While 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
“There isn’t anyone I would rather marry than you,” he continued in earnest. Rachel relaxed considerably upon hearing Darius’ assurances. She brought her free hand to rest over his, squeezing lightly in response. “I’m glad,” she replied. “It’s silly to have gone and bought a ring when there are other options available, but I just… I just can’t wait to be married to you. That sounds stupid, but it’s true!” she finished enthusiastically, her grin widening once more. “It’s not stupid, Rachel. Your feelings are valid. If anyone deserves marriage and a happily ever after, it is you. And you will receive your happily ever after, I promise you.” He watched as Rachel closed her eyes and leaned her cheek against his shoulder, sighing contently and snuggling deeper into his embrace. Darius chuckled to himself as he let his fingers run through her hair, relishing the feeling of being able to touch her once more. He couldn’t believe how much she’d gr
“What am I going to do?” she silently mumbled to herself as she frantically tried to come up with a plan to avoid facing her own wrath. All of a sudden, she felt a firm grasp upon her arm, pulling her back behind the safety of a pillar near a nearby window, away from prying eyes. She felt relieved and surprised – until she realized who exactly had grabbed her and whom she recognized.. Her heart sank slightly. Of course. Why wouldn’t it? It was Rachel. She had heard rumors that there was a consummated marriage between Darius and Rachel after her mating ritual to Darius. Apparently she’d had no intention of marrying either of them, much less Darius, but Rachel had always loved Darius anyway. Now, it seemed like they were having problems reconciling their differences over Darius. That didn’t matter anymore though, she supposed. Rachel hadn’t shown herself to be happy or supportive during Darius’ mating ritual, which was why she’d refused to speak to him when she’d returned
For the longest time, she hadn’t even thought about whether or not her feelings were reciprocated. To hear such heartfelt reassurances was definitely overwhelming…but what was she supposed to tell him? That she wasn’t interested in anyone right now, even though he was the one person she most desired to spend time with? How could she possibly confess something like that without sounding like she was lying to him? And yet…how could she convince him otherwise? Couldn’t he tell she was just playing along? Hadn’t she been doing the exact same thing? Before she could respond, a knock came to her door, effectively cutting short their discussion. Both of them turned to find a servant standing outside her chamber door. “Excuse me Your Highness, but your chambers are ready,” the servant informed her politely. “Please follow me.” Darius glanced in her direction briefly before nodding his consent. Once the servant had withdrawn, he released Riley’s hand and made his way inside his room w
Darius’s expression hardened once again, and he motioned towards the door. “Go to your chambers,” he instructed, his voice distant. “We’ll talk more later. But for now, I suggest you start by apologizing to the guard at the door for your behavior.” Feeling a mixture of relief and apprehension, Riley nodded and stood up, her legs feeling weak beneath her. She made her way towards the door, aware of the lingering gazes from the pack members around her. Whispers filled the air as she passed by, and she couldn’t help but feel the weight of their judgment. As Riley approached the guard at the door, she noticed the hesitance in his eyes. He seemed wary, as if unsure of how to react to her presence. She mustered up a small smile and spoke softly, trying to convey her sincerity. “I’m sorry for my actions,” she said, her voice filled with remorse. “I didn’t mean to cause any trouble.” The guard’s gaze softened slightly, but there was still a hint of caution. “Just don’t let it happen
Finding Clyde.Jason:Clarissa’s resilience was the strongest I had ever come across, to apologize for an offense she had it committed, to hold back her anger and pain as though she too did not need to be taken care of. She was in so much by the conversation concerning Clyde’s pack, It worse obvious that we were digging up old wounds that had clearly not healed. Maybe that was why she was distant from me, and ask why she channeled her pain into trying to build a family for the lost ones like her. She inspired me so much, and I felt her pains so much that I wanted to pull her into my arms and ease all the pain away with my warm embrace, but I knew I could not do that, so I just watched.Apart from the stories they told, I was also very concerned about the whereabouts of Clyde. There’s no how he would have survived the dungeon for that long alone, without food, water. We had brought back all the war prisoners with us and we were slowly planning to begin a plan for a bigger and better p
