Chapter 63 Away From Duty
Dahila’s POV
The corridor stayed quiet long after Dagnoth’s footsteps disappeared.
But my heart refused to calm down.
I slowly closed the door and leaned against it, staring at the wooden panels like they had personally betrayed me.
“That man is impossible,” I muttered under my breath.
My pulse was still racing.
He had stood so close.
Too close.
And the worst part?
He knew exactly what he was doing.
I pushed myself away from the door and walked back toward the window. The night air brushed against my skin as I stepped onto the balcony.
The courtyard below was empty now.
The torches flickered against the stone walls, casting long shadows across the ground where he had been standing earlier.
Watching my window.
I folded my arms.
“He’s insane,” I whispered to myself.
Behind me, the door creaked open.
I spun around instantly.
And nearly groaned.
Dagnoth stood in the doorway again.
He looked far too calm for someone who had supposedly left.
“You forgot something?” I asked flatly.
He stepped inside like he owned the room.
“I did.”
I raised an eyebrow. “And what would that be?”
“You.”
I blinked once.
Then frowned. “That answer doesn’t even make sense.”
“It does to me.”
I crossed my arms again. “Did you come back just to be annoying?”
“Yes.”
“At least you’re honest.”
He leaned against the wall, watching me like this was the most entertaining thing in the world.
“You were talking to yourself,” he said.
“I do that when irritating Alphas refuse to leave.”
“You didn’t seem irritated.”
“Oh I am.”
He tilted his head slightly.
“You look nervous.”
I scoffed. “You wish.”
“Your heartbeat says otherwise.”
I immediately stopped moving.
Of course his wolf could hear it.
“Your wolf needs to mind his business,” I muttered.
“My wolf thinks you’re interesting.”
“That’s unfortunate for both of you.”
He pushed away from the wall and walked toward the balcony where I stood.
I sighed loudly.
“You know there are dozens of empty rooms in this palace.”
“I’m aware.”
“So why are you in mine?”
He stopped a few feet away from me.
“Because you’re in it.”
I stared at him.
“You’re unbelievable.”
“I’ve been called worse.”
I shook my head and looked back toward the courtyard.
“You’re the Alpha. Shouldn’t you be doing something important?”
“I am.”
“Oh really?”
“Yes.”
“And what would that be?”
“Talking to you.”
I turned slowly to face him again.
“You’re wasting your time.”
He studied my face carefully.
“I don’t think so.”
Silence lingered between us for a moment.
Then I sighed.
“Why are you really here, Dagnoth?”
His expression shifted slightly.
“For the same reason you were watching the courtyard.”
“I was not watching the courtyard.”
“You were watching me.”
I rolled my eyes.
“You’re incredibly arrogant.”
“Am I wrong?”
I didn’t answer.
Which, unfortunately, was answer enough.
His smile returned.
“You should learn to lie better.”
“I don’t lie.”
“That explains a lot.”
I pointed toward the door.
“You should go.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re making things complicated.”
His brows lifted slightly.
“Complicated how?”
I hesitated.
Then said the safest answer.
“You’re the Alpha.”
“And?”
“And I don’t trust Alphas.”
That wiped the amusement from his face.
For the first time tonight, he looked genuinely curious.
“Why?”
I shrugged.
“Experience.”
“With me?”
“With people like you.”
“And what exactly are people like me?”
I met his gaze directly.
“Men who think the world bends around them.”
His voice stayed calm.
“Does it?”
“No.”
He took one slow step closer.
“But you’re still standing here arguing with me.”
“That’s because you won’t leave.”
“Or maybe,” he said quietly, “because you don’t want me to.”
I froze.
The air between us suddenly felt much heavier.
“You think very highly of yourself,” I said carefully.
“No.”
His voice dropped slightly.
“I just pay attention.”
My heart betrayed me again, beating faster.
His gaze flickered briefly to my throat.
Then back to my eyes.
“You should sleep,” he said again.
“You said that already.”
“And you ignored me.”
“I plan to continue ignoring you.”
He chuckled softly.
“I’ve noticed.”
I gestured toward the door again.
“Alpha, go away.”
He looked at me for a long moment.
Then something unexpected happened.
He stepped back.
“Fine.”
I blinked.
“That was… surprisingly easy.”
“For now.”
I frowned. “What does that mean?”
He walked toward the door.
Before leaving, he looked over his shoulder at me.
“You like running.”
“That again.”
“Yes.”
His eyes held mine.
“So run.”
I crossed my arms.
“I’m not running.”
“You will.”
“And why is that?”
His voice lowered slightly.
“Because sooner or later… you’ll realize you’re being chased.”
My stomach tightened.
“And if I don’t?”
A slow smile spread across his face.
“Then I’ll enjoy proving you wrong.”
With that, he stepped out of the room.
The door closed behind him.
Silence filled the space again.
I stared at the door for several seconds.
Then I groaned and dropped my head into my hands.
“This man is going to ruin my peace.”
But deep down…
I already knew something worse.
He wasn’t going to stop coming back.
And a dangerous part of me wasn’t sure I wanted him to.