Luna's Memorial Service.

From Zoyne's explanation, Caius is the highest Alpha leader of a pack called the Gold Moon Pack. You could say he is like a king, and all the pack members live in various places, not just in this apartment. He leads a pack with thousands of members.

'I don't understand why he chooses to mingle with humans. From the books I've read, werewolf clans have their own world, far removed from human life.'

Three days had passed since Aurora started living with Caius. During that time, she had to follow all his commands: cleaning the unit, preparing bathwater, and other tasks.

Aurora was forced to do it to save her life. Zoyne's words echoed in her mind.

"Remember, don't make the Master angry if you still want to live."

"Yes, yes, I want to live. That's why I have to be an obedient servant to that crazy man. But just wait, I'll escape from here no matter what. I don't care about the rent for my unit anymore. The important thing is, I have to stay away from this wolf pack for my own survival."

Thinking about it, living with her drunken brother and her father, who liked to gamble, might not be as bad as this. At least they wouldn't threaten her life. Unlike now, living with a man-wolf hybrid who could kill her at any time.

Aurora still shuddered every time she remembered Caius' hand turning monstrous that night on the rooftop. The image haunted her.

Fortunately, Caius rarely stayed at home, even though they lived in the same unit. He often went somewhere. However, even though Caius was absent, Aurora still couldn't escape. Every time she tried to flee, Zoyne always managed to catch her.

Knock, knock, knock.

Someone knocked on Aurora's door.

"Are you done? We have to go now," Zoyne's voice called from outside.

"Yes," Aurora replied, then opened the door and followed Zoyne.

Earlier, Zoyne had asked her to change clothes. Now, Aurora was wearing a black dress that resembled mourning attire. The dress had a high neckline with Victorian-style design, decorated with lace on the neck and sleeves. The buttons seemed to be made of wood, giving it a classic feel. Her hair was left loose but neat.

However, her neck was still wrapped in bandages as her wound hasn't healed yet.

'It feels like I'm royalty,' she thought.

She wondered if someone had just passed away. Why was she wearing such clothes?

Especially now, it was already midnight. Holding a funeral at this hour seemed strange. But Aurora realized nothing was normal since she started living in this apartment.

'Werewolves, Alphas, cursed blood, and things like that. Is there anything stranger than all this?'

Aurora tried to find an answer. "Hey, Zoyne, can you explain what cursed blood is?"

Without looking, Zoyne answered, "Blood that can summon dark power."

Aurora frowned. "Sounds dangerous."

"It is."

Aurora snorted in frustration while staring at the back of the woman, who was about 10 cm taller than her. 'What's so hard about explaining more clearly? Cold woman.'

She tried again, "If it's so dangerous, why doesn't Caius just kill me? Why did he bring me to live with him?"

Zoyne suddenly stopped walking. Her voice turned cold. "Do you still consider yourself a normal human?"

Aurora froze as Zoyne's sharp gaze pierced her. 'Why does she look angry?'

"And one more thing, never call the Master's name so casually. You have no right to address him like that."

Aurora immediately understood why Zoyne was angry.

'Oh, she must hold Caius in such high regard that she can't stand anyone calling him without honorifics.'

"Sorry, I meant His Majesty Caius." Aurora laughed awkwardly.

Zoyne ignored her and stared at the door in front of them. "We've arrived."

As soon as they stepped in, Aurora froze.

The room was incredibly spacious, even seeming larger than the entire building.

"Why do all the rooms I enter lately feel so vast? Almost like they're bigger than the building itself. It's as if I'm in a palace," Aurora thought, bewildered.

"This building is protected by illusion magic," Zoyne explained, as if reading her mind. "From the outside, this apartment only looks like an old, ordinary building. The human tenants here also consider it a normal apartment. But actually, the top floor is a much larger space than the building—this is the Master's palace."

'Oh, so magic is involved here too. I'm not surprised anymore... not surprised at all.' Aurora tried to reassure herself.

"This is our main hall," said Zoyne.

Aurora looked around. Many unfamiliar people were gathered there, all wearing mourning clothes like hers.

The men and women present were people she had never seen before.

"Zoyne! My sister! It's been so long since we last met. Your face has become more serious every day," said a tall man with red hair. He walked over and slapped Zoyne's shoulder. Behind him, a blonde man followed.

"Stop teasing your sister, Rolan. She's dedicated her life to His Majesty Caius. Isn't that something to be respected?" said the blonde man calmly.

"Ah, you're right. My sister really is amazing, hahaha," Rolan laughed while continuing to pat Zoyne's shoulder, making Zoyne appear uncomfortable.

"Stop annoying me," Zoyne said coldly.

"Don't be so harsh on your older brother."

"Get lost."

Aurora just stood by, silently observing their conversation. Suddenly, the blonde man glanced at her and smiled gently.

'Isn't he the man in the black cloak who was with Zoyne on the rooftop that night?' Aurora thought.

"Hello, miss. I'm Leo, a Beta. It's nice to meet you again," said the man while slightly bowing, like a knight.

'No doubt, he's the man in the black cloak that night.'

Aurora found him friendly and easy to talk to. She nodded and smiled. "Hello, I'm Aurora. It's nice to meet you too, Sir."

"Ah, just call me Leo. No need for such formality," Leo replied with a warm smile.

Aurora smiled but felt very nervous inside. She realized she was surrounded by beings who weren't human. She had to be careful not to attract attention.

'This is a matter of life and death.'

"Who is this young lady? I've never seen her before," Rolan asked.

The man approached Aurora. Standing face to face with him, Aurora had to look up because Rolan was nearly 40 cm taller than her. This man seemed to be almost 2 meters tall.

