Southern Hill
1311 Words
After the chaos raging inside Amaris’s heart, she finally went downstairs to the dining room at noon, deeply disappointed in herself, though it was obvious she had to hide it.
Amaris sat in the dining room with Kael, Gretel, and Aldo while several servants finished serving lunch.
The atmosphere was quieter than usual—or at least that was how it felt to her.
Kael took a sip of wine before speaking calmly.
“My brother will arrive within the next few days. He’ll be staying here for a while.”
Amaris immediately looked up.
“I didn’t know you had a brother.”
Kael barely lifted his gaze as he looked at her.
“I do.”
Before he could add anything else, Gretel let out a small amused laugh.
“Darling… you know nothing about Kael.”
Amaris slowly turned her face toward her.
Gretel smiled as she elegantly rested her chin on her hand.
“What a careless wife you are.”
Amaris was about to answer, but at that moment, a maid hurried into the dining room.
“Forgive me for interrupting.”
Everyone looked up, and the young woman quickly lowered her head.
“A letter has arrived for Luna Amaris.”
Amaris frowned slightly and took the envelope the moment the maid handed it to her.
But the second she saw the handwriting on the paper… her heart began pounding violently.
There was a name written on it: Daryl.
Her entire body tensed immediately, and Kael noticed it.
So did Gretel.
Amaris quickly stood from her chair.
“Excuse me.”
Without waiting for a response, she left the dining room, trying to keep calm.
She hurried upstairs to the bedroom and closed the door behind her.
As she stared at the envelope, she couldn’t stop thinking about how unstable Daryl was becoming.
“Daryl is losing his mind…” she whispered.
Without wasting another second, she opened it quickly and began to read.
“This evening, at the first hill to the south, I need to see you. And if you don’t come… I’ll personally go to the mansion. I’m sure Kael would love to hear about what happened between us.”
Amaris felt the air leave her lungs.
“What the hell is wrong with you…?”
Her hands were visibly shaking.
Then she heard the bedroom door open behind her.
She startled immediately and shoved the letter into her pants pocket just as Kael entered the room.
“What’s wrong?” Kael asked directly. “What does that letter say?”
Amaris tried to steady her breathing.
“It’s nothing important.”
Kael took a few steps closer to her, making her even more nervous.
“What happened?”
“Nothing,” she answered too quickly. “It’s just a letter talking about how well everything turned out on my parents’ territory.”
Kael continued watching her for a few seconds, but eventually, he didn’t press further.
Amaris couldn’t endure that gaze for long.
“I’m going back to the dining room,” she said.
And she left the room almost running.
A few seconds later, Kael also returned to the dining room.
When they both sat down again, Aldo placed several documents on the table.
“Kael, we need to finish reviewing the matters concerning the northern territories.”
Kael took another sip from his glass before replying.
“Let’s go.”
Then he looked at Amaris.
“I won’t be at the mansion for the rest of the day.”
She tried to smile, acting like an understanding wife.
“That’s fine.”
Kael and Aldo left the dining room shortly afterward.
And the moment they were alone, Gretel let out a mocking little laugh.
Amaris kept eating as if she hadn’t heard her.
“Whatever that letter said must’ve been terrifying,” Gretel commented calmly. “Because the second you saw who sent it… you went pale.”
Amaris slowly raised her eyes toward her and smiled naturally.
“That’s none of your business.”
Gretel laughed softly while Amaris rose from the table.
Then she left the dining room without another word.
She spent the rest of the day locked inside the bedroom.
The letter rested on the bed while she reread it over and over again.
Her fear grew stronger with every passing hour.
Daryl was completely losing control.
And the worst part was that she knew perfectly well he really was capable of going to Crimson Moon.
Finally, when the sky became completely dark, Amaris made a decision.
“I’m going to put an end to this with Daryl,” she said aloud to herself.
Hours later, taking advantage of the fact that Kael still hadn’t returned to the mansion, she quietly slipped out of Crimson Moon.
She mounted a horse and rode for nearly an hour until she reached the first hill to the south.
The wind was fierce in that elevated part of the territory, but she still saw him.
Daryl stood there, looking down from the hill at the different packs visible in the distance.
When he heard the horse approaching, he quickly turned toward her.
Amaris climbed down from the horse, the anger inside her completely obvious.
“Have you completely lost your mind?”
Daryl slowly walked toward her.
“I’m not crazy.”
His eyes remained fixed entirely on her.
“I’m just in love.”
Amaris couldn’t help laughing in disbelief.
“This stopped being love a long time ago, Daryl.”
“I just want you to listen to me.”
“The only thing I’m going to tell you is that this is the last time you threaten me.”
Daryl stepped closer.
“I’m only doing this because I want to be with you.”
Amaris immediately shook her head.
“That’s never going to happen.”
“Then leave Kael.”
She looked directly at him.
“I’m not leaving him.”
Frustration instantly exploded across Daryl’s face.
“He doesn’t love you!”
His wounded, angry voice echoed through Amaris’s mind.
“It doesn’t matter.”
Daryl froze for a few seconds while Amaris took a deep breath.
“You have no right to interfere in my feelings.”
Daryl tried to step closer again, but Amaris moved backward without calculating the distance.
Everything happened too fast.
Amaris let out a desperate scream before falling down the hill.
Her body rolled violently across the rocks and dirt.
“AMARIS!”
Terror pierced through Daryl like a dagger.
Within seconds, he transformed into a wolf.
The massive gray wolf raced desperately down the hill, trying to reach her.
He finally managed to stop her before she fell any farther.
He quickly shifted back into human form and gathered Amaris into his arms.
She was unconscious, covered in visible scratches and bruises along her arms and legs.
“Damn it…” he said desperately.
Without wasting another second, he carried her in his arms and ran toward Silverstream.
Minutes later, he rushed through the pack’s entrance.
Greyton and Sabrina came out in alarm the moment they saw him arrive carrying Amaris unconscious.
“Amaris!” Sabrina cried out in horror.
Greyton hurried toward them immediately.
“What happened to my daughter?”
Daryl’s breathing was uneven.
“We were talking on the southern hill… she stepped backward and fell.”
Sabrina covered her mouth with both hands, completely terrified, while several healers quickly rushed forward to treat Amaris.
Greyton immediately looked toward one of his men.
“Go to Crimson Moon and inform—”
“No.”
Daryl interrupted him instantly.
Greyton looked at him in confusion while Daryl clenched his jaw.
“I’ll personally go tell Alpha Kael.”
And without waiting for any response… he transformed again and disappeared swiftly into the forest.
- Writer
