Awakening The Silver Wolf

DARIUS POV

Ravenna was staring at me like she wanted to see my head on a spike, her eyes blazing with the fury of a thousand storms. That was normal though. 

But what wasn't normal were the tears in her eyes and how badly she was trembling. 

But that didn't surprise me. What surprised me was how my chest tightened at the sight of her tears. What surprised me was my wolf whining. What was wrong with the both of us? 

Just last night I had fantasies of ways I was going to cause her pain. Fantasizing of how I was going to kill her. Yet here I was, just wanting to draw me into my arms and kill whoever caused her pain. 

"You bastard," Ravenna growled, hitting my chest forcefully. 

I was caught off guard so I stumbled back a few steps. I guess I'm the one I was going to kill then. 

"You cruel, evil, vile bastard." She kept hurtling the insults at me as she smacked my chest. 

I watched her, for once in my life speechless. 

"I am going to kill you! I am going to kill you ever so slowly."

"Ravenna—"

"Don't say my name!" she yelled, her eyes harder than I've ever seen. "You don't deserve to say it. You know who deserved to say it?" She didn't wait for me to answer before she continued. "My best friend. And you killed her, you bastard. You fucking killed her!"

I flinched, the words hitting me like a punch to the guts. Ravenna was so lost in her anger and pain that she didn't notice. 

That girl at the field… That was Ravenna's best friend. 

I've killed hundreds of people without blinking an eye. I've ruined people's lives with a smile on my face. I have killed people for less. I wasn't a good person. I knew that. I was who he raised me to be. 

But now seeing Ravenna's tears and how hard she was shaking, I felt guilt punch me in the heart. 

I wasn't sure if these emotions were mine or my wolf's. Something it was hard to differentiate between the two. 

Ravenna kept crying and punching my chest and I let her, keeping my hands clenched at my side. 

"Bastard," she kept repeating. 

I couldn't take it anymore. I grabbed her hand softly. She stared up at me, hate burning in her eyes. 

"I'm sorry," I whispered, shocking myself. 

Ravenna's eyes went wide before she recovered and tried to pull away from me but I held her hand firm. 

"Let. Me. Go," she gritted through her teeth. 

I released her hand and she turned and walked away without a glance back. I caught a glance of my dagger strapped to her belt. But the sight of seeing her with it didn't upset me as I thought it would. 

I stood there, long after she disappeared out of sight, wondering what the hell was happening to me. The answer was at the back of my mind but I chose to ignore it, not liking the answer any more than I liked this situation. 

***

"Darius." 

I was pulled away from my thoughts by the sound of my name. I turned to see Lucian standing in front of me, his forehead wrinkled. 

"That was the third time I called your name," Lucian said. 

I sighed and ran my hand through my hair, my fingers untangling my waves. 

"What is it?" I asked, my voice low. 

"Are you okay?" 

"No. What. Is. It?" 

Lucian watched me with his eyes narrowed before he said, "You have a meeting with our new ally. He's video calling in ten minutes." 

Lucian's report two days ago, interpreting my conversation with Ravenna, had brought news of a new ally. Packs were choosing to join forces, recognizing the futility of war. 

It was a simple choice: ally or enemy. Some made the right decision but packs like Stonehowl had chosen poorly. They paid the price. 

I nodded at Lucian's words and stared distantly at my desk. 

"Did you hear anything I just said?" 

"I did, Lucian," I snapped. "What do you want to do except wait for the call?"

"Make yourself look presentable," he shot back. "You look like a fucking walking dead. What's all that bag under your eyes? Have you not been sleeping?" 

I rolled my eyes at his fussing. You would think Lucian was older than me but I was three years older. While I was the one in charge, Lucian was the mother hen. 

I appreciated that because there were some days where I fall so deeply into the head and he was always there to drag me out by my ass. But today I didn't want to be dragged out. 

"He's calling for business not to stare at my devastating handsome face," I grunted, leaning back in my chair. 

Lucian sighed deep and long, his fingers massaging his temple. 

"You need to look presentable," he said, his voice calm. "We don't want our allies to think that you've gone mad or your life is falling apart." I scoffed. "You need to show them you're stronger than ever. And that starts with taking care of your looks." 

I rolled my eyes again but stood up and went to my room next to my office. The room looked like someone didn't stay there. Which I don't. 

I spend all my time at my office, only going to my room to shower and change clothes. I particularly sleep and eat in my office. 

Ten minutes later, I was sitting in front of my desk, with a laptop in front of me, my face shaved, my hair tied back, and eye bags taken care of. 

 The screen of my laptop flickered, revealing Alpha Hale—older but not yet decrepit, with graying hair that framed his face and a weathered complexion that spoke of years spent in the wild. His eyes, sharp and cautious, bore the weight of hard-won experience.

"Alpha Darius," Hale began, his voice steady but carrying an undercurrent of tension. He tried to hide it but a bit of bitterness slipped through his words by addressing me as alpha. "It's good to finally speak with you directly. I trust your beta has filled you in." 

I nodded shortly, trying to keep my face blank. "He has. So you're finally ready to discuss this alliance." 

Hale nodded, his expression serious. "It's a necessary step for both our packs. We can't afford to be vulnerable right now." 

"Vulnerability is a luxury we can't afford," I replied, my tone icy. "What do you propose?" 

"I'll send two of my best to finalize the details. They'll arrive next two weeks to solidify our agreement," Hale stated, his resolve firm.

"Make sure they know what's at stake, Alpha Hale. My pack doesn't tolerate any weakness," I warned, my gaze unflinching.

"Understood," Hale replied, a flicker of apprehension in his eyes as the call ended. 

I leaned back, a grim satisfaction settling over me. Slivercrest pack were now part of the game.