Pressing matters
1576 Words
Chapter 019
DARIUS
I pulled back from Sebastian immediately, frustration coursing through me at the interruption. I could feel his disappointment matching my own, but duty came first.
"Stay right here," I told him firmly, keeping my voice low. "Do not come out into the main room no matter what. Do you understand?"
Sebastian nodded, his hazel eyes wide and still dark with arousal.
"I mean it, Sebastian," I said. "Stay hidden until whoever it is leaves."
"Yes, Alpha," he whispered.
I straightened my clothes quickly and left the closet, closing the door behind me. I crossed the bedroom and entered the sitting area, making sure the bedroom door was firmly shut.
"Come in," I called out.
The door opened, and Torren stepped inside. He looked tense, his jaw tight with concern.
But even as I focused on Torren, I could smell Sebastian's scent still clinging to my skin and clothes. And worse, I could hear his heartbeat from the closet—rapid and loud to my enhanced hearing.
The damned omega had not stayed put. He was peeking, trying to listen in on the conversation.
I resisted the urge to growl in frustration.
"What is so urgent?" I asked Torren, moving to sit in the chair by the window and gesturing for him to take the seat across from me.
Torren sat down, running a hand through his hair. "We have a problem. Several problems, actually."
"Explain," I said.
"After your meeting with the council members yesterday, I did what you asked," Torren began. "I observed them, watched their movements, listened to conversations. And what I found is not good."
I leaned forward slightly. "Go on."
"Some of the council members are stirring issues at the market square," Torren said. "Spreading discontent, questioning your leadership. But that is not the worst part."
"What is the worst part?" I asked, though I already had a sinking feeling I knew.
"Rumors are spreading," Torren said carefully. "About you being impotent. That is why you have not taken a mate yet, why you have not produced an heir."
The words hit like a physical blow, even though I had suspected something like this was coming. I kept my expression neutral, refusing to show any reaction.
"And?" I prompted.
"I managed to get hold of some pack members who were spreading these rumors," Torren continued. "They claimed they heard it from council members. The narrative they are pushing is that you are not powerful enough. That if your wolf cannot even pick up a mate bond, how can you be trusted to lead the pack?"
I felt anger building in my chest. But I kept it contained.
"There is more," Torren said, his expression grim. "I think the council members are plotting something bigger. This feels like the beginning of an attempt to dethrone you."
The silence that followed was heavy.
"You should not have let Lance go," Torren said quietly. "This matter is escalating, and having a mate—even a problematic one—would have given you legitimacy in their eyes."
At the mention of that name, something snapped inside me.
"Do not ever mention Lance again," I said, my voice dropping to a dangerous level. "Not to me, not to anyone. That is an order, Torren."
Torren held up his hands in a placating gesture. "I am just saying—"
"We could never have been together after what he did," I interrupted. "What he tried to do. You know this. Everyone knows this."
"I know," Torren said. "But since then, surely your wolf should have picked up a mate bond with someone. Surely the moon goddess should have blessed you with a second chance mate by now."
I felt Sebastian's presence in the other room, knew he was listening to every word. I wanted to tell Torren the truth that I had found my second chance mate, that he was literally hiding in my closet at this very moment.
But I could not.
Not with Sebastian listening. Not when I had not even told Sebastian himself about the mate bond. The kid should this was just an arrangement, not physical attraction.
If he knew the truth, everything would change.
"I have not felt a bond with anyone," I lied smoothly.
Torren studied me closely, his eyes narrowing slightly. "You smell different."
"What?" I asked, caught off guard.
"You smell off," Torren said, leaning forward and sniffing the air. "Like... like I interrupted something. Are you alone?"
"Stop poking your nose into things that do not concern you," I said sharply.
Torren raised an eyebrow. "If you need someone, Darius, I am available. You know that. I have offered before."
I wrinkled my nose in disgust. "You sucked at it. Literally and figuratively."
That got a brief laugh out of Torren, breaking some of the tension. But then his expression turned serious again.
"I am worried about this uprising issue," he said. "The council is gaining support. If we do not address this soon, it could get out of hand."
"I will find a way to settle it," I assured him. "Let me think on it. Give me a few days to come up with a plan."
"A few days might be all we have," Torren warned. "They are moving fast."
"Then I will move faster," I said firmly. "Do not worry, Torren. I have been Alpha for ten years. I am not about to lose my position to a group of bitter old men who think they know better."
Torren nodded, seeming somewhat reassured. He stood up, preparing to leave.
But he paused at the door, turning back to look at me.
"Your guard is not at his post," he observed.
My jaw tightened. "He must have gone to the training ground. Early morning practice."
"Hmm," Torren said, but he did not sound convinced. "You know, I am not convinced that kid is entirely professional."
"What do you mean?" I asked, keeping my voice neutral.
"He seems obsessed with you," Torren said bluntly. "I caught him drawing you one day while on duty. Just sitting there, sketching your face like some lovesick puppy."
I could not help it—I laughed. It was unexpected enough that even I was surprised by the sound.
"What is so funny?" Torren asked.
"It is very rare to see anyone obsessed with me," I said, still chuckling. "Most people are too terrified. So if the kid wants to draw me in his spare time, I am blessed."
Torren just shook his head, a small smile playing at his lips. "You are something else, Darius. I will never understand you."
"Good," I said. "Keep it that way."
Torren left, closing the door behind him with a soft click.
I waited, listening to his footsteps fade down the hallway. When I was certain he was gone, I turned towards the bedroom.
"You can stop peeking now," I called out. "Or are you going to continue hiding forever?"
There was a moment of silence, then the bedroom door opened slowly. Sebastian emerged, looking guilty and embarrassed.
"I am sorry," he said immediately. "I know you told me to stay in the closet, but I wanted to hear what was so urgent. I did not mean to disobey."
I studied him for a long moment. His hair was still disheveled from our interrupted activities, his clothes rumpled, his lips slightly swollen.
And he had heard everything. The rumors about me being impotent, the council's plotting, Torren's questions about a mate.
"What you heard in there," I said carefully, "does not leave this room. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Alpha," Sebastian said quickly. "I would never tell anyone about pack business."
"Good," I said. "Because if word gets out that you were listening in on confidential conversations, it will not go well for you."
Sebastian nodded, understanding the implicit threat.
I wanted to address the elephant in the room, the fact that I had lied to Torren about not having a mate while Sebastian was listening. I wanted to know if Sebastian had picked up on the lie, if he suspected anything.
But I could not ask without revealing too much.
Instead, I changed the subject entirely.
"Go get ready for practice," I said. "We have training in an hour, and after what happened yesterday, I expect every guard to be watching us. You need to be prepared."
Sebastian's face lit up despite everything. "Really? We are training again today?"
"Did I not just say that?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yes, sorry," Sebastian said, a smile breaking across his face. "I will go get ready right away."
He turned to leave, then paused at the door.
"Alpha?" he said softly.
"What?"
"Thank you," Sebastian said. "For training me. For not giving up on me. For... everything."
Before I could respond, he slipped out of the room, closing the door quietly behind him.
I stood there in the empty room, Kain stirring restlessly inside me.
"You should tell him," Kain said. "About the mate bond. He deserves to know."
"No," I said firmly. "Not yet. Maybe not ever."
"Why not?"
"Because once he knows, everything changes," I said. "Right now, this arrangement works. He gets what he wants, I get what I want. The moment he knows we are mates, he will expect more. He will want more."
"And what is wrong with that?" Kain demanded.
"Everything," I said quietly. "Everything is wrong with that."
- Writer
