CHAPTER SIX

DELILAH

Just as Caspian and I were still speaking, a knock on the door suddenly interrupted our conversation. The heavy oak door swung open to reveal a tall, olive-skinned woman who strutted confidently into the room. She wore a fancy two-piece outfit, the kind that Vivian would normally gush about after reading a fashion magazine. The mustard-yellow jacket and fitted skirt hugged her curves perfectly, making her look like a goddess. Her sleek, black hair was parted in the middle and cascaded down her back, beautifully complementing her bold red lips. She went straight behind Caspian's desk, resting a possessive hand on his shoulder as if staking a claim on everything in the room.

Including him.

Her almond-shaped eyes met mine, watchful and deliberate, as if she were already aware of everything we had discussed in the room. She broke the silence first.

"Delilah," she addressed me coolly, her voice smooth like silk. "What a lovely surprise. I didn't think you'd be here with my fiancé after everything that's going on in the pack. Have you heard of the rumors going on in the pack?"

I resisted the urge to roll my eyes and remind her that she did not yet possess the right to comment on my affairs since she was not yet wedded to Caspian. But I didn't wish for any altercation today, so I bit back my retort, keeping quiet while my thoughts simmered beneath a calm exterior.

Caspian intervened. "Tessa, that's exactly the reason why I called her here. Delilah and I have found a way to handle the Alpha King's delicate matter."

Tessa's expression turned sour for a second before schooling her features into a guise of feigned curiosity. "Really? What is it?"

I kept quiet, letting my alpha handle the situation instead. If there were anything I'd learned all these years as Head Priestess, it was not to interfere in matters that did not concern me.

Caspian pinched his nose bridge with his eyes closed like he was praying for patience. Watching him like this stirred a familiar ache in my chest, reminding me that he still harbored resentment towards me for pairing him up with his fated mate according to the moon goddess.

"Why are you here, Tessa?” he murmured, his voice laced with annoyance. "I specifically told you that our dinner reservation was at 7 PM."

Tessa's demeanor stiffened for a heartbeat before she folded her arms defiantly. "Well, plans have changed. A new boutique opened yesterday, and I'd like us to take a look. It would reflect well on you if our pack were to see their alpha supporting local businesses."

Her words hung in the air, intertwining with the thick tension that had settled in the room as I remained a silent observer, caught in the crossfire of their rocky relationship.

Caspian's jaw tightened. "I'm not done with my conversation with Delilah—"

"Oh, I'm sure Delilah has other things to handle right now,” she cut him off with her signature sweet voice. “Isn't that right, Delilah?"

My gaze shifted from Tessa to Caspian, who was sitting with a stiff posture, his grip tight on his pen. If it were in the past, I would jump on the chance to save him from his dilemma with Tessa, but I wasn't sure such an effort would be appreciated right now.

Caspian suddenly let go of his pen before cursing under his breath. "Fuck it. Let's go shopping then."

I stood up at the same time he pushed back his chair with a loud screech. Tessa immediately wrapped her arms around his like a koala, pressing her body against him with a triumphant gleam in her eyes.

The sight would amused me if I were not so pissed off about Viktor's case.

Caspian gave me a short nod before exiting the room with his fianceé. The sudden silence felt like a reprieve after last night's mess, and for the first time, I felt like I could finally breathe.

It was quiet. Calm, even.

I took deep breaths to steady myself before leaving Caspian's mansion. I had barely made it past the mansion when I saw a black, sleek G-Wagon pull up in front of the mansion. Its presence was oppressive, the low hum of its engine sending a chill down my spine. I didn't even guess who was inside at this point.

My instincts instantly flared to life.

“Delilah.”

My steps came to a halt at the sound of the growl that reverberated across the open air between us. I turned around to see Viktor step from the vehicle along with some of the pack elders who had just exited Caspian's mansion earlier.

