Chapter 42 41
Soraya's POV
“So… is he your boyfriend by any chance?” Carl asked suddenly.
My eyes widened at the question. “Um…” I looked down. It was such a simple question yet somehow, it felt too complicated to answer.
Was Darius my boyfriend?
I mean… we weren’t exactly that.
He was a werewolf, and apparently, I'm his mate. And a mate meant something deeper. A bond that was supposed to last a lifetime. So that should mean we were… together, right?
But then again… were we?
I didn’t even know how to define it. Every time I thought of him, my heart beat faster, but we’d never had that conversation. The one that started with “what are we?”
Carl chuckled softly, pulling me out of my thoughts. “Back to me, Soraya.”
I looked up quickly.
He smiled. “You don’t have to tell me. Maybe some other time.”
Relieved, I gave a small laugh, brushing it off just as another lecturer walked in. This one wasn’t as painfully boring as the first, but he was too strict. He pointed out everything from posture to handwriting, and it made the hour drag.
By the time classes finally ended, I was more than ready to leave.
“Are you sure you don’t want me to drop you off?” Carl asked as we stepped outside.
I smiled and shook my head. “Um, I’m fine. I’m sure Darius will come pick me up soon. He might get worried.”
“Worried, huh?” Carl teased with a small grin.
I rolled my eyes, trying not to smile. “He asked me to call him when I’m done.”
“Got it.” He raised his hands in surrender. “Well, see you tomorrow.”
“Bye,” I said, waving a little as he walked away.
Then I pulled out my phone. Darius had told me to call him when class was over.
I was about to dual his number when my phone suddenly rang. Looking at the screen, it was a number that wasn't saved on my phone. I frowned. Who would call me? Nobody outside the mansion had my number.
“Hello?” I answered.
“Hello, miss,” a calm, unfamiliar male voice said. “Are you done with classes? I’m here to pick you up.”
“Pick me up? Who are you?
“I’m the driver,” he said.
I frowned. “This isn't the driver's voice.”
“I’m the other driver, Miss Soraya.The other one’s out of town. Darius got delayed with work today so he couldn’t come.”
I was suddenly short of words.
“Are you done for the day, miss?”
My brows drew together. The only people who had my number were from the house. I swallowed and tried to steady my voice. “I’m done. Where are you?”
“I’m parked outside. It’s a black car,” he answered.
“Alright.” I slid my phone into my pocket and walked out of the school gate.
Outside, black cars lined the curb. I squinted against the sunlight, trying to spot the one with the driver from the voice, but they all looked the same.
I suddenly felt uneasy. Maybe I should call Darius and ask him about it. I was about to make a call when something cold held around my wrist.
My breath hitched. I turned to find a tall man looming over me. His face was hidden by a mask; he was broad, bigger than anyone I’d seen at school. He grabbed my hand and pulled me toward the quieter side lane.
“Who are you? Let go of me!” I shouted, twisting, but his grip was strong.
“Don’t be difficult,” he said. “Don’t you want me to drop you home?”
“Let me go! I’m going to call the police!” I fumbled for my phone, fingers shaking.
He yanked my arm hard, and my phone fell from my hand, the screen hitting the pavement with a cracked sound.
I lunged to grab it but he slapped me hard.
“Please” I tried again, my voice breaking. “Let me go—”
His other hand came up and hit my cheek. Pain exploded through my face and the world tilted for a second. I tasted blood in my mouth.
“Shut up,” he hissed, anger flaring in his masked face. “You’re lucky the boss told us not to kill you or hurt you badly, little missy. Otherwise your head wouldn’t be on your shoulders right now.”
“Your boss? Who are you?” I whispered, my voice shaking badly. “What do you want from me?”
His grip tightened on my shoulders until they ached. “Now you’re talking smart,” he sneered. His breath smelled of smoke and liquor. “I don’t have time to answer your stupid questions before your stupid mate comes here. Listen.”
He leaned so close I could see the shadow of his eyes beneath the mask. “This is a warning from my boss. Stay away from Darius Dovenia. Stay away from anything that has to do with him or I’ll kill you. And I’ll kill him.”
My head spun. “What are you…why would I listen to you? What business is this of yours?” I tried to pull free. He slapped me so hard my ear rang.
“How dare you?” he hissed, and kicked me hard in the side, the world tilting as pain flared under my ribs. He grabbed my face, fingers digging into my jaw. “I am one of the Patriarch’s men. I'm part of his militia. This is his message from him. Run away from Darius. Stay away or you’ll be nothing.”
I tasted blood where his hand had hit my lip. My cheek burned hot. I tried to form a reply but nothing sensible came.
“You’re lucky the boss ordered us not to kill you,” he said again, clearing wishes he could kill me. “Otherwise I would have smashed your face in.” He laughed.
“Remember my warning.” He kicked me in the stomach then walked away before I could even gather myself.
My head throbbed, my vision blurred. My phone lay a few feet away, the screen cracked. I tried to crawl for it but my hands felt heavy.
I couldn't tell how long I had stayed there. The city moved around me, people distant and oblivious, but I couldn’t call to them. My voice wouldn't even cross.
When I finally tried to push myself up, the world tilted.
“Where is she?”
That voice… I knew that voice.
“Darius…” I whispered, though the sound barely left my lips.
Then I saw Darius rushing towards me. His expression twisting the moment his eyes found me.
“Soraya—what the shit?!” His voice cracked with panic as he rushed toward me. He dropped to his knees, his arms instantly around me, pulling me against his chest. “You’re hurt. What happened?”
I tried to speak, but my mouth trembled. The words just wouldn’t come.
Sam’s voice came from behind. “Her phone!” He bent, picking it up from the dirt. The screen was spiderwebbed with cracks.
“Darius, I…They…” My throat tightened. I couldn’t form it. Everything stung, my cheek, my shoulders, even breathing hurt.
“Ah, Soraya…” Darius clenched his jaw hard. “How did this happen?”
He scooped me up effortlessly, his heartbeat hammering against my ear.
“We’re taking her to the infirmary,” Sam said, already running ahead. “Mr. Elvis! show us the infirmary!”
The hallway blurred past. I heard voices and footsteps, but my body felt like it wasn’t mine anymore.
Darius laid me gently on the narrow bed. “I’ll get the nurse,” Mr. Elvis said, then hurried away.
The moment we were alone, Darius brushed my hair back, his touch trembling. “Soraya… What happened? Why did you leave without calling me? Hey…What happened?”
I swallowed, my lips shaking. “The… Patriarch…” I managed to whisper.