and rushed to Aurora. “Oh my Goddess. The wounds reopened. Let me treat you,” Amber exclaimed with a concerned expression on her face.  

“I heard you were attacked by the rogues. I shouldn’t have let you visit the Black Forest. It’s all my fault,” Philip said guiltily. Aurora shook her head weakly. 

“Thank you, Amber,” Philip said to the healer who was bandaging Aurora’s wounds carelessly to make her suffer. 

“It’s my duty as the head healer. I’m sorry I have to meet Luna Aurora under such circumstances. I’ve injected a reagent to Luna’s IV drips which will help her heal faster considering she doesn’t have a wolf and can only heal like a human. ” Amber said sweetly. 

“I really appreciate what you have done for Aurora, Amber. You and your family are a great asset to the kingdom,” Philip praised. 

“Speaking of my family, don’t forget my father invited you and Nicholas to dinner at our house today. My sister is expecting you.” A sly smile crawled to Amber’s lips. 

Clearing his throat, Philip said awkwardly, “I’ll be there.”  

“Is Andrew still alive?” Aurora asked Philip who sat down on the chair next to the bed after Amber left the ward. 

“He…he is dead, Aurora,” Philip looked at her with sadness. 

“He was brave. He tried to protect me.” A few tears slid from Aurora’s face. “Did…did the guards catch the rogues?”

“The guards tried to chase them but lost the trail.” A wave of relief washed over Aurora. “I should thank the guards for saving my life,” she said. 

“It’s not the guards, Aurora. Nicholas was the first one who arrived on the scene. He carried you to the healers’ center.” This piece of news threw Aurora off balance. She didn’t want to owe him anything. She couldn’t help picturing his smug face when he said she would need his help one day. 

But this was all planned. She had timed her planned rescue. Even without his help, the guards would bring her to the palace. The thought made her feel much better. She didn’t owe him anything.

Speaking of plans. She had another one…

“The rogues said they would come for me no matter where I am. They will kill me. They said I am the easiest target because I don’t have a wolf,” Aurora feigned fear, her hand gripping the sheet tightly. 

“Don’t worry. You are safe in the palace. I will arrange more guards to protect you. We will increase border patrol,” Philip soothed her. 

“Philip, I‘m scared. I’m alone in the palace. I don’t have anyone here. My family, my maids, and my friends are all in the north. None of them are here. The worst part is I don’t have a wolf. I cannot fend for myself if a rogue approaches me,” Aurora said in a choked voice. 

“You are not alone here. I will protect you. I’ll arrange for the strongest warrior to serve as your guard,” Philip assured her. 

“The strongest warrior?” Aurora asked in a hopeful voice. 

“Yeah. From tomorrow on, William Baker will be your new guard. He is the only one that could possibly rival Nicholas in a fight. If Nicholas is not a prince but a warrior, I will dispatch him as your guard because he is the strongest in the South,” Philip chuckled. 

“I’m sure William Baker can protect me,” Aurora smiled. 

“No, not William Baker,” Nicholas’ voice boomed in the doorway. He leaned on the door frame, his arms folded across his chest with a cup of water in his hand. His golden eyes bored into Aurora’s as if he knew exactly what she had planned in her mind. Aurora’s heart thumped against her ribcage. She must have William Baker as her guard. She couldn’t fail.