C2

Chapter Two (The Alpha’s Eyes)

Selena's POV

The training grounds smelled of sweat, wet fur and adrenaline. Wolves in both human and wolf forms sparred across the field, testing each other’s strength under the watchful eyes of the Alpha.

Darius.

Alpha of the Blackthorne Pack, uncle of Kael. The man whose height towered over everyone here, whose words were law, he isn't older than Kael by far just three years, his sister, Karl's mother birthed him quite late and he was born really late. Werewolves begins their life at eighteen, duties are assigned and titles are given at that age.

I like every other girls in the pack like watching him train though his aura was no joke, it was really suffocating, pressing against my skin like an invisible hand. But does it deter the girls from coming? No.

I wondered if he knew about his nephew's act and what he has to say about it. I stood there watching him and didn't know when they were done.

He dismissed the warriors with a flick of his hand, his voice carrying effortlessly across the grounds. “Enough for today.”

His voice was what brought me out from my head, I looked around at the figures all on standstill, the ladies swooned over his voice and honestly it was something.

They bowed their heads and left, except me, I was approaching him instead, though more than a few glanced at me with curiosity, seems like the news about my mate isn't much news anyway.I ignored them, keeping my chin lifted. My wolf prowled inside me, pacing, her tail high. I walked with my head high, I didn't do anything wrong to be embarrassed about, the guilty ones should be embarrassed not me.

When he finally noticed me, Darius walked toward me, his steps slow and measured. Each movement radiated control, the kind that came from years of command. His dark hair was long, going down to his shoulders and was it rich and silky, (if not for the issues at hand, I would have begged him for his hair's food), a few strands glinting silver under the morning sun. His eyes, gods, his eyes, were a dark brown that looks like golden honey under the sun rays, it looks black and clear like mirror if there wasn't a sun, it was sharp enough to strip me bare and see my into my deepest soul with a single look. He was a god sent down on earth as a divine punishment.

When he stopped in front of me, i swallowed nervously, (like I said earlier his aura was no joke), I used my thumb nail to press on my index fingers tight to control my expression and nerves, if you looked at my hand, it would look like I just I am just standing there as normal, you wouldn't notice.

“Selene,” he said, his voice deep and steady, this is the first time he ever said my name and it was really good, never knew my name sounds that sweet and enchanting, I never thought he knew me enough to know my name but again, he is an Alpha and I was involved in a alot of pack scandals and not to talk of my recent one that is the talk of the pack apparently.

I smiled as naturally as I could, tilting my head slightly as i bowed in submission. “Alpha.”

The word tasted different on my tongue when applied to him, like sweet lemonade. It was never so with Kael, it had been just a title, a reminder of what he might one day inherit if he uncle never marries or found a mate. With Darius, it was reality, it showed in his authority and strength that he is THE Alpha.

His gaze didn’t waver. “You have been absent from training and you came today to do what...”

I opened my mouth to talk but the only thing that came out was "I was just.... observing"

A flicker of almost amusement passed through his eyes. The keyword, Almost. “Why?”

Because my mate destroyed me and our bond, because I have been laying in the forest, broken and howling, plotting how to bring your nephew to his cheating knees.

I didn’t say that, of course, am not crazy enough to. Instead, I let my lashes lower, pretending a softness I didn’t feel. “I had things on my mind.”

His silence demanded more answers from me and I complied, after all it's the next step.

So I gave him a carefully chosen sliver of truth. “Kael.”

For the first time since I knew him, something shifted his expression, he actually made a facial expression. His jaw tightened, his eyes darkening further. He didn’t ask me to explain further, perhaps I was right that he knew or at least suspected, what his nephew was up to.

“You’re not the first,” he said finally, his tone flat but edged. “Don't you know about him before you agreed to be with him, Kael is an asshole or a free spirit as he calls it and that's his weakness”

Weakness, that was a gentle way of saying unfaithful bastard who can’t keep his hands off what doesn’t belong to him and can't keep it in his pants.

I dared to let a bitter laugh escape me but I sounded pained and low. “Weakness that’s one word for it.”

Darius studied me then, really studied me. I felt his gaze move over me not in the lecherous way of lesser men, but in the assessing way of a predator sizing up prey. Except… no. There was heat there, tension and anger that surprised me, did what I said got him angry or what? But do I care? No I didn't, because I am the one that should be angry, am the one that was betrayed.

My wolf perked her ears, growling softly in approval of my words, she has been hurt so bad and her anger should be made across, that fucking bastard.

“I won't break easily,” I said, letting myself look him in the eyes just for a second and raised my head up “Not anymore, am just a fool to trust him.”

A beat of silence stretched between us. My heart pounded, but I kept my expression calm, a mask of poise over the storm brewing inside me.

Finally, Darius tilted his head. “No, You don’t.”

