Darius's laughter echoed across the clearing.
Deep.
Amused.
Dangerous.
The wolves around them shifted uneasily.
No one else seemed to find the situation funny.
Marcus leaned toward Rowan.
"…is he laughing because he's impressed or because he's about to kill us?"
Rowan whispered back,
"With guys like him, it's usually both."
Darius finally stopped laughing.
He straightened and looked down at Aria again.
His amber eyes gleamed with interest now.
"You're bold."
Aria shrugged.
"I've been told."
Behind her, Kael stood very still.
Watching.
His eyes never left Darius.
The tension between the two Alphas was obvious.
Darius noticed.
Of course he did.
His gaze slowly slid toward Kael.
"So this is your Alpha."
Aria frowned slightly.
"He's not—"
Kael cut in calmly.
"This is my territory."
Darius raised an eyebrow.
"Interesting."
Marcus muttered quietly,
"…this is like watching two lions argue."
Rowan nodded.
"Very big lions."
Darius looked back at Aria.
"So let me understand something."
He gestured toward the wolves behind her.
"You defeated Varkos."
Aria nodded.
"Yes."
"You took his soldiers."
"Yes."
"And now you plan to keep them."
Aria folded her arms.
"That's the idea."
Darius studied her face carefully.
Almost like he was analyzing something.
Then he said something unexpected.
"You're not afraid of me."
Marcus whispered,
"She should be."
Aria tilted her head slightly.
"Should I be?"
Darius smiled faintly.
"Most wolves are."
He slowly turned his head.
Looking across the clearing.
Many of the former soldiers quickly lowered their eyes.
Old loyalty.
Old fear.
Darius nodded slightly.
"You see?"
Aria watched them too.
Then she looked back at him.
"They followed you because they had no choice."
Darius's eyes narrowed slightly.
"And now?"
"They're choosing."
The words hung in the air.
For a moment, Darius said nothing.
Then he chuckled quietly.
"You're interesting."
Marcus whispered,
"I don't like when villains say that."
Rowan nodded.
"Same."
Darius suddenly took another step closer.
Kael instantly moved forward again.
But Aria raised her hand slightly.
Kael stopped.
Darius noticed the silent exchange.
His smile grew a little wider.
"Trust."
He looked between them.
"That's rare."
Aria didn't respond.
Instead she asked,
"So why are you really here?"
Darius tilted his head slightly.
"I told you."
"To take my wolves back."
Aria shrugged.
"You're welcome to try."
Marcus whispered,
"She really likes saying that."
Darius studied her again.
Then something strange happened.
He turned around.
And began walking slowly through the clearing.
Toward the wolves.
The soldiers stiffened immediately.
Some stepped back.
Others lowered their heads again.
Darius stopped in front of them.
His voice carried easily.
"You served me once."
No one answered.
"But now…"
He gestured slightly toward Aria.
"You serve her."
Silence.
Then the scarred warrior from earlier stepped forward.
The same one who had spoken yesterday.
He lowered his head respectfully.
"Yes."
Darius studied him carefully.
"You choose her?"
The warrior nodded.
"I do."
Darius's eyes flickered with something unreadable.
Then he looked around at the others.
"And the rest of you?"
One by one—
More wolves spoke.
"Yes."
"We stay."
"We follow the Luna."
The air felt heavy with tension.
Marcus whispered,
"…this feels like a test."
Rowan nodded.
"It definitely is."
Darius turned slowly back toward Aria.
His expression was different now.
Not angry.
Not amused.
Interested.
"You've done something unusual."
Aria raised an eyebrow.
"What's that?"
Darius gestured toward the wolves again.
"You inspired loyalty."
Marcus whispered,
"Isn't that normal?"
Rowan shook his head.
"Not for conquerors."
Darius stepped closer again.
Now only a few feet separated them.
"You didn't take them by fear."
Aria met his gaze.
"No."
Darius nodded slowly.
"That makes you dangerous."
Marcus whispered,
"…that didn't sound like a compliment."
Darius's amber eyes gleamed again.
Then he said something no one expected.
"I'm not taking them."
The clearing froze.
Marcus blinked.
"…wait what?"
Rowan frowned.
"That was easy."
Kael's eyes narrowed.
"You're leaving?"
Darius smiled faintly.
"For now."
Aria folded her arms.
"Why?"
Darius looked at her carefully.
"Because I want to see what you become."
The answer made the wolves murmur again.
Marcus whispered,
"…that's ominous."
Darius stepped back slightly.
Then he turned toward the mountains again.
But just before shifting back into wolf form—
He looked over his shoulder at Aria.
His voice dropped slightly.
"You have something rare."
Aria frowned.
"What?"
His amber eyes gleamed.
"Power you don't understand yet."
Alder stiffened behind them.
But no one noticed.
Darius continued.
"And when that power finally awakens…"
He smiled.
"…I'll come back."
Marcus muttered,
"I knew there was a catch."
Darius's body suddenly shifted.
The massive black wolf appeared again.
Without another word—
He turned and sprinted back into the forest.
Gone in seconds.
The clearing remained silent long after he disappeared.
Marcus slowly exhaled.
"…did we just survive that?"
Rowan nodded.
"I think so."
But Aria was still staring at the forest.
Because something about Darius's last words…
Didn't feel like a threat.
It felt like a warning.
And behind her—
Alder's voice suddenly spoke quietly.
"He knows."
Aria turned.
"Knows what?"
Alder's silver eyes were serious.
"About what you really are." 🐺