Leaving her this morning was one of the most difficult things I've ever had to do. Allowing Aurora to leave the wing was even harder, but it was a promise we had made. Once she had my mark, she could roam the palace. Keeping this promise was essential to maintain her trust and ensure she didn't see me as her captor as she once did.

I had to leave early today because I knew it would be a trying day. Thalia's punishment had been carried out, and I was bracing for the inevitable backlash. If it were up to me, I would eradicate everyone who dared speak against me, but then I'd have to replace them, and that meant more work. The more nobles I killed, the more responsibility fell on my shoulders.

Additionally, matters had escalated with the human rebels, and it was clear they were getting smarter, likely with help from traitors within our kind. I was confident we would defeat them, but I didn't want to lose any more of my men in the process. It was possible that I had underestimated them, but in my mind, they were still just pesky humans—irrelevant in the grand scheme of things.

As I stride into the meeting room, all the important nobles stand and bow their heads in respect until I allow them to be seated. Unsurprisingly, Thalia's father, a member of the powerful Thornhaven family, speaks up before we can delve into the rebel matter. Their family carries a significant weight in this kingdom, so I consider handling this situation delicately.

"Your majesty, I am not sure how you expect me to discuss the human matter while I am grieving for my daughter who was brutally tortured and killed on the account of a human," he says. It's a clever approach, not directly challenging my decision yet making it clear he is unhappy. However, attending the meetings I call is mandatory, and he does not get a pass to mourn a woman who hurt my mate, even if it is his daughter.

"Thalia hurt my mate, your Luna and Queen. You should not be in mourning but rather celebrating that justice has been served," I respond matter-of-factly.

"How could you be so cruel?" he retorts foolishly, prompting a chuckle from me. He can be as ruthless as I am at times, making it ironic that he is now angry.

"Disrespect to my mate is disrespect to me. I do not tolerate disrespect. You know this, Thornhaven. You have even devised some rather heinous executions for those who have shown me disrespect," I remind him, silencing his protest. I aim to drive the point home further.

"Be grateful that you still have your life. Your blood attacked mine. There have been times where this has led me to wipe out entire bloodlines," I emphasize my point and brush it aside. "Enough on this. Caelum, update me on the rebel situation."

The rest of the day is stressful. The rebels are becoming a formidable challenge. Eliminating their small camps one by one isn't working; we need to find the head of the operation and cut it off. Despite the tensions, I'm eager to return to my wing and see my mate. However, as I enter, I'm not greeted by her usual welcoming embrace. Instead, there's a swirl of emotions in her eyes, none of them positive.

She rushes up to me and strikes my chest. Her hit is weak, almost comical, and I have to stifle a laugh, this is clearly not the time for teasing. "What the hell were you thinking?" she yells, using profanity that doesn't suit her pure nature. "Language," I sternly caution.

"Language?! How can you possibly care about my language when you brutally executed someone just a day ago?" she continues, tears streaming down her cheeks. I despise seeing her cry, but at least now I understand the source of her anger. She must have heard about Thalia's punishment.

"I punish those who disrespect me, my love. I always have, and I always will," I state plainly, as if it were a fact that won't change.

"She didn't disrespect you; she disrespected me. Nonetheless, the punishment does not fit the crime," she argues, and now my patience is wearing thin.

"Let's get one thing clear, little one. You are my mate, my Luna, my queen. Disrespecting you is the highest form of disrespect toward me," I say firmly, frustrated that she doesn't seem to grasp this fundamental truth. I continue, "My punishments set an example. I am the king and I do not need to be lectured on how to rule my subjects." I don't intend to sound harsh, but all I wanted when I returned today was to hold her in my arms, not to have her question my actions.

"She's dead, Rylan! Dead, because of me! Someone is dead because of me," she exclaims, exasperated.

"She is dead because of her own actions," I respond without wavering. I want her to understand the necessity of my actions.

"How can you be so cruel?" she questions me just as Thalia's father did, clearly struggling to reconcile her perception of me with the events that have transpired.

"My only regret is that she didn't suffer more," I state coldly. My cruelty knows no bounds when it comes to those who hurt my mate, she should know this. She looks shocked and starts to walk away from me, but I can't allow her to turn her back on me. I pull her back to face me.

She attempts to pull away from my grip but fails, and in her distress, she begins to hit my body repeatedly. Her blows don't affect me, and I understand that she needs to release her anger somehow. It must have been building up in her timid self. I let her take out her frustration on me. However, after a few hits, I become concerned that she might hurt herself. I grab her hands, turn her around, and pull her back to my chest, holding her arms in front of her body.

"Enough, Aurora," I say sternly. "I don't want you to hurt yourself, love," I add with a softer tone. I am angry, but I also recognize that she is in a fragile state right now. Her sobs continue, and she drops her weight to the floor. I could easily hold her up, but I choose to sit down with her, cradling her in my arms as she continues to sob.

Aurora starts to shake, almost hyperventilating. Her heart is racing, and her breaths are jagged. I've never seen her like this, and it's alarming.

"Breath, my love. Aurora, just breathe," I say soothingly yet frightened. I know that humans can be fragile, and I never want to see her so distressed. But I won't lie to her either. She is my mate, my queen, and the future mother of my children.

I hold her in my arms, rubbing her back and gently running my fingers through her hair, all the while encouraging her to take slow, steady breaths. These actions are as much for my own comfort as they are for hers. My wolf is restless inside my mind, and I feel the same. I can't bear to see her so distressed. She is my precious, little mate.

After what feels like an eternity, she manages to catch her breath, and her heart rate gradually slows. I release a relieved sigh. She has scared me. I am a man who is rarely afraid, yet in that moment, her distress filled me with fear.

Her red, teary eyes lock onto mine, and she pleads, "Rylan, please." Her desperation tugs at my heart. "What is it, sweetheart?" I ask, willing to grant her nearly any wish at this moment. Right now, all I want is for her to breathe and if she's talking, she's breathing.

"Please, stop this, Rylan. Stop the brutality. I just can't take it," she implores. Her request is clear, but it's not one I can fulfill. I know what she's asking for, for me to be a benevolent ruler, but that's just not who I am. I try to deflect the conversation. "Have I ever been brutal to you, little one?" I hope to show her that she has nothing to fear from me.

"That's not what I'm saying, and you know it," she catches me. But there's little room for compromise. She continues, "Please, stop the murder. Stop the assault on humans. Don't pretend that you can't, because I've seen the power that you have, and you can. You can at least try. Won't you do it for me?" She pleads, leveraging my desire not to upset her. She is clever, even in her current state. But she doesn't understand.

"Aurora, my love, I know it's hard to grasp but everything I have done since the moment I met you and everything I'll do from now on is for you, for us, for our future and our legacy," I try to make her understand.

"Can't you see it's killing me?" Her voice breaks, and so does my heart. But I won't lie to her, and I won't change. "Sweetheart, can't you just trust me?" I implore, hoping she'll relent and let me bear the darkness for us both. I'm good at it. I've lived my whole life that way.

She looks at me, hurt and betrayed, and I know she may not understand now, but one day she will. She runs off to her old room, and I let her. For today, and today only, I'll give her the space she needs. I know she has a lot to come to terms with, and I am not an unreasonable man.

I'm also not a good man, and I know that. But I won't change; I can't. I accept myself, and she must too. I am her mate, and she is mine. She will accept me and love me for who I am. And I will protect her from the world. I'll do everything in my power to make her happy, but her health and safety come first. I will always protect her, no matter the cost, even if she hates me for it.