Chapter 61 Let Him Know
Dahila’s POV
The palace corridors felt colder than usual.
Maybe it was just me.
The moment the heavy doors closed behind me, the sounds from the courtyard faded—the guards, the wind, the crackle of the torches. Only the echo of my footsteps followed me down the long stone hall.
But his voice still lingered in my ears.
If you are running from me… I will always catch you.
I pressed my lips together.
Arrogant man.
Dangerous man.
And somehow the only man capable of making my thoughts feel like a battlefield.
I walked faster.
Servants bowed as I passed, their movements quick and respectful. A few warriors stationed along the corridor straightened when they saw me. Word of the rogue attack must have spread through the palace already. Everyone looked alert.
Tense.
The territory was on edge.
But my mind wasn’t on rogues.
It was on the man standing at the gate.
The way his eyes had darkened.
The way he had almost touched my face.
The way he had said I speak as a man who feels.
I pushed the thought away and turned down the hallway leading to my chambers.
Almost there.
Almost safe from my own thoughts.
“Dahila.”
I stopped.
The voice came from behind me.
Not Dagnoth.
Relief flooded me first.
Then irritation.
I turned slowly.
Lady Seraphine stood near one of the tall windows lining the corridor, moonlight spilling over her pale gown. Her silver hair was pulled neatly over one shoulder, and her posture was as perfect as always.
Beautiful.
Graceful.
And observant.
Too observant.
Her eyes studied me carefully.
“You returned late,” she said.
Her voice was calm, but the words carried weight.
“I was visiting a friend,” I replied.
Her gaze lingered on my face, as if searching for something.
“Outside the territory?” she asked.
So she knew.
Or suspected.
I crossed my arms loosely. “Do I require permission as well?”
The faintest smile curved her lips.
“Not from me.”
Silence stretched between us for a moment.
Then she tilted her head slightly.
“You spoke with him at the gate.”
It wasn’t a question.
Of course it wasn’t.
News moved quickly in a palace.
“Yes,” I said simply.
“And?”
“And nothing.”
Her eyes sharpened.
“You are not very convincing.”
I sighed quietly. “What exactly are you trying to ask, Seraphine?”
She stepped closer, her heels barely making a sound against the stone floor.
“I am trying to understand something.”
“And what is that?”
Her gaze did not waver.
“My Alpha has been restless for days.”
My stomach tightened.
“He has a territory to run,” I said evenly.
“Yes,” she replied softly. “But that is not the reason.”
I held her gaze.
“And you know the reason?”
Her smile faded slightly.
“I have known Dagnoth for many years.”
The way she said his name felt deliberate.
Measured.
“And?” I prompted.
“And I know when something is distracting him.”
I raised a brow. “Perhaps the rogue attack?”
“Perhaps.”
She paused.
“But he was restless before that.”
Ah.
There it was.
I felt the familiar wall rising inside my chest.
“If you have something to say, Lady Seraphine,” I said calmly, “you should say it.”
Her eyes softened slightly.
“I am not your enemy, Dahila.”
I did not answer.
She studied me for another moment before continuing.
“You should be careful.”
That caught my attention.
“Careful of what?”
“Of him.”
My heart gave a small, traitorous thump.
“And why would that be?”
Her voice remained gentle.
“Because Dagnoth does not give his attention lightly.”
I almost laughed.
“Trust me,” I said dryly, “his attention is the last thing I want.”
Her eyes flickered with something like amusement.
“Is it?”
I did not respond.
She folded her hands neatly in front of her.
“When a man like him begins to care,” she continued quietly, “it changes things.”
“Care is a strong word.”
“Yes,” she agreed. “It is.”
Another silence stretched between us.
Then she spoke again.
“You are not afraid of him.”
“No.”
“But you are afraid of what he makes you feel.”
The statement landed too close to the truth.
I forced my expression to remain calm.
“You assume too much.”
“Perhaps.”
She turned slightly, looking out the tall window toward the dark courtyard below.
“Or perhaps I simply recognize the look in his eyes.”
My chest tightened.
“And what look is that?” I asked.
She glanced back at me.
“The same one he had tonight.”
I held her gaze steadily.
“And what does it mean?”
For a moment, she did not answer.
Then she said quietly,
“It means you are no longer just his responsibility.”
My pulse quickened.
“Then what am I?”
Her eyes held mine.
“A temptation.”
The word lingered between us.
Heavy.
Dangerous.
I let out a slow breath.
“That sounds like his problem.”
A faint smile returned to her lips.
“You think so?”
“Yes.”
She studied me one last time.
“Perhaps.”
Then she stepped aside, giving me a clear path toward my chambers.
“But temptation,” she added softly as I passed her, “has a way of becoming far more complicated than either of you expect.”
I stopped at my door.
My hand rested on the handle.
For a moment, I almost turned back.
Almost asked her something.
But I didn’t.
Instead, I pushed the door open and stepped inside.
The room was quiet.
Safe.
Familiar.
I leaned against the door after closing it, letting out the breath I had been holding.
Zola’s words echoed in my mind.
Let him show his hand.
Tonight he had.
Just enough to make my heart dangerously uncertain.
I moved toward the window and looked down at the courtyard below.
The torches still burned.
And near the gate—
He was still there.
Dagnoth stood among his warriors, issuing quiet orders.
Strong.
Commanding.
Untouchable.
Except I knew something now.
Behind all that control…
He felt it too.
And that made everything far more dangerous than before.