Chapter 9 You're starting a war.

Chapter 9 You're starting a war.

CHAPTER 8
BLAIR'S POINT OF VIEW
For a moment, I watched as the men left. I thought they'd never go, I wanted to speak, but I bit down on my bottom lip, trying to hold myself back from saying a word. Those jerks weren't worth my time and energy, so I just ignored them until they were gone.

Darius noticed my frown and couldn’t help laughing.

“Sweetheart, they don't work for you, so they won't take orders from you,” he said, standing up from his seat. He took a few steps forward before settling on the edge of his office table.

For a moment, I paused, taking in the sight of the luxurious Alpha office before me. I had never been here my whole life, even when I was in the pack.

“You love how the office looks?” Darius's voice snapped me back to reality. “You’ll move in here with me soon.”

I hissed, shifting my gaze back to him. “So what am I doing here?”

“You blackmailed me to come back here with you, so what do I do here with you?”

“My attorney will be coming in today,” he said, and my brows furrowed. “He will draw up your divorce agreement with that asshole, and you’ll be done with him.”

For two straight minutes, I didn’t say a word. I couldn't even speak. I was too stunned to do that.

Stunned at where he got his cheap audacity from, and stunned at how he was standing before me, throwing that word around like it was his place to tell me what to do.

Darius stepped forward, his body just inches from me. I couldn't help it; I inhaled, my lips curving into a smirk.

Then a scoff followed. “What did you just say?”

Darius smiled, his arms outstretched and now caressing my shoulders. “I just said you'll be divorcing Dominus Jones today. You will divorce him today, and you'll come back home to me.” His tone dropped into a whisper. “We’d start a life together and fix what we have ruined over the years.”

Darius deserves an award for that speech he just gave, and I wish I could give him one right now for being delusional.

“Darius… you’re delusional,” I informed him.

“Delusional?” He stared at me, and those lips curved. “Delusional over you? Of course, I’d take that as a compliment, sweetheart.”

Oh Goddess. I swallowed hard, trying to remain respectful. Insulting Alphas is punishable by death.

“Do you know you’re standing on a ticking bomb?” I looked up at his carefully crafted face. “That bomb is ticking. Darius, you’re starting a war without even knowing it.”

“Having the Luna of the Nightshade pack in your Alpha suite can trigger a war. All they need is the backstory that we were mates, and that’s enough for a war to start. Do you even understand what that means?”

“Your pack can’t stand a war at this time; it is not even the right thing to do.”

Darius said nothing. Instead, he stepped forward, and my chest tightened. He was standing too close,too close…looking down at me like whatever I was saying wasn’t serious.

With that, I clenched my fists and looked up at Darius again. “Do you even know what a war means at this critical time?”

Darius arched a brow, utterly calm, as if I’d just told him the weather was bad or two omegas were fighting.

He wasn't reacting like it was that important, and it infuriated me so much.

“You can’t stand a war, Darius!” I barked, my voice cutting through the room. “Your borders are weak, your soldiers aren’t much, and your alliances are hanging by a thread! You can’t afford a war at this time when all of your resources are focused on an election you’re not sure of winning!”

He chuckled. Actually chuckled. Like, actually fucking chuckled.

That laugh—low and very infuriating—crawled up my spine in ways I couldn't explain.

“Sweetheart,” he said, the word dripping like honey, “you look so beautiful when you’re angry.”

I froze, blinking at him. “Are you even hearing yourself right now?”

“Oh, I am,” he smiled, leaning against the table again, watching me like I was some kind of show.

“Unbelievable.” I scoffed, shaking my head. “This isn’t a joke, Darius! You’re playing with fire keeping me here. All it takes is one word slipping out, and Dominus can choose to act like his ancestors. You're playing with your people's lives—”

“And maybe,” he said smoothly, cutting me off, “that’s exactly what I need to play with.”

My voice climbed again. “You’re insane!” I said furiously.

“Maybe.” He smiled lazily, and I almost lost it. He seemed to be enjoying the way I was unraveling.

“We’re not scared of war, Blair. We just need a reason to go.”

I took a step forward, my eyes blazing. “This—this is not a good reason. There’s no good reason to start a war. Not one good reason, Darius.”

“Who says so?” he countered. “If going to war means fighting for the only woman I’ve ever loved, then so be it.”

My breath caught. For a split second, I forgot how to move or breathe.

Words that would never leave an Alpha's lips.

He stepped closer again,too smooth, too deliberate and I could feel his breath ghosting near my temple.

“If it’s going to warrant a war,” he whispered, “let it warrant a war.”

I jerked my head back. “You’re out of your mind, Darius!”

He smiled again. That smug, infuriating curve of his lips made me want to smack his face.

I stood still for a second, not knowing what to say or what to do.

“Stay,” he said softly. “Come work for me. Stop acting like you're still with Dominus. That chapter is closed.”

“What?”

“You heard me,” he said. “You’re smart. Come back where you're cherished… work for me.”

I couldn't help it; I burst out laughing—a short one. “I should come to you? You think you're any better?”

“Yes, I am.”

I scoffed so loud it echoed off the walls. “You disgust me.”

“12 PM, we will be leaving this place. I hope you get the plane ready.”

“Blair,” he called after me, his voice teasing, almost amused. “You’ll come back.”

I didn’t turn around. “Don’t bet on it.”

The door slammed behind me hard enough to make his office shake, and then I made my way back to the room where they kept me.

Once I got back, I checked my phone, and the calls had increased to over seventy.

I let out a long sigh before I decided to text back. Calling would only make it worse. I thought of something convincing that would be suspicious…

\[Sorry guys, I went home to see my family. I will be back soonest... xoxo!\]

I tapped send and threw my phone onto the bed. Goddamnit, I need to leave here.

About thirty minutes later, I heard a sound. At first, I thought it was a knock, but when I went to the door, there was nobody there, so I settled back into my seat.

But then the sound came again. This time, I turned; it was from the window.

I quickly swiped the curtains aside, my gaze narrowing down—it’s Ronan.