Chapter 73: Lingering Scent

Chapter 73: Lingering Scent Darius~ The soft creak of the door pulled me from my thoughts. A young girl, no older than nineteen, stepped into my chambers, her head bowed, hands trembling at her sides. She had been dressed in fine silks, her dark curls pinned back with delicate golden clips, her lips painted a deep red. Despite the effort to make her look desirable, fear clung to her like a second skin. She stopped a few feet away from my bed, her gaze locked on the marble floor. I leaned back against the pillows, shirtless, my arms folded behind my head, watching her with mild interest. "Luna Gabriella sent me," she whispered, her voice barely a breath. I didn’t bother with pleasantries. "Take off your clothes and lie down." She flinched, her breathing uneven. "Please... I just want to go home to my parents. I don’t belong here." I sighed, irritation sparking in my chest. "Did I ask you to speak?" Tears welled in her eyes, but she didn’t move. I pushed myself off the bed, crossing the room in two long strides. My fingers curled around her wrist as I yanked her closer, my grip tightening just enough to make her gasp. "If you were smart, you’d do as you’re told," I murmured, releasing her with a shove. She stumbled back, shaking, and I could already feel my patience wearing thin. Twenty minutes later, she was gone, ushered out of my chambers in a mess of quiet sobs, torn dress and trembling limbs. She was wounded and bleeding all over but I didn’t care. I sat on the edge of my bed, running a hand through my hair as frustration curled through me like wildfire. The scent of her tears did nothing for me. "Not satisfying," Claw, my wolf, growled in my mind. "She had no fire. No strength. Not like her." I clenched my jaw. I knew exactly who he meant. Natalie. The one who had burned herself into my thoughts, her scent lingering in the corners of my mind no matter how many others I took into my bed. She was the only one who had ever looked me in the eye and dared to defy me. Ten minutes passed before the door swung open again. Gabriella stormed in, her face lined with frustration, dark circles beneath her eyes. She crossed her arms over her chest, staring me down. "Did you have to leave her in that condition?" I arched a brow, unimpressed. "She wouldn’t stop crying. I gave her something to cry about." Gabriella exhaled sharply, pressing her fingers to her temple. "I’m done doing this, Darius. I don’t want to dress up innocent girls for you anymore. It’s disgusting." I smirked, leaning back lazily. "And yet, you’ve done it over and over again. Because you know you have no choice." Her lip quivered, but she quickly masked it with anger. "Why did you even mate me if you never planned on being faithful? Do you have any idea how humiliating it is to be your Luna while you—" "Enough," I interrupted, standing. I reached for her, pulling her against me before she could step away. "You knew exactly what I was when you became mine. You knew I had... needs. And you know you’re not enough to satisfy them." Her body stiffened against me, but she didn’t pull away. Not yet. I brushed my fingers along her cheek, my voice dropping into something gentler, more coaxing. "You want to be a good Luna, don’t you?" She swallowed hard, eyes flickering with uncertainty. "Then stop questioning me," I murmured, my lips barely grazing her ear. "Accept your role. You provide what I need, and in return, you remain my Luna." She trembled slightly, but I could already feel her resolve breaking. She needed to believe that this was her fault—that if she were only better, I wouldn’t seek others. But we both knew that was a lie. She let out a shaky breath. "Will it ever be enough?" I hummed, considering. "Perhaps... if I had her." Gabriella stiffened. "Natalie? Again with her? She’s a traitor’s daughter—a cursed, wolfless girl. Why are you so obsessed with her?" My fingers tightened around her waist as I turned her to face me fully. "Because she had fire, Gabriella." My voice was almost wistful, an old hunger curling at the edges of my words. "No one else has ever looked at me with such defiance. No one else has ever smelled the way she does—like something forbidden, something just out of reach. Every girl you bring me is nothing more than a pale shadow of her." Gabriella’s face twisted with something between jealousy and rage. "You’re chasing a ghost, Darius." I smirked, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "Am I?" My mind drifted back to the first time I saw Isla—Natalie’s mother. She had been a wild little thing, stumbling into my pack’s territory with nothing but sharp eyes and sharper words. Back then, my pack was young, still finding its footing. My best friend, Evans Cross, had been my Beta, and together, we had built something out of nothing. And then Isla arrived. She wasn’t the strongest werewolf, but she had something that drew me in—an untamed spirit that made me want to break her, tame her, own her. I had already been mated to Gabriella then, but Isla had called to me in a way that my mate never had. Unfortunately, Evans had seen her too. We had both pursued her, though she had been wise enough to know I was off-limits. In the end, she chose him. And for that, I had hated her. I never forgave Evans for taking Isla away from me. I buried that resentment deep in my chest, locking