Darius’s POV I arrived at the house in good time, Jake wheeled me in. I ignored all the gazes that shot my way, not minding them in the least. I had to give credit to Jake, he'd gotten the wheelchair and neck support. “Darius,” Mother rushed in at that moment, her eyes brightened for a split second before darkening again. “You're awake,” she whispered, cupping my face softly. “Yes mother,” I nodded slowly. “Thanks to Serena,” I kept my tone calm, staring calmly at her. Her eyes held mine for a long moment and she seemed to catch on, her expression hardened. “You're here because of her,” she snapped. It wasn't a question. “Yes,” I answered, keeping my expression calm. “It's to my understanding that we can't afford to allow Derek to get any more leverage against us.” Agatha’s face twisted, a scornful laugh escaping her. “Leverage? That should mean nothing to you, Darius. Derek's not our problem, he's not even our opponent.” Her eyes narrowed, “I've done my part of the deal. I
Serena’s POV I was still grappling with my emotions as I walked outside quickly, already somewhat familiar with the mansion's layout. Everywhere I passed, the guards, maids, and attendants all gave me looks of respect but at this point, I couldn't be bothered. A chill breeze blew into me as I stepped outside, blowing gusts of wind that made my hair stand on end. I sighed as I walked down the stairs, a sense of defeat weighing down on me. I didn't dare imagine Susan's reaction when I told her that Agatha wasn't going to lend a hand, she was our only chance. Well, not only, I thought. I felt a wave of mixed emotions when I thought about Darius. “Leaving so soon?” a familiar voice said, snapping me out of my thoughts. My heart skipped a beat as I turned around, staring into Alex's eyes. He was leaning against the side of the building, his expression almost lazy as he stared at me with an unreadable expression. “I…” my heart thudded as I felt his gaze linger intently on me. I c
Serena’s POV I fiddled with the bedsheets in my hands, my thoughts were on Darius. I'd messed up, big time I thought. Darius had carried a stone-cold look all through the ride. Even now his words replayed in my head like a saved audio clip, his anger coming through. “If you’re so besotted with Alex… why don’t you ask him to help with Stephanie instead of me?” The memory of his cold tone stabbed into me like a thorn I couldn’t pull out. I wasn’t “besotted” with Alex, and it burned to think Darius saw me that way—as if I were some foolish, love-struck girl, oblivious to what mattered. I’d tried to shake off the pain, telling myself I didn’t care about his opinion. But my heart hadn’t listened. I felt like I'd betrayed him. A sudden knock at the door snapped me out of my thoughts. My heart sank as Susan appeared, her gaze fixed on me with that all-too-familiar intensity. “So,” she began, folding her arms, “What did the Luna say about Stephanie?” Another wave of guilt crashed int
Darius’s POV The car was quiet as Jake drove towards Derek’s winter mansion, the only sound to be heard was the sound of Jake’s fingers as he tapped on the steering wheel. I could tell Jake wasn't happy with my decision, he'd called it foolish but I didn’t care. I needed to do this I thought, leaning back in my seat. I had this strange urge to prove a point. Why? I didn't want to think about it, despite Serena’s calm features filling my mind's eye. “You think this is a good idea?” Jake finally broke the silence, his voice was grim. “I don't,” Jake's voice was tight and he glanced outside the glass, worry clear in his features. I kept my gaze forward, unwilling to be swayed. “I can't let Derek gain a bargaining chip, Jake, it would affect our plans,” I replied evenly, each word carrying a weight I hoped Jake would understand. “You know Derek’s not going to make this easy,” Jake countered, glancing over at me. “He’s dangerous, unpredictable. And let’s be honest, in your conditio
Serena’s POV I'd been awoken by the noise coming from outside, I'd just come downstairs when I spotted them. My heart beat erratically in my chest by the time Jake entered the hall. “What happened to him?” My breath hitched at the sight of Darius in his arms, he was unconscious with blood seeping through his shirt. It took all of my control not to scream in shock. “He’s alive,” Jake assured me quickly, his face etched with exhaustion. “But… he’s hurt. Badly.” A wave of guilt crashed over me. He had gone through all of this for Stephanie. For me. The knowledge settled heavily in my chest, suffocating. If only I’d never asked, if only— The sound of approaching footsteps snapped me out of my thoughts as Agatha stormed into the hall, her expression a dangerous mix of fury and worry. She glanced briefly at Darius, but her gaze hardened almost instantly. “How did this happen?” she demanded, her voice icy as she turned to Jake. Jake lowered his head respectfully. “Derek’s men ambushe
Serena’s POV I could feel a gentle warmth the moment I woke up and I'd slept peacefully, something I hadn't done in years. I exhaled slowly and I blinked my eyes, trying to adjust to the light that streamed through the open windows. What! My eyes widened as I realized I was lying in Darius’s arms, I could feel the slow steady beat of his heart underneath my palm. I was lying on top of him, my cheeks flushed at the thought of sleeping like this. I didn’t know what must've come over me. The events from last night flooded back to me, and I jolted slightly, my fingers automatically going to his chest. "Darius!" I whispered, my heart pounding. I checked where the wounds had been, expecting to find the cuts and bruises that had filled me with so much dread. But… my eyes widened with disbelief. They were gone. I could've sworn that he'd been injured when he came yesterday but now… I looked over him again, he looked completely fine. What happened? I wondered, my mind racing with though
Serena’s POV The room was silent as I sat stock still, my chest felt heavy and my breathing was labored. Darius’s words echoed unceasingly in my head with each sentence cutting deeper than the last. This… my breath hitched, this was my fault—I'd let my guard down and now, I was paying the price. How dumb was I to think that Darius saw me as anything more than what I was, a contract? A means to an end. I felt a jolt of pain stab into me even as the thought crossed my mind. Suddenly, a sharp knock at my door broke my thoughts. One of the guards entered, his tone respectful but firm. “Serena, the Luna has requested your presence.” Agatha? My heart gave a little jump. She seldom summoned me personally. I quickly composed myself, straightened my clothes, and followed the guard out, trying to banish all thoughts of Darius from my mind. My breath caught in my throat as I walked into a large chamber, my eyes darting around. Darius was there, along with Uncle Sam, Susan, and Stephanie.
