Chapter Seventy Four

Chapter Seventy Four
Darius pov 

Alpha Jagger. 
Peace talk.
Do these people even know who they’re talking about? The Jagger I know doesn’t even understand the meaning of the word peace.
My hand tightened on the envelope as if holding it could somehow anchor me against the storm inside. The weight of it pressed into my palm, I had never imagined I would set foot in the Vargbane Pack again, not after everything they had done to me.
My legs felt like lead as I trudged to my room, sweat dripping down my skin as if I had just come out of water. I went straight to the bathroom and turned on the cold shower, hoping the icy water would calm my nerves. But it didn’t. The water burned across my skin, and still the tension in my chest refused to ease. My hands trembled slightly as I gripped the edge of the sink, and my breathing came in shallow, uneven pulls.
I exhaled sharply and stepped out of the shower, my eyes locked on the envelope on the table. It seemed to mock me with its stillness. Could Lucian have discovered the truth? Was this some kind of setup, and I was walking right into it? The thought made my stomach tighten, a cold knot forming in my gut and for a moment, I just stared, frozen, wishing I could unsee what I knew was waiting for me.
“Council making peace with Alpha Jagger, and he agreed?” I scoffed. “The man I know would never agree to anything peaceful with anyone, let alone the white wolves. So they want to blow his cover? Or… maybe they agreed just to make him the council leader.”
I threw myself onto the bed, the weight of everything pressing tight against my chest.My muscles ached from tension, and my hands clenched into fists. I kept turning, my wolf wincing at every restless movement. Sleep might have solved this, but it had abandoned me too. My jaw was tight, my breathing shallow, and for a moment, I just stared at the ceiling, wishing the world would stop spinning long enough for me to think.
I hummed random songs, trying to keep my mind from drifting back to the past. But it kept pulling at me, twisting in my chest. I needed to channel these emotions, to figure out how to disguise myself, or I might never come back. And if I didn’t… What would happen to Iris? To the future of my kind?



Morning came, and I eyed the clothes I had laid out in the corner at midnight. Sleep hadn’t come, so I had made better use of the hours.
Which of these would make me look different? My eyes lingered on each choice, noting the smallest details that might give me an edge. I dressed carefully, searching for the one that could hide any resemblance to Daruis, then checked myself in the mirror. Nothing I did seemed to alter the reflection staring back at me. I was still the same in every outfit.
I ran a hand through my hair, adjusted the collar of my shirt, and shifted my stance. Today wasn’t just another day; it was the day I would set foot on the land I had sworn never to return to in all these years. And I had to be ready.
I massaged the sage oil into my body for the third or fourth time, just a few drops from last week, but I needed to be soaked in it. The scent clung to my skin and seemed to steady my thoughts. I folded the remaining clothes I had picked and placed them carefully into my travelling bag. 
I looked around to make sure everything was in place. The thought that I might never see Iris again weighed on my chest, and I couldn’t decide whether I should go to her or face my fate.
I made my way to her room, inhaled deeply, and let the worry and fear ease my tensed shoulders. I knocked lightly before opening the door. She was just coming out of the bathroom as I stepped in.
“Where are you going dressed like this?” she asked in a sleepy voice, yawning.
“Don’t I look good?” I asked, frowning slightly to hide the tension gnawing at my chest, and dropped the bag on the floor.
“No, you look great. Haven’t seen you like this,” she teased, trying to sit on the bed.
I pulled her up and embraced her in a tight hug. The warmth of her body was the only anchor keeping me from losing myself to the fear clawing at my mind. I didn’t want to let go. I pressed my face to her hair, inhaling the faint scent of her shampoo, and held back the tears that threatened to spill.
Every instinct told me danger was waiting just beyond the walls, that the next step I took could change everything. And yet, in this brief moment, I clung to her like the world depended on it because, in a way, it did.
“What’s wrong?” she murmured under her breath as my grip tightened around her.
“Nothing, love. I’ll be out for a few days. Promise me you’ll keep practicing, perfecting your ability? Don’t lose focus, Iris. Remember that,” I replied, gently pushing her away and pecking her forehead.
Her eyes searched mine, and I fought to keep control of myself, squinting slightly.
“You jealous, MF?” she smirked, reaching for my forehead. “What happened? How did you get another wound on your scar?”
My hand instinctively touched it. I realized I was tracing the scar given to me by that same Vargbane Alpha.
“I just…” My voice faltered as she placed her hand over the wound. Her eyes closed for a moment, then opened, and the scar had healed.
“See? I’ll be practicing,” she murmured with a small smile. I pulled her into another hug.
“Be careful.” I pecked her neck, savoring her scent one more time. “I should get going.” I slowly pulled away and picked up my bag.
“Be safe,” her voice echoed softly as I shut the door. I held her words in my chest a moment longer, refusing to let them fade.