DARIUS POV
It was taking all my willpower to keep my face blank and let this snake touch me. Her touch repulsed me, burned my skin.But I let her continue to think she had won here. I was a predator, I liked to hunt and taunt my prey before I striked.But Zara here had been the one to hunt me out. When we were done finalizing the deal and signing documents for our new alliance, I had wanted to go find Ravenna.I knew she was hurting despite how high she held her chin earlier. I knew because her body had remained tense. And I could see it all in her beautiful eyes.And so I wanted to find her, and touch her, and kiss her and just fucking love her.But then this snake had found me when I came outside my room, had dragged me to the guest floor claiming Alpha Hale had entrusted her with a message she couldn't have said in front of Lucian and Lucas.And so I followed her here. OnlyMia, Ravenna, and Bianca didn't waste a single second. The moment Bianca finished telling them about Dalian, they set off. They moved like a storm, swift and silent.Ravenna, being the quick thinker even in the urgency of their situation, didn't forget their Alpha. As they ran, she quickly sent a message through her mind-link to Darius.She told him everything that had just happened: Dalian's sudden capture, Nyx's cruel trick, and exactly where they were headed. Darius's reply was fast and short: he would gather as many warriors as he could and follow them as fast as possible. They were not alone in this desperate race, and if anything went wrong, they would have rescue coming.They ran quickly through the pack lands. The air itself felt thick with urgency, pushing them forward, and making their hearts pound with every step further. As they moved further, Bianca kept whispering something, but it was almost to herself, her voice shaking as if she was about to cry. "I just hope Nyx's pl
Meanwhile, back in the pack…The hours after Dalian left stretched on, but Mia’s worry only grew. It had been too long. Dalian should have been back by now, no matter how tough the talk with Aria was.Mia paced his room, walking from one part of it to the next. “What could have happened?” she questioned every now and then. Had he encountered any work in the pack or…? No, he wasn’t like that, she reassured herself. If he were done, he would definitely come back and give her an update.Every quiet moment felt wrong. She knew Dalian wasn't just late. Something must have happened.Finally, when she could not stand it anymore, Mia went out to find Ravenna. She walked down through the halls to the Alpha's chamber, her steps light-footed. Every step she took screamed urgency. As she walked closer to the Alpha's chamber, she spotted Ravenna. She was organizing supplies just outside the chamber compound, her face looking tired but focused."Ravenna," Mia said, her voice tight with worry. “Have
Dalian pulled himself against the tight ropes, even though the tightness dug into his wrists and ankles. He was helpless and tied down on the cold floor. At this point, his panic had quickly turned into a cold rage."Nyx," Dalian snapped. He looked around the dark room. "What is this? Where am I? What is the meaning of all this?" His voice echoed in the silence while he still tried to find a way out of the tight grip of the rope. But it was of no use.Nyx watched him with a calm face, as if she were bored. The small, glowing crystal in her hand was illuminating all around the room."So, so, so many questions," she said, her voice smooth and cunning. "But don’t worry, dear Dalian. All will be explained."Almost immediately, the heavy door to the room creaked open. Aria stepped inside. She was looking as calm as Nyx. Her eyes held this deep satisfaction... like someone who had satisfied a long craving.It was so strange for him to see her there. Just yesterday, he was trying to politely
A Few Hours Ago....Dalian was finally alone with Mia in his room. They had just finished talking about Aria with the others. Dalian had told Mia how Aria refused to break their mate bond, and how fiercely she had refused. And how he hated the thought of it. Mia, on the other hand, even though she was clearly worried, had listened to him and was offering her quiet support. Her touch was a comfort against his swirling frustration."She won't let go," Dalian sighed as he ran a hand through his hair. He walked over to the window, then stared out at the sky. "She made it clear. That she was never going to do it. What do we even do now, Mia? This is a huge problem. It's not just about us. It's about the pack's safety."Mia came over and stood next to him. Her own hands moved out gently, taking his hand."I don't know, Dalian," she said softly, as her brow furrowed with concern. "It's... It's a very big problem. But I want you to relax. I don't want this to weigh you down. We'll figure it o
Aria's final words hung in the air. “Never.”She faced Dalian for another breathless moment, her eyes burning with a mix of rage… and something else. Then, as silent as the stone beneath her feet, she turned on her heel. Her black hair whipped around her as she retreated into the lodge. The door slid shut behind her with quiet finality.A dismissal.Dalian stared after her, chest heaving with anger and disbelief. His mission had failed. Aria hadn’t just refused—she’d declared war, and made it clear: it was either her way… or her way. No compromise. No middle ground.He exhaled sharply, dragging a hand down his face. This was worse than he had expected.Turning away, he made his way back to the main packhouse, where Mia, Darius, and Ravenna were waiting.The pack was steady now—nothing like the chaos of the night before. Though the wounded wolves were still being treated, and warriors continued scrubbing the bloodstained grounds, the air was less frantic. Yet for Dalian, the relief tha
Dalian faced Aria's lodge. Aria had just come with him, and now they were alone, they stood together in the cold air. The silence between them was thick, and for what seemed like a long time, nobody said anything to each other.Dalian's mind was heavy, with all that had happened and all that needed to be said. He had to prepare his very first statement in his mind before even uttering it.And even though his outward appearance seemed relaxed, his heart pounded like a drum against his chest. He felt the tension in the air, a recognizable tension that reminded him of the battle that had happened hours ago. But this was a different kind of battle, it was his personal battle.He took a deep breath, trying to settle himself. He had to do this. For Mia. For his pack. For peace's sake in general."Aria," he started, with his voice low but level. "Thank you. For last night, I mean. You and Nyx. You helped us. You fought alongside us. It was unexpected. Even when the others fled, you stood bac