Writers POV

She was laying on the bed, lost in the world of words, reading a book. A knock on the door drew her attention, and she allowed the person to enter. Megan walked in through the open door, her eyes filled with a different emotion that caught Ariel off guard.

"I'm so glad to see you're feeling better, My Lady." She said a bow, her voice tinged with emotion.

"It's good to see you, Megan." With a smile, Ariel responded.

"I was very concerned about you and His Highness. He hasn't been in the castle since you were in coma. He hadn't eaten or slept well, and I was worried he'd get sick as well." She expressed her concern.

"He hasn't been here?" Ariel inquired with a small frown. She tried her best to make him come to his room to take proper rest but he doesn't seem to listen.

"No, My Lady. He didn't leave your side even for a minute. He worked, ate, and slept in that room." Megan said and looked at Ariel who was now deep in thought.

"His Highness hasn't told you this?" Her question brought her attention and she shook her head a no.

"But I'm glad you did." She said with a smile.

Megan left talking with her for a while to finish her chores. Ariel was getting ready for lunch, which was approaching. She wore a mint heart silk-chiffon midi dress with a shirred bodice, draped 3/4 sleeves with bow detailing, and a sultry thigh-high slit. She wore black sandals with hoop earrings. She wore her hair in their natural wave giving her a carefree look and completed her look with lip balm and mascara.

She waited for him for an hour, and when three o'clock rolled around, he walked into the room, still dressed in his black suit. He stopped in front of her and kissed her on the forehead, he apologized

"I apologize for being late, love. Are you all right?"

"I'm fine, and it's alright,"

"Give me a few minutes, I'll change, then we'll go out." He said this as he dashed to the restroom.

"I'll meet you downstairs," she said loud enough for him to hear, and he responded from behind the bathroom door

"Okay,"

She waited downstairs for him, she knew something was happening in the kingdom and he was having a hard time and the situation she was in was not helping either. She asked him quite a few times but he didn't tell her anything. She was upset about that but she understands that he doesn't wish to put more pressure on her. Soon he came down the stairs, folding his sleeves. He was dressed in a red-black check shirt with two buttons undone, tucked in black dress pants, and he was wearing black shoes. His hair remained wet from the shower. A light stubble was growing on his handsome face. She could see the dark circles under his eyes, indicating that he hadn't been sleeping well. But he had a fresh glow. He finished folding his sleeves up to his elbow and came to a halt in front of her. She held her hands behind her back and stood tall.

"You look stunning," he said, looking her over from head to toe.

"Thank you, and you, too." She said with a smile while he ran his fingers through his hair, trying to style it.

"Thank you," he said,

"So how about we go?" She inquired

"Yes, but wait," He dashed into the kitchen, where Megan was standing with a basket in her hand. She handed him the basket and bowed as he walked away, saying a small thank you.

"Let's go," he said as he ushered them out.

He led her out of the castle thru the back gate, which overlooked the castle's garden. It was overflowing with various types of flowers and plants. It was clear that the garden was well-kept. He led them through the dense forest past the garden as if he knew every nook and cranny.

"Where are we going?" she inquired, taking a look around.

"Patience, my love," he said, smiling as they walked through the woods hand in hand. They soon came to a clearing, and a few meters ahead of them stood a beautiful pond filled with water lilies. While walking, she admired the beauty of the place, and he turned to her a few times, pleased with her reaction. A maple tree stood outside the woods, in front of the lovely pond. He spread the picnic blanket beneath the tree and tucked the basket into a corner. They sat next to each other.

"I found this place when I was young, roaming around the woods, I would come here whenever I was sad or just needed some time off, and since then this place has been my sanctuary. I never brought anyone here except you," he said, looking into her eyes, and she smiled.

"This place is lovely," she said, looking at him. He said a small thank you and gazed at the beautiful scenery in front. She didn't, however, take her gaze away. Something far in the woods behind him piqued her interest. She noticed a flickering movement. It could have been a wild animal, she reasoned with her subconscious. Her gaze was still darting around the clearing, looking for any suspicious movement.

"Ariel?"

Aiden was attempting to attract her attention,

"Yeah?"

"Is there something wrong?"

"No, I'm starving," she admitted sheepishly.

"Ah yeah, it's way past lunch, my bad," He quickly took food from the basket and placed it in front of them. He brought a variety of fruits as well as sandwiches with cheese and juices. They talked about a variety of topics while eating and enjoying the peaceful afternoon. Her suspension, however, remained. Her gaze would wander around the far woods from time to time, and she would tune out their conversation. She focused on their date after Aiden tried to get her attention several times and inquired if something was wrong. They moved closer to the pond, soaking their feet in the cold water, splashing water, and simply finding delight in small things. He also brought her lilies from the pond. They were sitting on the grassy field in the afternoon, surrounded by nature. Suddenly Aiden's eyes fogged and after a moment they went back to their vibrant blue color.

