The spark
1484 Words
Chapter 008
The Spark
SEBASTIAN
I stood outside Darius's private quarters, the long corridor stretching out in both directions under the dim light of the wall lamps.
It was my first night on duty as a guard, and it felt endless. The pack house was quiet at this hour, with only the occasional creak of wood or distant murmur from the other guards on patrol.
I should have been alert, watching for any sign of trouble, but my mind kept wandering back to Darius. The way he had looked at me during the tryouts earlier that day, that smirk on his face, it was all I could think about.
My hand slipped into my pocket, pulling out the small notebook I had brought. I knew I should not be doing this. Guarding the Alpha required focus, not distractions. But I could not help it.
"Why am I even here?" I muttered to myself, leaning against the wall. "He picked me, but for what? To stand around like an i***t guarding an empty chambers?" I flipped open the notebook and started sketching from memory.
The lines came easily, capturing Darius's strong jaw, his intense eyes, the way his hair fell just so. It was soothing, a way to pass the time without going mad from boredom.
Alisander, my wolf, stirred in my head. "You are pushing it, Sebastian," he said, his voice low and wary. "If someone catches you, you are done."
"I know," I whispered back, my pencil moving faster. "But it is just a sketch. No one is around. And besides, it is him. I cannot stop thinking about that tryout. The way he winked at me. What did that even mean?"
"You are reading too much into it," Alisander replied. "Focus on the job. You wanted to be close to him, and now you are. Do not ruin it."
I sighed, adding shading to the drawing. "Easy for you to say. You are not the one standing here alone, feeling like a fool. I love not getting attention from the other guards, but this loneliness is killing me. At least you are here to talk to, even if you have been quiet lately."
Alisander went silent again, and I kept drawing, losing myself in the details. The memory of Darius standing there, assessing everyone, picking me last it was all so fresh.
My heart raced just thinking about it. I wished I could talk to him, really talk, not just bow and follow orders. But that was a dream, nothing more.
Footsteps echoed down the hall, and I snapped the notebook shut, standing straight. But it was too late. Torren was already there, his eyes narrowing as he saw the book in my hand.
"What the hell are you doing, boy?" Torren growled, grabbing the front of my shirt and yanking me close. His face was inches from mine, his breath hot and angry.
I stumbled, my notebook slipping from my fingers but I caught it just in time. "Nothing, sir," I said quickly, my voice shaking. "I was just... standing guard."
Torren snatched the notebook from me and flipped it open, his eyes widening at the sketch. "This is not a child's play, omega. You are here to guard the Alpha, not doodle like some schoolboy. If I catch you slacking off again, I will go straight to Darius and tell him to revoke your employment. He chose you personally, but that does not mean you get special treatment."
My stomach twisted, fear flooding through me. I had worked so hard to get here, and now I was messing it up. "I am sorry, sir," I said, nodding quickly. "It will not happen again. I am serious about this. I want to serve the Alpha properly. Please, give me another chance."
Torren shoved the notebook back at me, his grip on my shirt loosening. "See that it does not. Now get back to your post and stay alert." He turned and stalked away, leaving me standing there, my heart pounding.
I let out a shaky breath, tucking the notebook away. "That was close," I whispered to Alisander. "I need to be more careful."
"You think?" Alisander said, his tone sharp. "Stop drawing and start acting like a guard."
Before I could reply, the door to Darius's quarters opened, and there he was, dressed in his training clothes a simple tunic and trousers that hugged his frame walking towards me.
My mouth went dry.
I bowed quickly. "Good evening, Alpha," I said, keeping my voice steady. "I am here on duty."
Darius glanced at me, his expression neutral. "Go to the kitchen and bring my food," he said, not even pausing as he walked past me into his chambers.
The words hit me like a slap. No greeting, no acknowledgement, just an order. I felt a sharp sting in my chest, hurt bubbling up.
After everything the tryouts, that night in his room he treated me like any other servant.
"Yes, Alpha," I muttered, turning to go. It is just Alpha bullshit, I told myself. He is busy. It does not mean anything.
In the kitchen, I grabbed the tray of food roast meat, bread, and a jug of water and carried it back carefully.
My mind raced the whole way. "Why did he pick me if he was going to ignore me?" I pushed open the door to his quarters without thinking, stepping inside.
And there he was, butt naked, his back to me as he rummaged through his closet.
I froze, my eyes locked on his back. Tattoos covered his skin intricate designs of wolves and moons, swirling across his shoulders and down his spine.
They were beautiful, detailed, and I could not look away. I wished I could run my fingers over them, trace every line, feel the warmth of his skin.
Darius pulled on a pair of shorts and turned, catching me staring. His eyes narrowed. "Stop staring at me like a creep," he said, his voice annoyed. "Bring the food to the desk."
My face burned with embarrassment. I hurried forward, nearly tripping over my feet. "Sorry, Alpha," I stammered, setting the tray down with shaking hands. "I did not mean to... I just..."
"Out," he said, sitting at the desk and starting to eat without another glance.
I backed away, my cheeks flaming, and hurried out the door. "i***t," I muttered to myself once I was in the hall. "Why did I stare like that? He thinks I am a creep now."
Alisander chuckled softly. "You are obsessed. That is why." He chiped in.
"Shut up," I whispered, leaning against the wall. But he was right. I could not stop.
It was not long before I got caught again. I had pulled out the notebook, adding details to another sketch of Darius this time his chest, bare and strong, from memory.
I was so focused, the pencil flying across the page, that I did not hear Darius calling from inside.
"Sebastian!" His voice boomed closer, and suddenly he was behind me. "What are you doing?"
I screamed in fright, jumping and throwing the notebook to the floor. It landed open, the sketch facing up a detailed drawing of his nude chest. It was so intimate and precise.
Darius bent down and picked it up, his eyes on the page.
I stood there, flustered, my heart racing. This was it. He would fire me, or worse. "Alpha, I..." I started, my voice trembling. "I am sorry. It is just a drawing."
He looked at me, and instead of yelling, he chuckled a low, amused sound. "Come to my chamber," he said, turning back inside. "We need to talk away from prying ears."
I followed him, my legs shaky, expecting the worst. Inside, he closed the door and held up the notebook. "What is this about?" he asked, his tone curious but firm.
I took a deep breath, the truth spilling out. "I have been obsessed with you for years," I admitted, my voice raw. "Before I saw you at the Moon Festival. I always draw you all the time. It is how I cope. I know it is wrong, but I cannot help it."
Darius said nothing at first, just watched me. Then he handed the notebook back. "Go back to your post," he said, his voice laced with sarcasm. "And focus on your job instead of drawing and obsessing about me."
I nodded, turning to leave, uncertainty gnawing at me. His tone left me reeling, not sure if he was angry or amused.
"You're just an Omega, Sebastian." His voice drawled causing me to pause on my steps and looking at him from my shoulders.
"Stop wanting something you can and will never have. And besides you're just a kid. And I don't always have anything to do with little ones."
"Ohhh f**k s**t!" Alisander muttered
- Writer
