“Who the hell are you?!” shouted Darius, throwing caution to the wind as he sat upright in bed and glared at the stranger suspiciously. “What do you want from me?! What is your purpose here?!”
The stranger’s smile widened, unaffected by Darius’s outburst. “My, my, such hostility,” she remarked calmly. “No need to be alarmed, Darius. I mean you no harm.” Her voice had an almost hypnotic quality to it, soothing yet captivating. Darius narrowed his eyes, his suspicion still intact. “How do you know my name?” he demanded, his voice filled with a mixture of anger and unease. The witch chuckled softly, her gaze steady on Darius. “I know many things, Darius. I have been watching you closely, observing your every move. You see, you have something I desire.” Darius’s grip on the bedsheets tightened. “What are you talking about? I don’t have anything of value. Leave me alone!” The witch’s smile didn’t falter. “Ah, but you possess a power thWhile Darius listened to the Elder speak, the atmosphere in the pack’s territory was mix of excitement and anticipation coursing through the veins all the wolves present. His glance fell on the wolves present, and then caught scent of the same smell he picked a few days ago. The familiar scent still lingered in his mind, reminding him of the woman he had sensed earlier. It was a scent he had never encountered before, and deep within him, he felt an inexplicable connection, an unspoken knowing that she was meant to be his mate. With each step closer to the pack members, the scent grew stronger, guiding him towards its source. Darius followed his instincts, his heart pounding with anticipation. The pack members, aware of his triumphant return, welcomed him with joyful howls, their voices echoing through the rugged landscape. Eager to find his mate, Darius sought out the wise elder, who awaited his return, perched on a prominent rock overlooking the pack’s
“What’s funny, Darius?” he heard one of his comrades call out to him. Turning to glance at him, Darius saw that the leader of their little group was glaring daggers at him. Darius shrugged nonchalantly at the question, and then continued to follow his companions without saying a word to his three companions. The three wolf warriors watched Darius walk beside them as they entered into the dark cavern that served as a shortcut to the pack’s lair. When they emerged from the cavern into the main clearing, the pack leader’s eyebrows shot upwards in surprise as his blue eyes locked onto Darius. The two exchanged glances and then his companion snickered. “Whoa! Whoa, wait for me!” Darius called after him, catching up to him quickly. “Did you think I would let you leave without me?” When Darius stepped into line with him, his four companions halted. “Well, since you insist on following us, you’re welcome to join us,” hissed his com
Their heads lowered toward Darius and they bared their teeth threateningly at him. The wolves circled him in a circle, as if sizing him up. Darius watched the pair with an amused smile. He kept a respectful distance between him and them, knowing that they were not friendly beasts, and even more likely to attack. When the pack of wolves had completed their little circle, they turned and headed back in the direction of the entrance, where several others of their kind were awaiting their return. Once the group had left, Darius released the breath that he hadn’t realized he’d been holding. “Do not take any unnecessary risks today. You have to be careful or you will die.” Darius stiffened and he whipped around to stare back at the source of the voice, only to discover that the speaker was none other than the elder. “I’m guessing by now you must’ve heard that you’re probably getting mated to the Prin
The leaders came for the mating ritual that evening. It was a short notice, but the royalties were well distinguished. Therefore there was plenty of time to prepare before they arrived. The Alpha waited patiently as the sun set above the horizon. Soon enough, the first rays of the sun peeked above the trees, and then all the wolves began to gather around the Alpha. He watched them approach with interest, keeping a close eye on the one alpha who looked particularly interested in him. Finally the alpha stepped forwards. He stood tall and proud, his brown beards gleaming with health and vigor. His bright green eyes sparkled with excitement and pride. He held her gaze steadily as if daring anyone to dare come close to him. A growl rumbled through the pack behind him and he lowered his head, bowing his shoulders. Slowly, he backed away. He turned on his heel and started running towards the castle. The rest of the
Darius was taken aback by the realization that the liquid he had been given was an aphrodisiac. Conflicting emotions surged within him as he tried to comprehend the woman’s intentions. He questioned whether her actions were driven by genuine affection or manipulation. Nevertheless, he remained composed, unwilling to reveal his inner turmoil. Maintaining a calm façade, Darius spoke in a measured tone, “Thank you for this gift. However, it is important that we establish clear boundaries and maintain a professional relationship. Our focus should be on the well-being and unity of our tribe.” The woman’s smile faltered slightly, but she nodded in understanding. “Of course, Alpha. I apologize if I overstepped. I only wanted to show my support.” Darius appreciated her acknowledgement and handled the situation delicately. He didn’t want to alienate anyone, especially not someone who could potentially be a valuable ally. He returned her smile with
Darius quickly found his seat and settled in, his mind still preoccupied with the snippets of conversation he had overheard. The mention of his reserved nature and potential disdain for their culture lingered in his thoughts. He couldn’t help but wonder how others perceived him within the tribe. As Zander began speaking, his deep voice resonated throughout the hall, capturing the attention of every tribe member. Darius focused on the tribal leader’s words, eager to glean any valuable insights or guidance for the upcoming rituals. Zander’s speech centered around unity, tradition, and the importance of the mating ritual in strengthening the tribe. He emphasized the significance of each individual’s role and their collective responsibility to ensure a successful outcome. Listening intently, Darius felt a renewed sense of purpose. The weight of his doubts and conflicting emotions began to lift as he realized that his personal struggles were j
Darius struggled to hide his disappointment, his mind still fixated on the princess, Rachel. He had built up expectations and fantasies around their union, imagining the power and prestige it would bring to their tribe. The reality of the situation felt like a blow to his aspirations. As he stood there, holding Riley’s hand, he couldn’t help but feel a twinge of resentment towards the council and their decisions. Why had they brought him to this point, only to deny him the mate he desired? The weight of responsibility as Alpha now felt burdensome, overshadowed by a sense of injustice. Suppressing his lingering disappointment, Darius forced a smile and spoke with a voice that concealed his inner turmoil. “Riley, I am honored to be your Alpha,” he said, his tone laced with a mixture of genuine respect and forced enthusiasm. “Let us embrace the customs of our tribe and work together to strengthen our community.” After he gave Riley one last
Darius awoke early the next morning. He stretched languidly and threw off his blankets, rising from his bed. He had hoped to spend some more time alone in his room. He would accept a consummated marriage to keep the princess, Rachel, who was the alpha’s daughter. He made a mental note to work on it. Once he was fully awake, Darius decided against going back to his room; he decided to join Rachel in the garden. Perhaps talking to her there might help him sort out his jumbled emotions. When he entered the garden, Darius found Rachel sitting in a chair beneath an archway at the far side of the clearing, her back to him. He could hear her sniffling faintly and instinctively, Darius knew why. He had seen enough tears and pain in his life to recognize their sound. With an overwhelming feeling of sorrow filling him, Darius slowly walked closer to Rachel, until he stood before her. She had pulled her hood down, revea