Chapter 164

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