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Chapter 6

Alina

This isn't the first time someone has told me that I could die, but that doesn't make Darius' words any less disturbing. Especially because, given the path our conversation has taken, I don't need to think too hard to understand.

Full moon... Loss of control... It's obvious.

In my rage, I killed Jared.

The fragmented images in my mind start to make sense. Even with sharp pains in my brain, I allow them to pass and try to recognize Jared's face amidst the chaos. But I can only see his back as he approaches a door... then he's running... and I hear the sound of keys frantically jingling... and then he screams


"I killed him," I conclude aloud, and that certainty floods me with a mix of relief and horror because even though I believe he deserved the end he received, I know the consequences of it. "I... I-I did it again... I killed someone
 while I was out of control..."

My eyes burn, and tears start to flow. Not for Jared. It would never be for him. I cry because I can no longer bear this curse. Even now, I am plagued by nightmares where I see the faces of people I don't recognize, yet I know I have killed each one of them, and that's why they haunt me. I don't blame them.

It was in that accident, on that day when King Ulric finally found me and my parents—the day of my first transformation. It happened sooner than expected. I was just a child. But it happened, and many died.

What does the goddess want from me? Why did she choose to keep me alive? If she picked a man who would try to kill me, why it was me who killed him?

The ground feels like it's disappearing. It’s like I'm sinking into the earth, slowly being swallowed by an invisible mouth.

"Alina," Darius calls my name for the first time since we met, but his deep voice sounds as distant as a whisper. "Hey, Alina... Look at me."

I mumbled things that even I didn't understand.

Sobs escape one after another, until Darius' hands grip my arms with a firm yet surprisingly gentle hold, bringing me back to the real world.

Dazed, I turn my face towards him and find a concerned gaze. He doesn't let go as he starts speaking, "Calm down and listen to me now."

Desperate for support, one of my hands reaches out to him, unintentionally grabbing the bandaged part of his arm. Darius lets out a hiss through gritted teeth and tightly closes his eyes as a whimper of pain mixed with a grunt reaches my ears, causing me to immediately pull my hand back.

"I-I'm sorry, I..."

Still with his eyes closed, he shakes his head, dismissing my apology.

"The punishment for killing your mate is death, and I think even you know that," says Darius. "But if your human mate tried to kill you and did it because, from what you told me, someone assigned him that task, it means that this same person will go to the house and find out what happened. That is, if they haven't already."

I don't feel calmer, but the sobs have stopped. That's when Darius releases me and goes back to rummaging through his bag. He's searching for something he hasn't found yet.

"That person will come looking for you. And when they discover what happened, you'll be hunted. You need to come with me to Norden."

"Why are you doing this, Darius?" I'm trembling. "You have no obligation to help me."

"So what? I'm a king, and I can do whatever I want. Or do you prefer to stay here and die for a crime you didn't commit? You didn't just kill your mate for fun, little girl. You were defending yourself against an asshole, and I hope he suffered a lot in the process." He smiles with malicious satisfaction as he pulls out a vial from his bag. There's blue liquid inside the glass. "Found this shit!"

Without giving me time to speak, Darius puts the vial in his mouth and quickly stands up, then he... he starts lowering his pants?

"What does this mean?!" I ask in desperation, torn between the desire to hide my face and the urgency to stay attentive to his next moves, for not knowing what Darius intends to do with this sudden madness.

"No need to be ashamed." His voice sounds funny because he's still holding the vial with his teeth. In a second, his pants are already at his knees. Darius quickly gets rid of the garment and tucks it into his bag. "All men are the same underneath their clothes."

But I've never seen a naked man before, and I don't know if I can't stop looking at his body because I'm scared or because he's really handsome.

His tights’ muscles seem as firm as those of his abdomen, with scars so small and thin that they can barely be seen, but the virility between his legs catches my attention to the point where I feel embarrassed for not being able to look away. Darius, on the other hand, doesn't seem bothered to know that I'm staring at such a specific part of his body.

Unconsciously, I press my knees together. What is this warm sensation in my belly?

"I want you to ride on me," he says, and my heart skips a beat.

"W-WHAT?!"

"On my back. What were you thinking?"I could swear there's a smile playing on his lips as he takes off his boots and tucks them into the bag.

He's not going to ask for his shirt too, is he?

Giving me another startle (he seems to enjoy startling me), Darius begins to shift.

His human nails start to elongate, transforming into sharp and lethal claws. But I don't see or hear any signs that Darius is in pain as his arms and legs reshape and stretch.

His muscles contort, bulging and increasing in size and density as his spine curves and extends, forming a hairy tail. Darius is now covered in thick black fur, much like his unkempt hair. The face elongates and tapers, taking on the shape of a lupine muzzle, and his teeth transform into sharp fangs.

Finally, Darius becomes a hybrid creature, part man and part wolf.

He spits out the vial, which was still in his mouth, into his right hand’s palm. The other hand is extended towards me.

"Come. I'll help you up."

I’m too impressed. Darius' wolf-shape is so big and imposing... He's definitely a Lycan King.

I alternate my gaze between the black pads in Darius' hand, and his yellow eyes, which stare at me expectantly.

"You're coming with me, aren't you? I can save you."

Something in Darius' voice makes me feel like I can trust him. Maybe it's the warm musk emanating from his body that also helps create that impression, but after everything that has happened... I don't want to die, and if he has taken care of me until now, accompanying him is my best option—the only option.

It's as if an invisible force pushes me towards him, lifting my arm until my hand rests on Darius', which is now so large that my fingers can barely close around his.

I rise slowly. He supports me as I feel my legs wavering. His hand manages to hold onto a part of my arm, but once I'm stable, Darius lets go. I immediately pull down the shirt’s hem, trying to cover my legs.

"I'll go with you," I finally say. This may be the most important decision I've made until today.

"Climb up."

Darius lowers himself to the ground on all fours and practically lies down on. He also does me the favor of turning his head in the opposite direction.

I approach him cautiously and let one hand glide over his thick fur. Then I mount his back, but my legs press against his waist with more force than they should because, not wearing anything other than a shirt, the black fur tickles me in the most inconvenient spot.

Darius growls, and my face becomes very hot.

"D-did I hurt you?" I ask, immediately loosening the grip of my legs. Darius' scent seems stronger, but in a different way than when he got angry earlier.

"No. But be careful, little girl," he says in a hoarse tone. "Just hold on tight enough not to fall. Anything more than that can be a bit... complicated."

I prefer not to ask what Darius meant by that because this whole situation is already too complicated.

He stands up. I do my best not to squeeze him again, grabbing onto some fur between his shoulder blades.

Darius picks up the backpack and hands it to me. I place it on my lap. Then he grabs the deer with his mouth, muttering something about hating to waste food.

He shakes the vial on the ground. Foul-smelling smoke rises instantly. I deduce that this is meant to make tracking difficult because that scent would drive any Lycan crazy after inhaling it.

"Let’s go, little girl."

Darius starts running, and he's as swift as the wind. I need to lean my body and practically lie on his back. But he remains steady in his run, making it easier for me.

In no time, everything I knew is left behind, and this small flame of hope that ignites in my heart is different. It feels real, enduring.

Trying to prevent it from extinguishing, I let Darius take me to his kingdom—to Norden, beyond the Dark Forest.

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