Elaine's pov More Rewarth I had been working with Alpha Darius for a month now , and to say this Alpha was busy would be an understatement . His pack , Crescent Moon , was far larger than Silverblade and carried with it a reputation as a warrior pack . Because of that , alliances , requests for warriors , and negotiations seemed to pour in daily . I quickly realized that handling his schedule was like trying to keep water in cupped hands - it constantly threatened to spill over . Surprisingly though , I loved it here . Darius was not only easy to work with but also patient in ways that often caught me off guard . He wasn't the cold , untouchable Alpha that others expected . He listened , he valued opinions , and even if he didn't always show it outwardly , I knew he cared for his people deeply . And then there was Roselyn . His sister had easily become my friend , her energy infectious and her laughter impossible to ignore . She , along with Seline , had taken me under their wing , insisting that I needed a " relaxation and shopping day " far more than I needed rest . The first time they dragged me out - a week after I was discharged from the hospital - we had shopped from morning until late at night . I had never been so exhausted in my life . Darius had not been happy about that outing , though I wasn't sure if it was because of my health or because his sister had nearly broken me with her relentless energy. Probably both . Still , I couldn't deny that being here felt like a second chance at life . But then there was Darius himself . I didn't know what to think about him . From the moment we met , there had been a connection - something unexplainable and persistent . My wolf felt it too . Around him , we were both at peace , as if we had known him forever . If I relied only on what I felt , I would swear he was my second - chance mate . And yet , no matter how strong that pull was , there was no mate bond . No thread tying us together the way fated mates were bound . It was ... frustrating , to say the least . I always wanted to see him , to be near him , and I found myself looking forward to even the smallest interactions . But I had no right . His true mate - his fated one - was somewhere out there . And I didn't know if he even felt anything for me beyond companionship . I couldn't allow myself to hope . Besides , my life was complicated enough . I had my pup to think about . Carrying an Alpha pup meant I would likely give birth in just four months instead of the usual term , and every decision I made now had to consider that life growing inside me . Adding Darius into the equation ... he was a complication I couldn't afford . 1/3 ( Chapter 44 More forand Worse , I knew Alpha wolves didn't easily accept pups that weren't their own - whether from another Alpha or an ordinary wolf . I had to protect my child , no matter what . I didn't want to be forced to leave Crescent Moon just because of a messy entanglement with its Alpha . I refused to let history repeat itself . " Elaine , can you come to my office ? " Darius's voice slid into my mind through the mind - link , calm but commanding . I glanced at the stack of papers on my desk . I was nearly finished for the day , which only made his request more confusing . He rarely called me after hours unless it was important . " Of course , Alpha , " I replied mentally , and quickly scolded myself for the slip . Darius hated when I called him that . I smoothed my hair and made my way down the hall . When I reached his office door , I hesitated a moment before knocking . " Come in , " his voice called from within . I opened the door , stepping inside . The sight that greeted me instantly put me on edge . Not only was Darius seated behind his desk , but Beta Marcus and Gamma Evan were there as well , both with grim expressions . " Darius , you asked for me ? " I said carefully , closing the door behind me . " Yes . Have a seat , " he said , gesturing to the chair across from his desk . His tone was calm , but there was a weight to the air that made my stomach twist . As I sat , I couldn't help but notice the seriousness etched into all three of their faces . Darius's eyes lingered on me a moment longer than usual , and I couldn't decipher what emotion they held . Concern ? Guilt ? Anger ? " Is there a problem ? " I blurted , anxiety tightening my chest . Did I make a mistake ? Am I about to be dismissed ? Darius shook his head , his expression softening slightly . " No , not a problem ." He leaned back , folding his hands together . " We received an invitation from the Silverblade pack for their Alpha and Luna ceremony next month . It seems Alpha Efrein is finally retiring ." My breath caught in my throat . Silverblade . Just hearing the name felt like a knife twisting into old wounds . I had accepted what happened , or at least I thought I had , but the pain was still there - lingering , sharp , < Chapter 44 unforgiving . My wolf whimpered softly inside me , echoing my sadness . More Rewards > " As my assistant , you would normally accompany us to such an event ," Darius continued , his voice steady , though his eyes never left mine . " But given your history with Silverblade , I want to ask what you would prefer . " Panic began to claw at my chest . The thought of walking back into that place , of seeing those faces again it was overwhelming. My breaths quickened despite my effort to control them , but then I felt a hand rest gently on my shoulder . I turned slightly to see Evan , his Gamma charm radiating calmness into me . " Relax , Elaine ," he said with a small , reassuring smile . " Nothing will happen to you . You're safe here ." I let out a shaky breath , grateful for his presence . Now I understood why he was here - to help steady me . " There's no wrong answer here , Elaine ," Darius added softly . " If it were up to me , I wouldn't want you to come at all . At first , I considered not telling you , but ... that felt wrong . I don't want to decide this for you . " His words , his consideration , made something in my chest ache . He wasn't just being an Alpha in this moment - he was being Darius . " Will it really be alright if I don't go ? " I asked quietly , my voice barely above a whisper . " I don't think I'm ready to see them again . And by that time ... I'll be showing. I don't want them to know about my pregnancy . Darius's gaze softened , his voice firm but kind . " Yes , it's alright . As I said , I wouldn't want you to come . Not if it would hurt you ." I exhaled in relief , though part of me still trembled . Comments Get Bonus ( Ad ) >