Chapter 186 The Ambush

Chapter 186 The Ambush
Chapter 186

DARIUS

I rode my bike into the compound and immediately spotted Marcus lurking by the side of my father's car, hidden from the view of anyone looking from the house.

I drove straight to that side and cut the engine.

Marcus stepped forward and hugged me, then ruffled my hair.

I froze.

That was strange. Marcus didn't do things like that unless something was seriously wrong.

I pulled back and searched his face. "What's going on inside?"

His expression was grim. "Your father and the council are raining hellfire on each other. They're furious about your decision to mate with Ravenna."

I raised an eyebrow. "They're angry I mated with a her?"

"No." Marcus shook his head. "They're angry because she's the daughter of Daniel. A supposed pack leader mixed with rogues and normal werewolves."

I let out a bitter laugh. "Of course they are. So, what was I called home for?"

"Probably to beat some sense into you and make you reject her."

My jaw tightened. "What about my mother?"

"She's in there trying to pacify the situation," Marcus replied. "But it's only getting worse because she's supporting you."

I exhaled slowly, my chest tight. "Then what are you doing out here instead of helping her?"

Marcus gave me a look. "Did I do a bad thing waiting out here for you so I could fill you in on the situation inside?"

He was right.

I nodded. "Thank you."

"Go in first," he instructed. "I'll come in a few minutes later."

I headed toward the house, my heart pounding harder with every step.

They were in the sitting room, and I could hear their voices even before I opened the door—loud, sharp, arguing.

I pushed the door open. "What's going on? I could hear you from outside."

The room fell silent immediately.

My father turned to me, his expression hard. "You. You're the problem. You're the reason for this argument. I've never heard anything like this since I became Alpha of this pack."

I ignored him and walked straight to my mother.

I kissed her cheek gently, and she smiled at me, though her eyes were tired.

I sat down beside her, my hand finding hers.

One of the elders leaned forward, his voice cold. "Information reached us through your father that you mated with the daughter of Daniel."

I nodded. "Yes. Ravenna."

Another elder sneered. "The same Daniel who is actively sabotaging pack matters and our borders."

I blinked, genuinely surprised. "I didn't know he was doing such things."

The first elder's sneer deepened. "Of course you wouldn't know. You're too deeply entwined with that witch of a girl. And you still went ahead and mated with her after everything she did to you."

My hands clenched into fists on my lap.

"She's not a witch," I said quietly, my voice tight with barely controlled anger. "She’s, my mate. And there's no way I'm rejecting her. If I do, I'll die."

I turned to my father. "Did you not tell them that?"

The elders turned to look at Richard.

He shrugged. "I was hoping to find a means to solve that issue."

"You can't solve a mate bond," I snapped. "That's not how it works."

One of the elders waved a dismissive hand. "Even so, you can mate with her but have nothing to do with her. Keep her at a distance."

I stared at him, disbelief flooding through me. "That's not possible."

Marcus walked in at that moment and took his seat near my father, his expression neutral.

My father leaned forward, his voice dropping lower. "This is already raising issues, Darius. Many problems with the pack and our businesses. Our enemies are stirring up and rallying against us. The pack alliances are thinking about ending what we've built together."

I stood up, my chair scraping loudly against the floor.

"I'm willing to do anything," I said firmly, my voice steady despite the fury boiling in my chest. "But rejecting and abandoning Ravenna is not an option. Kill that idea now."

I turned to my mother and kissed her forehead gently. "I'm a student. The academy is under curfew. There's a burial ceremony tonight for the students who died. I need to return."

I looked at the elders. "And I'm warning you now—never order me home for this kind of discussion again."

My father's voice cut through the room like a whip. "Do not step out of my presence without me ordering it."

I turned back to him, my jaw tight. "I don't have time for this drama. I need to honor my classmates who died in the fight."

I bowed low, my tone formal and cold. "I bid you all well."

Then I turned and walked out without waiting for permission.

The ride back to the academy was hard.

My mind kept circling back to what my father had said. There were enemies rising and worse still alliances were withdrawing. I couldn't help but wonder if I had made the right decision.

“Don't think about it,” Atlas said firmly in my mind. “This is the best decision we've ever made. Everything will pass It will take time but it’ll surely pass.”

I wanted to believe him.

I sighed as the academy lights came into view in the distance, glowing faintly against the darkening sky.

Then I smelled it. The scent in the air was wrong and smelt dangerous. Why was there this kind of smell near the school academy? My mind went to the rogues, were they still around planning another attack? This academy was getting out of hand and the board of directors which my father happened to be among were doing little to solve this reoccurring issue.

I saw the headlights approaching me a second too late. I tried to rev away, tried to swerve, but it was too late.

The vehicle rammed into me with full force and I lost balance immediately. The bike went one way, and I went the other, flying through the air before slamming hard into a tree.

Pain exploded through my body.

I groaned, my vision blurring, stars bursting behind my eyes.

I tried to get up, but my body wouldn't obey. Something was broken—ribs, maybe my arm, I couldn't tell.

I groaned again and forced myself to move, to push through the pain.

That's when I became aware of footsteps approaching slowly.

I looked up, my vision swimming.

A shadow loomed over me.