Chapter 9

Elaria POV 

I had just finished cleaning the bedrooms and was heading back downstairs when I saw some guards and servants rushing towards the front entrance. 

From where I stood, I could see the entrance clearly.

I had been watching for a while, but with other work waiting for me, I was about to leave when I saw a figure standing beneath the grand archway.

I couldn’t make out his face, but my heart suddenly raced. For some reason, I felt giddy. I couldn’t explain it, but the feeling wasn’t unpleasant.

All I could make out was his silhouette, tall and imposing against the light spilling in from outside. Broad shoulders stretched beneath a dark coat, and his posture carried an authority that made the space around him feel smaller.

 He stood perfectly still, as though he did not need to announce his arrival or demand anyone’s attention.

He already had it.

The servants gathered before him, their movements suddenly more measured. One after another, they crossed one hand over their chests and bowed their heads.

“Alpha.”

The word passed through the entrance in a chorus of respectful greetings.

My fingers tightened around the railing.

So that was him.

The feared Alpha of Blackwood Pack.

I stood there for another moment, trying to make sense of the imposing figure before me, until one of the kids tugged at my cloth. 

 “Eliy, what are you looking at ?”

I crouched down to his level and ruffled his hair. “Nothing, sweetheart. Should we go and get something delicious to eat ?” 

His response came faster than I expected. I took his hand and turned to leave, but I couldn’t resist glancing towards the entrance one last time but he was gone. 

We were making preparations for dinner when Lady Liora entered. 

“Is everything coming along for today’s dinner?” She asked, looking at the head cook. 

“Yes, my lady, the head cook answered. Dinner will be served in a few hours.”

“Good” 

She surveyed the room before her gaze settled on me. 

“Elaria, I need a word with you.”

I straightened at once.

“Yes, my lady?”

“My son has been away for some time, and I want tonight’s dinner to be special.”

Her expression softened slightly at the mention of him, although her voice remained composed.

“You’ve made a few things that the others have enjoyed.”

I glanced towards the head cook, who gave me an encouraging nod.

“I’ve only been helping where I can, my lady.”

“Nevertheless, I want you to prepare something particular for tonight.” She paused, as though considering how best to explain herself. “Can you make that classic baklava of yours?”

“Of course my lady.”

“Excellent.” She turned towards the head cook. “Ensure she has everything she needs.”

Then she turned back to me.

“Once dinner is almost over, bring the dessert into the dining room yourself. I want you to serve the first slice to the Alpha.”

“Yes, my lady.”

I bowed my head, already thinking about the task ahead.

I had heard enough stories about the Alpha to know that he wasn’t someone people took lightly.

And tonight, I would be standing right in front of him.

I could only hope I wouldn’t make a mistake.

Darius POV 

The dinner had barely begun, and already, I wanted it to be over.

I had been home for a few hours, yet I hadn’t had five minutes alone with my mother. There was something I needed to ask her, something that had followed me all the way home from the banquet.

One name kept repeating in my head.

Elaria Moreau.

Kade sat to my left, while my mother, Selene, the elders, and several pack members occupied the rest of the table.

Every dish looked excellent. Roasted chicken, stew, bread still steaming. I could tell from the aroma alone that the food was good, but I had little appetite. I took a few bites, barely tasting any of them.

“Alpha, how is the food?” one of the pack members asked.

“Good.”

The answer came out automatically.

“And the banquet, Darius?” Selene asked, leaning closer, her hand resting lightly on my arm. “It was lovely, wasn’t it? Especially the final evening. I didn’t expect the hosts to go to such lengths for us.”

Kade glanced at her. “You seemed to enjoy yourself.”

“Of course I did.” She laughed softly before turning back to me. “Though I must admit, Darius, you barely seemed to enjoy any of it. You were distracted almost the entire time.”

I glanced briefly at her hand on my arm before returning my attention to my plate.

“I had other things on my mind.”

Her smile faltered for a moment before she recovered.

I had spent the entire banquet thinking about Elaria. Now that I was finally home, I couldn’t stand sitting at a table making meaningless conversation when I had to talk to my mother.

“I think I’ll retire to my room,” I announced, pushing my chair back. “I need to freshen up, Mother. And there’s something I need to discuss with you.”

“Sit down, Darius.”

I paused.

“Mother—”

“I asked the kitchen to prepare something special for your return.” She set down her glass and regarded me firmly. “You can spare a few more minutes.”

I glanced towards the dining room doors.

A few more minutes.

My wolf stirred beneath my skin, displeased with the delay. I forced him down and returned to my seat.

“Fine.”

Selene reached for her glass, her smile returning.

“Whatever they’ve prepared must be worth the wait. Your mother has always had a way of making your homecomings special.”

I didn’t respond.

My attention had shifted to the doors once more. I had no interest in dessert or conversation. I needed to find Elaria.

I needed to hear her voice, to look into those amber eyes and find out if she was truly the woman I’d spent three years searching for—or merely another girl bearing the same name.

The thought that I might have finally found her, only for it to be someone else, was one I wasn’t ready to face.

Elaria POV

I paced around the kitchen, my nerves getting the better of me.

I was about to meet the feared Alpha of Blackwood Pack, and I had no idea how I was supposed to behave around him.

What if I made a mistake? What if he took offence to something I do?

I shook my head. I was overthinking everything.

“Elaria,” the head cook called. “Lady Liora has requested that you serve the dessert.”

I kept my eyes on the cart wheels as I slowly approached the head of the table.

“Your dessert, Alpha,” I said quietly.

I reached for the serving utensil, ready to place the first piece of baklava on his plate.

Then I looked up.

And my entire world stopped.

Green eyes.

Black curls.

That familiar face I had spent three years trying to forget.

Darius.

My fingers froze around the utensil.

For a moment, I couldn’t breathe. I stared at him, my mind struggling to make sense of what I was seeing.

He was the Alpha? 

The man who had abandoned me at the altar was the feared Alpha of Blackwood Pack.

For a moment, neither of us moved. 

I couldn’t tear my gaze away from his face, and he seemed just as unable to look away from mine. Conversations continued and servants moved between the tables, but neither of us appeared to notice. The world beyond his green eyes had ceased to exist.

Suddenly, a cup clattered against the table.

Tea spilled across his clothes, and the maid beside him gasped.

“Alpha, I’m so sorry!” she exclaimed, hurriedly reaching for a napkin.

The sudden commotion broke the spell, giving me the chance to retreat. I lowered my head and quickly left the dining room before anyone could notice my trembling hands.

I couldn’t believe it. Of all the places I could have ended up, I had walked straight into his territory.

“Tell Lady Liora I’ve gone for the night,” I whispered to the head cook, and I didn’t wait for his answer.

I didn’t remember crossing the courtyard or passing the gates. I only remembered the cold air in my lungs and the sound of my own heartbeat roaring in my ears.

I was nearly at our street when I noticed the glow.

An orange light flickered above the rooftops. Thick black smoke curled into the night sky, rising from exactly where our building stood.

My blood turned to ice.

Fire.

My children.

“Where are my children?” I screamed, rushing past the neighbor outside and towards the flames.

Someone tried to grab my arm, but I pulled away.

“Kieran! Kaila!”

Without waiting for an answer, I rushed into the burning house.