Chapter 111

Aurora's POV

The Alpha King's stronghold had always been like some sort of ancient fortress in my mind, unbreakable walls that had withstood centuries of attacks. That illusion broke when the first explosion hit.

Kane and I were walking across the courtyard when it happened. We'd just returned from visiting my mother in the medical facility where she was now recovering.

"We need to move quickly," Kane was saying, already thinking three steps ahead. "If the Rogue King knows we've discovered Giana is his mate, he'll—"

BOOM!

The explosion cut him off mid-sentence. Stone fragments rained down like deadly hail. The ground shook beneath our feet as more blasts followed, each one closer than the last.

Those ancient walls I'd trusted? They cracked like eggshells under assault from weapons that had no business getting this close.

Kane's training kicked in before my brain could even process what was happening. He grabbed my arm and yanked me toward the nearest building as armed figures poured through breaches in the outer walls.

"Professional mercenaries," Kane assessed grimly while we pressed against cold stone. His eyes tracked the attackers with military precision. "This is designed to wipe out werewolf leadership."

Court members scattered like startled deer. I watched Lord Harrison, who'd been nothing but kind to me, fall with a crossbow bolt in his chest. Lady Margaret's elderly mother collapsed trying to flee.

My stomach turned, but I forced myself to keep moving.

The attackers moved like they'd rehearsed this for months. Their leader, a scarred man with dead eyes, shouted commands that made my blood run cold.

"Secure all exits! Round up survivors! The Alpha King surrenders or they all die!"

Kane and I got separated in the chaos. Through a broken window I could see him taking cover behind an overturned cart. Even from that distance, I caught his expression—pure fury mixed with tactical calculation.

I found myself pressed against a wall with terrified nobles huddled around me. These people spent their lives attending ceremonies and managing trade agreements. They'd never imagined violence could reach their sanctuary.

"Stay calm," I whispered to the group. My heart hammered against my ribs, but I kept my voice steady. "Follow my lead, and we can get through this."

Lady Evelyn, barely twenty with her silk dress torn and a cut on her cheek, looked at me with wide, frightened eyes. "What do we do? They'll kill us all!"

"You don't need to be fighters," I said firmly. "You need to be smart and disciplined. Panic kills faster than those attackers will."

I caught Kane's attention across the courtyard. Hand signals—a coordination system we came up with. Three fingers meant move in three minutes. His slight nod confirmed he understood.

"When I give the signal," I whispered to my group of twenty terrified nobles, "we move toward the east corridor. Stay low. Stay quiet. Don't break formation."

I counted down in my head while tracking Kane's position and the nearest attackers. Perfect timing meant the difference between escape and slaughter.

"Now," I breathed.

We moved like ghosts through corridors I'd walked countless times. My knowledge of hidden passages kept us away from the worst fighting.

Kane appeared as the armory doors burst open. Relief flooded through me at seeing him alive and moving with lethal efficiency.

"Status report?" he called out while distributing crossbows and silver-tipped arrows.

"Thirty-seven court members secured in the east wing," I replied, accepting the perfectly balanced crossbow he handed me. "Most are non-combatants, but Lady Margaret has military training."

Kane's mind processed the information instantly. "Good. We can use them for defensive positions while clearing the courtyard."

Heavy footsteps echoed through corridors. We had minutes before they found us.

"Listen carefully," Kane addressed our mixed group with natural authority. "These aren't ordinary rogues. They're trained killers with military equipment. But they made one critical error—they expected easy targets."

He sketched a rough map on the armory wall. "Aurora and I lead the assault through the central courtyard. Margaret takes the north tower for covering fire."

Lady Margaret stepped forward, military bearing evident despite her torn court finery. "How many hostiles?"

"Approximately twenty-five," Kane replied grimly. "Professional mercenaries. They've studied our defenses but haven't counted on organized civilian resistance."

I felt that familiar thrill of working alongside Kane as true partners. Despite everything between us, our tactical coordination was flawless.

"Ready?" Kane asked.

"Always," I replied.

We burst from the armory in perfect synchronization. Kane provided covering fire while I charged toward trapped court members near the fountain. Kane's crossbow bolts found targets with deadly precision—each shot calculated for maximum disruption.

I focused on reaching terrified nobles huddled by the fountain. Several attackers moved to intercept, but Kane's protective fire kept them at bay.

"This way!" I called. "Stay low and move fast!"

They moved with surprising discipline. Many revealed hidden military training beneath their noble facades.

As survivors streamed toward safety, I noticed one attacker raising his rifle toward Kane's exposed position. The mercenary had perfect angle from the balcony.

Without thinking I threw myself between them.

The silver blade bit deep into my shoulder. Pain exploded through me—silver weapons were designed to cause maximum damage to our kind. But seeing Kane safe made the wound worthwhile.

Kane's roar of fury echoed across the courtyard. His professional composure shattered completely. Three attackers fell in rapid succession as he fought his way to my position.

"Aurora!" His hands shook as he pressed fabric against my wound. "Stay with me. You're going to be fine."

"It's not that bad," I managed, though the silver burn was excruciating. "We need to finish this."

Kane's eyes were wild with terror and fury. "No. You're hurt because of me—"

"Because I chose to protect you," I interrupted firmly. "That's what partners do."

The truth seemed to ground him. Kane's military training reasserted itself—channeled through protective love rather than professional duty. He fought with controlled ferocity that was breathtaking to witness.

Working together despite my injury, we systematically eliminated the remaining attackers. Kane's strategic mind and my knowledge of the stronghold created an unstoppable combination.

The battle reached its climax in the main hall. Their leader made a desperate last stand among ancient tapestries.

"Surrender and you'll live," Kane called out, crossbow trained on the enemy leader. "Continue fighting and I'll show you why the Alpha King chose me."

The scarred man laughed bitterly. "You think this ends here? The Rogue King has forces you can't imagine."

"Then he'll have to make those plans without you," Kane replied coldly.

The final confrontation was swift and decisive. Kane's military expertise proved overwhelming while my tactical support ensured no enemies escaped.

Silence settled over the bloodstained courtyard. The Alpha King's stronghold had been violated for the first time in centuries. But we'd held.

More importantly, we'd held together.

Kane rushed to my side as the immediate danger passed. His hands were gentle but efficient examining my wound.

"We need to get you to healers immediately," Kane said, voice tight with concern.

"We need to secure the perimeter first," I protested, though the silver burn made me dizzy.

"The perimeter can wait," Kane said firmly, lifting me carefully. "You saved my life, Aurora. Now let me save yours."

As he carried me toward the medical wing, I realized something fundamental had shifted between us. The barriers Kane had built were crumbling under the reality of nearly losing each other.

For the first time since his emotional retreat began, I saw the man I loved without walls.

The war with the Rogue King was escalating. But Kane and I had proven we were stronger together than apart. Whatever came next, we'd face it as true partners—united by trust rather than divided by fear.