Aurora POV
"Let her go."
My voice came out sharper than I expected.
The guard looked at me like I was annoying.
"Step back," he said.
"I said let her go," I repeated.
He didn't move.
Behind him, Elora turned her head toward me.
"Aurora!" she called out.
"Elora!" I tried to push forward again.
The guard stopped me harder this time.
"Don't interfere."
My eyes narrowed. "She's my best friend."
He scoffed lightly. "Not anymore."
My chest tightened.
"What does that even mean?"
But before he answered, the crowd shifted.
People suddenly went silent.
Even the guard straightened slightly.
I frowned. "What's going on now?"
No one replied.
Because someone was walking through the crowd.
A man passed behind the guard.
I didn't see his full face.
Only his presence.
And it felt heavy.
Like the air itself was making space for him.
The guard immediately stepped aside.
I blinked. "Who is that?"
The guard didn't answer me.
He just said quietly, "Stay silent."
I turned back toward Elora quickly.
She was already being led away.
"Elora!" I shouted again.
She looked back immediately.
"Aurora!" she called.
"Don't go!" I tried to run again.
But the guard blocked me completely.
"Move!" I pushed against his arm.
"Human," he said coldly.
My blood boiled. "Stop calling me that like it means nothing!"
He didn't respond.
Because Elora was gone.
Completely.
Elora POV
"Let go of me!"
I pulled my arm back, but the grip didn't loosen.
"Relax," Mike said calmly.
"Relax? You just took me!" I snapped.
"I didn't take you," he replied. "I brought you where you belong."
I glared at him. "I didn't agree to anything."
He tilted his head slightly. "You don't have to."
My heart dropped.
"What does that even mean?"
He stepped closer.
I stepped back immediately.
"Don't do that," I warned.
He stopped—but only because he chose to.
Not because I told him to.
"I'm not hurting you," he said.
"That's not the point!"
He stared at me for a second.
Then said quietly, "You're my mate."
"I didn't ask to be!"
His eyes darkened slightly. "Neither did I."
That made me pause.
I frowned. "Then let me go."
A silence.
Then—
"No."
One word.
Final.
Aurora POV
I stood there long after she disappeared.
My hands were still raised like I could grab her back if I just tried harder.
But there was nothing.
Nothing but empty space.
"Why didn't anyone stop them?" I muttered.
The guard beside me finally spoke.
"Because he is Mike."
I turned sharply. "And that means what exactly?"
He looked at me like the answer was obvious.
"It means the Head Warrior doesn't get questioned."
My fists clenched.
"That's not an answer."
He ignored me.
I exhaled sharply. "Where did they take her?"
No response.
I stepped forward again.
"Tell me."
The guard sighed. "You're wasting your time."
I looked at the direction they left.
"…I hate this place," I whispered.
Then I turned and walked away.
Not because I accepted it.
But because I knew staying wouldn't bring her back.
Elora POV
I sat inside the car in silence.
"Are you done fighting now?" Mike asked.
"I'm not fighting," I said quickly. "I'm refusing."
He looked at me.
"Same thing," he replied.
I turned my face away. "I want to go back."
"You can't."
"Why?"
"Because you're already here."
I scoffed. "That's not an answer."
He leaned slightly forward.
"You're safe," he said.
I laughed bitterly. "Safe? From what? My life?"
His eyes stayed on me.
"No," he said. "From losing me."
That made me freeze.
I turned slowly. "Excuse me?"
He didn't answer.
Just looked at me like it was already decided.
And for the first time…
I realized this wasn't about romance.
It was about possession.
Elora POV (end scene)
I whispered, "I'm not yours."
Mike replied calmly.
"You will be."
And the car kept moving.