A beat of silence passed between them, Serena staring at him with wide eyes. Her throat felt dry, and she licked her lips, trying to make sense of his words. ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ NoveIＦire.net
"Leave," he repeated firmly.
Serena flinched back, confusion washing over her. What was that display at the council for? It couldn't have been just for show.
"You cannot be here," Darius continued, his tone even.
Her hands fidgeted nervously, disbelief clouding her thoughts. She peeked behind him at the window, noticing the absence of any guards.
"You came alone?" she asked.
He raised a brow, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "Do you plan on attacking me?"
Serena shook her head quickly, waving her hands in front of her. "No, no, I was just wondering,"
He cleared his throat, cutting her off. "Not that it matters. You need to leave."
Serena was aware of Darius's position as the Alpha of this pack, far more formidable than her previous Alpha. Ironshade was no small pack; after centuries, it remained the strongest pack in the West. Silverstone, her former pack, could only dream of reaching such heights.
An unseen weight bore down on her, suffocating and unrelenting. The thought of being sent back into the wilderness filled her with dread, she wasn't ready for that, not now. Tears stung at the corners of her eyes, but she forced herself to take slow, steady breaths to stay composed.
"No?" Darius echoed, a hollow laugh escaping his lips. Serena noted how devoid of genuine amusement it was. "You don't have a choice."
He wasn't wrong, his authority was absolute, and she was a rogue standing on borrowed ground. But she couldn't bring herself to give in so easily.
She had tasted roasted meat on skewers and savoured an apple, luxuries she hadn't experienced in two years. She had found some kind of connection in her conversations with Annamarie, despite the tension due to her rogue status. Giving all that up in a single night felt impossible.
"I will leave," Serena said finally, her voice steady. "At the time you appointed, after the storm."
Darius rubbed the back of his neck, scoffing. His gaze wandered, as though lost in thought, weighing his next move. "You will tell Emmett, five days from now, that you don't like it here and want to return home." His eyes finally met hers. "That's what you'll say."
Serena shook her head, her brows raised in surprise. "No, I will not."
She stood her ground, arguing for her right to stay. He had made a decision in front of the Elders, his Beta, Emmett, and her. He would have to honor his word. Serena knew deep down that no matter what he would not hurt her.
Yet, when their eyes met, his hazel gaze softened, halting him mid-step. A low, frustrated sound escaped his lips as he looked away. "You need to leave."
"Because..." Darius turned his back to her. "Because I do not need my mate under my nose." The words hung heavily in the air.
Serena swallowed hard; the elephant in the room had finally revealed itself.
Her fingers tightened into fists at her sides. She shared the same sentiment as Darius, she didn't want to be around him or think about him. But it was an impossible task. Even the rose bushes she had discovered behind the house had immediately reminded her of him.
"That is why you must leave," he continued, running a hand through his hair. "You are distracting," he admitted reluctantly, the words almost bitter.
"I'll stay out of your way. You don't have to worry about me. Once the first pansies bloom, I'll be gone. Please." Desperation gripped Serena's chest. This place was too invaluable to give up, even if she had to endure being near him.
Darius's expression darkened, his hazel eyes narrowing. "It seems it has come to this." He turned quickly, closing the distance between them in a single step. Serena instinctively moved back, but his hand shot out, catching her wrist.
"I, Darius Hawthorne, reject you, Serena-"
Panic surged through her. Without thinking, Serena acted, clamping her free hand over his mouth. She shoved forward with all her weight, catching him off balance. They toppled to the floor, Serena landing squarely on top of him.
"Have you gone mad?" he asked, anger lacing his voice. He struggled beneath her, attempting to free himself, but Serena dodged his swats. "Don't you want this?"
"I-" she began, looking away. How could she explain without revealing too much damning information? Everywhere outside her pack was a landmine; one small misstep and...
Before she could find the words, a gasp escaped her lips as Darius moved without warning. His hands gripped her firmly, and in one swift motion, he hoisted her off the ground.
He slung her over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. She gripped his shirt to steady herself, her eyes widening as the distance between her and the bed grew. They were headed towards the door.
Without thinking, she leaned forward and sank her teeth into his shoulder. He yelped, and she felt his grip loosen. With a forceful shove, Serena pushed off him, landing unsteadily on her feet a few paces away. She straightened herself quickly.
Breathing heavily, Serena stood a few steps away, a few strands of her hair escaping from her tight bun. She kept her eyes on him, ready for whatever came next.
"You bit me," Darius said, almost as if he couldn't believe it. His lips curled in amusement before he burst into laughter. "The rogue actually bit me."
Serena pressed her lips together, uncertain of her next move. Whatever happened, she couldn't let him reject her. She couldn't lose Feyra.
"Because you just lifted me up. Were you going to throw me out?" she pressed.
"I had half a mind to... but I suppose you wouldn't let me." Darius shook his head. "But I must reject you. This bond, it must be severed."