Chapter 15
*POV–ARTA”
I almost choked on my spit.
“What?” I asked, barely able to articulate my words.
Darius maintained his grin as he closed the distance between us.
“We’re going to meet the council tomorrow, and I’ll let them know you’re my mate.” Darius replied.
Darius may have had his head in the clouds, but I was about to serve him a whole buffer of reality check.
“You can’t possibly be serious. I sid, stepping away from him.
“Did you forget I’m a werewolf? What are you going to do, strut in there and convince them that we’re mated to each other?” I asked.
“Precisely” Darius replied in a child–like demeanor.
He was lucky he was so goddamn handsome, or I would’ve punched him out the window by now,
“I thought this was about the pack negotiation? Isn’t that a pending issue that needs more attention!?” I asked.
“That would’ve been the case, had it not been for Mordecal. Darius said, rubbing his temple.
“Who’s that?” I asked, though the name sounded familiar
“A council elder that just loves to stick his nose in everyone’s business. He figured something was off since I was cohabitating a supposed criminal.” Darius replied.
“And this is the only way to get them to stop talking?” I asked
For the first time since our conveniation started. Darius looked upset.
“You don’t want people knowing you’re my mate?” Darius asked.
*1 never said that.” I replied.
“Good, because we’re doing a horrible job at hiding it.” Darius replied, his childlike demeanor returning. How this big out wound up being the ruler of an entire kingdom was beyond me.
“Look, it doesn’t matter who this Mordecai person is. I still say this is unnecessary.” I said.
“Ive already given your measurements to the royal seamstress, Shell have a dress worthy of you ready by tonight.” Darius continued completely ignoring me.
“Darius. I’m not going” I said, my arms crossed across my chest.
Darius stopped in his tracks, his excitement dying down once more.
“Why?” He asked.
I didn’t want to have to resort to this, but right now, Darius needed a reminder.
“Did you forget I’m dying?” I asked, sadness creeping into my voice.
Silence hung in the area as Darius deflated,
“I was hoping to.” He said, taking a seat at the edge of my bed. Whatever happiness he’d had moments ago, my statement had succeeded in draining it out of him and my wolf made a wounded sound at the sight of him.
“I don’t have much time left. I don’t think this is what we should be doing right now.” I said, sining next to him and unconsciously stroking his arm.
“Its precisely because you don’t have much time left that I’m doing this.” Darius said, a hint of anger and despair in his voice.
“I know you’re dying, Arya. Every single day. I’m burdened with the weight of it. I just met my mate for the first time ever, and now I barely have enough time to court you, to be with you, to learn what your favourite color or food is, to learn if you snort when you baugh or if you’re ticklish.” Darius said, his eyes baring into mine with an unrivaled intensity, rooting me to the spot
1/3
Chapter 15
“It eats away at me every single day” Darius finishrsl..
“Tim sorry. That was insensitive of me. 1 just–We don’t have to deny the reality of this situation Barisis. Ddon’t have much time left, it’s best I don’t get entangled with any drama for the remainder of my time on earth” I said.
“I don’t want to live everyday, always thinking about when it is you’ll die. I want to live with you, Arya. I want us to live together like tomorrow doesn’t exist. I want to live everyday fully by your vidde, present in every second. I want to celebrate the time I have left with you, getting to know you and bring happy, I don’t want to mourn you before you’re even dead.” Darius finished and my bean swelled in my chest.
All my life, I’d always had my own back because no one else did. It had caused a huge strain on me and made me less likey to open up to people. And each time I opened up, it wouldn’t take long until I shut back up again. All this time, I’d shielded myself and long accepted my fate, treating every single day like a mourning festival because I knew I was dying. Hat Darius was different. He wanted me to spend these few weeks I had left being happy, living with him.