"She was brought here by the Master," Zoyne replied.

Rolan raised an eyebrow and looked Aurora up and down. "So, the rumor that His Majesty brought a woman to live with him is true? But why her? She looks a bit like our Luna, but it seems impossible that His Majesty is interested in her."

Leo patted Rolan's shoulder. "Rolan, stop. If His Majesty hears this, you could be in trouble."

Rolan frowned while glancing at Aurora. "But, is this woman the Master's Mate? It's impossible for the Master to have a Mate again since Luna—"

"Rolan, enough," Zoyne interrupted.

"Who are you saying looks like my mother?"

Suddenly, a man and woman approached.

The man had captivating golden eyes and hair. His face reminded Aurora of the woman in the painting she had seen in the library that day.

'Who is he?'

For some reason, when she saw him, Aurora felt a faint sense of familiarity that weighed on her heart. It was as though a warmth she hadn't felt before responded to something within her soul.

"Aslan," Aurora murmured unconsciously.

The man jolted upon hearing her speak that name.

Zoyne, Rolan, and Leo also looked surprised.

"Who are you calling so casually?! Who do you think you are?!" Rolan shouted.

Aurora didn't know why, but the name just appeared in her mind, coming from nowhere.

Zoyne gritted her teeth. 'How did she know that name? The Master wouldn't have told her. Only a few people in this pack know that name.'

The woman who came with the golden-haired man had shoulder-length blue hair, sharp eyes, and a sly smile on her lips.

"Ah, so this is the tramp that His Majesty brought to warm his bed?" The woman spoke sharply while looking at Aurora with disgust. "What did you do to attract His Majesty? Did you strip all your clothes in front of him?"

'Who? Me?'

Aurora stood silent for a moment, then felt frustrated.

'Attract him? I'm terrified just breathing in front of Caius.'

Aurora didn't respond. Her gaze returned to the golden-haired man.

"His Majesty Alpha Caius Vayne enters the Hall!" a voice announced, breaking the tension.

The golden-haired man glanced briefly at Aurora and the others in the room before coldly saying, "No one can replace my mother's position, not even a Goddess."

The woman with blue hair sneered at Aurora before leaving.

Zoyne suddenly pulled Aurora and led her to the back row. Aurora only realized then that the people in the hall had already formed two neat lines, separated by a red carpet.

Caius walked down the red carpet toward the altar, which featured a painting of a woman with golden hair and emerald green eyes, the same one Aurora had seen in the library.

"How did you know that name?" Zoyne suddenly asked.

"What name?" Aurora raised an eyebrow. Then she remembered the name Aslan she had just mentioned, and shook her head at Zoyne. "Ah, you mean Aslan? I don't know, the name just came to my mind."

"Don't joke around, and don't you dare call that name so casually," Zoyne said coldly. "Are you trying to replace Luna by pretending to be her?"

Aurora didn't understand what Zoyne was talking about. She felt wronged by the constant accusations. First, she was accused of seducing Caius, and now she was accused of wanting to replace Luna.

"What do you mean? Why would I do that? Hey, I was brought here by your Master to live with him against my will. I'm just a normal human, do you know that every second I'm terrified? I worry that you, your Master, and the other pack members will take my life at any moment?!"

Zoyne looked down at her. "Do you still think you're a normal human?"

"Why do you keep asking if I still think I'm human? Do you think of myself as one?" Aurora stared at Zoyne, her fear forgotten, her anger far outweighing her fear. She was furious, why was she the one stuck in this dangerous wolf pack, constantly living in fear of threats coming from every corner with every breath she took?

"Do you want the answer? Yes, I'm human! I'm not a wild animal like you all! I'm weak and harmless. Are you satisfied now?!"

Aurora gasped for air, tears running down her cheeks.

Zoyne remained silent, observing Aurora in disarray, even the bandage around her neck slightly opened.

Zoyne sighed and turned away, choosing to end the argument. She faced the altar because the ceremony was about to begin.

"We'll stop here. Just focus on this ceremony. It's to commemorate the death of our Luna. So, behave yourself," Zoyne said.

Aurora wiped her tears roughly and faced the altar.

'Damn it! I can't take it anymore with these strange people.'

Aurora understood what Luna was.

Luna was the Alpha's mate. The Alpha here was Caius, so this ceremony was clearly for mourning the death of Caius's wife, his Luna.

"The golden-haired man you met earlier is His Majesty the Prince, the Master's only son. Don't be disrespectful in front of him. Honor him as you honor the Master."

Aurora didn't answer and thought to herself. 'So that man is Caius's son. Werewolves live longer than humans. No wonder Caius looks so young, even though his son is over 20 years old.'

Aurora became curious, 'I wonder how old they are?'

Aurora looked at the painting of the woman on the altar again. For some reason, every time she saw that painting, she felt a connection with it.

Suddenly, Aurora's head throbbed. She squeezed her eyes shut and gripped her head tightly. The voice of the ceremony guide seemed to fade from her hearing.

'What's happening to me?'

She opened her eyes again, staring at the painting.

An image of a flower with petals as red as fire, a sky in flames, and the cries of a baby began to swirl in her head like a broken cassette tape.

The wound on her neck felt hot, and the heat seemed to flow through her veins, spreading through her body, making her tremble and weakening her legs. She staggered back a few steps, trying to press on her neck, hoping the heat would subside.

But it was useless.

'It hurts so much, please help me.'

Aurora collapsed. She saw Caius's face. But she couldn't tell what kind of expression he had because her vision started to fade.

The last thing she heard before completely succumbing to the darkness was Zoyne's shocked voice calling her name.

"Aurora!"