it away where no one—not even Gabriella—could see. But it never truly disappeared. It simmered beneath my skin, poisoning every moment, every decision. Evans had won back then, and I had no choice but to let it go. Isla became his, and I remained with my mate, Gabriella, pretending I didn’t care. But three years later, fate played a cruel game. Isla gave birth to a daughter—Natalie. A splitting image of her mother. The moment I laid eyes on her, something in me twisted and burned. It was as if the universe was mocking me, dangling before me what I had lost. Natalie had Isla’s deep blue eyes, the same defiance in her gaze, the same fire that had once drawn me in. And as she grew, that fire only burned brighter. I told myself it was nothing, just the past creeping up on me. But every time I saw Evans with her—saw the way he adored her, cherished her, protected her—it became clear. Evans had stolen Isla from me. And now, he was raising the one thing that gave me hope of a second chance at what I could never have. But I knew Evans would never let me have her. I knew Evans would rather die than give me his daughter. So this time, I had to be smarter. I would not let what happen before happen again. Evans had to go. I spent years waiting, watching. Evans was an honorable man, upright and loyal. He never faltered, never gave me an opening to strike. But I was patient. I knew a day would come when he would slip. And when it did, I would be ready. Then, the opportunity presented itself in the form of a royal visit. The King and his court were coming to Silverfang. It was rare for a royal to visit a lesser pack like ours, but I knew it was a test. A test of my leadership, my strength. If I impressed the King, it would elevate my pack’s status. But if I failed, the disgrace would be immeasurable. I saw my chance. At the cost of my pack’s status. I didn’t care. I arranged for Isla to be taken the night before the King arrived. My men snatched her from their home, making it look like a rogue attack. I knew Evans would not stand by idly. He would do anything to get her back, even if it meant defying me and bailing out of the royal visit. And that was exactly what I needed. The morning of the royal visit, Evans stormed into my office just as I was reviewing the final preparations. His eyes were wild, his face pale with panic, and his sweet Natalie was clutched tightly in his grasp. "Darius," he growled, his voice shaking. "It’s Isla. She’s been taken. I – I found Natalie crying this morning when I got back from my duties and she told me Isla was taken yesterday. I leaned back in my chair, feigning concern." Taken? By who?" "Unknown people. I don’t know, Darius!" Evan’s voice broke. "I have to go get her." He said, and oh, how much I wanted to laugh at that moment. But instead, I made my face look cold and I leaned forward. "Evan, this is bad news but the royal family is arriving today. You’re needed here. We can’t afford to slip up in front of them. You are in charge of the games. That is your responsibility." "Darius," Evans begged, his voice shaking, "please, let me go get her. She could be in danger, I’m begging you." I made my tone go firm. "No. You’re the Beta and your absence right now would be an embarrassment to the pack. After the royal family leaves in four days I’ll personally help you find her. But until then you stay here." I knew Evans wouldn’t accept that. "Four days?" He asked, his voice breaking. "Darius, she could be dead by then! Please, I’ll go alone—I just need your permission." He was desperate now and it was music to my ears. So, I delivered the final blow. "No. You’re needed here. This conversation is over. Go and make sure everything is flawless." He clenched his fists, trembling with rage and desperation. I could see the war inside him. His love for Isla versus his duty to the pack. And I knew which one would win. Evans was too much like me. He would choose love. By evening, the royal visit was in full swing. The King and his entourage were seated in the grandstand, waiting for the games to begin. The entire pack was gathered, anticipation thick in the air. But Evans was nowhere to be seen. I stepped forward, addressing the crowd. "Let the games begin." The moment the first match started, it became clear something was wrong. The preparations had been sabotaged by me, of course. The fighting pit was unstable, the weapons were not sharpened, the challenges poorly arranged. It was a disaster. The King’s face darkened with displeasure. When the final match was supposed to start and there was no proper setup, the King stood abruptly. "This is an insult," he declared, his voice like thunder. "A pack that cannot honor its King does not deserve his favor." He turned to me, his golden eyes burning with judgment. "You have wasted my time, Alpha Darius. I leave you with nothing." Then he left, his court following in his wake. The silence that followed was suffocating. Then, like a storm breaking, the pack erupted in outrage. "Where is Beta Evans?" someone shouted. "He was in charge of the games!" "He’s ruined us!" Just as I had planned. That night, the pack called for justice. Evans had shamed us in front of the King. That was treason in their eyes. The punishment was exile at best. But I knew what they really wanted. Blood. Evans returned a few days later, carrying Isla’s unconscious body