CHAPTER TEN
I walked out of the room, pulling myself away from the bond that was screaming at me to do something I have no business doing. Deep down, even without my wolf's whining, I wanted to damn the consequences and gather her in my arms, screaming to the world that she's mine.
But me and her? We're not normal. We don't get to have everything and the little we get, we have to fight tooth and nail to keep it.
That's the sad life of a dark wolf in a world where you're despised for being stronger than the others.
I'd spent years searching for my mate, for the final answer to my prayers to the moon goddess. Despite the turbulent life I'd lived, I'd finally accepted my fate and tried to make do with the situation at hand. I probably didn't deserve one with how much I was deceiving everyone around me but that was the only way I could survive.
I still remember coming back to my pack after straying too far with my wolf only to find everyone slaughtered and the entire place in flames.
No single soul was left alive.
I went through the rubbles, seeing familiar faces, children that I'd played with all killed, simply for being different.
I wanted to stay back, to rebuild and find a way to avenge my people but I was just a boy and although I'd shifted too early at the young age of eight, I was still too young. Not strong enough.
And our enemies weren't just the Blue Moon Pack’s alpha who came to avenge his dead mate, it was every wolf who didn't have a streak of dark fur on their back. Everyone hated Dark wolves so how was I supposed to fight against the whole world?
So I learned to control my wolf, and the power I once used to hide from my mother by shifting into a rabbit, was now used to create the image of the perfect white wolf.
And most importantly, I'd laid to rest my thirst for revenge. It was either that or get killed.
For the last six years, I'd carefully curated my life and reputation in this pack and I was at a place where I could finally relax and having my mate would have been the perfect addition.
But I didn't get a normal mate like Jake who had brown fur and her father was a normal warrior in the neighboring pack; mine was just like me and I could swear she didn't come here to assimilate into pack life after nearly dying at the hand of backstabbing rogues as I did.
I wanted to give her space, some time to think about her decision and hopefully the bond would soften her resolve but I didn't want to get entangled in Belinda's hold again. I'd definitely snap if she touched me right then.
So I decided to go for a run
I turned towards the direction where she'd come from and began shifting, away from the eyes of the guards that took orders from me.
I gave Storm control and it was only after a few minutes did I realize he was trailing her scent, tracing where she'd come from.
We were at it for a while and it wasn't ending so I forced him to turn back before somebody started asking questions. I didn't want anyone finding out she's my mate, at least not until I've decided what to do with her.
I quickly got back to the pack and headed back in. My lodge was at the edge of the boundary, I preferred staying there rather than with everyone else in the pack so I easily slid into the house and I quickly put on some clothes.
I walked into my room only to see her sitting up on the bed.
Our eyes locked, and the silence stretched between us, shaking with everything we weren’t saying. The bond thrummed harder, urging me to close the distance between us, to press my lips to hers, to claim what fate insists is mine.
But I didn’t move. Neither did she.
Her hand twitched, as if she wanted to strike me, or touch me, or maybe both. She just shook her head, looked at me like I’m the enemy and the answers to every question she never wanted to ask.
“I should be terrified,” I admitted, trying to distract myself from the desire that filled me at the sight of her. “You carry a legacy that destroyed kingdoms. You wear the blood of traitors and gods alike. You’re a black wolf, born of shadow and everything I was sworn to destroy if it ever appeared again. And yet”
“And yet the bond tied me to you. Fate in its cruellest form.” She whispers wryly, finally letting it slip that I was right. But it didn't bring me the satisfaction I was hoping for, it filled me with dread. She wasn't safe here. “So what now?” she asked. “Report me to the council of elders?” “Or wait, reject me?” she asked, her eyes blazing with defiance and unshed tears.
How many times has she held in her tears, unable to truly be herself? I felt so sad that she'd had such a difficult life with no one to help. The last we'd heard of her, she was burnt and unrecognisable but seeing her now, I couldn't help but imagine the hell she must have been through to get here. Her eyes held so much pain and anger and something told me she was here to disrupt everything.
“No, I can't reject you,” I shook my head, the thought alone bringing me immense pain. “You've been in enough pain already but you need to heal and leave before someone else figures out who you are.”
“But you're still here, why do I have to leave?” She questioned, her eyes sharp and staring me down.
“What are you talking about? I'm an enforcer to the Alpha, I belong here.”
“Oh do you?” She smirked, “does he know?”
“Know what?” I demanded, my blood boiling with tension.
“Darius,” she called my name with a faint smile that didn't reach her eyes, “I've removed every single teller to my true form so I was wondering how you figured it out. But now I realize how. Only a dark wolf can recognize another. So does your Alpha know that you're a dark wolf?”
The blood in my veins stilled in shock.