DARIUSMy gaze swept over the two hundred or so faces gathered to witness this… spectacle. Alphas, Betas, and every rank in between, all here to watch me potentially get my ass handed to me—Elders, warriors, and others who thought they had a say in how this ended. A good chunk of them were on my side, I could feel it. But a disturbing number seemed to be leaning towards Michael.That prick.And the rest? The cowards who waited to see who won before picking a side.Typical.My gaze flickered to Emmeline, and something in my chest tightened.She was hiding behind my beta Dawson, her slender frame partially covered by his, as if she were afraid to even be seen there. That damn veil she insisted on wearing did nothing to hide the fear in her eyes. Even though it did cover her face, it didn’t hide the way her shoulders were drawn tight, the way her fingers gripped the fabric of her dress like she was bracing herself for the worst. The sight of it made my teeth clench.Why the hell did she
EMMELINE'S POV Waiting sucks. Big time. My hands were slick with sweat, and I couldn't stop picking at a loose thread on the worn couch cushion. The roar of the crowd had finally died down. The duel was over. But the silence that followed? Way worse. It was thick and heavy, like a wet blanket smothering me. The only sound I could hear was the frantic thump-thump-thumping of my own damn heart.Why had I even doubted him? Why was that tiny little voice in the back of my head whispering, ‘What if… what if… what if…’Darius was… well, he was Darius. Strong, powerful, practically invincible. Michael was nothing compared to him. He didn’t stand a chance. Not a snowball’s chance in hell.I knew Darius would win. Deep down, I really did.But damn, fear was a sneaky little bastard. It crawls under your skin, whisper doubts in your ear, makes you question everything.The creak of the door made me jump. My breath caught in my throat. And then… there he was.Darius.He stood in the doorway, loo
EMMELINEI woke up to an empty bed, the space beside me cold.I groaned, stretching my arm across the mattress as if that would magically make Darius appear. He was here last night. I remembered falling asleep with him right next to me.Sitting up, I rubbed my eyes and sighed. Where the hell did he go?Annoyance bubbled up inside me as I got dressed. He hadn’t even woken me up before leaving. Urgent matters, I bet. Darius was always handling something. But after everything we had just been through, he could’ve at least told me where he was going.I stepped outside the room, spotting two of his guards standing post. They straightened the moment they saw me.“Where is Darius?” I asked, crossing my arms.One of them cleared his throat. “The Alpha left early this morning. Said he had urgent matters to attend to.”I frowned. Urgent matters? What could be more urgent than making sure Michael’s supporters didn’t try something stupid?“And he didn’t tell me?” I muttered under my breath.The g
EMMELINEMy head throbbed, a dull, insistent ache that pulsed with every sluggish beat of my heart. Groaning, I peeled open my eyelids, greeted by a disorienting darkness. Where the hell…? I blinked, trying to focus, but the darkness clung to everything, thick and suffocating. I tried to move, to sit up, and a sharp jolt of pain shot through my wrists. I was chained. Chained to… a pole? What the actual fuck?Then, like a punch to the gut, the memories slammed back. The crash.Michael. That smug, bastardly grin.The struggle. The blow to the back of my head.And then, DarknessShit.I got knocked out. And now I’m here. Wherever here is.I scanned the room—or at least, what little I could see of it. The only light came from a dim, flickering bulb in the corner, barely illuminating the concrete walls. There were no windows. No doors in sight.A basement? A dungeon?Whatever it is, one thing was certain—I’m trapped.Panic clawed at my throat. I strained as I gritted my teeth and pulled
DARIUS' POVThe smell of blood still lingered in the air, thick and metallic, mixing with the scent of burning rubber and shattered glass. The wreckage of Emmeline’s car was crumpled like a discarded toy, flipped on its side near the edge of the road. My stomach coiled in a way I hadn’t felt in years. I had seen countless battlefields, spilled enough blood to drown a village, but this—this—was different.This was her.My fists clenched so hard my knuckles turned white as I forced myself to breathe. I had to think. Losing my shit wasn’t going to help her.Sylas crouched near the wreck, his fingers brushing over a dark smear on the dirt. Blood.I hated seeing it. Her blood.He closed his eyes, inhaling deeply. His brows furrowed in concentration before his eyes snapped open.“Someone else was here,” he muttered. “Not just the driver. Someone came after the crash.”My jaw tightened. “Who?”Sylas pressed his palm into the dirt, focusing harder. “The scent is masked, but whoever it was, th
EMMELINE’S POVI was exhausted.I didn’t know how long I had been here—hours, days? Time blurred together in the dark, cold space Michael had trapped me in. My limbs ached, my throat was dry, and hunger gnawed at my stomach like a rabid animal.But I couldn’t give up.Not now.Not when I knew Darius was out there, searching for me.I had to hold on.But the thought of him walking into whatever bullshit trap Michael had set because of me made my chest tighten. Darius was strong, smart—but grief made people reckless. And if Michael had been feeding him poison, making him believe he was responsible for my suffering, then…No.I shook the thought away. I needed to focus. I needed to get out of here before Darius came storming in without thinking.Just then, the door creaked open, the sound grating against my already frayed nerves.Michael stepped inside, carrying a plate of food.My body tensed, but I kept my face blank.He crouched down, setting the plate in front of me like I was some s
