Derek’s POV What was this? My eyes were narrowed as I stared at the TV that was mounted on the wall. The news was reporting with frenzy about the miraculous recovery of Darius and how he'd appeared at a restaurant to declare that Serena was his wife. But wasn't he disabled? My hands tightened into fists as I stared at the video of him and Serena walking out of the restaurant. The man everyone was buzzing about, the man who had somehow inserted himself into her life and now, it seemed, claimed her. Darius. The name alone made my jaw clench as I silently recalled how he'd intruded the last time I'd been with Serena. My hands curled into fists, he'd thought he was some hero. And then, the way Darius held her—it was possessive. Protective. Like she belonged to him. My fists curled tightly, the veins in my hands bulging as I fought the surge of jealousy threatening to consume me. She was mine once. She was supposed to still be mine. “You’ve been watching that all day.” Cynthia’
Serena’s POV I was tired—emotionally, physically, and mentally. It felt like I was caught in a web of everyone else’s expectations and emotions, while I had no time to untangle my own. Darius had been silent all morning, his brooding energy filling the house like a storm cloud. The memory of him storming into the restaurant and dragging me out in front of everyone replayed in my mind, each time sending a fresh wave of embarrassment coursing through me. And yet, underneath the embarrassment was something more complicated. Anger? Definitely. But there was something else I didn’t want to admit—something closer to… relief. Relief that he’d cared enough to act. But that didn’t mean I was okay with it. “Darius, you had no right,” I said for the third time, pacing the living room as he leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed. His sharp jawline and piercing eyes made it impossible to tell what he was thinking, but I could feel his frustration simmering under the surface. “I had every
Serena’s POV My mood was heavy as I headed back to the house, my mind in a daze. The putrid smell of smoke that clung to me stung my nostrils, reminding me of Cynthia’s cold words back at the studio. I'd tried to confront her but she'd come along with company. “You're lucky I can't lay a finger on you yet,” she'd sneered as she left, protected by two mean-looking men. But that wasn't important I thought, as I ran a hand through my hair. My paintings, my soul poured onto each canvas, all gone. I trudged into the compounds, ignoring the strange looks the guards shot at me. When I pushed the door open, the last thing I expected was to find Darius waiting for me in the living room. I nearly gasped, the sight of him taking me by surprise. He turned as soon as he heard me come in and his gaze swept over me. “Serena,” his eyes held mine for a moment. “We need to talk.” Talk? A chuckle escaped my lips and I shook my head. “If this is about earlier, save it. I’ve had enough for one d
Serena’s POV I could barely keep the smile off my face as I walked side by side with Darius and he led us out of the room the drawings were in. I still couldn't believe Darius had gone to such lengths to get my drawings. The thought left me both touched and shaken, “Thank you,” I whispered for what must have been the one-hundredth time. “You didn’t have to,” I whispered, seeing his eyes fixed on me. “I did,” Darius replied, his tone firm. “You poured your heart into these. Letting them be destroyed wasn’t an option, though, of course, I didn't know Cynthia was going to try to destroy them.” At the mention of Cynthia Darius’s expression hardened for a brief instant before the dark clouds were gone and his expression brightened. My heart swelled with emotion as I stared at him, unconsciously pausing in my steps. Darius had become an enigma, I couldn’t seem to see through. Cold and unyielding one moment, kind and thoughtful the next. “Thank you,” I said, my voice barely above a
Susan’s POV The hallway outside was eerily quiet and the sound of my footsteps echoed in the hallway. The two men standing guard let me pass without a word. My breaths were shaky and my palms slick with sweat, I tried hard to resist the urge to wipe them on my gown. I inhaled slowly as I paused just outside the door. He doesn't know. He can't know I thought, Stephanie wouldn't betray me. I wasn’t certain. I pushed the door open slowly and I stepped inside, my heart in my throat. A faint beeping filled the air when I stepped in. Dylan was seated on a couch, his beady eyes scanning through the documents in his hand. When his eyes lifted to meet mine, I couldn't spot any obvious change. “Susan,” he greeted, his tone even but distant, “what brings you here?” His eyes followed me as I walked up to him. “Don't be like that,” I forced a smile, “I came to see how you're feeling. I've been so preoccupied but of course I'll come to see you,” I leaned in to peck him on the cheek. “Indee
Serena’s POV The drive back home was heavy with silence of unspoken words, I still felt like everything that'd happened in the past hours was a dream. Cynthia punished, Darius declaring me as his mate and he'd overturned the elder's decision. Every detail from earlier—the confrontation with Cynthia, Darius stepping in for me—replayed in vivid clarity. “What made you do it?” I finally asked, turning to face him. “Do what?” Darius asked, he stared me in the eye. “You know what,” I pressed. “You stood up for me tonight, defended me in front of everyone. Why?” My voice choked with emotion as I stared at him, all my life I'd never had someone stand up for me. Susan and Stephanie had treated me as they pleased and my father had never interfered. Seeing Darius go to such lengths made me feel… I sighed, I couldn’t find the words for it. This time, he glanced my way, his dark eyes unreadable. “Because someone had to.” “That’s not an answer, Darius,” I shot back, my voice firmer no
Dylan’s POV Dylan’s vision was blurry as he slowly stirred, regaining consciousness and he winced as a sharp pain stabbed at the back of his head. “Where…” His words came out as a slur, his senses gradually returning. “Where am I?” He breathed out. He was seated in a chair with his hands tied behind him. “Finally awake huh?” Derek’s cold voice echoed in the room. “You…” Dylan’s head snapped up and he stared at Derek with deep sated hatred. Derek’s hands walked slowly across the room, his hands in his pockets. “What do you think you're doing Derek?” Dylan spat, his eyes held a trace of disgust. “This won't end well, I'm assuring You of that.” “I'll regret a lot of things,” Derek's expression didn't change. “But not this,” a mocking expression climbed onto his face. “You're not qualified.” Dylan pulled against his restraints, his muscles straining, but the ropes held firm. “Coward! You couldn’t even face me like a real Alpha. You had to resort to trickery, skulking around li
Darius’s POV The darkness settled around me, blurring my vision. “Jake, we need to move. Now,” I barked, my voice sharp, resolute. Jake’s jaw tightened, his expression mirroring the storm raging inside me. He held up the stamp, the damning evidence that tied Alex to the attempt on my life. “This was too much,” he muttered, following me. It couldn’t been a coincidence that we'd found the stamp hidden close to the car. The men who knew about the explosives said they'd seen it on the person who'd bought them. I’d trusted Alex, leaned on him, and now this? My fingers curled around the soft glossy edge of the stamp as I stormed out of the room, Jake close behind. Alex sure as hell didn’t know what was coming for him. I hissed under my breath, I couldn’t believe he Could be behind this but the evidence was overwhelming. We were striding down the corridor when Agatha appeared, she looked surprised to see us. “Uhh,” she frowned, her gaze shifting between us. “What's going on?” She
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