Writers POV

After a long dark night, the daybreak brought glimmers of warmth. The golden light softly caressed the land and ignited the birds into a chorus of melodies. Above those tangerine mountains, kissed to their heady blush by the sun, were clouds that moved in shoals. And so the sky was equal parts blue and a chorus of greys, streaked with silvers and golds. And in a moment she was cast in crimson, bathed in a rosy glow; how the sun gives each dawn without even the asking or the earning of the light. She moves her fingers through the air that grows brighter with each passing moment until it becomes a new bold day.

Her eyes unknowingly searched the room for those sapphire blues, only to be met with an empty room and a cold bed. She felt a rush of disappointment that she shouldn't have felt. As much as she despised seeing his face every morning, it didn't feel right to wake up in an empty bed. She rose from the warmth and comfort of her bed and went to the en-suite bathroom. She took off her dark jeans and black top and tossed them in the basket under the sink. She was surprised to find a white shirt and gray dress pants. Aiden's scent was strong, indicating that he had been here not too long ago. That's when she was hit with flashbacks to the previous night. She cringed at how she had behaved with him.

"Ahh, fuck alcohol." She cursed out loud.

"Oh dear, Moongoddess! Make him forget everything I said last night, please." She closed her eyes and prayed quietly.

She dried herself with a towel after a long bath and changed into sweatpants and a hoodie. She opened her bedroom door without bothering to dry her hair. She expected to see a messed-up house when she peered out the door, but it appeared to be organized. She entered the living room, and all of the previous night's blood, dead bodies, and broken furniture were gone. Replaced with clean floors and new furniture. Her nose captured a luscious aroma of bacon and pancakes coming from her kitchen. She took cautious steps and peered through the kitchen door, only to find a muscular back turned to her. Who was standing there shirtless and only wearing a sweatpant? With each movement, his back muscles flexed.

"Good morning, princess," he said with a smirk, drawing her attention to his well-toned body. She cleared her throat and whispered a small greeting. He returned his focus to the pancakes in the pan, and she sat on the stool. Soon after, he arrived with a plate piled high with pancakes, eggs, and bacon. They smelled divine, and she turned her gaze from the plate of food to him. He arched his brow at her and motioned for her to begin eating. She took a spoonful of pancakes drizzled with maple syrup and closed her eyes unconsciously moaning at how amazing they tasted. She licked her lips to remove the syrup and opened her eyes to find a pair of dark eyes staring at her. He coughed and turned his attention to the pan, stacking some pancakes on another plate before coming around to sit beside her.

"You didn't have to do this."

"Do what?" He asked her confused

"You didn't have to cook for me, I could have made something." She said while eating

"You are my mate, Ari. It's my duty to provide for you and I quite enjoyed cooking for you." He gave her a genuine smile and she nodded turning back her attention to the plate of food. They ate in silence and Aiden took the dishes to wash after they finished breakfast. Ariel offered to do the dishes, but he declined, and after a brief argument about who should do the dishes, they agreed to do them together. They worked in silence until Ariel broke the silence and spoke up,

"The furniture..."

"Oh yeah, I had them change and clean up your house while you were sleeping." He spoke up before she could finish her sentence. She nodded and took a towel to dry her hands.

"I also sent your paintings. They'll try to find them."

"All right, thank you." She turned to leave, but she came to a halt and looked back.

"What about the King's Guard?" She smirked. Aiden hesitated to respond, but the look on Ariel's face compelled him to reply.

"He uhh, I had sent my guards to your studio and he wasn't there. They tried to look for him and found him dead. He might have jumped out of the window."

"When did you found out?"

"After an hour you fall asleep, why?"

"But how did that happen."

"How did what happened?" Aiden asked confused

"How can he jump out of the window!"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean I broke his hands and legs pretty severely. It's impossible that he healed enough in an hour to jump out of the window." They both looked at each other, bewildered and enthused.

"Are you suggesting someone killed him?"

"That's the most logical answer right now. So, yes I'm suggesting someone killed him."

"But how did someone get in here through all the security." Aiden ran his fingers through his hair

"Well how did the King's Guards know where I was and why did they attack me in the first place? That's your part of the play to find out, buddy. Best of luck." She patted him on his shoulder and left the kitchen. Aiden trailed behind her as she sat on the new couch. She turned on the television, her feet resting on the coffee table. She shuffled through the channels, and Aiden sat beside her, occasionally glancing at her. They sat there in awkward silence until Aiden broke it.

"How're your wounds?"