His words weren’t praise, but acknowledgment saying he recognises my strength.

I sneakily stepped closer to him just enough to test his boundaries, to see if he would react when he noticed our distance but he didn’t. His scent washed over me, it was manly and it smells like cedarwood and lemonade, it made me feel heady and safe, funny I would say that about someone who could kill me with the snap of his fingers literally, you should see the size difference. A reminder of who and what he is an Alpha.

"He doesn't deserve me, and I know someone else does and it's worth all that pain to meet them"

His eyes narrowed slightly, as if seeing my intent and weighing the implications of my words

“Careful, Selene, don't ask for a pill you can't swallow.”

it was clearly a warning, one I am definitely not going to adhere, and am sure he knows that.

I smiled as innocent and naive as I can while letting my voice go a bit sultry and soft

"yes, Alpha"

For the rest of the day, his presence lingered in my mind like a headache.

Every time I closed my eyes, I saw warning in his gaze, smelt his heady scent that washed over me when I stepped too close. My wolf was restless, pacing, eager. She didn’t see him as Kael’s Uncle, she saw him as who he is, an Alpha, and maybe… as something more.

But I pushed those thoughts aside. This wasn’t about love or lust, this was about revenge, about making Kael kneel without ever touching him. About turning his pride into humiliation, I will really like to see his face as he calls me aunty and Luna.

Still, when night fell and I found myself alone in my chambers, I couldn’t deny the flicker of anticipation that curled low in my belly.

I wanted to see Darius again.

* * *

The following evening, I made sure of it.

The pack hall buzzed with activity, wolves gathering for dinner, laughters and conversations weaving through the air. I dressed in a deep red gown that hugged my figure, its neckline plunging, its back bare and it's length short, something that could be passed as house wear but will garner attention wherever I am, the color of desire and was it raging now.

When I entered the hall, all eyes turned towards me, some widened like saucers in awe, some narrowed slightly in jealousy, whispers started on one side spreading to the other like a wildfire. I ignored them all, my gaze sweeping the room until it landed on my target.

Darius.

Seated at the head table, broad shoulders straight, expression impassive. But when his eyes found me, something shifted in his eyes, quick and fast like it wasn't there to begin with, like I had imagined it all.

I let my lips curve into a slow smile as I glided past the tables to my seat. Every step was sensual, every sway of my hips intentional.

When I reached my seat, far end of the table, I dipped my head just enough to be respectful and greeted. “Alpha.”

You may ask why I am seated there, isn't it better to sit close to him? Yeah but it easier to ignore what is close to you than what isn't and I wanted to be sure that he will keep his eyes on me without imagining it.

Darius’s eyes lingered on me before finally, he inclined his head slightly. “Selene.”

I held his gaze for a bit, letting the tension coil tighter. The seat I choose was really perfect, close enough that my scent would reach him but he has to strain a little for it, but far but not hidden enough that my presence would be impossible to ignore.

The meal began, but I barely tasted the food. My stomach was in knots, his attention remained fixed on me, i can feel it on me like glue, but when I look up a little to his direction it disappears, but sometimes our eyes collide and I held it a bit before letting go, before someone unwanted notice.

But did he notice me, yes he sure did and that was enough.

* * *

Later, as the hall emptied and everyone else left, I lingered.

Darius rose from the table, dismissing the last of the warriors with a nod. When he turned, I was still there and pretending to just be done with my food.

“Alpha,” I said, stepping into his path.

He paused, his eyes narrowing slightly. “Selene.”

I let my lips curl, tilting my head just so. “ Can you please walk me back?”

I didn't mention this but the location of my cabin is a little bit off from the rest of the pack though it's close to the Alpha's house, it was the beta's, former beta who was my father.

His silence stretched long enough to make my pulse quicken. Then, finally, he gave a short nod and I breathed out in relief. “Very well.”

We walked through the dimly lit corridors, the quiet between us thick, charged. My wolf prowled inside me, her tail flicking, her eyes gleaming.

When we reached my door, I turned to him, close enough that the tips of our shoes nearly touched. My heart hammered, but I didn’t let it show.

“Thank you,” I murmured, letting the words drip with meaning.

His eyes searched mine, staring at me intensely like he was searching for something but was it intense. For a moment, I thought he might step closer to me, but I underestimated his control and restraint.

Instead, he said to me

“Seems you like playing with fire, be careful because it burns”

And then he was gone.

Leaving me standing there, breathless, burning.

* * *

In the silence of my chambers, I pressed a trembling hand to my chest, my wolf growling with frustration and sadness, bonds aren't something you just forget and move on, because we weren't mates yet and haven't officially recognised one another, it wasn't really serious but the pain is still there

"You are playing with fire"

Yeah I know but I have to and need to be relentless, the Alpha has noticed me and this is just the beginning.