Chapter 37:Daryl’s POVIt had been three days.Three long, excruciating days since the accident—since Ciara hit the floor, the back of her head slamming against the edge of the nightstand.Three days since the world stopped moving for me.And in those same three days, she hadn’t opened her eyes. Not once. She hadn’t shifted, flinched, or moved a single muscle. Just stillness. Unbearable stillness.The doctor had come by again yesterday. He said she was stable. That her vitals were fine, and she was resting. That rest was good. But when I asked the one question I really needed answered—when will she wake up?—he only offered a vague response.“It depends on her,” he had said with a soft, almost apologetic tone. “Her body is healing, but her mind needs peace. A calm environment will help. The rest… is up to her.”So I made sure everything was calm. Silent. Peaceful. Still.But inside me, it was chaos.I hadn’t left the room in days—only stepped out once to shower, and that felt like a b
Chapter 38Ciara’s POV“Wh-what did you say?” A calm voice asked besides me. I shut my eyes again, ignoring him.. This wasn't the right place for me to explain myself to anyone, especially not Daryl. The room was silent. That was good…because the last thing I wanted now was to listen to anyone talk loudly while I was trying to understand what the hell was going on in my head. I shifted again on the bed, with my eyes still closed and the first thing I felt was pain.A dull, sharp throb pulsed at the back of my head, beating in rhythm with my heart as I slowly blinked against the harsh white light flooding my vision. This time, everything seemed too bright and too damn sharp. I struggled to sit up, groaning softly as my body resisted the motion. I heard the steady beeping of machines, and I quickly realised that I was in the pack’s infirmary. Someone moved beside me. "I'm glad you're awake," Daryl said.His voice was gentle, but I didn’t want it. Scratch that…I didn’t want him. He r
Chapter 39Damon's POVIt had been twenty-four hours.Twenty-four hours since I had last seen Ciara. Since I had last heard her voice. Since I had last caught the maddening scent of hers. She always scented of honeysuckle and rain, which made Calx go wild. And which also made me go wild, if I was being honest."You need to go see her." Calx paced restlessly beneath my skin. "She's ours," he growled."Calx..." I tightened my jaw and clenched my fists. I was still in Silverstone backline, running an errand for my father. I was to retrieve ceremonial items for the upcoming Christmas Eve Ritual.I had welcomed it, fully aware that it was just the distraction I needed to leave my thoughts about Ciara back in the Pack... back in the royal building. I was hoping the journey would buy me time to shove my feelings back into whatever locked box they came out of.But Calx was proving to be another distraction I didn't need... reminding me about Ciara at every point."Don't you see?" Calx continu
Chapter 40:Ciara's POVThe bathroom door creaked as I stepped out with a towel clutched tightly around me. My hair was still dripping, and my skin was flushed from the heat of the hot shower I had just gotten out of.I stopped dead in my tracks, and my eyes widened as the brief moments of peace I thought I had evaporated immediately when I caught sight of him.Damon.He was sitting on my bed like he owned the place. Hell! Like he owned my bed. His legs were stretched out, with one ankle crossed over the other.My heart nearly stopped when I saw what he was holding in his hand. My private notebook... my secret diary.That notebook was the one I was using as a journal. The one I'd been using to secretly document everything since arriving at BlackThorne."What the hell are you doing?" I snapped, rushing over to him and yanking the notebook out of his hand.The pages of the book fluttered as he released it, but a smug smirk never left his face."Relax, sweetheart," he said, and a chill r
Chapter 41 Daryl’s POVThe room was too damn quiet.I sat there on the edge of the bed, arms on my knees with my head down. And for the first time in a long while, I stopped fighting it. I let myself feel everything I’d been trying to shut out. I allowed myself to think of her without having to deal with Xere’s taunting voice at the back of my head.Her scent still lingered in my pillow. Although it was faint, it was just enough to mess with my head every time I tried to sleep.Ciara hadn’t been in this room since the morning she left. It's been almost a week.Shit! The days had gone by so slowly, and every second without her felt like a slow kind of death. I kept trying to convince myself I did the right thing. I was right for walking away from her, just when she needed the distance from me. That pulling away was necessary.Ciara had not been here for long, but I knew too well that I was slowly losing myself without her. I had no idea how to stay in control of my feelings whenever
Chapter 42Ciara’s POV“God, why did I even come here?” I muttered under my breath, pressing a hand to my forehead.Maybe I shouldn’t have. Maybe I should’ve just listened to my gut—stayed tucked away in the guest room, pulled the covers over my head, and asked Lyra to bring me breakfast in bed like she offered. That would've been the wiser thing to do, the safe thing.But no, I had to get up. I had to walk straight into the lion’s den wearing nothing but my already fading confidence and denim.And now I was regretting it with every bone in my body because the moment I stepped into the dining hall, the atmosphere changed like someone had flipped a switch.Laughter died and conversations stopped mid-sentence. Even the subtle clinking of utensils against plates ceased. Everything went silent...so sudden.I froze at the threshold.Every head turned, but Damon’s was the first. His gaze met mine immediately, like he’d been waiting for me.Luna Eleanor’s expression followed right after. It
