Awakening The Silver Wolf

RAVENNA POV 

"Day..." 

"Day five," I answered Mia. 

We sat on the roof of one of the smaller buildings in this ridiculously large castle, watching the sun disappear through the trees, the breeze cool on my skin. Winter will be here soon. 

Mia hummed. "Day five since your last fight with Alpha Darius," she said. "When do you think the next fight will be?" 

I raised a shoulder and shrugged. "I haven't not the slightest clue, Mia. It could be today or tomorrow. Darius is a prick." 

Mia chuckled and exhaled slowly, her face facing the heavens with her eyes closed. "I love it here," she whispered. 

I looked away from her and closed my eyes, mirroring her posture. "Me too." 

This reminds me of the last day I had spent with Lilith and Joseph. On the roof before Darius came and ruined everything. 

I pushed that thought away. I didn't want to think of anything. Not Darius. Not how my life keeps changing. Not how I've lost Lilith. I want to think of nothing. 

I released a breath and felt my body relax. When I opened my eyes again it was dark. 

Mia stood up and dusted her clothes. "Come. We'll miss dinner." 

I stood up and followed her back into the building, to the dining hall. 

It was less filled this time of the day, so there were fewer whispers as I filled my tray and went to our normal table. 

"Do you think we shou—" Mia cut herself off. I raised my eyes to her and she gestured with her chin behind me. 

I looked behind me and my heart skipped a beat. 

Darius was walking towards us, his stride long and confident. But that wasn't what made my heart skip. 

He was no longer wearing his suit: he was now dressed in black sweatpants and a black tee that was tight around his biceps and chest. His hair was down and it looked wet. 

I tried to look away from him but couldn't. My heart was beating like crazy. 

I finally looked away from him and focused on my food, frowning to myself. 

Why do I react this way to Darius? My pulse was beating wildly, a warmth was pooling low in my belly. 

I hated Darius. I shouldn't be feeling this way. 

I felt it when Darius got close because a heat went through my body. 

"Hello, Silver Wisp," he said, his voice a low rumble. 

I raised my gaze to him and he smiled. I looked away quickly. 

"Good evening," I muttered, forcing food into my mouth. If my mouth was filled I wouldn't be able to talk to him. 

"Hello, Mia," he greeted her as he sat beside me. He was so close I could feel the heat of his body reaching mine. 

"Alpha," Mia responded as she tried to stand but Darius waved at her. 

"Sit and eat." 

Mia sat and continued eating, her eyes fixed on her plate. 

I continued filling my mouth, not once glancing up even though I could feel Darius' eyes hot on me. 

"How've you been, Silver Wisp?" Darius asked, his voice still low. Why the hell was he talking like that? 

"Fine," I said with my mouth filled. 

Darius tsked and I could feel him shaking his head. "You shouldn't talk with your mouth full, Ravenna." 

I glared at him and chewed the food in my mouth quickly before I answered. "You were the one who asked me a question." 

Darius shrugged, a smirk on his face. 

I looked away from him and mumbled, "Bastard." 

After a moment of silence, I finally raised my eyes to him and asked, "What do you want?" 

"I wanted to see you," he answered, eyes intense. 

"Is it our second fight today?" 

"No." 

I raised an eyebrow. "So what do you want?" 

"You." 

I also choked on my saliva as my eyes went wide. I heard Mia coughing but I couldn't tear my eyes from Darius'. 

"Me?" I asked, my voice low. 

Darius nodded slowly, his face serious. "Yes, Silver Wisp. You." 

"I don't fucking understand!" 

Darius shrugged. "Neither do I." 

I narrowed my eyes at him, searching for any signs of teasing but Darius' face was serious. I shook my head and went back to my food. "You're weird, Darius." 

He chuckled. "I've been called worse." 

"When is our next fight?" I asked, wanting to talk about something normal. 

"You know I can't tell you, Silver Wisp." 

I glared at him. "Can't or won't?" 

Darius smiled. "Won't." 

I shook my head. Darius was like a labyrinth, twisting and turning with secrets at every corner. You could never understand him. 

Mia stood up from the table and muttered an "Excuse me" before she picked up her tray and left. I tried to catch her eyes but she wouldn't look at me, but I caught a little smile on her face before she left. 

Traitor. 

I looked at Darius who was smiling and looked away. 

My tray was finally empty but I didn't stand up and leave. I just sat there, nursing my orange juice. Why wasn't I leaving? 

"Pick when you want your next fight to be," Darius suddenly said. 

I turned slowly to him, my eyebrows raised. "You're serious?" I asked. 

Darius nodded. "Yes." 

A labyrinth indeed. 

I got up, picked up my tray, and smiled down at him. "Now." 

Darius mirrored my smile and got up, tailing behind me. The few people that were still left in the hall followed us with our eyes. They had a new topic to gossip about now. 

I dropped my tray and left the hall, Darius now walking beside me. 

"The same room?" I asked. 

"Yes." 

We got to the room which was empty of anybody and Darius walked to a table. He picked something up and walked back to me with two nunchaku, the wooden sticks connected by a short chain, ready for a fierce clash.

I raised an eyebrow at him. "Seriously?"

Darius just smiled and shrugged, then handed one nunchaku to me. 

"The first one to land a solid hit wins," Darius said, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

I nodded, tightening my grip. With a swift motion, Darius lunged forward, twirling the nunchaku expertly. He aimed for my side, but I was quick, twisting away just in time, the whirling sticks barely missing me. 

I retaliated with a rapid series of strikes aimed at his midsection. Darius deflected my blows with quick movements, the impact of our weapons ringing out sharply in the air.

We exchanged a flurry of hits and blocks, the sound of wood colliding echoing like a heartbeat. Each strike was harder than the last, pushing me to my limit. 

Darius spun, aiming for my legs, but I jumped, narrowly avoiding the strike and countering with a swift swing toward his head.

"Are you even trying?" Darius teased, a smirk playing on his lips. 

"I could say the same about you," I shot back, but I was smiling. 

Why? I didn't know. This fight felt different from the first one. 

Darius feinted left and swung right. With a reflex I didn't know I possessed, I dodged it. 

Darius' eyes went wide, surprise flickering in his eyes. Hell, I was surprised too. 

Darius quickly regained his composure and lunged. With a sudden burst of energy, I lunged back. My nunchaku landed on Darius' shoulder with so much force that I felt it vibrate on my arm. 

Darius went down with a cry and I felt my chest tightened. He stared up at me with wide eyes, his chest heaving hard. There was a look in his eyes I'd never seen before. 

I stared at my hands, dropping my weapon. Where the hell had that strength come from? It felt like heat was flowing through my veins. 

"What the hell was that, Ravenna."