Applause followed, warm and genuine, though the undercurrent of quiet observation never left the air.
Politics, Darius knew, was always present, even on nights meant for celebration.
The festivities began, music spilling into the evening while omegas moved gracefully with trays of food and wine. Laughter and clinking glasses rose above the hum of strategy discussions between Alphas and their seconds.
Eventually, the new Alpha and Luna made their way around the gathering, offering greetings and handshakes. When they reached Darius’s table, Michael extended his hand.
“Alpha Darius, thank you for coming,” he said with deliberate respect.
“Alpha Michael. Luna Kathy,” Darius inclined his head slightly, taking Michael’s hand with a firm shake. “Congratulations to you both.”
“Thank you, Alpha,” Kathy replied softly, her smile polite yet tinged with weariness.
Michael hesitated a moment before speaking again, his tone measured. “If you do not mind, Alpha, I would like to speak with you tomorrow before you leave. In my office.”
Darius raised an eyebrow slightly. The request was unusual. It was rare-almost unheard of- for one Alpha to summon another to his private office. Some would have taken it as an insult, a challenge. But Darius wasn’t like most Alphas.
He carried his authority without needing to constantly defend it.
Still, Michael’s caution was visible.
“I will have an omega escort you, if that is agreeable,” he added quickly.
“That will be fine,” Darius replied calmly, though his sharp gaze did not waver.
Michael inclined his head, visibly relieved. Kathy gave a small nod as well before the pair moved on to the next guests.
As soon as they were gone, Marcus leaned in with a low murmur. “What was that about?”
“Your guess is as good as mine,” Darius answered, swirling the wine in his glass. His eyes followed the couple as they drifted through the crowd, noting the tension in their smiles. “But I can guess what or who it may involve.”
Marcus’s eyes flicked toward him knowingly, but he didn’t press.
The night stretched on, music and conversation flowing freely. Alphas spoke of border patrols and rogue threats, others negotiated trade agreements in hushed corners. Darius participated where required, lending his insight and calm authority, yet his mind wandered elsewhere.
To Elaine.
He pictured her waiting for him back in Crescent Moon territory, her presence softening the edges of his otherwise hard life.
The thought tugged a rare smile from him, one Marcus noticed but wisely did not comment on.
There was someone waiting for him now-someone who made his return home matter. And soon, there would be more than just Elaine. A pup. Their pup, even if the world had not yet acknowledged it.
For the first time, Darius felt what other alpha’s feel when they are to return home to their luna. Even though Elaine is not yet his luna and not his fated mate. In his heart and his wolf heart, she is their luna and mate.
His wolf stirred with fierce pride and certainty. They had already accepted the little life as theirs, no hesitation. Darius’s chest tightened with a mix of anticipation and resolve.
Whatever tomorrow’s conversation with Michael brought-whatever challenges still lay ahead -he knew one thing without doubt.
He would do anything, face anyone, and fight every battle necessary to prove to Elaine and the pup that he was here to stay.
Always.
Morning came with a soft knock at his door, a measured sound that pulled Darius fully from the quiet focus he had held since waking. The faint golden glow of dawn seeped through the curtains, brushing over the floorboards in slender lines. He had been awake long before the sun’s rise, instincts sharpened to the subtle changes in the air, the movements of those outside his quarters.
“Alpha Darius,” a voice called respectfully from the hall. “I’ve been sent by Alpha Michael. He requests your presence in his office.”
Darius stood, his movements smooth and deliberate. There was no rush, no hint of unease in him, only the steady discipline of an Alpha who knew every eye was watching. He dressed in dark trousers and a crisp white shirt, plain but commanding. The ceremonial garb of the night before remained untouched; today, authority came not from ornament, but from presence.
When he opened the door, the young omega waiting outside bowed quickly, eyes lowered, posture drawn tight with nervous respect.
“Lead the way,” Darius said evenly, his voice carrying quiet power.
Just down the corridor, Marcus leaned against the wall, straightening the moment Darius appeared. He fell into step beside him easily, though his words were low, meant only for Darius. “You sure about this? An invitation to another Alpha’s office isn’t exactly… customary.”
Darius’s expression was unreadable, though his wolf stirred with keen alertness. “Curiosity outweighs caution this time. But stay sharp, Marcus. Invitations like these rarely come without strings.”
The omega led them through the winding heart of the Silverblade pack house. Tall windows spilled pale morning light across hallways lined with portraits of former Alphas, eyes stern and proud as though judging each step taken under their gaze. The deeper they went, the heavier the air became, charged with the gravity of lineage and tradition.
Finally, they stopped at a tall wooden door, polished until it gleamed.
The omega bowed low, his voice hushed. “Alpha Michael awaits you inside.”
Then, as though grateful to be released from the tension, he retreated quickly down the corridor.
Darius and Marcus exchanged a glance, sharp and wordless. A flicker of acknowledgment passed between them before Darius pushed the door open.
The office was wide, yet stark in its arrangement. Heavy oak furniture dominated the space, but there was little else-no ornaments, no frivolities. A place meant to project power through restraint.
Behind the desk stood Alpha Michael, his posture rigid. To his right, Luna Kathy sat with her hands folded tightly, knuckles pale, while Calvin, Michael’s beta, stood at the corner, his stance steady but watchful.
As Darius entered, all three turned toward him, their guarded politeness almost too practiced.
“Alpha Darius,” Michael said, gesturing toward the chair opposite him. “Thank you for coming.
“
Darius inclined his head slightly, his sharp gaze cutting across each of them before he sat. You asked for this meeting. I’m listening.”
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.