CHAPTER 5
Darek's POV
The courtyard was quiet again after Verity left, but her words lingered like an echo in my mind.
"You're not as heartless as you pretend to be."
She had no idea how wrong—or how right—she was.
I couldn't afford to show weakness, not to her, not to anyone. My pack depended on me to be their shield, their sword. But Verity... she challenged everything I had carefully built.
For a moment, I almost let her see it—the man beneath the Alpha. But I couldn't. Not when the walls I'd built were the only thing keeping me from breaking.
The following morning, I found myself pacing my office. Caleb leaned against the doorframe, watching me with a bemused expression.
"You're going to wear a hole in the floor," he said.
I shot him a glare. "I don't have time for your jokes, Caleb."
"Then let's skip the small talk. What's eating at you?"
I hesitated, running a hand through my hair. "Verity."
"Ah," Caleb said, as if that explained everything. "The Luna who speaks her mind. She's certainly... spirited."
"She's reckless," I snapped. "She doesn't understand the danger she's in."
"Or maybe she's just not afraid of you," Caleb said, smirking.
I growled low in my throat. "She should be."
"Maybe," Caleb said, his tone more serious now. "But she's your mate, Darek. You can't treat her like an enemy."
"She's not my mate," I said sharply. "She's my Luna by arrangement, nothing more."
Caleb raised an eyebrow but didn't push. Instead, he simply said, "The rogues are escalating. We need to address it before it's too late."
I nodded, grateful for the change in topic. But even as we discussed patrol strategies and border defenses, my mind kept drifting back to Verity.
I watched as Caleb left and walked out of the courtyard to go check on the reports.
The rogues were becoming bolder. Reports of attacks on nearby villages trickled in daily. My patrols were stretched thin, and the tension in the pack was palpable. Yet, despite everything, my mind remained clouded with thoughts of Verity as I walked into my office.
I don't know what she has done to me but I have to stop this before I lose control of myself.
Her defiance infuriated me, but it also drew me to her in ways I couldn't explain. She was strong, unyielding, and unafraid to challenge me—traits that were both her greatest strength and her biggest danger.
Caleb barged into my office without knocking. "We've got another report," he said, tossing a folder onto my desk.
I opened it, scanning the contents. The rogue attacks were spreading further into our territory.
"This isn't random," I said, leaning back in my chair. "They're testing our defenses."
Caleb nodded. "That's what I thought too. But there's more. The survivors said the rogues mentioned something about a 'key.' Any idea what that means?"
A chill ran down my spine, but I kept my expression neutral. "No," I lied. "Keep digging. I want answers."
Caleb studied me for a moment, suspicion flickering in his eyes, but he didn't press.
Later that night, I found myself outside Verity's room. I didn't intend to come here, but something about her presence was magnetic. Before I could stop myself, I knocked.
"Come in," her voice called.
I stepped inside, finding her seated by the window, a book in her hands. She looked up, surprised to see me.
"Darek," she said cautiously. "Alpha" I corrected her.
"You address me as alpha," I said, watching as she flickered in disappointment, which she masked quickly.
"What do you want Alpha?" She asked with her head up high.
I hesitated, unsure of my answer. "I need to talk to you."
"About?"
"The rogues," I said, pulling up a chair across from her. "They're after something—a 'key.' Does that mean anything to you?"
Her brow furrowed. "No. Why would it?"
"Because you're the one thing that's changed since these attacks started," I said bluntly.
She bristled. "So now you think this is my fault?"
"I didn't say that," I said, my tone softening. "But you might know more than you realize. Think, Verity. Did anyone mention a key to you before you came here?"
She shook her head, her frustration evident. "No. And even if they did, why would I tell you? You've done nothing but treat me like a prisoner."
Her words stung more than I expected. "I'm trying to keep you safe," I said, my voice low.
"I don't need your protection," she snapped.
I stood, my patience wearing thin. "Whether you want it or not, you'll have it."
Before she could argue, I left, slamming the door behind me.
"I can't stand that woman," I said, who was waiting outside the door for me.
Chuckling loudly, he spoke, "I think you have lost yourself a lot to Verity; I have never seen anyone get under your skin like she does."
"I'm trying to protect her, but she's just being so stubborn," I said, irritation obvious in my voice.
"I think that's your fault, alpha. You have to talk to her nicely if you want to get anything from her, but I don't think you can do that, Alpha," he said, his features turning serious.
"You are too cold to her; she is your wife, and Luna tries to treat her like one," he spoke again.
"Wife," I muttered to myself. "I never wanted a wife, and this is all arranged; it is a truce for the safety of our pack," I said, turning to him.
"I will never acknowledge her as my wife; I have to keep her safe because I don't want war to occur between the two packs," I said, walking away, leaving Caleb dumbfounded.
Inside my room, I pull off my clothes and step into the bathtub. Closing my eyes, letting the hot water collide down my worked-up nerves, my mind drifted to the recent attack of the rogues.
I couldn't help but wonder what this key is all about. What will happen if they get their hands on the key?