Chapter 8

Darrius' POV

I opened my eyes to see that the darkness remained. Yet, it wasn't as it was before I went to bed, so I guessed it was quite early in the morning. I yawned, still feeling a bit weak from the intense sex that I had with Lita.

I stared at her as she lay right next to me and caressed her hair gently. I didn't want her to wake up. She looked so beautiful even as she slept and I wondered what kind of man would leave a woman as beautiful and charming as Lita for anyone else. Yet, I

knew she wasn't my mate and I wasn't willing to be with anyone who wasn't mine. My father married his mate, his father too and his grandfather also. I wasn't going to be the exception, as tempting as it was. Lita was truly tempting.

She was all that any man could wish for. She knew just how to do things and exactly when to do them. I would have said that I fell in love with her but if I did, I wouldn't be thinking about being rid of her. Yet, I did feel something for her, something very strong and if I were to find my mate, I'd have to be even more stern on my instruction for Lita to never show up at the palace to see me. If she ever did, I didn't think I had the willpower to withstand her seduction, nor did I think that being married to someone else would aid my resistance in any way. She was simply irresistible. She had to leave.

I stepped down from the bed, grabbed my white shorts and put them on. Then, I left the room and headed out to a place in the palace where I loved to stay whenever I felt the need to be alone. I called it my inner chamber. It was a small room, inside the sitting room that had a door whose key was in my possession. I didn't want her to see me when she woke up. It was very unusual, but I wanted last night to be the last time we'd see inside the palace, even though I hoped I'd be able to avoid her outside it.

As I got to the inner chamber, I pulled out a chair from a pile of chairs stacked up against the wall and sat. I rested my back a little and shut my eyes. I'd just made one of the toughest decisions of my life.

I looked around and I noticed a few rays coming into the chamber. I wasn't aware that I had slept o  on the chair. I thought about going outside but I decided against it. I wasn't sure if Lita had gone and I didn't want her trying to talk me out of the decision that I'd made.

After a few minutes, I heard a knock on my door. I neglected it and pretended that I wasn't there. Then I heard it again and I contemplated if I should open up. Lita wasn't aware of such a place in the house. Only the guards and my mom knew. It had to be my mom, or else the guard would have to be unfortunate.

"There you are, son," she said as soon as I opened the door."I've been looking all over for you. Why did you choose to stay here?"

"I just wanted to be alone, mom," I replied. "That's not too much to ask for, is it?"

"Not at all," she answered. "Everyone deserves some time alone now and then."

"Then, what brings you here?" I asked, still surprised that she was already looking for me so early in the morning.

"It's about Lita, son."

"What about her?" I asked.

"She told me that you asked her never to see you here in this palace anymore, is that right?"

"Yea– Yes, mom, I did," I responded. "Do I not have the right to make my own decisions?"

"Nonsense! That's nonsense, son! Why would you say such a thing to her? You know how much she loves you and all the sacrifices that she has made for your sake; why do you choose to treat her this way?"

"Mom, it's not that I don't see what she has done, I…"

"Then why push her away like some sort of thrash? See, you may struggle to find anyone at all like Lita. I'm being honest with you, son."

I was mad. I couldn't understand why Lita had to do this. All the love I thought I had for her began to turn into extreme contempt. She had to go to my mom. How low was she able to go? How could she have chosen to disrespect and disregard me like that? I, Darrius, the alpha of alphas! I wasn't going to have that.

"Well, mom, I need to go find my mate. She's not my mate and I can't end up with her, no matter how much you may want that to happen. The full moon is at hand and hopefully, the moon goddess would grant me a mate. How can I have my concubines with me when I have a Luna? Would that not mean the death of those ladies; Lita included?"

She looked at me intently, this time, with a fairer countenance. "You're right, Darrius. I agree with all you've said. However, I must tell you this; if you fail to get a mate this time, just like the last time, you'll have to choose Lita as your Luna. She's strong, powerful, very dutiful and has the respect of every she-wolf in the pack. You should treat her better."

With that, she walked away and banged the door. She was still angry about the way I treated Lita. Little did she know that I did have something else up my sleeves. I wasn't going to let this slide. "I would deal with this the best way I know how to," I said with a smile.