Chapter 137

Aurora's POV

"ENOUGH!"

The Alpha King's voice cut through our argument like a blade. His royal authority hit us like a physical force, making all three of us freeze mid-motion.

Raymond and Kane had been seconds away from throwing punches. I'd been standing between them, heart racing with fury and embarrassment.

"War room. Now." His tone brooked no argument. "All three of you."

Heat flooded my cheeks as elite guard members stepped aside. The whispers started immediately—pack members who'd looked to us for leadership now watching us like entertainment.

Battle maps and tactical documents cluttered every inch of available space within the room. The Alpha King cleared the main table, brushing all the paperwork to the floor in one furious motion.

"I’m sorry, your highness, but we don’t have time to deal with this drama," I snapped.

"Oh really? When would be better?" His voice held that royal edge that made me shrink like a scolded child. "After Kane's guilt gets him killed? After Raymond's possessiveness leads to tactical disasters?"

His assessment stung because it was completely true. Our personal complications were affecting our ability to protect our people.

He turned his stern gaze to each of us. "You will sit down, discuss this like adults, and reach some functional arrangement. Because I will not allow your romantic triangle to cost werewolf lives."

Kane's POV

Shame burned through me as I took a seat across from Aurora. My uncle’s disappointment was worse than any physical punishment.

I'd spent my career building a reputation for professional excellence. Now I was being disciplined like a lovesick teenager.

"Kane," my uncle said, his voice carrying royal judgment. "You made choices that damaged both relationships and military effectiveness. Explain yourself."

His words came out sharp and clipped—reminded me of those stuffy military tribunals I'd sat through before. Aurora was staring at me, waiting to see if I'd actually admit my screwups.

"I figured if I stayed away, she'd be safer," I said, picking each word carefully. "My parents got killed because their love distracted them and made them vulnerable."

"Wrong," Raymond exploded. "You betrayed your partner the night before the most important vote in werewolf history!"

That hit me like a punch to the gut. I kept seeing Aurora's face from that morning—how her eyes just... died when she figured out what I'd done.

"I know." I forced myself to look at her directly. "Worst choice of my life. I figured if I could prove she didn't matter to me, somehow that'd keep her safe. Instead, I became the person who hurt her most."

Aurora's expression didn't change much, but I caught something in her eyes—that old hurt, still raw as an open wound.

"What's gonna stop you from bailing on me again?" Aurora asked directly. "When the next crisis tests your resolve?"

The question cut straight to my deepest fear.

"Because I understand now that running from my feelings hurt you more than facing them ever could," I replied. "And I was wrong before. My parents didn't die because they loved their cause—they died because evil people killed them. I know that, I’m still working on believing it."

Raymond's POV

Watching Kane bare his soul to Aurora felt like being stabbed repeatedly. The intimacy between them was obvious even in their pain.

"What exactly are you fighting for here, Raymond?" the Alpha King asked.

The question should have been simple, but I struggled for words. What was I fighting for? Our marriage? My pride?

"Aurora is my wife," I said finally. "We have history together. We can start over, build what we should have had all along."

Aurora was looking at me with something that might have been pity.

"Raymond," she said gently, "most of our 'good memories' happened when we were kids. And all of the recent ones happened while you were under magical control. The real you barely knows me."

Her statement stung, but it also sparked something fierce inside me. "Then let me show you who I really am," I said, my voice getting stronger. "And let me get to learn who you are. Let me prove that we can be good together."

"We grew up together," I continued. "We have bonds that go deeper than magical manipulation. I failed you when I was under Giana's control, but that wasn't the real me."

"Even fated mates require choice," I said firmly. "You felt something for me once—before everything went wrong."

"Obligation," Aurora said softly. "I felt obligation, Raymond."

"Maybe that's how it started," I acknowledged, "but there were moments. Real moments between us, before Giana poisoned everything."

Aurora's POV

Watching the truth hit Raymond almost broke my heart. But I couldn't soften the blow, too many lives hung in the balance.

“You hurt me, Raymond.” I needed him to really understand.

"And you, Kane." I wheeled around to face the man who'd crushed me over and over. "You've put me through hell. More than anyone deserves."

Kane winced like I'd slapped him. "I know forgiveness isn't automatic. Trust has to be rebuilt brick by brick."

"Do you?" I challenged. "Because last time you said you understood, you disappeared with another woman the next day."

Kane flinched visibly. "That was fear," he admitted, his voice breaking. "Fear that loving you would get you killed. I was wrong about everything."

"Love doesn't mean much if you disappear every time things get tough," I told him straight. "What's your excuse gonna be next time you run?"

"I'll prove it to you every damn day," Kane said, and I could hear his desperation. "I'll show you I've changed."

The Alpha King cleared his throat, his patience wearing thin. "Touching as this is, we have a war to finish. Here are the new operational parameters."

His formal tone made it clear these weren't suggestions but royal commands.

"Aurora, you have tactical command of the combined forces. Kane, you follow her orders without question and put aside protective instincts that might compromise objectives. Raymond, you support both without letting personal feelings interfere."

He looked at each of us. "Anyone who can't handle those parameters can leave my army immediately."

"Understood, Your Majesty," Raymond muttered.

"Understood, Your Majesty," Kane said, snapping back into that soldier voice.

"I can work with that," I replied, though my heart was still pounding like crazy.

"Excellent." The Alpha King's tone turned businesslike. "Our scouts report the final attack starts tonight. Save the relationship drama for after we win this thing."

Kane's fingers brushed my arm as we headed for the exit.

"Aurora." His voice dropped to almost nothing. "I love you more than anything in this world. When this war's over, I want to spend my whole life proving that to you."

Those words cracked something open in my chest. But I couldn't lose it right now.

"If we make it through this nightmare," I said, weighing every word, "maybe we'll see if love's strong enough to fix what fear destroyed."

Raymond stepped closer, jaw set like concrete.

"Aurora," he said, voice steady as a rock, "I'm not giving up. Kane had his chance and threw it away. After we finish this fight, I'm going to court you properly—as the real me, not some magical puppet."

Kane's jaw tightened until I thought his teeth might shatter, but he kept quiet.

"I'll prove we could have something real," Raymond continued. "Something you actually choose, not something forced on you."

Walking back toward the war preparations, it hit me—the Alpha King hadn't solved our romantic mess, but he'd done something more important. He'd proven we could work together despite everything falling apart between us.

Nightfall would bring the final battle. Kane, Raymond, and I would need to figure out our mess later—if we all survived whatever was coming.

But for the first time in forever, I felt a tiny spark of hope. Maybe we could win this war. Maybe, somehow, I could find happiness too.