I suppressed my immediate irritation at the sight of him and his followers. Viktor looked too handsome for his own good, clad in a charcoal-grey T-shirt that clung to his athletic physique, with cargo pants and combat boots. He excluded dominance without effort, moving with the grace and confidence of an apex predator surveying its territory.

“What are you doing here?” I snapped, my voice cold as ice.

Viktor lifted an eyebrow, unfazed by my tone. “Hmm?”

The edge in his voice made me rethink my hostility. This was no longer the Viktor I knew three years ago when I was a young acolyte. No, this was the man who had killed the previous Alpha King, a conqueror who commanded the loyalty of every pack with his ruthless resolve.

I bowed my head, tasting the bitter reminder at the tip of my tongue. “Your Majesty.”

Viktor simply walked towards me, ignoring my greeting until we stood face to face. In that moment, a cold, paralyzing fear gripped my heart as his eyes pierced into mine, their depths unreadable.

"W-Why are you looking at me like that?" I stammered, hating the tremor in my voice. But it was hard to hide my fear when a six-foot male of raw dominance loomed over me like he could smack me into the moon goddess's embrace with one hand swing.

Instead of answering, he reached for my hand, his touch sending an electric shock through me. As his lips brushed my skin, an unexpected warmth spread through my stomach, compelling me to yank my hand from his grip, a mix of surprise and rage.

"What the hell are you doing?" I hissed, my voice barely above a whisper. "Do you even realize that we have an audience?!"

Viktor's lips curved upwards in a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "I barely wanted to thank you for reminding me of the strength of my vow. If you hadn't tried to coerce me into breaking it, I wouldn't have realized how much I wanted you."

Anger shot through my veins after hearing him. He was mocking me for my failed attempt to get him to renounce his vow, and doing so publicly.

What an asshole.

My hands balled into tight fists, nails biting into my palms as I willed myself to remain calm. Inhaling deeply, I counted the seconds before I could trust myself to speak.

"Your Majesty, you must understand that I did all of this to save you,” I stated, forcing my voice to remain steady. "Your reign is still new, and countless packs are relying on your leadership—"

"It's not your place to concern yourself with my affairs, Delilah," he retorted, a mixture of warning and amusement threading through his voice. "But I must admit, I appreciate your concern for me...refreshing. In fact, it makes things easier for me."

I barely stifled a frustrated groan. He was two seconds from pushing me to unleash just how fed up I was with this entire wretched situation right in front of the pack elders. The amused glint in his eyes told me just how much he was enjoying this situation, but I could not afford to tolerate his nonsense any longer.

I took a step back before lowering myself into the graceful curtsy. "If you'd excuse me, Your Majesty..."

"Not so fast, Delilah," he said, stepping in front of me to block my path. "I came here to find you because there's something I must tell you."

It was kind of silly how he completely obscured my view of the pack elders with his body alone, staring down at me with intensity that made my breath hitch. He smelled of cedarwood and steel, like cold authority wrapped in danger. His proximity stirred up memories that I'd buried on purpose, making my lungs tighten as I struggled to hold his gaze. I hated how my body leaned towards him, how my wolf seemed to surrender to his dominance, even though my mind refused to.

I let out a soft breath, gathering my wits around me. "What is it?"

"I have decided that, in light of the recent events, it is no longer safe for you to stay in the Temple of Moonlight," he declared, his voice low yet commanding, "From now on, you are assigned to stay at my royal quarters until this vow dispute is resolved."

His words dropped like a bombshell, turning everything around me into white noise.

"What?" I breathed, disbelief flooding my senses. "Move into your royal quarters? You can't be serious—"

Viktor lifted a hand, instantly silencing me with an authority that brooked no arguments. “That's not all. I'm also invoking an ancient pack law that dictates all rituals conducted by the High Priestess must be done in the presence of the most dominant wolf in the land, who grants her his protection."

He turned away, casting a casual glance at the pack elders behind him before facing me again, a smirk playing at the corner of his lips.

"That's me."