"I have to leave. I have an urgent matter to attend to. Do you want to go back?" He inquired hastily, looking worried,

"I'd like to stay a little longer. What happened?" ", she inquired

"Nothing overly serious. Don't worry, return to the castle before it gets dark and eat the food. I'll see you later tonight." He kissed her on the forehead and dashed out there in a blur. When he was out of sight, she looked around and caught what she was trying to figure out for some time now. She stood up and sprinted inhumanely fast towards the woods. She quickly arrived behind the intruder and grabbed him by the neck, and forcibly pinned him to a nearby tree with a loud thud. He was hanging a few feet above the ground

"You never learn," she snarled.

"Nice to see you too, sister!" With a sickly sweet tone, he greeted her.

"Stop addressing me as that. I could never be related to someone like you!" She snarled

"No hello for your dearest brother, Reaper?" He said giving her his best puppy dog eyes and she growled in reply

"Well, we are from the same litter so, that makes us related. " He said it with a smug expression.

"Shut up, Meatpacker! Looks like the dog trainer assigned you to keep an eye on me." Her voice was venomous

"Correction, sister. Our master assigned me to keep an eye on your lover boy and finish the job you were assigned with, which, dare I say, you failed miserably at. It breaks my heart to think of what master would do when he gets his hands on his favorite bitch and how would he mold her in shape again." With a smirk, he said, and her nails and fangs were restrained. She snarled and said through gritted teeth

"He always picked the wrong person for the job. You couldn't even hide from me, how are someone like you is supposed to kill a Lycan Prince! Please enlighten me!" She pressed one of her nails against his throat and continued,

"I'll give you a better job, Meatpacker! Go and tell that puppet master that I dare him to try to kill him while I'm watching! And if he thinks he's a man, tell him to fight me when I'm at my best. Without concealing himself behind his puppets and the curse! Tell him I dare him to lift off the curse and try to kill him and take me!"

"Of course, I'll pass along your message." He gulped and looked at her nail, trying to wiggle free from her grip. She tightened her grip and said again,

"Oh, how I wish to tear your throat out and see you bleed to death! But I'm letting you go for the last time! Remember you're out of favors for saving my fucking life once! Next time I see you, you will be six feet under."

"You won't see me again. Now if you would let me off I would take my leave?" He said with a nervous tone and she dropped him on the ground and he sprinted like his tail was on fire.

Aiden's office

Beta Nick has been pacing back and forth in the Alpha's office, holding a stack of papers, waiting for Aiden. Aiden was contacted via mind-link a few minutes ago, and he should be here in a few minutes. Aiden walked in as the door opened, and Nick bowed,

"Please accept my apologies for disturbing your date with the Luna, Alpha." He apologized

"It's alright. But what happened, Nick?" He inquired,

"The Red Moon Pack reported six more missing wolves this noon," Nick said and he nodded

"And?" He asked

"They discovered dead bodies. At the farthest reaches of the Dawn Packs' border."

"How many are there?" Aiden inquired, and Nick lowered his gaze, hesitant to respond, "How many, Beta?" Aiden low growled "Fifteen dead wolves, Alpha. And there is something else you should be aware of." He positioned the file in front of Aiden. When he opened the file, there were photos from the scene where the bodies were discovered.

Aiden opened the file and there laid in front of him, pictures of the dead bodies of fifteen missing wolves. He cringed visibly at the scene in front of him. Their body was as pale as a white paper, with many limbs missing, eyes open and irises devoid of color, and flesh missing from their body. One could see their teeth and jaw, but the flesh from their face was missing as well. His jaw clenched and he briefly closed his eyes.

"Is there anything else, beta?" He asked the man in front of him, who had the same expression on his face as his.

"They discovered skeletons. Under the soil, where their body had been dumped. And Alpha the physicians couldn't find even an ounce of blood from the scene or their body." He informed

"Any tracks? Smell or anything?" He asked

"None, Alpha."

Aiden put his hand on the table and closed the file. After a few moments of thought, he stated that his face was emotion-free.

"This must be stopped as soon as possible. I'm done with people who do nothing but endanger other people's lives by failing to do their jobs properly. Nick, gather our best trackers and warriors and I need you. While we are gone, assign Liam responsibility for the pack. Make all the preparations." He stood up from his chair and Nick bowed

"We are going to the Dawn Pack." He walked out of the office.

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