Darius’s POV Jake and I strode down the quiet hallway, my mind swirling with thoughts as Agatha’s unexpected declaration replayed in my mind. A ball for Serena? I knew my mother, Agatha was hardly one for sudden gestures of kindness, much less throwing a celebration. She never did anything without purpose much less something like this, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that Serena was at the heart of some larger scheme. Jake’s low whistle cut into my thoughts as we entered the room. “The Luna’s oddly jovial don't you think?” his eyes flashed with deeper meaning. “Celebrating a healer in the pack?” He paused, glancing around. “It’s not like her to throw a ball for celebration.” “I know,” I nodded, my tone skeptical. “She has her reasons, no doubt. Agatha doesn’t do anything without a hidden agenda.” My eyes were narrowed as suspicion gnawed at me. A healer was a rare thing, and it boded well for the pack the healer was in, Agatha knew this as well as I did. “I just don’t know what
Serena’s POV I couldn’t stay still as I paced back and forth, my heart pounding erratically in my chest. The events of the day left me with a bad feeling in the pit of my belly. I was just sitting when the sound of footsteps approaching echoed in the corridor. Darius. I knew it was him even before the door swung open, slamming against the wall with that made me shiver. “Why did you go to see Alex?” Darius snapped his voice low. His eyes were narrowed as he stared at me. “Why would you go to him?”Jake told him? I froze, trying to take in his words. I blinked, trying to collect myself, but my mouth went dry. “Go to who?” I asked cautiously, though the answer was obvious.“Alex,” Darius clarified, his eyes on me. “You went to see him, don't act ignorant,” Darius growled, stepping further into the room and closing the door behind him with a sharp snap. His presence was overwhelming, his anger palpable, but there was something else in his gaze—something raw and vulnerable that I
The corridor was dark and dim as Derek’s men made their way down to Dylan’s holding cell. They didn't have pleased expressions however, if anything they were confused. Derek’s orders had been clear enough, they just couldn't understand why he wanted them to release Dylan who he'd kept hostage for weeks already. It made little sense. Releasing Dylan, the man they'd once called Alpha felt like a bitter soup being forced down their throat. In Derek’s study earlier, the command had been given with an authority that left no room for argument. His tone had been sharp, his gaze cold as ice.“Release him,” Derek said, his voice as cold as ice. A wave of murmurs spread through the group of men. One of the braver men had hesitated, his brows furrowed in confusion. “But—” he tried to speak up but Derek wasn't having any of it. His fist slammed onto the desk, the impact echoing through the room like a gunshot.“But what?” He snapped, his eyes narrowed dangerously. “Do you intend to question
DariusThe air outside the council felt like freedom as I stepped out, leaving those group of old foggeys behind me. I exhaled slowly, the tension leaving me as my tense shoulders relaxed and thoughts swirled inside my head. I'd not been as relaxed as I'd made myself look. Damn them! I snapped internally, my eyes narrowing. They hadn't cared that Alex had kidnapped Serena, hadn't cared at all. All they cared about were their interests. “Darius!” Agatha’s voice broke through the mess of thoughts in my mind. I hadn’t noticed when she'd walked out after me. I halted mid-stride, my jaw tightening as I turned to face her. “What is it, Mother?” I asked, my tone sharper than I intended. I forced a smile, “won't you join them in their discussion?” I waved my hand, gesturing back at the closed chamber. “No,” Agatha smiled a little. “They already know where I stand on this, there's no need for more formalities.” I felt a warm fuzzy feeling at her words and I smiled. “You need to be more
DariusThe chamber felt colder than usual when I strode in, the sound of my steps echoing as my boots stepped on the freshly polished floors. My eyes were cold and icy as I glanced straight, scanning the group of people in front. Mother was seated at the far end of the room, she sat ramrod straight but I could see the weariness in her eyes. She had borne the weight of the pack for a while now but now, even she seemed rattled.The three elders were present, they sat quietly by the side but one would be unwise to ignore them. Not like I cared much for them I thought, stopping a few meters away. “Mother,” I began, bowing my head. I glanced at the elders for a moment, my eyes staying on that of Elder Mortis for a moment. He was the eldest and outspoken one, his eyes met mine with a piercing glare but he didn’t say a word. Elder Reed as always looked ready to criticize, his lips twisting into a scowl as he glanced at me. Elan, the quietest of the three, sat back with his hands clasp