Chapter 43:Ciara's POVDaryl's words hit me like a slap, and I swear I could almost feel the sting on my skin. It was like a bucket of ice water had been thrown over me, jolting me to my core.My heart dropped, and everything around me seemed to freeze. The room fell silent.I blinked a few times, trying to shake the fog in my brain. My pulse raced in my ears, and I could barely process what he'd just said.My mouth opened, but no words came out. What had he just said? Was my mind playing tricks on me? "What... what did you say?" Luna Eleanor’s asked, her brow furrowed as if she, too, couldn’t quite believe what had just been said.I would’ve asked the same question if I wasn’t already standing in the middle of this nightmare. If I didn’t already feel out of place, like I didn’t belong here at all. I wasn’t sure I had heard him right, but then again, I didn’t think I could be mistaken. My ears were working fine."Mother," Daryl spoke again, his voice even. My heart skipped a beat an
Chapter 44Daryl's POVJust before I could stop myself , I drag up from my seat and headed for the door..The second I saw Ciara stumble out of the dining hall, her arms wrapped tightly around her stomach like she was holding herself together, I was on my feet. I rushed after her without hesitation, ignoring the sound of my name being called from behind and the confused glances shot my way from everyone still seated at the table.It wasn’t calculated—hell, it didn’t even make sense—but I didn’t care. I couldn't afford to. Not when the image of her face, twisted in pain and drained of all its usual warmth, was burned into my mind. Her hand clutched her stomach like something inside her was tearing her apart. Her skin was pale, almost sickly, and it didn’t look like she had the strength to hold herself upright.I didn’t know what I was doing or why I was doing it. All I knew—more than anything else—was that I couldn’t ignore her. Not now.No matter how angry I was. No matter how confuse
Chapter 45:Ciara’s POVMy eyes fluttered closed as I felt dizzy, and I had to support myself on the stone wall, else I would've fallen. I was also emotionally drained after the incident that occurred between Daryl and me replayed in my head several times since he left.What was Daryl hiding that he couldn't answer the question I had asked?I could barely hold myself up, and the corridor felt endless as I dragged my feet back to my room—well, the guest room, not mine—while pressing my hand against the wall for support. All I could see was the image of Daryl's retreating figure when he'd left me and walked away.The image of him leaving kept haunting my thoughts, and the weight of our charade pressed hard on my chest. My decision pressed even harder. My head throbbed not from pain alone but from the emotional whiplash of pretending, lying, and performing.Was it still worth it? Trying to keep up the façade of being with Daryl?After all, he'd said he knew who his mate was.I was at the
Chapter 44Daryl's POVJust before I could stop myself , I drag up from my seat and headed for the door..The second I saw Ciara stumble out of the dining hall, her arms wrapped tightly around her stomach like she was holding herself together, I was on my feet. I rushed after her without hesitation, ignoring the sound of my name being called from behind and the confused glances shot my way from everyone still seated at the table.It wasn’t calculated—hell, it didn’t even make sense—but I didn’t care. I couldn't afford to. Not when the image of her face, twisted in pain and drained of all its usual warmth, was burned into my mind. Her hand clutched her stomach like something inside her was tearing her apart. Her skin was pale, almost sickly, and it didn’t look like she had the strength to hold herself upright.I didn’t know what I was doing or why I was doing it. All I knew—more than anything else—was that I couldn’t ignore her. Not now.No matter how angry I was. No matter how confuse
Chapter 43:Ciara's POVDaryl's words hit me like a slap, and I swear I could almost feel the sting on my skin. It was like a bucket of ice water had been thrown over me, jolting me to my core.My heart dropped, and everything around me seemed to freeze. The room fell silent.I blinked a few times, trying to shake the fog in my brain. My pulse raced in my ears, and I could barely process what he'd just said.My mouth opened, but no words came out. What had he just said? Was my mind playing tricks on me? "What... what did you say?" Luna Eleanor’s asked, her brow furrowed as if she, too, couldn’t quite believe what had just been said.I would’ve asked the same question if I wasn’t already standing in the middle of this nightmare. If I didn’t already feel out of place, like I didn’t belong here at all. I wasn’t sure I had heard him right, but then again, I didn’t think I could be mistaken. My ears were working fine."Mother," Daryl spoke again, his voice even. My heart skipped a beat an
