Aura rose early before dawn. Jalen and Aura were secretly going for a run in the forest every day before dawn. She quietly snuck out of Rhys' cottage and hid in every shadow to avoid the patrols, which had increased lately. After Dax came by three weeks with the news of Queen Galadriel Haleth, the Knights of the Land, the healthy villagers, and visiting volunteers have been working to improve the village. Aura started working on her herbal solution with Jalen in the greenhouse, so far she had made enough doses for the critical cases. The plague victims were responding better to treatment when they took her herbal solution.

Rhys followed Aura closely as tucked and rolled from hiding place to shadows. Aura was so focused on evading the villagers and knights that she was unaware Rhys was hot in her trail. Rhys had noticed Aura leaving early every morning about a week ago, but every morning she tried to catch Aura in the act, Rhys would lose Aura in the forest. She was surprised at how well Aura was moving. It was like she was never injured in the first place. Aura was either skilled in healing magic or maybe her herbalist skills helped her heal faster. Rhys wasn't sure, but she was determined to find out what was going on with Aura every morning.

The village end was in sight as Aura cautiously watched for any passing patrols. She saw her opening as the patrolmen turned the corner. Summoning her wolf speed, she darted straight into the forest across the wide opening. Without looking, she weaved through the trees and hopped over the roots. Leaves rustled from her tailwind as she ran further into the forest, passing the stream that saved her life. Rhys lost sight of her mysterious friend in the forest, again. What magic did Aura have that let her travel so fast? Why had she never mentioned it before? Rhys promised herself to hide in the forest to catch Aura when she returned and discover what Aura was doing out there.

Aura had gotten into a routine, rushing into the forest every morning to meet Jalen. She managed to avoid Dax, despite his attempts to talk to her since the argument about Queen Galadriel Haleth. Dax didn't understand why Aura and Jalen felt so strongly for the queen that was conquering Dryadalis. It was the coexistence and acceptance the progressive queen promoted that Aura and Jalen supported her for. Dax didn't realize how much good the queen could do although he tried to seek a resolution with Aura and Jalen. Jalen loved watching Dax chase after Aura and plead for a chance to talk because it was sweet, satisfying revenge for him.

She ran into a den she dug two weeks ago, so she wouldn't have to keep changing and doing somersaults with stabby branches in a bush every morning. Aura disrobed from her black pants, brown boots, and purple top. She stored her knives neatly on top of her clothes. Shifting had become easier over the last few weeks, but she still had a dull ache in her body. It never seemed to go away from her constant shifting from human to wolf. This was the longest she had stayed in her human facade for a mission. She hoped that all she was sacrificing today would be worth it in the future.

"Are you going to take much longer, Aura?" Jalen mindlinked her. "I need to get a good run in before we get stuck in that greenhouse all day again."

"I'm coming out." Aura snapped. Her mood has been rather irritable lately. She just wanted to go on a run because this was the only time she felt free of her responsibilities and unnecessary feelings.

"All right, moody she-wolf," Jalen murmured to himself. He was fed up with Aura's grumpy moods. He liked it better when she was distracted and feeling guilty about the stupid human. They spent their days brewing herbal solutions for the villagers, collecting ingredients, and secretly gathering information on the royal visit. "I found something out yesterday."

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Aura climbed out of her den and shook out her silver fur. The moons were getting lower in the sky, indicating they were running low on their running time. The black bark trees had begun to heal from the fire almost a month ago. "Tell me on the run." Aura replied to Jalen's large brown wolf as he sat there scratching his ears with his hind leg.

Jalen stopped his magical scratching spot. He got up to follow Aura through the forest. Her paws flew across the ground as if the ground were her enemy. Jalen had to push harder to catch up to her. "The knights have been talking about the Alliance of Kingdoms' new agenda. It's being said that are ready to open trade with the kingdoms beyond the Melodian Ocean."

"Melodian Ocean? Like the continent of Harenae?" Aura asked.

"Just the one. They want Lunaris to be a part of world trade and recognized by the other countries." Jalen said, smugly.

"The only way Harenae would agree to that is if Lunaris started treating everyone equally. Harenae is mostly ruled by beast shifters." Aura said, confused. There was no way this continent would change because another kingdom wanted them to. Would they?

"Harenae is considering opening trade if protections are put into place for beast shifters, orcs, and all slaves of Lunaris. Queen Galadriel is proposing her drafted laws for those protections at a conference next month after fifteen years of negotiations. The other six seats of the Alliance of Kingdoms will be there as well as representatives of Harenae. They say it’s almost guaranteed to happen." Jalen informed Aura.

Smack! Aura face-planted into a tree. From her nose to her head, her entire head ached from the impact. Still, nothing hit her harder than Jalen's words. "There is no way... the change our people have been waiting for... is going to just happen that quickly." She struggled to form words from her pain. "It's too easy. Too convenient…"

"Alpha Enoch agrees. We need to see what we can find out from Queen Galadriel. Also, he wants you to make a report face to face. He's concerned that he hasn't heard from you because you might be getting distracted." Jalen sat back on his haunches waiting for Aura to recenter herself. "You are a magnet for injury."

Aura rolled her eyes. "Yeah, I am the reason I have gotten injured a lot lately. Had nothing to do with the hunters." She sighed, "Guess, I need to make a trip back to the valley to see our nosy Alpha." She stood up from laying on the ground. The moons were nearly gone from the sky as the first rays of sunlight peeked over the horizon. "We need to get back. I am sure Dax will be in the greenhouse first thing."

Jalen sighed. He knew she wasn't happy with her relationship with Dax, and they would probably need his help to talk with the queen and other things. "You should make up with him, Aura. I can forgive him for his ignorant words, so should you. Besides, we need him for our mission, remember?"

Aura growled. That man had made stupid, thoughtless comments about something he knew nothing about. She didn't want to forgive him yet. Still, she needed him. "Fine. I will speak with him soon. Tell me about Ivy."

Jalen snickered at her. "Ivy got the shifters on a boat to Harenae. She infiltrated the grim guild a week ago. We are supposed to meet her in a few days."

"Queen Galadriel is supposed to visit in a week. I wonder if the increase in hunter activity is linked to what is going with the Alliance of Kingdoms." Aura wondered as they ran back to her den. Jalen and Aura talked through the possibilities of this new development with trade deals and protection laws. They agreed to keep a watchful eye on everything because the queen could endanger the royal visit. Aura questioned what Dax might know about the situation, and she realized she needed to talk to him today. The sun rose into the sky as Aura dove into her den.

Aura quickly shifted with a dull achy reminder of her past shifts and injuries. She heard a shrill scream outside her den that hurt her ears. When Aura was dressed and came out of her den, she saw a naked elf, Jalen, and shocked Rhys. "What in the world?" Aura asked though she could tell what probably happened.

Rhys backed away from both of them. "You...wolf...now you're the brute?" She stood there stupefied.