CHAPTER 229: THIS EARLY?

*~Aurora’s POV~*

I opened the door wider just to be sure—and my breath hitched.

It was really him....Damn it. Why is he here so early?

The moment Darius saw me, a wide grin spread across his face. He bowed slightly, his voice calm and polite.

"Greetings, Your Majesty. Greetings, Lady Aurora. I hope I’m not too early."

You fucking woke me up, I thought bitterly. And now Cayden’s seen you. Great. What kind of lie am I supposed to tell him now?

Cayden turned to me, eyebrows knitting together in confusion.

"Who is he? And what is he doing here?"

"He’s... one of my witches," I said quickly.

"One of your witches?" Cayden repeated, his tone skeptical. "Then what is he doing here at this hour? You know the situation in this pack right now, Aurora. We can’t just bring strangers here."

I nodded stiffly. "I understand."

I was sure Cayden would’ve scolded me harder if I weren’t me—but instead, he just gave me a long, pointed look that said be careful, and left without another word. I didn’t even get the chance to ask what he’d come for.

When he was gone, I turned on Darius.

"What are you doing here so early?" I hissed, clenching my teeth. "You almost got me into trouble."

"I’m sorry, Lady Aurora," he said sincerely. "I didn’t mean to come this early. I just... I don’t have anywhere to stay till night. I slept outside the High House, and when morning came, someone told me I should return—so I did. I didn’t think it was too early."

I groaned softly and grabbed his hand, leading him out of the High House.

"Look, the High House is busy today," I muttered. "There’s a report being submitted, and I’m the one who wrote it. So maybe you can come back later or—"

"Aurora?"

Hazel’s voice cut me off. I turned, forcing a calm smile.

"H-Hazel."

"Cayden told me what happened this morning," she said, her gaze flicking between me and Darius. "Why is he here so early?"

"I’m sorry," I said quickly, bowing my head.

But before I could say anything else, Darius stepped forward and faced Hazel directly.

"I’m sorry, Alpha Hazel," he said, his tone humble and earnest. "It’s just... I had nowhere to sleep last night. I didn’t mean to cause trouble. Please forgive me."

Hazel blinked, momentarily stunned—and then I saw it. The softening. The way her shoulders relaxed.

Oh, no.

He’d charmed her.

Hazel smiled faintly, turning to me. "Well, they can’t start the meeting just yet. You can bring him along with us, Aurora."

I blinked in disbelief. "What?"

She nodded. "You can bring him."

I stared between the two of them, barely containing a sigh.

So, not only did this man charm me... now he’s charmed Hazel, too.

Hazel turned to me with a small smile. "We’d better get going. Everyone’s waiting for you, Aurora."

I nodded, forcing composure. "Right."

I motioned for Darius to follow and led him toward the Council Hall. But the moment we stepped inside, every head turned. The entire room was already seated—and all eyes immediately fixed on us.

My stomach dropped.

Unconsciously, my gaze began to search for Leon. And when our eyes met... his were ice. Cold. Distant. The kind of stare that burned without heat.

I froze under it for a second, then quickly looked away. But I could feel his gaze sharpening, not on me this time—on Darius.

"What is he doing here?" Leon’s voice snapped through the silence. His temper cracked, and his words came like fire. "I ordered that he not be allowed here. He’s already wandering in this early morning? He’s a wizard. What is he doing in a council meeting? He shouldn’t even be in the High House!"

"I’m sorry, but I’m questioning your decision, Alpha," he added coldly, eyes shifting to Hazel.

Caspian was the first to answer, his tone even. "Have you forgotten it was a collective decision between the two Alphas that allowed him entry into the High House?"

Leon’s jaw tightened. "Then why is he in a council meeting?"

Elder Gina spoke next, voice low but sharp. "Aurora brought him, didn’t she? And I don’t think this particular council meeting is about any classified matters. It’s simply to discuss the progress of the research—the reports on what Aurora claimed to have seen. So, this doesn’t concern who should or shouldn’t be here."

Hazel nodded firmly. "Exactly."

Relieved, I gave her a small nod of thanks.

"Cayden," Caspian said next, turning toward him. "You can continue. What did you find?"