Chapter 42Ciara’s POV“God, why did I even come here?” I muttered under my breath, pressing a hand to my forehead.Maybe I shouldn’t have. Maybe I should’ve just listened to my gut—stayed tucked away in the guest room, pulled the covers over my head, and asked Lyra to bring me breakfast in bed like she offered. That would've been the wiser thing to do, the safe thing.But no, I had to get up. I had to walk straight into the lion’s den wearing nothing but my already fading confidence and denim.And now I was regretting it with every bone in my body because the moment I stepped into the dining hall, the atmosphere changed like someone had flipped a switch.Laughter died and conversations stopped mid-sentence. Even the subtle clinking of utensils against plates ceased. Everything went silent...so sudden.I froze at the threshold.Every head turned, but Damon’s was the first. His gaze met mine immediately, like he’d been waiting for me.Luna Eleanor’s expression followed right after. It
Chapter 41 Daryl’s POVThe room was too damn quiet.I sat there on the edge of the bed, arms on my knees with my head down. And for the first time in a long while, I stopped fighting it. I let myself feel everything I’d been trying to shut out. I allowed myself to think of her without having to deal with Xere’s taunting voice at the back of my head.Her scent still lingered in my pillow. Although it was faint, it was just enough to mess with my head every time I tried to sleep.Ciara hadn’t been in this room since the morning she left. It's been almost a week.Shit! The days had gone by so slowly, and every second without her felt like a slow kind of death. I kept trying to convince myself I did the right thing. I was right for walking away from her, just when she needed the distance from me. That pulling away was necessary.Ciara had not been here for long, but I knew too well that I was slowly losing myself without her. I had no idea how to stay in control of my feelings whenever
Chapter 40:Ciara's POVThe bathroom door creaked as I stepped out with a towel clutched tightly around me. My hair was still dripping, and my skin was flushed from the heat of the hot shower I had just gotten out of.I stopped dead in my tracks, and my eyes widened as the brief moments of peace I thought I had evaporated immediately when I caught sight of him.Damon.He was sitting on my bed like he owned the place. Hell! Like he owned my bed. His legs were stretched out, with one ankle crossed over the other.My heart nearly stopped when I saw what he was holding in his hand. My private notebook... my secret diary.That notebook was the one I was using as a journal. The one I'd been using to secretly document everything since arriving at BlackThorne."What the hell are you doing?" I snapped, rushing over to him and yanking the notebook out of his hand.The pages of the book fluttered as he released it, but a smug smirk never left his face."Relax, sweetheart," he said, and a chill r
Chapter 39Damon's POVIt had been twenty-four hours.Twenty-four hours since I had last seen Ciara. Since I had last heard her voice. Since I had last caught the maddening scent of hers. She always scented of honeysuckle and rain, which made Calx go wild. And which also made me go wild, if I was being honest."You need to go see her." Calx paced restlessly beneath my skin. "She's ours," he growled."Calx..." I tightened my jaw and clenched my fists. I was still in Silverstone backline, running an errand for my father. I was to retrieve ceremonial items for the upcoming Christmas Eve Ritual.I had welcomed it, fully aware that it was just the distraction I needed to leave my thoughts about Ciara back in the Pack... back in the royal building. I was hoping the journey would buy me time to shove my feelings back into whatever locked box they came out of.But Calx was proving to be another distraction I didn't need... reminding me about Ciara at every point."Don't you see?" Calx continu
Chapter 38Ciara’s POV“Wh-what did you say?” A calm voice asked besides me. I shut my eyes again, ignoring him.. This wasn't the right place for me to explain myself to anyone, especially not Daryl. The room was silent. That was good…because the last thing I wanted now was to listen to anyone talk loudly while I was trying to understand what the hell was going on in my head. I shifted again on the bed, with my eyes still closed and the first thing I felt was pain.A dull, sharp throb pulsed at the back of my head, beating in rhythm with my heart as I slowly blinked against the harsh white light flooding my vision. This time, everything seemed too bright and too damn sharp. I struggled to sit up, groaning softly as my body resisted the motion. I heard the steady beeping of machines, and I quickly realised that I was in the pack’s infirmary. Someone moved beside me. "I'm glad you're awake," Daryl said.His voice was gentle, but I didn’t want it. Scratch that…I didn’t want him. He r
Chapter 37:Daryl’s POVIt had been three days.Three long, excruciating days since the accident—since Ciara hit the floor, the back of her head slamming against the edge of the nightstand.Three days since the world stopped moving for me.And in those same three days, she hadn’t opened her eyes. Not once. She hadn’t shifted, flinched, or moved a single muscle. Just stillness. Unbearable stillness.The doctor had come by again yesterday. He said she was stable. That her vitals were fine, and she was resting. That rest was good. But when I asked the one question I really needed answered—when will she wake up?—he only offered a vague response.“It depends on her,” he had said with a soft, almost apologetic tone. “Her body is healing, but her mind needs peace. A calm environment will help. The rest… is up to her.”So I made sure everything was calm. Silent. Peaceful. Still.But inside me, it was chaos.I hadn’t left the room in days—only stepped out once to shower, and that felt like a b