CHAPTER 50

Maya's POV

The air was heavy as if the walls were working together to conceal something. In Darius's room, I perched on the side of the bed and tried to control my breathing. I could still hear the mark's faint throb in my veins, like an unavoidable drumbeat. I was shaken by whatever had transpired during the attack, whatever that voice was.

But now, I was haunted by more than simply the prophecy or the mark. It was him. Darius, who had vowed to keep me safe with his blazing vows and unwavering resolve. Nevertheless, I couldn't get rid of the impression that there was more lurking in the shadows, a truth he wasn't ready to share.

I heard the crisp, commanding sound of muffled voices through the heavy wooden door. Despite my hesitation, curiosity prevailed. I got off the bed and padded to the door.

Suffocatingly narrow, the hallway's typical silence was now alive with tension that coiled in my chest like a snake about to bite. Deep and as harsh as steel, Darius's voice floated through the gap in the office door.

“Midnight Pack’s autonomy has always been respected,” he said, his tone carefully controlled. “You have no right to dictate how I handle my pack.”

Another voice responded, colder and dripping with authority. “Your defiance is no longer tolerable, Alpha Blackthorne. If you keep siding with rogues and defying our orders, the Council must step in.”

My heartbeat quickened as I froze. Having to step in? The words were a veiled threat, but the implications were anything but subtle.

Darius’s reply was a growl, low and lethal. “Step in? I’d like to see you try.”

“You’re on thin ice, Darius,” the voice shot back. “Your recent actions reflect poorly on the Council’s judgment in allowing you unchecked power. If you cannot control your territory, we’ll appoint someone who can.”

The threat weighed hard on me, causing my stomach to turn into knots.The Council had always been a distant, looming presence, but this was the first time they had actively challenged Darius’s authority.

“Get out,” Darius barked, his Alpha authority reverberating through the space like thunder.

After a lengthy wait, the footfall sound faded away, leaving a deafening silence behind.

I tried to calm my pounding heart by leaning against the wall. With a growl that echoed faintly in my consciousness, my wolf roused uneasily. “We can’t let this happen,” she whispered, her voice laced with urgency.

I shoved the door open before I could stop myself. "What was that about?"

Darius's black eyes narrowed as his head snapped up. "Maya."

“Don’t ‘Maya’ me,” I said, stepping fully into the room and shutting the door behind me. “The Council is threatening to take control of the Midnight Pack, and you weren’t going to tell me?”

His face tensed, the storm building in his eyes reflecting the turbulence in my chest.

“It’s not your burden to carry,” he said finally, his voice softer but no less firm.

"Not my burden?" My frustration boiled to the surface as I crossed my arms. “This isn’t just about you, Darius. It’s about all of us, your pack, our future. You don’t get to keep me in the dark.”

I didn't want to worry you." He said, running a hand through his hair. "For months, the Council has been keeping an eye on me. This is just their latest attempt to undermine my authority.”

"Undermine?" My rage building, I took a step closer.

"Darius, they're threatening to replace you. That’s not just undermining; that’s dangerous.”

He clenched his jaw and turned away, pacing the room like a predator in a cage.“I can handle it.”

"Can you?" I challenged, keeping my eyes on his moves. "Because it doesn't appear to be. You can’t fight this alone, Darius. Let me help you.”

He came to a sudden halt, his eyes meeting mine. There was a brief but noticeable vulnerability in his eyes. "I do not wish to involve you in this mess."

I moved into his personal space and remarked, “You’re not dragging me anywhere,” I said, stepping into his space. “I’m choosing to stand beside you. You’re my mate. We face this together, or not at all.”

He was silent for a while. Then he cupped my face in his hands, his touch firm but tender, and sighed resignedly. With a note of fondness in his voice, he whispered, "You're too stubborn for your own good. "

I shot back, a tiny smile pulling at my lips despite the tension, "And you love me for it.”

His lips touched mine, timid and gentle at first, then more profound and more pressing. The kiss reminded me of how strong we were together.

“I do love you,” he whispered against my lips. “More than anything.”

I drew back a little with my hand over his cheek. “Then stop trying to protect me by shutting me out. We’re in this together, Darius. No more secrets.”

"I promise," he said in a sincere and unvarnished voice.

A harsh knock echoed through the room before I could answer.

"Alpha,” Evelyn urgently yelled, from the other side of the door.

Darius gave me a low growl, pressing his forehead against mine for a second before moving away.

"Enter."

Evelyn came in, looking serious.“The Council’s messenger is still within the territory. They’re demanding an immediate response.”

Darius's shoulders tensed, and his face grew serious. "Then they will receive one."

I placed a hand on his arm, grounding him. “Remember, Darius. We’re stronger together.”

His jaw was clenched with resolve as he nodded. Evelyn was about to leave a sudden chill swept through the room. It wasn’t the physical kind—this was deeper, more instinctual, and it set every nerve in my body on edge.

My wolf stirred again, her presence stronger than before. Do you feel that? she whispered.

“I feel it,” I murmured, my voice barely audible.

With a worried expression on his face, Darius turned to face me. "What is it?"

“I don’t know,” I admitted, but deep down, I knew this was only the beginning.

As the cold worsened, I sensed a pull from deep within that felt like an unseen thread guiding me toward something or someone. Whatever it was, it wouldn't wait for us to be prepared.