Chapter 19 Bound by mistake
DARIAN
The moment I step out of my father’s study, I inhale deeply, relieved to be out of that suffocating room. The meeting dragged longer than it should have. Talk of rogue threats, territory security, political alignments… And then, the inevitable.
Adira.
They never miss an opportunity to remind me of the life I didn’t choose. The girl I didn’t ask for. “Spend time with her,” they said. “She’s your future.” My father looked at me like I owed him enthusiasm. But I said nothing. I always say nothing.
Because it’s better than admitting I’d rather spend the rest of my life alone than bind myself to Adira.
I make my way toward my study when a familiar scent stops me dead in my tracks.
Iris.
It clings to the air like a ghost. Soft, warm. Floral and maddening. But it’s not coming from nowhere, it’s coming from Adrian.
He’s just turned the corner, walking casually, probably heading out again. I intercept him.
“Adrian,” I call, my tone flat.
He looks up, surprised but not concerned. “Darian.”
I grab his arm and pull him into the nearest corridor, away from the passing guards and staff.
“You were with Iris,” I say.
He quirks an eyebrow, amused. “And what gave it away?”
“I can smell her on you.”
He tilts his head, then smirks. “The same way I caught your scent in her bedroom?”
My jaw tightens. I school my face into neutrality, but the implication twists something ugly in my chest. He knows. He knows I’ve been there. I’ve left my scent behind, and now he’s rubbing it in.
“She was crying,” he adds, his voice quieter now. “Did you know that?”
My fingers twitch at my sides. “Did you hurt her?”
“I didn’t. But you did,” he says simply. “You asked me to stay away from her, but you haunt her room like a ghost. What do you want, Darian?”
“I told you, stay away from her.”
“And I am telling you that I won’t. Not anymore because she’s my friend.”
My teeth clench. I want to say something. Anything. But I can’t. Because he’s right. I turn and walk away.
Adrian catches up to me halfway down the hallway again. He’s walking fast, clearly not done with the conversation we started. I can already feel the weight of it before he opens his mouth.
“Why are you so damn adamant about staying away from her?” he asks, voice low but intense.
I pause for a moment. I’m tired. Of all of this. Of the pretending. Of the push and pull I’ve been fighting since the second I scented her.
I don’t look at him when I say it. “Because I accidentally marked her.”
Silence.
It stretches so long I begin to wonder if he even heard me. But when I finally glance sideways, Adrian is frozen in place. Staring at me like I just confessed to murder.
“You what?” he breathes.
“You heard me,” I mutter.
His mouth opens. Closes. Then he lets out a curse under his breath. “Darian. That’s… that’s bad. That’s really bad.”
“I know,” I reply, voice tight.
“You know?” he hisses. “That’s not something you just ‘know’ and go on with your day. You marked her? Without even knowing? How?”
“I will spare you the details,” I cut him off.
He runs a hand through his hair, pacing in front of me now. “You’re bonded to her, Darian. That’s not something that just goes away.”
“I didn’t ask for it to happen.”
He turns to me again. “Does she know?”
I nod . “Yes.”
He exhales sharply. “That’s probably why she was wearing a scarf the whole time. You can’t stay away from her.”
“I can. And I will.”
He throws his arms up. “You’re unbelievable. Do you even care what this is doing to her? That’s probably why she was crying. Oh, goddess.”
My eyes snap to his.
“Don’t pretend you know what she feels better than I do,” I say coldly.
He goes still again, his expression unreadable now. “So, what then? You just going to pretend this never happened? That she’s not walking around with a mark she didn’t ask for? While you what? Court Adira and pretend your wolf isn’t ripping you apart every second she’s near?”
I finally let out a breath.
“I’m promised to Adira,” I say flatly.
“I know.”
He’s quiet for a beat. I can feel what he’s about to say next, and I don’t want to hear it.
“Darian,”
“No,” I cut in sharply, lifting my hand. “Telling you was a mistake.”
Adrian looks at me, eyes narrowing. “You don’t have to deal with this alone.”
“I said it was a mistake,” I repeat, my voice dropping to a growl.
He exhales slowly. “Fine. So what are you going to do?”
I stare past him, jaw tightening.
“I’m going to stay away from her,” I say.
Adrian laughs once, bitter. “You say it like it’s going to be easy.”
“It won’t be.”
“She’s marked,” he reminds me. “You staying away isn’t going to make the bond disappear. If anything, it’ll make it worse. For both of you.”
“I know,” I say again, quieter this time.
He’s about to open his mouth again when I turn my head sharply. “Do you ever shut up?”
He smirks, but it fades quickly. “You’re the one who pulled me into a corner.”
“Regretting it now,” I mutter.
“Yeah, well, so am I.”
We’re both quiet for a moment.
Then I turn to face him fully. “No one can know.”
He meets my gaze. “I won’t say anything.”
I nod once, then turn away and start walking again. But even with the distance I put between us, I know Adrian’s words are going to echo in my head for a long time.
She’s marked.
She’s hurting.
And staying away might break us both.
But I’m Darian McAlister. Heir to a legacy.
And duty always comes first.
Even if it destroys me.