Chapter 5
1180 Words
Darius's POV.
I could barely see his face at this point. What caught my attention was the white collar he wore. But from his voice, I could tell he didn’t have great news for me.
“I’m waiting,” I said, trying to remain optimistic, hoping he’d tell me what I wanted to hear.
He looked around, first making sure no one was close to us, that no one was watching.
“Your father was a great king, but I’m afraid I don’t know what really happened to him that day. I arrived after he was killed. I only found his body and you lying half-dead on the ground,” he informed me briefly.
I couldn’t recall anything because I was little, and most of the elders stated I had hit my head, leaving my mind a blank slate, which made me even more curious.
“He tried his best to save you from what I saw, King Darius, and that’s why he cursed you so you wouldn’t be able to know what happened that night,” Elder Murphy revealed, making my eyes snap wide.
Without another thought, I grabbed him by the collar and pulled him closer to my face, my eyes glaring deeply into his.
I could sense his fear, his unease, and his racing heart. How did he know about my curse?
“That is one secret no one knows about—not even Elder Han. How did you know that? Did you send a spy to monitor me?” I questioned angrily, but he immediately shook his head.
“That’s not the case, King Darius, please… hear me out,” he pleaded with shaky breaths.
“I’m listening. Speak, or you might not see the dawn of a new day in the Howling Pack!” I threatened coldly.
My curse was one thing I knew could be used against me. It stood as a weakness, and as a king of a pack, I couldn’t afford to have any weakness, no matter what.
“I arrived late to the scene, like I said, but I saw it—your father’s hand on you, his curse words spoken with a bitter look. He didn’t do this to hurt you… as I said, he was trying to protect you.”
Immediately, I pushed him away from my grip, my anger boiling over as my fists clenched. “Cursing me was to protect me? Have you gone insane?”
“You can’t know your mate, King Darius. It’ll put you in harm’s way, which I’m certain you’re not ready for,” Elder Murphy warned. But why did I feel nothing but curiosity to know more about the past?
It would break me; it would hurt me. But I still wanted to know about it.
“That’s enough. You should leave now!” I commanded, letting him off the hook. “But the second I hear about this anywhere, I won’t hesitate to slit your throat. Is that clear?”
“I promise to do as you’ve told me, King Darius!” With a swift bow and fear in every move, he turned on his heels and dashed out of sight, probably heading back to the Moon Lord Pack.
His words still echoed in my mind. No matter how much I tried to push them aside, I just couldn’t. My father wasn’t good; he didn’t curse me to protect me. He was just being the wicked king he had always been.
My fingers dug into my skin, and I gritted my teeth in rage and disappointment. I had really thought Elder Murphy would know the real truth.
Just as I was still reeling in rage, his scent came closer to where I stood.
“It’s time to leave, King Darius,” Beta Derek informed me.
I didn’t say a word. I didn’t complain or ask for anything else. I turned on my heels and followed him silently to the car.
The second I got in, and he did too, he ignited the engine, and we zoomed out of sight, heading toward the pack house.
It was a silent drive back to the pack house. I could sense Derek’s eyes on me through the rearview mirror, but I didn’t talk to him. I bet he wanted to know what Elder Murphy and I had discussed, but for now, it was best to keep it to myself.
“We’ve arrived,” he informed me, pulling me out of my deep thoughts.
Turning to look out of the car, I realized he wasn’t just saying it to pull my leg. Without hesitation, I climbed out of the car and headed straight into the pack’s mansion.
I was going to silently head to my room, get a quick bath, and go to sleep, but just as I was about to walk into my room, I halted abruptly at the sight of Sara’s door slightly open.
“Is she still up?” I muttered softly under my breath as I began to walk toward her room.
The moment I reached the door, I saw her lying on her bed, peacefully asleep. The soft rise and fall of her breathing made it clear she was deep in her dreams. She must have forgotten to close the door all the way.
I planned to quietly close it and leave, heading back to my room to get some rest. But my feet wouldn’t move.
Something about her pulled me in, stronger than reason. My chest tightened, and my heart beat faster as I stood there, caught between what I should do and what I wanted to do.
Unable to resist, I stepped into her room, gently closing the door behind me. The sound barely broke the silence, but my pulse pounded like thunder in my ears.
As I drew closer, I couldn’t help but stare. Her face was so calm, her features soft in the dim light. My eyes traced the curve of her lips—full, red, and so inviting they left me breathless.
I clenched my fists, trying to snap myself out of it. What the hell is wrong with you, Darius? I scolded myself. You can’t feel this way. It could all be a trap—a cruel game set by High Lord Ash. You can’t fall for her.
But no matter how much I reasoned with myself, I couldn’t look away. The pull was too strong, too overwhelming.
Before I realized it, I was sitting on the edge of her bed. My hand moved on its own, brushing back a few loose strands of her hair. My fingers lingered for a moment, barely grazing her skin, but the warmth of that brief touch sent shivers down my spine.
I swallowed hard, my throat dry. My body felt like it was on fire, every nerve alight with one desperate, aching desire. Claim her. Possess her. Make her mine.
I shut my eyes, fighting against the need that threatened to consume me. But the more I fought, the harder it became to pull away.
“Fuck.”
- Writer