Serena’s POV The air seemed still with unspoken words and I stared at Jake pleadingly. “Fine,” Jake nodded, relenting. He massaged his brows gently, “I'll take you to him,” he said, “But—” he held up a finger. “Only for a few minutes” he added, his expression serious. “If Darius finds out I let you see him…” He trailed off, shaking his head. “Let’s just say I’ll be lucky if I still have skin on my back.”“I understand,” I nodded quickly, my heart pounding. “Thank you,” I whispered, "I won’t take long, I promise.”Jake didn't answer and his jaw tightened, but he motioned for me to follow. “Leave,” he turned to glance at the guards who stood further off, then nodded and turned to leave without a word. He probably didn't want anyone knowing what we were going to do I thought, watching the guards leave. “Let's go,” Jake waited until they'd left before he motioned me to follow him. We walked into one of the adjourning buildings, and through some dimly lit halls in silence, the atmosph
Serena’s POV I was deep in my thoughts when a knock at the door pierced the silence. I glanced up, surprised, as Susan stepped into the room. Her movements were slow and quiet as she drifted into the room, her gaze shifting nervously before settling on me.“Susan?” my eyes narrowed slightly. I was surprised to see her, and a moment later I frowned. There was something off about her I thought, wondering if my eyes were playing tricks on me. Her usual air of superiority was gone, replaced by something I couldn’t quite place.“Serena,” she began, her tone softer than I’d ever heard it.I straightened, sitting up while adjusting a pillow behind me, despite myself I was still wary of her. “What is it?”Susan hesitated, her hands twisting together. “I came to see how you were doing,” she beamed a smile at me as she fidgeted on the spot, unsure of whether to come close or stay where she was. “See me?”My brows shot up as her words threw me off, that was the last thing I'd expect Susan to
Serena’s POV The room was so silent you could hear a pin drop. Darius stood near the door, his arms crossed and I could feel his eyes on me, boring into me. “Th—thank you,” I stammered, my voice coming out in a whisper and I forced myself to look up at him. My chest tightened as his eyes flicked to mine, holding them for a moment too long before glancing away.He didn’t respond immediately. Instead, he shifted on his feet, looking oddly uncomfortable—almost hesitant, as if he wasn’t sure how to respond.“Are you…okay?” he asked finally, his voice gruff but softer than I expected.“I’m fine,” I said quickly, the words feeling hollow in my mouth. Darius nodded, though the tension in his posture didn’t ease. The silence stretched again, awkward and heavy, until I couldn’t take it anymore.“I mean it, Darius,” I stuttered, my voice a little firmer now. “Thank you for saving me. If it weren’t for you…”I trailed off, not finishing the statement. Alex had wanted to take me somewhere. So
Serena’s POVThe sound of the car was the only sound that filled my ears as we drove in the dark. My heart was beating erratically, a by-product of the tense thoughts floating In my mind. Darius was at the wheel, and his hands were gripping the steering very tightly as he drove, his expression was like stone. He hadn't said a word since we'd left, his eyes occasionally meeting my gaze in the rearview mirror. Marcella sat quietly beside me in the back seat, her presence reassured me. This wasn’t fake. This wasn’t a lie, I'd been rescued. I winced slightly as I adjusted my position, my body screaming with pain. I couldn’t get the image of Alex out of my head. ‘Was he fine, had Darius injured him? What had happened?’ I sat there struggling with the thought as it plagued me. I needed to know if he was okay if he’d made it out alive, but I didn’t know how to ask. My throat felt tight, I didn't wish to test Darius’s reaction by asking, so I couldn’t bring myself to speak.“He’ll be fi
Susan stood behind the door as she strained her ears to eavesdrop on a conversation with someone on the phone. She couldn't hear the voice on the other end, but the tone of Stephanie’s words made her feel very uneasy. Something was off. “…it’s handled, don’t worry about that,” Stephanie said quietly, pacing the room. She was dressed in a beautiful blue dress. “If you keep your side of the bargain, keep mine,” her words made Susan scrunch her face, suspicion filling her. “I’ll keep you updated,” Stephanie said. “Stick to the plan,” she ended the call. Plan? What plan? Susan’s brows furrowed and she pushed closer, trying to overhear more bits of the conversation but the conversation had ended already. Susan hesitated at the door, her face having all kinds of emotions. She took a deep breath before she pushed the door open and stepped inside. “Who's—” Stephanie exclaimed as she spun around, her words cutting off when she saw Susan and her expression hardened instantly.“Who were