EMMELINE’S POVPain shot through my wrists as I pulled at the chains again. The cold metal bit into my skin, but I didn’t care. I wasn’t just going to sit here and wait to be saved.But fuck, every second felt like an eternity.I closed my eyes, trying to steady my breathing. I wondered what Darius was doing. Was he already on his way? Did he even know where I was? Is he walking right into Michael’s trap?Was he coming?Or had he figured out this was a trap and decided to play it smart?I wanted to believe the latter, but deep down, I knew him too well. If he thought I was in danger, he wouldn’t hesitate. He would tear through hell itself to get to me.And that scared me more than anything.The thought made my stomach twist.A voice broke through the thick silence.Muffled at first, but close.Right outside the door.I held my breath, straining to listen.Michael. And someone else.“You sure Darius will come?” the unfamiliar voice asked.Michael laughed. A slow, amused sound that made
EMMELINE’S POV☆☆☆BANG! BANG! BANG!My eyes snapped open so fast I thought my neck might crack. Gunfire. Holy shit. My heart pounded, wild and frantic, like a trapped bird. What the hell was happening now?For a second, confusion clouded my mind…had I imagined it? But then another shot rang out, followed by shouting.Michael cursed under his breath. The slimy bastard jumped to his feet and rushed to the door. “Stay here,” he ordered, though it was clear he meant it for his gorilla-sized guards, not me.But even through the fear, something else struck me like a jolt of lightning. Darius. It had to be him. Who else would be crazy enough…or brave enough, to come barging in here with guns blazing?My breath hitched. Darius was here.A spark of hope ignited in my chest. Hope, mixed with an exhausted but undeniable, ‘Are you kidding me?’“Do not take your eyes off her,” Michael barked before slipping out, slamming the door behind him.He thought I wouldn’t try to escape?He underestimated
★▪︎EMMELINE▪︎★The morning sun felt like a warm blanket as I stepped outside onto the stone path. It had been a while since I just... walked. Really walked, not just dragging my feet around a room or down a hallway. My legs felt a little shaky, like they'd forgotten how to work properly after so much time spent either passed out or confined to bed. Darius was beside me and his presence was solidly comforting. He kept his pace slow, matching mine without making a big deal out of it, which I appreciated. The garden was more beautiful than I remembered, manicured and bursting with color – vibrant roses, neat hedges, little fountains bubbling softly. It was peaceful, almost ridiculously so, after the chaos of the past few weeks. But honestly, I was just happy to breathe the fresh air without feeling like I was about to collapse or be attacked. It felt like a small victory."Feeling better?" Darius asked gently. He glanced down at me, his eyes full of a quiet concern that made my chest ach
★▪︎EMMELINE▪︎★The first thing I noticed was the dull ache in my body, a stark contrast to the searing fire that had consumed me for what felt like an eternity. I was in bed, the sheets cool against my skin. The room was dim, the kind of light that happens just before dawn or late in the evening. I blinked slowly, letting my eyes adjust.Then I saw him. Darius. Asleep beside the bed, slumped over with his head resting near my hand, his fingers still loosely intertwined with mine. He looked exhausted, lines etched around his eyes. I could see faint scratches along his neck, little red marks that hadn't been there before. My heart squeezed. He’d stayed. He’d been here the whole time.I just watched him for a bit, quiet, letting the reality sink in. I wasn't burning anymore. The pain was there, a dull throb in my muscles and bones, but it was manageable. It felt… normal. Like the soreness after a long ride, not the agony of my body trying to consume itself.Slowly, carefully, I pushed my
★DARIUS’ POV★My gut twisted tighter with every second Anastasia worked. She moved fast, thank the goddess, her hands a blur as she crushed herbs, mixing them into some kind of paste, then adding liquid. It felt like an eternity, though. Every rasping breath Emmeline took, every weak tremor that still ran through her tiny body was a hammer blow to my chest. Hurry, damn it. Please, just hurry.Finally, Anastasia held up a small, dark vial. "It's ready," she said, her voice calm but her eyes holding a flicker of urgency that mirrored my own fear.I knelt beside the cot, my heart in my throat. Gently, so damn gently, I lifted Emmeline's head, supporting the fragile weight with my hand. Her skin was still too pale, her lips almost blue. Anastasia carefully brought the vial to her mouth.The first few drops went down, and Emmeline coughed, a weak, pathetic sound that tore right through me. My jaw tightened. Swallow, Em. Please, just swallow. Anastasia waited patiently, then tried again. Th
