The Queen Beside Him
Aurora's pov
The garden was quiet now.
Only the soft sound of the wind moving through the trees remained as Roman sat beside me.
I could still feel the ache in my chest but it wasn’t as sharp as before. It wasn't just my pain but he's as well.
I pushed him away and told him he still loved and wanted Scarlett when he clearly didn't.
"How are you going to prove it?" I asked, meeting his gaze.
“Tonight, before we leave for the Stoneridge, I’ll make an announcement to the entire pack.”
Confusion flickered through me. "Why are we going to the stonrigde pack?"
"Because the alpha requires my help and I want you to come with me. There's not a chance I'm leaving you behind after happened before."
"You don't trust me."
He exhaled. "I do trust you but I don't trust the friends you keep."
I smiled faintly. "You mean Kiera and Darius?"
"Exactly," he murmured. "They're bad influences."
I rolled my eyes. "They're not," I defended.
"They're fun to be around unlike you."
He frowned. "So you're saying I'm boring?"
I nodded, smiling.
I gasped loudly as he pulled me onto his lap, wrapping his big arms around me.
"You haven't seen the other side of me yet little one," he whispered.
"I can be very spontaneous when I want to."
A shiver run down my spine not of fear but excitement.
He cleared his throat, shifting me on his lap. "Anyway as I was saying tonight I'm going to make an announcement to the pack."
"What announcement?"
“When we return,” he said, “there will be a crowning ceremony."
I stared at him.
“You will be crowned my queen.”
My heart skipped.
“And you’ll bear my mark,” he added quietly.
For a moment I couldn’t speak.
I hadn’t expected this. Not after everything Scarlett had said.
Not after the pain and doubt she planted inside me.
But Roman was looking at me with certainty not with obligation, not with force but with love.
Real love.
“You… want that?” I whispered.
"Yes, more than anything. I want you Aurora and only you," he said firmly.
Emotion tightened my throat.
Slowly, painfully, the fear inside me began to ease.
Because if he truly wanted Scarlett—
If he truly loved her
He wouldn’t be sitting here promising me a future, a crown and his heart.
But one thought still lingered in my mind.
“What about your child?” I asked softly.
Roman’s expression softened slightly at the mention of his son.
“I will accept the child,” he said honestly. “He’s innocent in all of this.”
I nodded slowly.
But then his face hardened.
"As for Scarlett I don't want her anywhere near you or the palace."
My eyes lifted to his.
" I will not let her interfere in our lives,” he continued firmly. “Nor will she become a problem for you.”
There was finality in his tone.
"Enough about Scarlett now," he said. "Let's focus on us and our future."
_________________________________________________
The journey to Stoneridge Pack had taken only an hour.
By the time the car finally crossed through the massive iron gates, the sky had already begun darkening into shades of orange and deep blue.
I stared out the window silently.
Everything about Stoneridge felt different from Roman’s pack.
It was quite small and the atmosphere was tense, heavy with the scent of smoke and blood.
The guards stood near the entrance looked exhausted, some with fresh bandages wrapped around their hands, legs and head.
Roman noticed my expression and rested his hand gently against my thigh.
“Don’t be afraid,” he murmured.
I looked up at him.
"What happened to them?"
They were attacked, he replied. "By Vampire's and rogues."
"Rogues?"
He exhaled, staring out the window.
"Rogue wolves are wolves who no longer belong to a pack or they
have been banished from one. They are often portrayed as dangerous, violent, or unstable," he explained.
"I hope to never come across one," I murmured.
"If you do you're going to be their dinner," he said, his tone was playful.
I gasped, my eyes widening. "And you will let them?"
"Of course not," he said, pulling me to his chest. "But if you listen to me and stick by my side I wouldn't let anything happen to you."
"You think I will run again, don't you?"
"Are you going to run again?" he asked, gazing into my eyes.
"No," I whispered. "I don't have a reason to run away and I don't think I could ever live without you."
"Neither can I," he smiled as he cupped my face and pressed his lips against mine.
The kiss was slow and lingering, filled with unspoken emotion. I melted into the kiss, warmth spreading through my body.
After a few minutes Roman slowly pulled away and pressed his forehead against mine.
"I love you little one and I would never let anything or anyone hurt you ever."
"Alpha?" Rynn knocked on the window.
"let's go, they're waiting for us," Roman said opening the door but before he could step outside a loud roar cut through air making my skin prickle.