CHAPTER 38

Darius's POV

Dark and ominous, the eastern border loomed ahead. On the other side of the trees, I could hear the faint rustle of movement and the hints of life. My troops were poised and breathing steadily but tensely. I held out my hand to tell them to stop, my gaze sweeping the area for the Phantom Pack.

A veiled but innocuous figure stepped out of the darkness. Then another. When I saw the group travelers my eyes narrowed. Unaware of the tempest that was building around them, they were just regular wolves crossing the border.

It raged inside me like a flame.

Stand down,”I yelled at the warriors, my tone more acrid than I meant to be.

Despite their uncomfortable looks, they complied and ducked back into the trees. The travelers lowered their heads and muttered apologies as they passed.

My fists were clenched so tightly that my knuckles hurt as I watched them vanish into the forest. When would this never-ending tension ease? When would I have time to catch my breath?

“Darius?”

Her voice was gentle but firm, piercing the fog of annoyance like a razor. When I turned, I saw Maya standing a few feet away with a worried expression.

“What are you looking for?” I snapped. Before I could stop myself.

I wanted to see if you were okay.” Although she winced, she didn’t back down.

“Do I look okay to you?” I couldn’t control the anger in my voice, but the words came out harsher than I had intended.

She took a stride toward me, her eyes unwavering in spite of my rage. “No, you don’t. That’s the reason I’m here.

I turned away from her and said, “Maya, I don’t need you to babysit me.”

“Babysit you?” she said, raising her voice. “I’m trying to help you, Darius. But you won’t let me.”

“Help me?” I turned back to her and chuckled sourly. “You think you can fix this? Fix me? You have no idea what I’m dealing with!”

Her jaw tightened, and for a moment, I thought she might walk away. But instead, she stepped even closer, her eyes blazing.

“Then tell me,” she challenged. “Tell me what’s going on in that head of yours. Or are you too much of a coward to let me in?”

Her words were like a kick to the stomach. I stepped back, the weight of my feelings causing my chest to heave.

“You think this is easy for me?” I shot back, my voice low and dangerous. “Every decision I make is a matter of life and death. For you. For the pack. For everyone.”

“And you think I have it easy?” She shot back, her voice trembling. “To stand here and watch you shut me out over and over again? To feel like I’m nothing more than a problem you have to solve?”

I took two steps toward her, and the intensity of her rage matched mine.

“Maya, you’re not a problem,” I gritted my teeth and muttered. “You are—”

\---

“What?” Her voice broke as she demanded. “Darius, what am I to you?”

The words weighed heavy and oppressive between us. The truth stuck in my throat as I opened my mouth to respond.

She looked into my eyes, desperately wanting anything, but I could not provide her with what she needed. Not right now. Not when I’m burdened by everything else.

“I can’t do this,” I said finally, my voice barely above a whisper.

I almost broke at the sight of her face crumpling.

“Can't or won't?” Her voice was shaking as she asked.

Unable to look into her eyes, I glanced away. “Maya, return to the house.”

“No,” she firmly stated. “Not until you tell me what’s really going on.”

My annoyance boiled over as I spun back to her. “What’s going on is that I’m trying to protect you! And you’re making it damn near impossible!”

“I never asked for your protection!” She yelled, her voice resonating through the trees.

“No, you didn’t,” I said, heaving in my chest. “But I can’t stop myself. Don’t you get it? You’re in my blood, Maya. And that terrifies me.”

For a time, nobody spoke as her lips opened in surprise. The weight of unspoken truths weighed heavily on us, creating a heated atmosphere between us.

\---

At last, she replied calmly but gently, “You’re scared.”

I laughed resentfully. “Of course I’m scared. I’m scared of losing my pack. Of losing you. Of making the wrong choice and destroying everything I’ve worked for.”

She reached out, her fingertips brushing my arm as her face softened. I felt a shock from the touch, a reminder of the connection that bound us together in ways I couldn’t grasp.

Her voice was hardly audible above a whisper when she whispered, “Darius.” “You don’t need to bear this burden alone.”

I resisted her contact and shook my head. “Yes, I do. It’s my responsibility. My burden.”

Then let me share it.” She moved closer and added “You don’t need to ignore me.”

I gazed at her, caught between wanting to let her in and fearing the consequences.

The sound of footsteps halted us before I could reply. Tensed, one of my troops stepped out of the darkness.

“Alpha,” he said in a hurried tone. “The area has been secured. The Phantom Pack is nowhere to be seen.”

I forced myself to concentrate and nodded. “Good. Keep the patrols tight and report any movement immediately.”

I was once again alone with Maya when he nodded and vanished into the trees.

She searched my eyes as she gazed at me. “Is this how it’s always going to be? You shut me out whenever things get hard.”

As her words weighed heavily on my shoulders, I ran a hand through my hair. “I don’t know, Maya. I don’t know how to do this. Any of this.”

Her countenance was a mixture of despair and frustration as she sighed. “Neither do I. But I’m willing to try. Are you?”

Her question lingered in the atmosphere, laden with significance. I wanted to say yes to assure her that I would find a way to make this work. However, the words refused to come.

Rather, I took a step forward and touched her cheek. For a brief moment, the tension between us changed into something else, something wordless and raw and her breath caught.

“I don’t know if I can be what you need,” I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper.

Her eyes were sparkling with unshed tears as she leaned into my contact. “Then stop trying to be perfect, Darius. Just be here. With me.”

Something inside me was broken by the tenderness in her voice. I closed the gap between us without thinking, my lips meeting hers in a sweet and desperate kiss.

As the world dimmed, her arms encircled me and drew me in. There was briefly no Council, no pack, and no Phantom Pack. Only us.

Her forehead pressed against mine as we eventually parted ways, her breath warm against my flesh.

“This isn’t over,” she said softly, her voice steady despite the tears in her eyes.

“I know,” I replied, my voice rough with emotion.

As we stood there, tangled in each other, I couldn’t shake the feeling that this was only the beginning of something much bigger. Something that would change everything.