Darius blushed furiously, averting his gaze. “Uh, yeah. Well, um,” he stumbled and cleared his throat nervously. “You see, I just…uh,” he struggled to find words as he rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. “What I mean to say is…um…” he muttered, glancing back up at her. His pale cheeks flushed even deeper red as his eyes met hers. “Well, um, I’m just…hmm…I guess I like talking to you.” His face grew impossibly more crimson as he spoke, his blush becoming nearly unbearable as he attempted to justify himself. Riley giggled, enjoying the way he floundered. “Well, Dai, how come you never spend time with me?” I asked. “ I’m busy” he abruptly replied her. “Besides, why do you care anyway?” Riley’s eyes narrowed as she gazed sternly at him. “I know what kind of life you lead,” she told him bluntly. “We’re not really friends, are we? You never ask for my advice or my help. In fact, your attitude towards me has always been completely hostile.” A frown m
She was no stranger to the hurt she felt after each rejection. Her heart ached as she realized that Darius didn’t feel the same. She smiled as she gazed at Darius’s beautiful blue eyes, a smile so tender that Darius felt his heart tighten. ‘No, it isn’t you.’ She thought with a bitter laugh. ‘How could he possibly return my love if he cannot bear the burden of keeping secrets?’ She glanced away. ‘Perhaps I should just leave him and live out the rest of my life alone.’ Her voice cracked slightly, as though her resolve was crumbling. As tears brimmed in her eyes, she fought the urge to cry out, ‘I’ve lost everything! Why should he care? What does he see in me? A sudden, sharp pain erupted in her chest, as if a dagger had pierced it. She gasped sharply as she doubled over in agony, clutching her injured heart. It felt as though someone had stabbed her repeatedly, rendering her unable to breathe or move. Pain shot through her entire torso, threatening to ri
“Darius, I have received some distressing news,” the elder began, his voice laced with concern. “Your father’s sudden withdrawal has put our community in a precarious position. We have made commitments to Rachel’s family, and we cannot afford to break them.” Darius’s eyebrows furrowed in confusion. “What do you mean, commitments? I thought my marriage to Rachel was already arranged.” The elder sighed, his gaze fixed on Darius. “Yes, it was. But your father’s decision has created a complicated situation. We need to salvage the agreements and ensure the stability of our community. There is an alternative plan we have devised.” Darius leaned forward, his curiosity piqued. “What is this alternative plan?” The elder’s voice dropped to a hushed tone. “We can arrange a consummated marriage for you with Rachel, in secret. This way, we fulfill our obligations to her family while maintaining the appearance of your marriage with Riley, as was originally planned.”
She needed someone who would guide her. Someone who would help her. Her head snapped upright suddenly as a loud, deafening sound filled the air. The noise pierced her ears, making her wince. The sound continued to grow louder and louder, shaking her whole being, until it became impossible for her to hear anything else except for the terrible shrieking noise that was echoing around her and reverberating inside of her skull. Suddenly it stopped, leaving a painful emptiness in its wake, as she lay on her side, panting heavily. She opened her eyes wide and stared blankly into space, her hands covering her ears. Tears trickled down her cheeks as she struggled to breathe. She looked up, searching blindly for the source of the sounds; the sudden silence made her panic and she screamed for help. She waited for several minutes, trying to make sense of the events surrounding her, trying to grasp what was happening. Suddenly she realised that a door had creaked open somewh
She pressed a soft kiss against his lips. “Me too.” She whispered. He turned his body so they were lying on their sides facing each other, mirroring each other’s position. He gazed down at her with pure adoration in his deep brown eyes. “I love you,” he whispered. She raised herself up on her elbow, reaching out and stroking his stubbly chin with her finger. “I love you, too.” Their gaze locked into each other, feeling the same overwhelming emotion. They both leaned forward until their lips were only millimetres apart. Rachel’ eyes widened as he began to lean towards her, pressing their bodies together. Their lips met in slow motion as their tongues mingled together in an intense, sensual embrace. As their lips parted they remained connected as they savoured the moment, breathing heavily. He moved his arms underneath her bottom and picked her up, carrying her over to the bed and laying her down gently. She s