★EMMELINE’S POV★My head felt like it was stuffed with cotton, heavy and distant. Every breath was a struggle, a shallow, rattling thing that didn't seem to bring enough air. I was floating, drifting somewhere between here and... well, somewhere else. Somewhere quiet and dark. It felt peaceful, in a terrifying sort of way. Like I was letting go."Emmeline? Stay with me. Please."Sylas. His voice. It sounded tight, strained, like he was trying not to break. I wanted to answer, to tell him I was trying, but my tongue felt thick and useless. I managed a small, weak squeeze of the hand he was holding. His grip tightened instantly, almost painfully."She's fading, Sylas," a softer voice said. Anastasia. The healer. I could feel her cool fingers on my wrist, checking my pulse. "The damage... it's spreading faster than I can counter it without the proper herbs."Fading. Yeah, that felt about right. Like a candle sputtering out. The pain was a dull throb now, constant and heavy, but almost se
★DARIUS★Hours. It had been damn hours. My body screamed with every step, every bend, every time I had to push aside a thorny branch that clawed at my already torn clothes and skin. The Crying Woods lived up to its name; the wind seemed to moan through the trees, and the shadows felt heavy, pressing down on me. And for what? Nothing. I hadn't found a damn thing.My eyes scanned the forest floor, blurry with exhaustion and pain. Silver plants, they said. Surrounded by thorny roots. Sounded like something out of a twisted fairytale, and right now, I felt less like a prince on a quest and more like a broken-down mule lost in a maze.I stumbled, catching myself on a tree trunk, the rough bark scraping my cheek. "Son of a bitch," I muttered, leaning my forehead against the cool wood. My lungs burned, my muscles felt like they were tearing, and the dull ache in my ribs was a constant reminder of the fight I'd barely survived. This was insane. I was running on fumes and sheer, unadulterated
★DARIUS' POV★The air tasted like blood and dirt, thick and metallic. This bastard, this rogue Alpha, was fast, I'll give him that. He came at me, claws out, a snarling mess of muscle and rage. My own snarl ripped from my throat, a low rumble that promised pain. He swiped, a blur of grey fur. I ducked under it, the wind of his miss whipping past my ear. Instinct took over. My jaws snapped shut, finding purchase on his hind leg. God, the feel of tearing muscle and sinew... it sent a jolt of brutal satisfaction through me. I yanked hard.He howled, a sound that was music to my ears, stumbling, off-balance. That was my chance. Don't hesitate. Never hesitate. I surged upward, putting everything into it. My claws raked across his face. I felt the warm, wet spray of blood, heard his shriek of agony as one eye was taken. Good. Let him see what happens when you cross me.He didn't back down though. Credit where it's due, the son of a bitch had guts. His rage doubled, making him sloppy, predic
★DARIUS’ POV★Damn, that place was even worse than the stories. The Crying Woods… they weren’t kidding with the name. The air hung thick and heavy, clinging to my skin like a shroud. It reeked of stale blood, rot, and something else… despair, maybe? Twisted trees clawed at the perpetually grey sky, their branches like skeletal fingers. It was unnervingly quiet in some ways, but the silence was punctuated by sounds that made the hairs on my arms stand up – distant growls echoing through the suffocating woods, the rustle of unseen things in the undergrowth.And the eyes. Glowing pairs of them, tracking me from the deepest shadows. Yellow, green, cold pinpricks of hate watching my every step. The rogues. They said rogues were just mindless beasts, driven mad by isolation. Bullshit. Those bastards were smart, cunning. They were hunting me, I could feel it. Packs of them, flanking me, testing my path, waiting for an opening.Being alone sucked right then, made every shadow seem like a thre
★EMMELINE’S POV★I woke up slowly, the dull ache in my body a familiar companion now. But something else felt wrong. Deeper. Colder. I reached out instinctively, my hand searching the space beside me in the bed. Empty.Darius wasn’t there.That wasn’t unusual. He was the Alpha, always busy. But this felt different. The bond, the constant hum of his presence in the back of my mind, felt… distant. Like a faint whisper across a wide, empty space. Not gone, not broken, but stretched thin, strained.Panic, cold and sharp, pricked at me. I pushed myself up, ignoring the protest from my aching muscles. “Darius?” I called out, my voice raspy from sleep.No answer.I swung my legs over the side of the bed, my feet finding the floor. I pulled on a robe quickly, my hands fumbling with the tie. Where was he? Why did the bond feel so… far away?I opened the door to our chambers. A maid was outside, tidying the hall.“Where is the Alpha?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.She curtsied. “Good
★DARIUS’ POV★The morning after Finn died, the air in the pack house felt heavy, thick with grief and unspoken fear. Six of my men, gone. Just like that. Torn apart in those cursed woods. It should have made me stop. Made me rethink. Made me listen to the fear that was gripping the pack.But it didn’t.It only made me harder. More determined. If my best warriors couldn’t get those herbs, if the Crying Woods was too much for a trained team, then there was only one person left who could go. Me. The Alpha.I didn’t waste time. I called Sylas into my study first. He was the most skilled, the bravest of my advisors.He walked in, his face etched with the sorrow of the previous night. He knew why I’d called him. He could probably smell the grim resolve on me.“Alpha,” he said quietly.“Sylas,” I nodded, getting straight to the point. No need for pleasantries. Not now. “You know what happened last night.”He closed his eyes for a brief moment, a flicker of pain crossing his face. “Yes, Alpha