Chapter 252 CHAPTER 252

Chapter 252 CHAPTER 252
Darius didn’t slow, not even when the path curved sharply ahead. His jaw held firm, his eyes fixed forward, every movement controlled even as blood traced a thin line down his sleeve.

The engine growled under him as he pushed the car faster than the narrow road allowed, the steering wheel tight in his grip as the trees blurred past on either side.

“Of all the nights,” he muttered under his breath.

The road opened slightly ahead, and that was when he saw it—another vehicle cutting across his path.

He braked hard.

The tires scraped against the dirt as the car jerked to a stop, dust rising around him in a thick cloud. His hand tightened on the wheel for a second longer before he pushed the door open and stepped out.

Across from him, the other car had already come to a halt.

Seraphine stepped out first, slower than usual, her movements slightly off, her hand pressing briefly against her side as if steadying herself. Behind her, Ella followed, her gaze scanning the surroundings before settling on him.

Darius’s gaze locked onto them, the tension in his jaw tightening as anger - sharp and rising - pushed through him.

His form shifted, bones reshaping, strength settling back into his frame as his lycan form rose, larger, more imposing, his presence filling the space between them.

“What did you do?” he growled.

Seraphine exhaled lightly, straightening just enough to meet his gaze. “It didn’t go as planned,” she said.

Darius took a step forward.

“Didn’t go as planned?” he repeated.

His eyes moved briefly over her, taking in the injury, the strain, the lack of control that had never belonged to her before.

“You said it was a perfect plan” he said. 

Seraphine lifted her chin slightly. “Things changed. We just have to come up with another plan.”

Darius let out a short breath, something close to a laugh but without humor. “You think that’s what this is?” he asked. “A small shift in plans?”

He gestured back toward the direction he had come from. “Everything is gone.”

Ella’s gaze flickered between them, her stance tightening slightly.

Darius continued, his voice steady but colder now. “Do you know how long I’ve stayed out of sight? How long I’ve built what I had?”

Seraphine didn’t answer.

“Almost twenty years,” he said. “And in one night, you managed to tear through all of it.”

His gaze sharpened. “I knew it,” he added quietly. “The moment you came to me with that plan.”

A pause.

“I should have listened to the small voice,” he said. 

He took another step forward. “That told me not to trust you.”

Seraphine’s jaw tightened slightly. “If you’re done…”

“I’m not,” Darius cut in.

His gaze locked onto hers. “You were supposed to handle them,” he said. “Not lead them straight to me.”

Seraphine exhaled slowly. “I miscalculated,” she said. “But that doesn’t mean it’s over.”

Darius stared at her.

Then shook his head once.

“It is,” he said.

The words settled.

His hand shifted slightly at his side, the movement subtle but deliberate.

“You don’t get to walk away from this,” he added.

Ella moved first.

Her hand lifted, the air tightening around Darius in a sharp, sudden pull that cut through his movement before it could fully form. The force struck him hard, sending him back a step as his balance broke, his body reacting to something unseen pressing against him.

He dropped to one knee, his breath leaving him in a sharp exhale.

Ella held her stance, her fingers steady, her gaze focused.

“Stay down,” she said.

Darius looked up at her, his eyes narrowing.

“You think this ends with you?” he asked.

Ella didn’t answer.

The pressure around him held, but not as firmly as before.

A faint tremor ran through her arm.

Then another.

A thin line of blood slipped from her nose.

She didn’t lower her hand.

But her breath shifted.

Shorter.

Less steady.

Seraphine stepped forward.

“Finish it,” she said.

Ella’s gaze flickered briefly toward her.

“I said finish it,” Seraphine repeated.

Ella tried.

Her fingers curled tighter, her power pressing again—but it faltered, slipping just enough to break the hold.

Her hand dropped.

She inhaled sharply, her body swaying slightly as she stepped back.

Seraphine’s expression hardened.

“Useless,” she muttered under her breath.

Then she moved.

She crossed the distance quickly, dropping down toward Darius, her hands reaching for his throat as she pinned him to the ground.

“This ends now,” she said.

Her grip tightened.

Darius’s breath caught, his hands lifting to her wrists, pushing back against the force as his strength returned in sharp bursts.

Their struggle stayed close, grounded, both of them locked in that single moment where neither wanted to give way.

Seraphine leaned closer, her weight pressing down.

“You should finish off what you think will end up being a pain to you,” she said glancing at Ella.

Darius’s hand shifted.

Slow.

Careful.

His fingers found the handle at his waist.

Seraphine didn’t notice.

Not until it was too late.

The blade drove upward into her chest.

Clean.

Direct.

Her body stilled.

For a second, nothing moved.

Then her grip loosened.

Her hands slipped from his throat as her body fell back, landing beside him with a quiet, final weight.

The air settled.

Darius lay there for a moment, his chest rising sharply as he pulled in breath, his hand still holding the knife before it dropped from his grip.

Beside him, Seraphine didn’t move.

The blood spread quickly beneath her.

Ella stared.

Her eyes fixed on the space between them, her breath uneven as she took a step back.

“Seraphine…” she said.

No response.

She took another step.

Then another.

The reality settled in without needing to be said.

She turned.

And ran.

The forest closed around her as she disappeared into it, her steps quick, uneven, driven more by instinct than direction.

Behind her, silence returned.

Darius pushed himself up slowly, his movements heavier now, his strength fading in uneven waves.

He managed a step.

Then another.

Before his knees gave way again.

He dropped back down, his hand bracing against the ground as he exhaled sharply.

“Of course,” he muttered.

He had been laying there for hours when he the sound of movement reached him.

Figures stepped through the trees, their shapes emerging one by one as they moved closer.

Rogues.

They slowed when they saw him.

Recognition came quickly.

“Well,” one of them said, stepping forward slightly, his gaze scanning Darius from head to toe. “Didn’t expect to see you like this.”

Darius didn’t respond immediately.

His gaze lifted just enough to meet theirs.

A faint chuckle passed between them.

Another stepped closer, glancing briefly at Seraphine’s body before looking back at Darius.

“Looks like you had a rough night.”

Darius exhaled slowly. “My camp was hit,” he said. “I lost all my men.”

The rogue nodded once, as if that explained everything.

“You need help?” he asked.

Darius held his gaze. “Unless you plan to leave me here.”

The rogue tilted his head slightly, exchanging a glance with the others.

“Wouldn’t be good for business,” he said.

Another stepped closer. “He’s worth more alive.”

A quiet agreement passed between them.

They moved in, lifting Darius carefully, gently, with purpose.

“Let’s get you out of here,” one of them said.

As they carried him toward their vehicle, one of them leaned slightly closer to the others.

“Lycan blood,” he muttered. “Strong one too.”

Another nodded. “Our crazy scientist client will like that for his specimen.”