Serena’s POV “I…” I trailed off, the words lodged in my throat. I couldn't have imagined that Darius knew about this, my heart thudded erratically as we exchanged gazes. The air in the room suddenly felt thick and heavy and it pressed against my chest, I could barely breathe. “It’s the truth isn't it?” Darius's eyes burned with dark fury and something else, I couldn’t make it out. His piercing. My gaze was locked on mine, daring me to challenge him, to deny what we both knew was true. “You aren't speaking,” Darius radiated anger as he walked closer to me, his body mere inches away from mine. My breath hitched in my throat, his masculine energy seemed to shroud me, blurring out my thoughts. And then, in the space of a heartbeat, something shifted. Maybe it was the heat of our anger, or the proximity, or the fact that neither of us was willing to look away. Whatever it was, it snapped. “I can explain…” I began, glancing at him but then I froze, the fury in his eyes was gone, rep
Darius’s POV The office was silent as I leaned back in my chair staring out the window, I hadn’t been able to focus on the paperwork Jake had brought in earlier. My mind filled with thoughts of Serena, the past few weeks had been eventful. The thought of how she'd disrupted my world brought a faint smile to my face. She’d disrupted my world in ways I hadn’t anticipated, ways I hadn’t even believed possible. For years, intimacy had felt like a performance—a task that required a chemical boost to even become tolerable. My eyes narrowed as I thought of the times I'd felt like a plank of wood, I'd even had to use pills to force my desire. It was a secret I'd kept for years without telling a soul. Why was she different? My eyes narrowed as I silently considered it. Part of me knew what it meant. Serena could be my fated mate. The mere thought of it felt both exhilarating and…wrong. I’d locked my heart away, fortified it against attachments, convinced that I could survive alone. Let
Serena’s POV My heart beat erratically in my chest as the heavy doors creaked shut behind me, their echo lingering in the cold, cavernous hall. My heart was pounding, louder than I wanted it to be, as I stepped forward, every gaze from the elders sharp and unyielding as they could slice through any excuse I might offer. I'd been shocked when a maid had come to inform me that I was being summoned by the council. My heart thudded as I stood, waiting in the middle of the hall. The elders of the council were the strongest wolves in the pack and also the ones who wielded the most influence. Agatha was at the head of the assembly, her expression unreadable, her posture as regal as ever. I searched her face, hoping for a glimmer of support, but all I saw was a stony resolve. I silently prayed everything was well because I couldn't understand why I'd be summoned here, had I done anything wrong? The silence broke as one elder leaned forward, his voice low and heavy with reproach. “Tell
Serena’s POV My hands were trembling at my sides as I walked down the hall, my mind in a mess after confronting Cynthia. The verdict of the elder council made me shiver, particularly the words of the last elder, the meaning behind his words was only too clear to me. If I didn't get pregnant, there would be consequences, I shivered at the thought. I was so deep in thought that I hadn't been checking my path. I gasped as I turned the corner and nearly bumped into someone. My heart skipped when I saw who it was—Alex. “Alex?” I stuttered, my words laced with disbelief. I stared at him closely, there was something about him. He looked… different. His hair was shorter now, styled neatly, and he had this polished, almost sophisticated look about him. It threw me off for a moment, and I couldn’t help but stare, my gaze fixed on him. “Sorry about that,” he apologized, his hands reaching out to steady me. His lips curled slightly, “I didn't expect to see you here.” “I… it…” I exha
Susan’s POV The room lightened up as the morning light filtered into the room through the curtains. It gave the room a warm beautiful glow. But Susan wasn't in the mood to appreciate the sight, her body posture was tense as she moved through her bedroom. Her steps were careful and measured as she stepped in between the mess she had made. The entire room was a mess. “Where is it?” She muttered under her breath, her eyes widened as she poured out the contents of a drawer on the ground, and her eyes were wide with alarm as she ransacked through the mash of things that'd piled up on the floor. Not here, not this one. Where was it? Her expression twisted as she methodically went through every drawer, her nails catching on papers and folders. She felt her stomach clench, the cold realization settling in—her carefully hidden stash of documents was gone. “How's it gone,” Susan suddenly yelled, her hand swept through the pile of things on the floor as anger swept through her. She was jus
Serena’s POV My eyes narrowed as I stared at Alex, I could faintly feel that he'd planned this but my curiosity wouldn't let me leave without satisfying them. What did he know? I had to find out. Taking a shaky breath, I met Alex's gaze, my resolve hardening. "Fine," I said. "Lead the way." “That's good,” Alex smiled, a grin on his face. He motioned for me to follow and I took a deep breath before I followed him, I sure hoped I knew what I was doing I thought. No one asked any questions as Alex drove us out, heading to an unknown venue. Soon we arrived at a a restaurant. There were a fair amount of people when we walked in, and a hush fell across the place the moment we stepped in. I felt their eyes on me, whispers and curious glances. My stomach tightened with unease, but Alex placed a reassuring hand on my back, guiding me toward a table. “Don’t mind them,” he murmured, sitting down. “They’re just curious.” I nodded, still uncomfortable with the stares I felt coming our wa
Serena’s POV The entire car was silent as Uncle Sam drove us back home, I was seated in the passenger seat. My eyes drifted to him ever so often but his eyes remained fixed on the road, I could feel a soft sense of disapproval that oozed from him. He'd been silent ever since we entered the car. Was I wrong to have followed Alex there? I wondered, a twinge of guilt pricking at me, I silently recalled his warnings when he'd warned me not to get close to Alex. But the longer we drove, the more I questioned if I’d done anything wrong at all. Why was he so overprotective? I wondered, crossing my arms as I sank deeper into the seat. Sure, Alex had his rough edges, but it wasn’t like I’d run off with a stranger. And after everything Darius put me through, I didn’t feel like I owed anyone explanations. He was being too overprotective I thought, easing my eyes shut. I slowly opened my eyes as the car eased to a slow halt, I didn't wait for Uncle Sam to say anything before I yanked the doo
Serena’s POV The lounge was quiet and still as we walked up the stairs, Alex's hand holding mine. This was crazy I thought, my heart thudded in my chest. I'd come to meet Alex, the decision almost felt like it wasn't mine. I sighed, trying to shake the unease that threatened to bubble to the surface. Sam had meant well, I knew that. But his overprotectiveness felt suffocating at times. And Darius? I hadn't seen hair or hide of him for days, It was probably intentional I thought. The garden was beautiful though, and it was quiet, I'd been skeptical on my way but the beauty of the garden had wiped away all my doubts. “This way,” Alex murmured as he led me to a terrace that was nestled close to a cliff. It was a beautiful scene. “You…” the words lodged in my throat. “You didn't have to,” I finally managed to speak. “I did,” Alex smiled and he pulled back a chair for me to sit. As I sat I felt a As I sat, I couldn’t help but feel a twinge of guilt. I had ignored every warni
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