Chapter 6 Chapter 6

Chapter 6

Darius Pov

Before the guard knocked on the door, I had already caught her scent.

It still lingered in my mind.

From the woods.

Where I had almost lost control of my wolf.

It had taken all the strength in me to regain control.

The Moonstone Beta’s daughter, Kira, sat elegantly before me, her expression calm and her posture composed like she had practiced for years.

Ragnak had picked her because he believed an alliance with the Beta’s bloodline would strengthen ties between the packs.

My eyes caught Ragnak’s who stood by the door, and he slightly raised a brow.

Only then did I realize I hadn’t responded to Kira’s question. She had asked when the Luna ceremony would take place.

The Luna ceremony.

I had agreed to it because tradition demanded it.

Because Ragnak had laid out every political reason it made sense, and I had listened because I had no argument against it.

“Alpha Darius?” Kira’s voice was smooth, tilting with forced patience. “The ceremony. When shall we announce it?”

My fingers tapped once against the armrest before going still.

I didn’t like distractions, and yet my gaze had flickered to the door just as the guard knocked.

Right on time.

The door opened slowly, and her scent drifted through the room, soft yet intoxicating.

My wolf slammed into me with a force that made my fingers curl against the armrest.

Mate

He growled, echoing at the back of my mind.

I stilled him, but he didn’t retreat completely. He lingered, pacing underneath my skin and watching her.

I watched her step into the room carefully, her head hanging low.

Something in my chest tightened as I stared at her.

I ignored it.

Her clothes had been changed, and she looked different in them.

Simple but clean.

But it didn’t suit this room. It was far too plain for the court.

“She's awake," The guard said, then he bowed and left.

I studied her for a moment.

“Look up,” I said.

She slowly raised her head and looked at me. Her eyes met mine for just a second.

Then they shifted to Kira.

My jaw tightened, and my wolf snarled. The reaction was instant and irrational, and I buried it before it could resurface.

As they exchanged glances, something in her changed.

Tension. Fear.

For a moment, the room quieted.

“What’s she doing here?’’ Kira spoke softly, her gaze flickering between us.

I tore my gaze away from her and glanced at Kira.

She smiled gently, her expression calculated as she looked at me.

I ignored her.

“Who sent you?” My voice cut through the silence, almost startling her as her eyes moved back to me.

“N—no one…” She tried to speak, but her voice barely came out.

“Speak up!” My voice echoed in the room, and her eyes dropped to the floor, her hands trembling.

She swallowed, trying to form a word.

“No one!” she said, louder now, fear breaking through her voice.

My gaze darkened.

From the corner of my eye, I saw Ragnak step further into the room.

Freya froze.

She hadn’t noticed him before.

“Leave us,” I said slowly, turning to Kira.

Her composure cracked slightly, and confusion etched across her face, but she smiled suddenly, a smile that didn’t reach her eyes.

She slowly stood and bowed. Her gaze shifted to Freya and Freya met it.

Kira smiled at me once more before the door clicked shut behind her.

The silence in the room grew thicker and pressed around us.

I rose slowly, deliberately, and moved around the heavy oak table. Freya watched me, her attention fully turned to me.

I stepped closer until the distance between us no longer felt enough.

Her breath hitched as I drew closer.

Mine

The word came out uninvited. Possessive.

My wolf howled restlessly at the back of my mind.

Every instinct in me pushed forward to close the distance between us, but I stopped myself before it could take root.

“How did the poison get into the goblet?”

“I—I don’t know…I was told to serve you from a different goblet,” she rushed, barely catching a breath.

I wanted to cross the room to her and watch every flicker of expression on her face. But I decided against it.

I couldn’t continue to succumb to my wolf.

“By whom?”

“The head maid,” she replied softly.

I said nothing.

Just watched her.

Letting the silence stretch between us long enough for the truth to start clawing its way out of her, if there was one.

I had interrogated enough wolves in my lifetime to know when a lie was being told, but everything about her pointed to the truth. And I didn’t like it.

“Why did you try to escape?” I asked again, my eyes not leaving her. “Why didn’t you stay to prove your innocence?”

Her fingers curled into the fabric of her dress, gripping it tightly. She raised her head slightly despite her fear.

“Would anyone have believed me?”

Her answer hung in the room heavily, stopping me cold internally.

The question wasn't meant to be answered, and we both knew it.

I turned away abruptly, putting distance between us before I did something I couldn’t undo.

“You remain here until the investigation is over,” I announced sharply.

“Am I your prisoner?” I heard her ask.

Ragnak’s eyes caught mine briefly, watching carefully and waiting for me to reply. He already knew exactly what this was.

I paused, my back turned to her.

My jaw clenched. “Yes.”

The word came out cold, cruel, and final.

But as the silence settled again, I knew the reason I was keeping her had nothing to do with the investigation.