Third persons pov
Within minutes, the village bell rang,
sharp and frantic, echoing through the night.
Doors burst open. Lantern flames flickered to life.
The villagers rushed to the village square, whispering, gasping, fear thick enough to choke on.
"I heard the Beast had taken Aurora is it true?" an older woman asked.
"It appears so," another replied.
"Why would the Beast take her?" an older man asked.
"Perhaps she's the one he's been searching for."
Aurora's mother Ava, clung to mara's cloak, sobbing.
"Aurora knew the danger lurking in the woods, she wouldn't have went willing."
"He took her. The Beast had taken my daughter," Aurora's father Luke, snarled, his fist clenching at his sides.
"We don't know if that's true or not," Elder Mara spoke, comforting Ava.
Luke's eyes blazed with rage.
"What are you insinuating elder Mara?" Luke asked, his voice low but sharp enough to draw blood.
"My daughter isn't reckless to wander the woods at night and especially when she's aware of the Beast prowling the forest."
The elder's face hardened with an old, familiar dread. "If she didn't wander on her own then it definitely called out to her."
Ava frowned, wiping her tears away.
"I don't understand..... What do you mean it called out to her?"
"Clear the children inside," elder Mara
ordered completely ignoring Ava's question. "Make sure no one steps out of their homes tonight."
Men rushed to pile wood along the village edges, torches flaring bright against the hungry darkness.
Luke grabbed a spear, knuckles white.
"My daughter needs my help, she's in danger and I'm going to save her."
Elder Rowan stepped infront of Luke blocking his way.
"No. There's no way you can save her Luke and non of us are brave enough or strong enough to take on a beast. We don't stand a chance against it not unless we discover a way that we could get rid of it but right now there's absolutely nothing we can do than to wait until Aurora shows up."
Eva collapsed to her knees with a broken cry.
Luke shook his head, his jaw clenched as he glared at Rowan.
"You want me to sit and do nothing whilst my daughter's life is in danger."
"But there's-" Rowan began but Luke cut him off.
"Save it,"He snarled, his eyes blazing with anger.
Gasps rippled through the villagers.
"I'm not going to sit around and listen to your nonsense, my daughter's life is on the line and I'm going to bring her back with or without your help," his voice slices through the air like a blade.
Luke turned to the forest, shoulders shaking with fury and helplessness.
"Aurora," he whispered into the darkness, "hold on. Please... hold on."
Because somewhere in the shadows, beyond the fires' reach, something ancient and feared had awakened-and it had taken their daughter.
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Roman's pov
The girl was trembling in my arms.
I felt every shiver of her slight body where it pressed against my chest, her heartbeat a frantic flutter beneath her skin that smelled of fear... and of me. The scent hit me again-Jasmine, lavender and rain.
Mate.
The word burned through me like wildfire.
I tightened my grip instinctively, afraid she would vanish if I didn't hold her close. Even in her panic, even with her tears damp against my bare chest, she fit against me as though she had always been meant to.
But she struggled weakly, her fists pushing against me.
"Please," she whispered. "Let me go..."
The sound of her voice-soft, pleading, broken-turned every instinct inside me savage.
"You don't need to be afraid," I growled, voice low, rumbling from deep within my chest. "I won't hurt you."
The words came out sharper than intended, my voice too rough, too wild. She flinched.
Damn it.
I clenched my jaw and kept moving through the dark forest, weaving through ancient trees with inhuman speed. My beast prowled beneath my skin, restless and electrified.
Mine.
Protect her.
Get her home.
The forest shifted as I crossed into my territory-shadows bowing away, the air thickening with the scent of Lycans. A howl rose in the distance, signaling my approach. My pack had felt me the moment I stepped into their land. Their Alpha. Their King.
And in my arms... the one meant for me.
My mate buried her face against her knees, curling inward as if she could disappear. I slowed my steps, trying-bluntly, awkwardly-to make my movements gentler.
Her tears dampened my skin again.
"I don't want to go with you," she sobbed quietly.
My chest tightened painfully. Not from anger. Not even from frustration.
From something I wasn't used to feeling.
"...I know you don't," I said, surprising myself with the softness in my own voice. "But there's no way I'm letting you go. I've waited for you Aurora for a very long time and now that I've finally found you, I'm not letting you go."
My beast snarled in agreement.
As I emerged from the trees, the palace came into view rising like a crown above the land. Stone walls gleamed pale in the moonlight, and a row of marble columns guarded the entrance. Beyond the wrought-iron gates, fountains Sparkled.
A few Lycans appeared first, scouts
on the perimeter quickly rushed to open the gates for me.
They froze, eyes widened when they saw me carrying a human.
"Alpha?" one of them asked, sniffing the air. A strange mixture of shock and recognition crossed his features. "She's-"
The words echoed like thunder across the clearing.
Whispers rippled through the pack as more Lycans stepped out of the shadows. Some curious, some wary, some confused but I ignored them all.
I held her closer, lowering my head so my mouth brushed the top of her hair.
"You're safe now," I murmured, though I knew she wouldn't believe me yet.
I moved toward the grand palace.
Every step echoed with the weight of what had just begun.
A human girl.
My mate.
Terrified of me.
And yet bound to me by the moon goddess.
I exhaled slowly, steadying myself.
She will not run again, my beast growled.
She belongs with us.
I glanced down at her fragile form.
"No," I murmured under my breath, answering my own instincts. "First... she must know she belongs because she chooses to."
But for now, she was shaking. Terrified. Alone.
And in my arms, I carried the one thing I could not-would not-give up.