CHAPTER FIVE

DELILIAH

"O-Over his dead body?" My heart raced as I processed his words. Did he really just say, "Over his fucking dead body?"

Fury flared in my chest, scorching and oppressive as I fixed him with a sharp glare. Three long years had passed since he fled the pack, abandoning me to face the disgust and humiliation of the past, but now he dared to saunter back in just because he now wore a crown? From the moment he entered the Vycrlaw Pack, he had unleashed chaos, offering no explanations or apologies for the heartbreak he caused in the past. But now, as if it were no big deal, he expected me to accept this sudden proclamation of wanting me as his mate?

I’d rather return to the moon goddess than accept that fate.

"Fine," I declared, my voice slicing through the night air, as cold as ice. "Then you leave me no choice."

As soon as I said those words, I cast one more glance at the moon before reaching deep within myself and tapping into my powers thrumming in my veins. Silver light bled into my veins, ancient and holy, and the mark on my skin burned. The power stretched within me, ancient and unfamiliar, one that I rarely used because it was something that every wolf feared. It was the reason why every wolf in my pack looked with reverence, but my alpha and his elders regarded me with wariness.

It was the power of the Moon Chosen.

"Submit, Viktor Volvov," I said, my voice filled with something older than time. "Denounce your ridiculous vow and plead for forgiveness from the moon goddess before it's too late."

The energy surged outward, heavy and suffocating, enveloping him like a dark fog. It pressed against his chest like an invisible hand, forcing the ground to crack beneath his boots. Several howls filled the forest, responding to the weight of my power that demanded obedience from every living wolf.

But Viktor only staggered once. His jaw clenched, muscles rippling under his skin as he wrestled against the compulsion. I could feel his wolf slam against mine, his raw dominance battling with my sacred authority. Seeing the defiance blazing in his eyes, I pulled more power from within because I was determined to win this battle.

"You will regret this, Delilah," Viktor growled, his strained voice promising retribution that I knew he would fulfill. "You'd better stop this nonsense. You have no idea what you're doing."

"No, you're the one who doesn't know what you're doing!" I snapped,, my voice trembling with fury. "I would rather die a thousand pieces than forsake my vow to the moon goddess. This means that I will never mate with you. Even if you're on the verge of death."

For the first time in the night, Viktor's stoic expression cracked with pain and anger. "Tell me why you're doing this," he snarled, his eyes burning into mine. "What has the moon goddess ever done for you to make you pledge such loyalty?"

My expression morphed into disbelief as I stared at him. How dare he ask me such a question after everything I'd endured?

“She earned my loyalty the moment she didn’t abandon me,” I declared, my voice hard as stone, unwavering and fierce. “When you left me to rot in shame, she lifted me from the abyss. She bestowed upon me the strength to rise, becoming the second most powerful woman in the pack.”

I straightened, the silver light illuminating the darkness that surrounded us.

“She made me the High Priestess of the Vyrclaw Pack.”

The next morning, I went straight to the alpha's mansion after receiving his summons, my heart filled with a mix of anticipation and dread. Vivian offered to tag along, but I declined since I needed some time alone to prepare myself for the upcoming discussion bound to happen between me and Caspian. Once I stepped out of the car, I was met with the sight of a group of men discussing amongst themselves in hushed tones as they walked out through the grand entrance in clusters.

Pack elders.

My eyes lingered on the unique silver wolf emblems pinned on their shirts before meeting their gazes filled with resentment and contempt. It was obvious that I had been the topic of their morning meetings, but I couldn't bring myself to care as I walked past them, entering the mansion where the Vyrclaw Beta, Keith, was waiting for me at the foot of the stairs.

"Delilah," he said, bowing his head before gesturing behind him. "Caspian has been waiting for you. Please follow me."

“Alright.”

He guided me upstairs and knocked on the door once we reached the office.

Caspian responded from the other side of the door, "Come in."

I walked into the office, muttering a greeting under my breath as I sat in front of him. The Vyrclaw Alpha tore his gaze from his documents to look at me, his aquamarine blue eyes locking onto mine with intensity.

"Delilah," he addressed me, his tone cool and calculating as he leaned forward, intertwining his long fingers on his desk. "I assume you know the reason I called you here."

I shook my head, feigning ignorance.

Caspian Quinlan and I had known each other since we were ten years old, yet the distance between us now felt wider than ever. Caspian was smart, ambitious, and very good-looking. The females in the pack often complimented his beach blonde hair and beautiful eyes that were rumoured to make anyone swoon if they stared at him longer than two minutes.

Right now, they have been glaring at me for five minutes.

"We have a problem," he announced with a grim expression. "The surrounding packs in Montana are wondering how we intend to save His Majesty's life."

I frowned, a sharp edge to my voice. "How is that our problem?" I retorted, frustration simmering beneath the surface. "He's the one who refuses to renounce his vow to the moon goddess. His life or death should not concern us."

The Vyrclaw Alpha simply grunted in agreement, but he did not relent. "Unfortunately, the other packs in the country do not share our reason, Delilah. They have sworn their fealty to the Alpha King, and they are threatening to break their alliances with us if anything happens to him."

His words made my blood turn to ice. The logic behind their words did not make sense. This case was a private matter between Viktor and me, yet they insisted on meddling under the guise of political alliances.

My expression hardened. "Caspian, I will not become Viktor's mate. It would never happen in this lifetime."

"Then find a way to break his vow," Caspian growled, the stubbornness in his tone clashing with mine. "Because if you don't? Then we risk losing the funds we need to renovate the pack nursery and becoming enemies with every goddamn pack in this country."

My heart sank.

Despair and frustration threatened to overwhelm me after realizing the precariousness of the situation because of Viktor's stubborness. But surrendering was not an option, so that meant I was going to have to claw my way out of this problem.

I just needed to find a way to retain my High Priestess position and appease the other neighboring packs.

"Fine, then." I said, , determination seeping into every word. "I'll break that damn vow. Even if it's the last thing I do."