“I want to let the whole world know you’re mine.” Darius sabl, his voice raw with emotion. “I want everyone who ever took you for granted to regret it for the rest of their lives. I want to make you my queen, to show you off to the world to let them see that no one can ever compare to you. I want them to know that the strongest, most beautiful woman on earth is my bride. I want us to do everything we would have done if you didn’t have the Mallons. I want to take you on dates, to spend time together, and I want to be your favorite person in the whole world.”
His words left me speechless, and my eyes glistened with unshed tears.
Right now, I couldn’t bring myself to say what I knew deep down I couldn’t tell him that this was all a mistake, that he shouldn’t be marrying me. Voicing those feelings felt too impossible, too heavy.
Instead, I wrapped my arms around him, realizing that I’d always taken his feelings towards me for granted because Til already come to expect that no one really cared deeply for me. Darius buried his face in my hair and held me close to his chest, like I’d disappear if he ever let go.
“I love you.” I whispered, the words slipping out before I could stop them.
For a moment, there was only silence between us, until Darius jerked me away from him, searching my face with eyes wide with surprise as he stared at me
“What did you just say?” he asked his voice full of alishelief and hope.
It took me a second to realize why he was acting so stunned–this was the first time I’d ever told him I loved him.
I stifled a smile and looked away from him, my cheeks reddening
“I hope you memorized that because I won’t be repeating myself.” I said, still averting my
Darius Laughed, his eyes softening as he leaned in closer.
“Every word.”
ing my gaze
The next morning. I got dressed in the beautiful, auburn dress with gold trims that Darius had asked the royal seamstress to make for me. The
naids had come into my room to do my hair and although I knew I was about to meet very important people. I still felt like all of this preparation was overkill
But I’d decided to give in to Darius and opt for a fabulous get up, just this once.
Darius was already with the lycan council, discussing terms with them by the time I arrived. The aged men looked up from their desks and gave me long hardened looks. Under normal circumstances, anyone would’ve shrunk back and probably made a run for it.
But not this girl.
“Good morning your graces.” I said, curtseying whilst ignoring their glares.
“Good morning young one. Arya, was it?” one of the elders asked. He was bald with brown, sunken eyes, wore a dark red coat, and I could see the round bits of his belly that he had probably tried but failed to shove underneath the long table he sat at with the rest of the one.. two three seven elders
“Arya Blackwood of the Aeternum pack. Pleasure to make you acquaintance.” I replied, slightly bowing my head.
“I see. Well then, Let’s get right to it then, shall we?” the bald elder stated.
Darius gave me a knowing nod and 1 smiled reassuringly. The odds were very much against us, with my supposed criminal record and the fact that I was of werewolf descent, but one way or the other, Darius and I would win this thing
2/3
Chapter 15
Oddly enough, my goal to win had less to do with becoming Darius wife and more to do with my alpha wolf that couldn’t possibly settle for anything less.
“We are gathered here to elaborate on King Darius‘ wish to take a bride. The bald elder continued, glancing at the other elders who nodded at him.
“However,” he continued. “I’d like to reintroduce Darius’s chosen mate of whom the council had earlier chosen as a bride for the king, and of which Darius had agreed to.”
I blinked twice before what the elder said registered in my head. A chosen what now?
“A chosen mate?” I asked, my voice laced with disbelief.
“Of course. Were you not aware?” The elder asked
I sure as hell wasn’t. I turned to glare at Darius, who’s eyes were instead trained on the council elder
“How come you never mentioned this?‘ 1 asked through the mate bond, mirroring his stance as he stared at the council elder.
Darius turned to look at me but I pretended like I didn’t notice.
It may have skipped my mind. Darius replied through the bond. I explain later—”
Why bother? I’ll just ask the elders, since you’re so forgetful” I replied, cutting him off. It was taking everything in me to not show how angry or jealous I was in that moment
“Who is his chosen mate?” I asked.
As if on cue, the doors to the council chambers swung open, and an elegantly dressed lady with a powerful aura walked in.
1am.
SEND CIFT