Cayden straightened, his tone measured. "When we conducted the research, we found no white-haired demons."

My stomach sank. My pulse quickened.

They hadn’t found anything—again.

How was I supposed to back up my claim now? Everyone would think I was lying. Again.

But then Cayden spoke again.

"However," he said, pausing, "we did find someone else who claimed to have seen the same white-haired demons."

The room stirred. I lifted my gaze immediately.

"She insists they exist. But everyone around her believes she’s gone mad," Cayden continued. "They said there’s no such thing."

I turned to Hazel. She was already looking at me, her lips curving into a faint, knowing smile.

"So, does that mean she’s right?" Hazel said softly. "Two different people making the same claim without ever meeting each other? That can’t be a coincidence."

Cayden frowned. "I believe you’re mistaken, Alpha Hazel. Because her own family confirmed she’s insane."

He snapped his fingers. The door burst open.

Two guards dragged in a wretched-looking woman. Her hair was wild and tangled, her clothes torn to shreds, her eyes wide and trembling.

"You died!" she screamed at one of the guards. "You’re a ghost! Leave me alone!"

Cayden’s face remained cold. "This is the woman—and her husband—along with her family. They claim she’s been mad ever since the day she said she saw white-haired demons."

"Explain yourself," Cayden ordered.

The woman fell to her knees, tears streaking her dirt-covered face. "I know what I saw! Please, I swear! They killed my husband—they killed my babies! I don’t know how they’re alive now, but they did! Please, you have to believe me!"

"Shut up!" the man beside her barked. He looked perfectly healthy, her supposed "dead" husband. "Don’t listen to her! She’s insane! She claims I was killed—look at me, I’m alive!"

The hall erupted in murmurs.

Leon’s head turned toward me, his lips twisting into a cruel half-smile. "Oh, Aurora... I’ve seen your type before."

My heart squeezed painfully in my chest.

This...this exact thing... had happened to me. I saw those wolves die with my own eyes. And then they returned, alive and whole, as if nothing had happened. Everyone thought I was mad, too.

"No," I said, my voice trembling but firm. "Hazel is right. Two people can’t share the same delusion without connection. This isn’t coincidence—this is truth."

"Are you seriously believing her?" the husband shouted. "My wife is crazy—and anyone who sides with her is just as crazy!"

Leon leaned back in his chair, smirking. "Oh, look. Seems we’ve got another crazy one here too."

"She also described things that match Aurora’s account exactly," one of the elders said quietly.

The husband turned to Leon. "So it’s not only my wife, then?"

Leon chuckled, the sound low and mocking. "Oh, it’s not only her, no. My childhood friend here shares the same madness."

My fists tightened instantly. Childhood friend? Mad syndrome?

What the hell was he saying?

I wanted to fire back, to scorch him with every word he deserved—but I couldn’t. Not here. Not now. I didn’t want to look like the madwoman they already thought I was.

So I bit my tongue hard, tasting blood, forcing myself to breathe.

I would not lose control.

Caspian rose from his seat, his voice cutting through the tension. "The meeting is concluded. This has gone far enough. Please, ensure the woman is cared for within the High House. A proper investigation will begin immediately."

The husband nodded stiffly, tugging his wife to her feet. But before they could leave, the woman began to cough. Violently.

"Oh my God—someone help her!" Hazel shouted, rushing forward.

My chest constricted. I’d known it. She’d looked frail from the start, like someone clinging to her last breath. And now, that breath was slipping away.

Her husband held her, shaking her shoulder roughly. "Hey—mad woman! You can’t die now. You finally found your kind! The people who believe your nonsense! Wake up!"

But she only coughed harder—blood spilling from her lips.

And then... silence.

She collapsed lifelessly in his arms. The hall froze. Just like that, she was gone.

So nice, I thought bitterly. Now I’m officially the last person alive who’s seen these demons. The second witness—dead, just like that.

Did they kill her?

I turned slightly, and caught sight of Darius beside me.

He was smiling... his eyes having an hint of something in them.

My pulse stuttered. Why is he smiling? I thought to myself. He met my eyes calmly. " I believe you," he said.