"They're okay." She replied glancing over him

"Where did you get that sweatpants?" She asked

"Oh, in your closet." He replied and she glared at him

"It's mine anyway, you took it in the first place without telling me."

"Right," she nodded looking back at the television

"Though I was surprised to find it perfectly washed and neatly folded," he smirked and she rolled her eyes

"I'm not a messy person, and why didn't you put on a shirt then?"

"I couldn't find my favorite hoodie that you took. And yours are tiny, they don't fit me."

"Excuse me! I'm not tiny!"

"I said your clothes were tiny, though you're tiny too."

"I'm not tiny! I'm 5'9" for your kind information." She glared at him.

"You're tiny compared to me, princess." He ruffled her hair and she slapped away his hand

"You are just huge! A giant to be exact." She huffed and looked back at the television

"You are right about that, I am huge," he smirked and she looked away, her cheeks slightly turning pink as she got up and left saying,

"Whatever, I'll get your hoodie."

After a while when Ariel came back with a grey hoodie and white sneakers, Aiden was busy talking with someone on his phone.

"Yeah, see you soon." He hung up when he saw Ariel. Taking the hoodie and the sneakers he started getting dressed.

"Get ready,"

"For what?" She asked

"Our pack requires our presence," he looked at her and crossed her arms

"Your pack requires your presence, not mine. They don't even know I exist and I would like to keep it that way."

"Our pack my beautiful mate. And that's going to change soon, now get dressed."

"I don't wanna leave,"

"I don't want to take you back home forcefully."

"Oh yeah? I would like to see you try." She huffed and Aiden sighed

"We can come back here anytime you want. I can't stay away from the castle nor from you for too long and I don't want to leave you here alone, not after what happened yesterday. Please, get dressed." He pleaded with her.

"Fine! But I want to bring my things." She huffed and turned around to leave

"What are doing standing there! Wanna help or not!" She glared at him and he threw his hands up in surrender

"Of course, love." She stormed out of the living room with Aiden following behind. Aiden disappears behind her closet door after she packs a bag with neatly folded clothes. He soon appears, carrying three large duffle bags and a slew of Ariel's clothes.

"What are you doing?" She asks him, astonished.

"You said you wanted to bring your belongings, so I'm aiding you in packing." He responds as he packs one of the bags.

"I won't be needing all this, just a few sets of clothes. I'm coming back soon anyway,"

"I highly doubt that, love. You're not leaving me anytime soon, so pack your things." Ariel was about to protest when Aiden interrupted her

"You know what, just pack what's absolutely necessary and I'll send someone to get the rest of your things later." He stood up motioned her to finish packing.

"No!" She said firmly

"Okay, then I'll help you pack," he moved towards the closet door but halted on his steps as Ariel spoke up

"No, that won't be necessary. I can do it myself."

She hurriedly exited with her duffle bag and shut the closet door. It was better that she took her belongings and left rather than revealing her true identity to others. She opened a hidden compartment and stuffed a few sets of her combat gear, as well as a few small pistols, knives, and daggers. She secured the secret compartment and ensured that no one else could access it without her permission. She made sure to hide and lock away every other piece of weapons, documents, and potions so that no one accidentally finds them while packing her clothes. She stuffed a few more sets of clothes into her bag, concealing the combat gear beneath, zipped it up, and walked out of the closet wearing a pair of black sneakers. She threw her hair in a top knot and stuffed her phone and charger into a black crossbody bag.

Aiden took the bag from her and led her out of the penthouse. Outside, a group of Royal Guards awaited them, and they followed the couple after Ariel locked the main door.

The wind pushes on the car to no avail. They are going forwards and nothing but a blessed tragedy can change that. The tires make their monotonous hiss over the rain-washed highway and the air that makes its way through the filters is meadow-sweet. All around, through these tinted windows are fields. Inside this tin box destined for the horizon the world outside continues like some choreographed dance but without soul, it should have. This whole ride back to the castle her eyes were fixated on the green horizon outside. Aiden would glance at her every now and then, she could feel his gaze on her but she didn't care to look. There was this weird feeling inside her heart she couldn't express, going back to the castle again. So much has happened inside that castle that she wants to forget and get as far away from there as possible. But fate always pulls her back. Maybe she could stop running away from the horrors for once and give him a chance, give them a chance. But she's stuck between trying to live her life and trying to run from it.

___________________________

Hey my beautiful readers❤

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Update every Friday, well it's Friday for me it might be Thursday for you depending on your time zone. Anyway, stay safe and be happy 💕 and continue reading my story 😁

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