Chapter 44 Another Call
Dagnoth Draculis
I woke long before the sun rose. The sky outside my chamber windows was still dark, painted in deep shades of blue and gray. Sleep had left me hours ago. My mind refused to rest. It kept replaying my conversation with Simone over and over again.
His words clung to me like smoke.
I sat up slowly, rubbing my face with both hands. I hated how unsettled I felt. I had not felt this way in years. Not since I was young and still learning how to rule without letting my emotions rule me first.
I had been Dagnoth Draculis for years without question. King. Alpha. The name alone carried weight. No one challenged me. No one dared to look at me for too long. They feared me, and they respected me. Just the way I preferred it.
Fear was clean, simple and predictable.
But now things were shifting.
Ever since my talk with Simone, I could feel it in the air. I could smell it. The murmurs. The whispers that stopped when I entered a room. The quiet glances exchanged when they thought I was not watching.
I was Dagnoth Draculis. I always knew when people were talking.
I rose from my bed and walked toward the tall mirror near the wall. The room was cold, but I did not feel it. My reflection stared back at me—strong jaw, dark eyes, scars earned through battles and blood. I looked like a king. I looked untouchable.
But my eyes told a different story.
As I stood there, I caught her scent.
It was Sweet and familiar.
I did not need to turn immediately. I had grown accustomed to her smell over the years. It lingered in my chambers, in my sheets, in the air whenever she passed.
Still, I turned.
My Luna stood by the doorway.
She wore a white long skirt with a deep slit that ran up her thigh. The fabric flowed around her legs, elegant and deliberate. She had chosen that outfit carefully. She was on a mission.
“My king,” she said, her voice smoother than usual.
There was something in her tone, It was controlled almost rehearsed.
I gave her a small nod. I did not smile. I rarely did. The nod was enough. It told her to speak.
“I was on my way to have a personal discussion with you, my Alpha,” she began, stepping further into the room. “But on my way, I saw Simone.”
At the mention of that name, something tightened in my chest, I didn’t know why but it did… it seemed like my wolf was telling me something.
My Luna had been my betrothed since we were children. We grew up side by side. Her father was the chief elder, a powerful and respected man in the council. It had always been said that she would be mated to whoever became king.
And that king had become me.
My Luna continued walking slowly, her heels soft against the floor. “The elders seek your presence again,” she added, pursing her lips slightly.
I watched her carefully. She pursed her lips too much. It was subtle, but I noticed everything. She was bothered. Maybe jealous. Maybe worried.
Like I had not expected this.
Of course I had.
I knew exactly what the topic would be. The mate choosing bond. The ancient law. The pressure to secure the bloodline with someone of strong lineage.
To remind me he was strong. Noble. Raised for this role.
But another part of my mind whispered that it might be more than that.
“Did Simone say anything to you?” I asked finally, my voice low and calm.
My Luna’s eyes flickered for a second before she answered. “Nothing important, my king the elders seek you was all he said .”
I turned back to the mirror, staring at myself again. My Luna came closer until she stood behind me. I could see her reflection beside mine.
“We have ruled peacefully for years,” she said softly. “The people respect you. They trust you.”
“They fear me,” I corrected.
She paused. “Yes. They fear you.”
“That is why there is peace.”
Silence filled the room.
I knew what she wanted. She wanted reassurance. She wanted to know if Dahila’s presence threatened her position.
But I did not offer comfort easily.
“The elders will talk,” I said. “They always do.”
“They are growing bold,” she replied carefully. “They believe the kingdom needs a stronger alliance. A mate bond chosen for power.”
“And you believe that too?” I asked, turning slightly to look at her.
Her eyes widened faintly. “No, my king. I stand where you stand.”
Loyal answer.
But loyalty born from love and loyalty born from fear were two different things.
I walked away from the mirror and toward the large window. The first hint of sunrise was breaking through the horizon. Orange light touched the mountains in the distance.
“When I was young,” I said slowly, “I was ruled by emotion. Anger. Pride. Impulse. I learned quickly that a king cannot afford that.”
I glanced at her over my shoulder.
“He reminds me of that time,” she knew exactly who I was talking about.
She frowned slightly. “Because he challenges you?”
“Because he speaks without fear.”
My Luna went quiet again.
He had always been bold. Even as children, she would argue with me when others bowed their heads. She never looked at me like I was something distant or untouchable.
And that was dangerous.
Not because she threatened my power.
But because she reminded me that I was still a man beneath the crown.
“I will attend the elders,” I said at last.
“When?” she asked.
“Today.”
Her shoulders stiffened just slightly. “Shall I accompany you?”
“No.”
The answer came quickly.
This was not a discussion for her ears. Not yet.
She lowered her gaze in understanding. “As you wish, my king.”
I studied her one more time. The white skirt. The slit. The careful tone. She had come prepared to fight for her place, even if she had not said it directly.
“Do not worry about Dahila,” I said finally.
Her eyes lifted to mine, searching for meaning.
A faint smile touched her lips. Relief softened her posture. She bowed her head slightly. “Of course, my Alpha.”
As she turned to leave, her scent lingered in the air again.
When the door closed behind her, the room felt colder.
I faced the rising sun fully now, the elders wanted a decision. The kingdom whispered, Dahila waited and my Luna watched.
I had ruled without question for years. But this—this was not about power alone.
This was about bonds.
About legacy.
About choosing between strength, loyalty, and something far more dangerous.
Feeling.
My jaw tightened.
I was Dagnoth Draculis.
Kings did not waver.
Yet as the sun finally broke over the mountains, I knew one thing clearly—
The peace I had built on fear was beginning to crack.