No one moved.
No one even breathed too loudly.
Because the moment Darius said it—
"I want you."
Everything changed.
Kael stepped fully in front of Aria now.
Blocking her completely.
His aura surged—thick, suffocating, absolute.
"She's not something you take."
Darius didn't react.
Didn't flinch.
Didn't even acknowledge the threat.
His gaze remained fixed on Aria.
Like Kael wasn't even there.
"That's not your decision."
Rowan muttered under his breath,
"…he really likes ignoring Alphas."
Marcus whispered back,
"…I really don't like people who ignore Alphas."
Lena stayed silent.
Watching.
Waiting.
Because this—
This wasn't just a fight.
It was something deeper.
Something dangerous.
Aria stepped slightly to the side again.
Not fully leaving Kael's protection—
But not hiding behind it either.
"I'm not going anywhere."
Her voice was calm.
Steady.
Unshaken.
That made Darius smile.
"Good."
A pause.
"I don't want you to run."
That didn't sound reassuring.
At all.
Kael's voice dropped lower.
More dangerous.
"You're done talking."
Darius finally looked at him again.
Slowly.
Almost lazily.
"You're still here?"
The insult was quiet.
Effortless.
But it landed.
Hard.
Kael moved.
Fast.
Too fast for most to follow.
His hand shot out—
Grabbing Darius by the collar.
Slamming him back slightly.
The ground beneath them cracked from the force.
The air exploded with power.
For a split second—
Everything froze.
Then—
Darius laughed.
Soft.
Low.
Amused.
"You're strong."
Kael's grip tightened.
"Stronger than you think."
Darius tilted his head slightly.
Still smiling.
"Not in the way that matters."
And then—
He moved.
No warning.
No build-up.
Just—
Movement.
His hand came up—
Grabbing Kael's wrist.
Twisting.
Effortless.
Kael's grip broke instantly.
The force—
Not violent.
Not explosive.
Just… precise.
Controlled.
Dangerous.
Kael stepped back.
Not thrown.
But forced.
That alone—
Was enough to change everything.
Rowan's expression darkened.
"…that's not normal."
Varkos growled deeply.
Even Marcus went quiet.
Because they all saw it.
Kael—
Pushed back.
Darius straightened his jacket slightly.
Calm.
Unbothered.
"You're impressive."
A pause.
"But you're not the problem."
His gaze returned to Aria.
"You are."
Aria didn't move.
Didn't react.
But her eyes—
Stayed locked on his.
"What do you want from me?"
Darius stepped closer.
Slow.
Measured.
"I want you to understand."
Silence.
Alder stepped forward slightly.
"That is not your role."
Darius glanced at him.
Recognition flickering briefly.
"…still alive."
Alder didn't respond.
Darius's attention returned to Aria.
"You feel it, don't you?"
Her breath slowed.
"…feel what?"
His voice lowered.
"That you're not like them."
A pause.
"That you're something else."
Aria's jaw tightened.
"I'm not like you."
Darius smiled.
"That's where you're wrong."
The air shifted again.
That same pressure.
That same weight.
And this time—
Aria felt it clearly.
A connection.
Not like Silas.
Not warm.
Not steady.
This one—
Was sharp.
Cold.
Uncomfortable.
But real.
Her breath caught.
"…what is this?"
Darius's eyes darkened.
"Recognition."
Kael stepped forward again.
Placing himself between them.
Cutting that connection.
"You're not touching her again."
Darius didn't argue.
But he didn't look away either.
"You can't block this."
Kael's voice dropped.
"I can try."
Darius's smile widened slightly.
"That's the difference between you and me."
A pause.
"I don't try."
The tension snapped tight again.
Rowan stepped forward slightly.
"Get to the point."
Darius didn't even look at him.
"I already have."
His gaze returned to Aria.
"You don't belong here."
Silence.
That landed differently.
Aria's eyes narrowed.
"This is my pack."
Darius tilted his head.
"For now."
Kael's aura flared again.
"That doesn't change."
Darius ignored him.
"You're wasting yourself here."
His voice softened slightly.
Not kinder—
Just more deliberate.
"You have power they don't understand."
A pause.
"Power they fear."
Aria's heart skipped.
Not because she agreed—
But because part of her…
Recognized it.
Darius saw that.
And smiled.
"There it is."
Kael stepped closer to her.
Grounding.
"You don't listen to him."
Aria didn't look away from Darius.
"I'm not."
But she wasn't fully dismissing him either.
And that—
That was dangerous.
Darius took another step forward.
This time—
No one stopped him.
Not Kael.
Not Rowan.
Because something about this moment—
Felt like it couldn't be interrupted.
"I'm offering you something."
Silence.
Marcus whispered,
"…I don't like offers."
Rowan nodded.
"Me neither."
Aria's voice stayed steady.
"I'm not interested."
Darius's smile didn't fade.
"You haven't heard it yet."
A pause.
"Come with me."
Everything froze.
Kael's expression turned deadly.
"No."
Rowan stepped forward.
"Absolutely not."
Lena's eyes hardened.
"Not happening."
Marcus shook his head.
"I reject this offer on her behalf."
Darius ignored all of them.
His gaze remained on Aria.
"Come with me."
He repeated.
"And I'll show you what you really are."
Silence.
Heavy.
Unsettling.
Aria's chest tightened slightly.
Because that—
That part—
Tempted something inside her.
Something she didn't understand.
Kael saw it.
His voice dropped.
"Don't."
Just that.
Simple.
Firm.
Grounding.
She looked at him.
And the moment she did—
The pull weakened.
Because Kael—
Was real.
Steady.
Known.
Darius was—
Unknown.
Dangerous.
And yet—
Still calling to something inside her.
"…and if I say no?"
Her voice was quiet.
But firm.
Darius didn't hesitate.
"Then I take you anyway."
The words landed like a blade.
Everything snapped.
Kael moved instantly.
So did Rowan.
So did Varkos.
The air exploded again—
But this time—
Darius didn't wait.
His eyes darkened.
And for the first time—
His aura surged.
Not like Kael's.
Not like Aria's.
Darker.
Heavier.
Colder.
The ground beneath them cracked slightly.
The wolves around them dropped instinctively.
Not from command—
From fear.
Marcus stumbled back.
"…WHAT IS THAT?!"
Alder's voice came low.
"Power."
But even he—
Looked concerned.
Darius stepped forward.
And this time—
He wasn't asking.
"You've had your choice."
His gaze locked on Aria.
Cold.
Certain.
"Now it's mine."
Aria's heart pounded.
Her eyes flashed silver again.
Because something inside her—
Reacted.
Not fear.
Not submission.
Power.
Answering power.
And for the first time—
She didn't just feel like prey.
She felt like something else entirely.
Something that could fight back.
Kael stepped forward.
Ready.
Deadly.
Protective.
"You touch her—"
Darius didn't let him finish.
Because in the next second—
He vanished.
Gone.
Not running.
Not retreating.
Just—
Gone.
And then—
He reappeared.
Right in front of Aria.
His hand reaching for her—
Too fast to stop.
Too fast to block.
Too fast—
For anyone but her.
Her eyes flared—
Silver exploding into light.
And the moment his hand touched her—
The world shattered.
A pulse of power erupted outward—
Blinding.
Violent.
Uncontrolled.
Throwing everyone back.
The ground split beneath them.
The air cracked with energy.
And in the center of it—
Aria and Darius stood locked together.
Power against power.
And neither of them—
Backing down.