Chapter Hundred thirty-eight

Darius’s POV

As I drove back to the palace, my thoughts were a tangled web of ambition and fear. Anita’s face kept flashing in my mind, her trustful eyes, her unwavering faith in me—she had no idea what was being planned. How could I, of all people, betray her like this? But then, the pull of power gnawed at me, stronger than any guilt. It wasn’t just about keeping my mother in the royal family or holding onto our position. Alpha Orion needed to understand that he wasn’t the only one capable of holding power. He needed to see me, to fear me. Alpha Ethan was right: only after getting a taste of power could I ever truly understand what Alpha Orion clung to so desperately.

But despite my yearning, I couldn’t shake the turmoil of treachery in what I was about to do. I clenched the steering wheel, forcing down my reservations. If only things could go as perfectly as I imagined them, I thought bitterly, then I wouldn’t be torn like this. But there’s no room for doubt. My desire for power su