Only Revenge

JULIETTE

The silence in Darius's chamber was tense and very uncomfortable. I was eager to know what had transpired between him and Cole, I expected a rant. Anything at all, but he remained silent, seemingly lost in his thoughts. Was he considering the proposal? My heart clenched at the thought.

After Penelope left, I returned to Dairus’s study just in time to see Cole leaving.

Darius asked me to follow him all the way here, and when we arrived, he just sat by his mini throne, pouring himself a glass of wine until he emptied the bottle right in front of me.

I sat on the edge of his bed, playing with the collar on my neck, which was now loose.

“Do you want me to leave?” I asked, unable to contain the uncomfortable silence.

“No.” Darius simply replied, standing up from his chair, he walked over to the window, his back facing me as he stared into the night sky.

“Marriage does not scare me.” Darius suddenly revealed, his voice low, almost hoarse.

His confession took me by surprise, and I had to adjust and calmly think of a response.

“Why?” I asked. A question that could reveal something my mind wished to hear.

“I refuse to build any alliance on marriage.” He said, slowly turning to face me, with the wine glass on his lips. He took a sip, his eyes lingering and watching me.

*... feelings for him…*

Goddess! Juliette, why do you keep thinking about the trashy things Penelope said? It doesn't matter, she was just spitting rubbish. She knows nothing and that's why she made those assumptions. That's definitely why.

I reassured myself for the sixth time in over an hour. The pop-ups were starting to get crazy annoying.

I gulped, warding off Penelope's words from my mind. “Does that make me right? Marriage is a weak strategy.”

Darius shook his head, his nose flaring slightly, “It's not weak, it's the strongest. The sooner you understand that, the better for you.”

I scoffed, rolling my eyes, “And that's why you turned down the Alpha's proposal?”

Darius didn't reply, he simply looked away from me, staring at the glass in his hand. “You won't understand.”

“What's not to?” I queried, curiosity deepening. “Have you had an experience…”

“Shut up.” Darius cut me off, causing my brows to crease.

“You don’t know anything, so don't make assumptions.” He said, gulping the rest of the wine in his cup and tossing it across the room. The glass landed on a cushion, a save from having a shred of glass littered everywhere.

“You confuse me, Juliette.” He said, pulling my attention back to meet his gaze.

I let out a small laugh, one that didn’t reach my eyes. “No.” I replied, “ You confuse yourself, and that's not my fault.” I said quietly.

Darius chuckled, low and dark. A tinge prickled my skin as he took a step toward me. “It is your fault.” He deadpanned, taking another step.

“You make me soft.”

I shook my head, finding his words unbelievable. “I am the reason you are soft? Do you hear yourself?” I snorted, smirking at the level of craziness Darius was tossing my way.

“So I amuse you?” He asked in a gentle tone.

“No, you don't amuse me, you toy with me, harass me, and always try to bring me down to nothing,” I said, a strange boldness fueling my resolve. I needed to remind and prove to myself that I am not that weak to actually fall for the man who ruined my life.

“You know nothing about being soft. You are the most powerful man in the pack. You do as you wish. The entire pack fears you. When you walk into a room, you steal the very essence of it. You create fear with just the mention of your name. You are ruthless and selfish, Dairus, you are not soft, and you never will be.”

My rant was met with a silence that made my stomach churn. He just kept coming closer until he stopped before me.

He lifted his hand to my face, brushing his fingers against my cheek.

His skin was rough, but his touch was gentle. My breath caught in my throat when his thumb traced along my lower lip.

“Are you really sure I have those effects you so effortlessly mentioned?” He whispered so low, I barely heard him.

“Why? Does it matter?” I countered his question with another.

Darius smiled and leaned in until we practically shared the same breath. The tip of his nose brushed against mine, and my chest heaved, hesitantly rising and falling.

“Little pet.” He called, his hand fully cupping my cheek “If I let myself feel anything for you,” he said slowly, his voice cracking, “I will ruin us both.”

I should have been scared, should have shivered or pushed him away, remembering that he is a psychopath and I am his slave. That if he said something, then he truly meant it.

But for a reason I best want to ignore, I actually wanted him to fulfill this particular threat.

“Then ruin me,” I blurted out the words I meant for my mind.

Darius pulled his lips so close to mine that I parted in anticipation. Waiting to feel his soft lips on mine.

However, he retracted, leaving me hanging, my shoulders dropped as he further tore himself away from me.

The sudden distance felt like Darius was pulling a part of me along with him as he stepped away.

“Get some sleep.” He said, and turned and strode to the door.

And then he was gone.

The door shut quietly, but the silence was deafening. I had never been so disappointed in my life, and it wasn't just about me.

I was supposed to prove Penelope wrong, but here I was, expecting a kiss from the man I hate.

No, Juliette, this isn't the way forward, this shouldn't be in my plan. Feelings, love, they can't be in my future, especially not with Dairus. Only revenge, getting out of here, and building a name for myself.