Chapter 161 We Rule
Darius stood in the middle of the room with his eyes fixed on the man standing in the doorway. The tray of food remained on the table behind him, forgotten the moment he recognized the face that had stepped inside.
The silence between them stretched for a few seconds.
Darius could feel his chest rising slowly as disbelief struggled against what his eyes clearly saw.
The man in the doorway looked older than the memories Darius carried from childhood, yet the resemblance was undeniable. The same strong jawline. The same dark eyes that had once looked down at him with pride whenever he ran through the yard as a boy.
The man finally spoke.
"Son."
The word echoed softly through the room.
Darius felt something inside his chest shift.
The tension that had held his body still broke immediately as he stepped forward. Then he moved faster until the distance between them disappeared.
He wrapped his arms around the man without hesitation.
For a moment neither of them spoke.
Darius closed his eyes tightly while holding onto him as if afraid the man might disappear again.
His voice came out strained when he finally spoke.
"They told me you were dead."
His grip tightened slightly.
"They said you were torn apart in the forest."
Balad lifted one hand and rested it on the back of Darius's head while holding him close.
Darius pulled back slightly so he could look at his father's face again.
"They said Fernando's father's secret armies hunted you down," Darius continued while shaking his head slowly. "They told me they found pieces of your body scattered in the forest."
Balad watched him quietly.
Darius's eyes had grown wet as the weight of those old memories resurfaced.
"I believed them," he admitted quietly. "For years I believed them."
Balad raised his hand and wiped the moisture from Darius's cheek.
"Do not cry," he said gently.
Darius tried to steady his breathing.
Balad smiled faintly.
"The important thing is that we are standing here together again."
Darius nodded slowly.
His eyes studied his father's face carefully as if trying to confirm that he was truly real.
"I still cannot believe this," he said.
Balad placed his hand on Darius's shoulder.
"I understand."
Darius looked at him again.
"How did you survive?"
The question came out quickly.
"They told me you were surrounded."
Balad's expression softened slightly.
"They said the armies chased you deep into the forest before they tore you apart."
Darius paused before speaking again.
"I spent years wondering how it happened."
Balad gave a quiet chuckle.
"It is a long story."
Darius leaned forward slightly.
"I want to hear it."
Balad shook his head gently.
"Not right now."
Darius frowned.
"Why not?"
Balad glanced briefly toward the door as if reminding himself where they were standing.
"There are more pressing matters we must deal with first."
Darius straightened slightly.
His curiosity remained but the seriousness in his father's tone made him listen carefully.
"What matters?"
Balad looked directly into his son's eyes.
"I know about your plans."
Darius's brow furrowed slightly.
"My plans?"
Balad nodded once.
"Your plot to take control of the pack."
Darius did not deny it.
Instead he folded his arms slowly.
"That seat was mine in the first place."
Balad watched him calmly.
"If Fernando's father had not been greedy then none of this would have happened."
Balad nodded slowly.
"There is truth in what you are saying."
Darius continued speaking.
"He took what never belonged to him."
Balad's expression turned thoughtful.
"My own foolishness played a role as well."
Darius looked at him.
"What do you mean?"
Balad gave a small smile.
"There were mistakes I made many years ago."
Darius studied his face carefully.
"Mistakes that allowed him to take power?"
Balad nodded.
"I underestimated the hunger for power that existed within that man."
Darius's jaw tightened slightly.
"And we paid the price."
Balad rested his hand on Darius's shoulder again.
"History cannot be undone."
Darius exhaled slowly.
"But the future can still be changed."
Balad smiled faintly.
"Exactly."
Darius glanced toward the door briefly before returning his attention to his father.
"Where are Alberto and the others?"
Balad's expression changed slightly.
He walked further into the room and closed the door behind him before answering.
"I sent them away."
Darius frowned.
"Sent them where?"
Balad met his gaze directly.
"To Maleek."
The name caused Darius to straighten immediately.
"Maleek?"
Balad nodded.
Darius stepped closer.
"What does Maleek want with Alberto?"
Balad's voice remained calm.
"He intends to use Alberto's blood."
Darius frowned deeply.
"For what purpose?"
Balad answered slowly.
"To strengthen the puppet armies."
Darius's eyes narrowed.
"And after that?"
Balad's voice grew colder.
"He will destroy Alberto's inner core."
The words hung in the room.
Darius stared at him.
"The core that strengthens his wolf," Balad continued. "Once that power is gone Alberto will no longer stand in the way of anything."
Darius processed the information silently for a moment.
"And then?"
Balad's eyes remained steady.
"Then we take control of the werewolf clans."
Darius nodded slowly as he considered the plan.
"So Maleek builds the armies."
Balad nodded.
"And we claim the throne once the opposition collapses."
Darius folded his arms again.
"Fernando will never surrender the pack willingly."
Balad smiled faintly.
"He will not have a choice."
Darius looked thoughtful.
"Then what do you need from me?"
Balad did not hesitate.
"I need you to return to Fernando."
Darius looked at him carefully.
"You want me back at his side?"
Balad nodded.
"You will continue pretending to support him."
Darius's expression became serious.
"And while I stand beside him I gather information."
Balad nodded.
"Exactly."
Darius considered the plan carefully.
"And Rowan?"
Balad's face darkened slightly.
"Rowan cannot be allowed to interfere."
Darius understood immediately.
"You want him dead."
Balad met his gaze without hesitation.
"Yes."
The word settled heavily between them.
Darius walked slowly across the room while thinking.
"If Rowan discovers what we are planning he will try to stop us."
Balad nodded.
"He already suspects too much."
Darius looked back at him.
"Then removing him would solve many problems."
Balad agreed quietly.
Darius leaned against the edge of the table while thinking through the situation.
"There is a complication."
Balad raised an eyebrow.
"What complication?"
Darius looked directly at him.
"Fernando already suspects my involvement in certain past events."
Balad remained calm.
"Then you must convince him otherwise."
Darius nodded slowly.
"I will return to him as you asked."
Balad waited.
"But I will need proof."
Balad frowned slightly.
"Proof of what?"
Darius gestured toward the room around them.
"Proof that I escaped from this place."
Balad studied him carefully.
"And what kind of proof do you suggest?"
Darius spoke without hesitation.
"You should beat me."
Balad blinked once.
"Beat you?"
Darius nodded.
"Badly enough that Fernando believes I barely survived."
Balad remained silent while considering the suggestion.
Darius continued.
"You should also inject me with puppet poison."
Balad looked intrigued.
"And wolf weakening poison as well."
Balad tilted his head slightly.
"You are willing to endure that?"
Darius met his gaze calmly.
"If it convinces Fernando then yes."
Balad walked closer.
"You are certain about this?"
Darius nodded firmly.
"If I return unharmed then Fernando will never believe I escaped."
Balad studied his son's face carefully.
"But if I return beaten and poisoned then he will think I barely survived whatever happened here."
Balad allowed a slow smile to appear.
"You have grown clever."
Darius gave a faint shrug.
"I learned from the best."
Balad nodded approvingly.
"Very well."
Darius straightened.
"When do we begin?"
Balad's smile remained as he looked at him carefully.
"Soon."