Chapter Sixty Four

Chapter Sixty Four
My eyes shot open as I jerked up from the bed, my breath hitching sharply. My heart was thudding so hard it felt like it was trying to punch its way out of my chest.

This fucking dream again.

Same way. Same damn sequence, like someone hit replay on my panic.

I press my palms to my face, trying to steady my breathing, but the images cling to me. It feels so real, like it actually happened. I don’t even know why it rattled me this much. I just know I don’t want to close my eyes again.

Flashes of what happened the first day I had the dream came.

Will today not be a success? Will my kind not escape?

Why this dream today of all days?

I shouldn’t have broken the orb. If I hadn’t, maybe I’d know what’s happening over there. Maybe I wouldn’t be sitting here choking on dread. What if Darius is right and I don’t want to see what will happen there? What if I get there and mess everything up like I always do? What if…

What if

What if

“Ahhh!”

The scream tore out of me before I could swallow it down. Too much was crashing through my head at once, thoughts slamming into each other so hard it felt like my skull couldn’t hold my brain anymore.

I squeezed my eyes shut, gripping the sheets, wishing the world would just stop spinning for a second, just one second, so I could breathe.

Darius’s scent drifted in first, then a soft knock followed before the door creaked open. He stepped inside, settling beside me, his eyes locked on my face like he could read every thought I was trying to hide.

“You don’t look good,” he breathed, his fingers tracing my knuckles.

“I had…” I cut myself off. What was the point of admitting a stupid dream had shaken me like this? He’d probably laugh about it. “Just some stupid flashbacks that kept me on my toes, that’s all.” I lied, forcing my voice to stay steady.

He leaned back against the wall, watching me with that frustratingly calm expression.

“Don’t let what you can’t control define you,” he murmured gently. “One step at a time. You’ll figure it out as you go.”

I let out a long breath, sank back onto the bed, and stared at the ceiling as the tightness in my chest eased.

“Do you really want to come with us?” he asked, and the question dragged my memories that had just faded a few seconds ago. I shut my eyes, forcing myself to play the strong girl I am.

“Yes. Still have a problem with that?” I snapped.

“No.” He shook his head lightly. “We leave before dawn, so we can reach Bloodoak by dawn.”

“Before dawn? What’s the time now?” My eyes flickered around the room. I could’ve sworn it was morning already.

“Iris, you sure you’re alright?” he murmured, leaning closer. “It’s 10 p.m.”

“Yeah, I’m good. Lost track of time. Slept off immediately after I left your place.”

“You need to rest, maybe…”

“I’m fine, Darius. I’m going with you.” I cut him off. “Any other plan?”

He exhaled slowly, tilting his head back, eyes lifting toward the ceiling.

“Lucian shared the plan with me today,” he began, “He said he didn’t mention it before because he wanted to get the full details from Bloodoak Alpha first.” He paused, glancing at me. “The spy said they’re all together around dusk. That’s when they hit.”

His voice dropped low on the last part.

“Any updates on the Dark Wolves? Are they still around?”

“I wanted to ask you that. Do you know anyone? You mentioned it before, like you were connected to someone there.”

“Darius, please,” I cut him off, a sharp edge to my voice.

“Why are you hiding things from me? You know I’m with you, not against you. I don’t know how else to prove myself to you.” His voice deepened into a growl as he pushed up from the bed, rising to his feet.

“We’re the same, Iris. I don’t understand why you’re keeping secrets about things that concern both of us,” he snapped, taking two sharp steps toward the door.

I knew Darius was on my side, but I didn’t know how to admit that my mother, whom we had thought was dead, was alive.

“Darius, please… don’t leave me.”

I shot up from the bed, tears spilling before I could stop them. I reached for him, wrapping my arms around him from behind, holding him like my life depended on his existence.

It does actually. 

“My aunt was killed the night I met Lucian at Wood Creek,” I choked out. “And was so sure he followed me home and killed her, and chased me down. But I’m confused because I thought he knew who I was and was only pretending, but seeing him blindly chasing Zareen’s son … I…I don’t even know anymore.”

Darius slowly turned and gently guided me back to the bed.

“Lucian told Jake and me about rejecting his human mate, and how his meeting with the Wood Creek commander went. If anything else happened, especially if he encountered a Dark Wolf, he would’ve mentioned it.”

He paused, studying my face.

“Initially, I didn’t know what the contact lens we found the day you arrived was for. I only disposed of it because it had your DNA on it. But the night of the mating bond… that’s when I connected the dots that you were his human mate.”

I leaned my head on his shoulder, breathing in the warmth of him.

Darius had been protecting me long before I ever came here, long before he even realized I was his mate.

“My aunt was gripping white fur in her hands even in death. So, who is this white wolf that killed her? And… I’m in contact with my mother.”

His face twisted, confusion and concern pulling at his expression.

“I met her that time you went to war,” I continued, my voice shaking. “I was so angry that I broke the orb we used for communication. Now I can’t relax because I don’t know what’s happening over there. It feels like I’ve messed everything up again.”

He wrapped his arms around me, pulling me into him.

“I told one of us to go and confirm the situation,” he murmured. “But I haven’t heard from him yet.”

His fingers stroked my arm lightly, grounding me.

“We’ll get through this. Together.”

“Let’s go get some food. I’m sure you haven’t eaten,” he urged, tugging me to my feet and guiding me along. “And we’ll need plenty of rest for tomorrow.”