Victorious Bastard

**Elara's POV**

The war drums still thundered in my chest as I gripped the cold stone balcony, nails digging into the rock.

Darius's war party crested the ridge, black banners whipping like death flags. He rode at the front, bare-chested and drenched in enemy blood, every line of his massive body screaming conquest. Even from here his scent hit me. Blood, smoke, raw alpha power.

My stomach knotted. Three fucking years.

Beta Marcus's heavy hand landed on my shoulder, squeezing hard. "Smile, Luna. Your mate's home. Don't embarrass him."

"Touch me again and I'll bite your hand off," I hissed.

He laughed low. "Still feisty. Darius will fix that tonight."

The gates slammed open. Howls exploded across the courtyard. The pack surged forward as Darius shifted mid-stride, landing on two feet, tall, brutal, scars gleaming fresh across his ribs. His golden eyes swept the crowd once before locking on me.

No warmth. Only hunger and disdain.

He stalked up the steps, boots leaving bloody prints. The pack fell silent, parting like scared sheep. When he reached me, he didn't kiss me. His hand shot out, fingers wrapping my jaw in a bruising grip as he yanked me forward.

"Still no pup in this belly?" he growled, voice low and vicious. His breath was hot against my face, reeking of battle and whiskey.

"Welcome home, Alpha," I forced out.

His grip tightened until pain flared. "Three years married to the great Darius Kane and you're still fucking empty. Worthless."

Before I could answer, a sultry laugh cut through the air.

Seraphina Vale glided through the gates in crimson silk, dark hair cascading, one hand resting proudly on her swollen pregnant belly. The pack's cheers stuttered, then rose louder for her.

Darius released my jaw only to drag her against his side. His big palm spread possessively over her belly, fingers stroking.

"Seraphina will be moving into our quarters," he announced, loud enough for everyone. His eyes stayed on me, drinking in every flinch. "You'll attend to her needs, Elara. Make sure my heir's mother is comfortable."

Whispers rippled. Some pack members smirked.

Seraphina's green eyes glittered with victory. "It's an honor to finally meet you, Luna."

Rage burned up my throat. "You brought your whore home pregnant and expect me to serve her?"

Darius moved like lightning.

My back slammed against the stone wall so hard the breath exploded from my lungs. His forearm pinned my throat, crushing just enough to remind me who owned me. His body pressed flush, hard muscle, battle heat, and the thick ridge of his cock already straining against my thigh.

"Watch your fucking mouth," he snarled, lips brushing mine in a violent almost-kiss. "You're Luna in name only. If you can't give me an heir, you're nothing but a barren omega playing dress-up in my bed."

His free hand dropped, roughly palming my breast, pinching the nipple hard through my dress until I gasped. Heat, shameful and hated, pooled between my legs. My body still betrayed me every time he got rough.

"Maybe I'll keep you around," he continued, voice dripping cruelty as he ground against me. "You can watch Seraphina take your place. Spread those useless legs for me when I want variety, then help raise my pup like a good little servant."

Seraphina laughed softly behind him.

I tasted blood where my teeth cut my lip.

Darius's nostrils flared. He leaned closer, dragging his fangs down my neck, scraping hard enough to draw tiny beads of blood. "Or you can crawl back to the gutter I found you in. Your choice, wife."

His hand slid lower, bunching my dress up my thigh right there on the balcony where half the pack could see. Fingers dug into my hip, possessive and bruising.

I hated how my pulse thundered. Hated how part of me still craved this monster.

"Two options," he growled against my ear, voice pure alpha command. "Submit and serve. Or I strip you of the Luna title tonight and let the pack watch you fall."

His mouth crashed onto mine, brutal, claiming, all teeth and dominance. I tasted his blood and mine mixed together.

When he finally pulled back, his eyes blazed with dark satisfaction.

But then the wind shifted.

A new scent slammed into me, ancient, savage, like midnight forests and raw power. It wrapped around my core and yanked hard.

My knees nearly buckled.

Darius froze. His head snapped toward the forest edge beyond the walls, a feral snarl ripping from his chest.

"What the fuck is that scent?" he roared.

The pack tensed. Seraphina stepped back, hand protectively over her belly.

Darius's golden eyes swung back to me, narrowing with sudden suspicion and violent hunger. His grip on my throat tightened.

"Elara," he warned, voice low and deadly. "If you've been hiding something from me—"

A deep, resonant howl tore through the night from the trees, close. Too close.

Darius's roar shook the walls as he shoved me aside and shifted in one explosive motion, black wolf exploding outward.

"Find him!" he bellowed through the pack link.

But that scent was already burning through my veins like liquid fire.

And it was calling straight to me.