in his arms. He was battered, bruised, and broken. He had found her, but it was too late for him. The pack seized him the moment he stepped foot in our territory, just like they had done his daughter and that foolish family he left her with. I stood before him as he knelt before me with Isla’s body cradled in his arms. "You disobeyed me," I said, my voice cold. "You dishonored this pack." He lifted his head, his eyes filled with betrayal. "You did this. Didn’t you?" I didn’t answer. His gaze darkened, and then he whispered, "You’ll never have her." But, oh, he never knew the depth of my plans. The next day I arranged for their execution and that of that lousy family; and of course, I found a loophole to keep Natalie alive because she was my price. ************ I had gone through hell to make Natalie mine. And yet, despite everything, she slipped through my fingers like grains of sand, leaving behind a ghost of her scent that tormented me every waking moment. At first, I wanted her as my mate—to bear me strong sons, to stand beside me as my Luna. But when I discovered she was wolfless, I adjusted my expectations. She couldn’t give me the heirs I wanted, but I could still claim her in other ways. I told myself it would be enough to have her in my bed, to have her submit to me in the only way that truly mattered. But Natalie had been a problem from the start. Headstrong. Stubborn. Defiant. No matter how many challenges I threw in her way, she refused to bow. She refused to need me. Then, as if the universe itself was mocking me, she was revealed to be Griffin’s mate. My nephew. That made things even worse. People would talk. They already whispered in the shadows about my obsession with the wolfless girl I had marked. Keeping her close would only fuel the rumors, and I couldn’t have my authority questioned. So, I made a decision I never thought I’d make. I let her go. I banished her. At first, I thought I could live with it. The first week was tolerable. The second week, frustrating. But by the end of the month, I knew I had made a mistake. Her scent still lingered in my nose, in my mind, on my tongue. The hunger for her refused to fade, gnawing at my insides like a beast trapped in a cage. I tried to cure myself of it. At first, I turned to Gabriella. She was my mate, after all. I took her every night, hard and fast, forcing myself to believe that if I buried myself deep in her, I would forget. That if I clung to the bond we shared, I would be free of the girl who had become an obsession. It didn’t work. So I sought another method. Gabriella had failed me in many ways. She was weak. She couldn’t bear me sons. And she couldn’t rid me of the ghost of Natalie. If she couldn’t fulfill my needs, then she would at least serve another purpose. I made her bring me girls. Young, pretty things, all around Natalie’s age. She resisted at first, but I commanded her. And no mate could defy her Alpha’s command. Gabriella’s voice pulled me back to the present. "I don’t want to do this anymore," she said, voice tight, her shoulders tense and her face a mask of hatred. I glanced at her, unimpressed. "You think I care what you want?" Her jaw clenched, and I saw the fire in her eyes, but she said nothing. She knew better. I leaned back against the headboard, exhaling heavily. "You failed to give me sons, Gabriella. You failed to be enough for me. The least you can do is bring me someone who will." Her nails dug into her palms. "They’re just girls." "They are replacements." "For Natalie?" she hissed, her voice laced with venom. I smirked. "You’ve always been jealous of her." Gabriella shot up from the bed, fists shaking. "You are obsessed with her! You think no one sees it, but they do! Everyone does!" I looked at her, unbothered. "Then they should also see that I have no intention of stopping." She let out a sharp, disbelieving laugh. "You’re pathetic." I raised a brow. "You want to see pathetic? Walk out that door without following my orders, and you’ll find out exactly what that word means." Her breath hitched, and I knew I had her. "Tomorrow night," I said smoothly, running a hand through my hair. "I want someone better than the last one. Someone softer. Someone who won’t whimper so much." Gabriella’s lips parted in disgust. "You’re a monster." I let out a low chuckle. "I’ve never claimed to be anything else." She turned on her heel and stormed out, slamming the door behind her. I didn’t move. I simply exhaled, staring at the ceiling, feeling nothing but an emptiness that no body had managed to fill. Natalie had ruined me. No matter how many women I took, no matter how many I used, none of them smelled like her. None of them made my blood burn the way she had. And now, to make matters worse, another man had stolen her away. Cole Lucky. I had thought Natalie would be unwanted after I banished her. She was wolfless, marked by me, cursed. What fool would take her? But I had underestimated her. Or maybe I had underestimated the desperation of other men. Cole Lucky had taken my place. And I would not allow it. I had already sent out a secret search party, but the reports I received only fueled my rage. Natalie was thriving. She had protection. She had bodyguards now. She was no longer the weak girl I had thrown away. And worst of all? Griffin was also looking for her. That little bastard. After rejecting her, he was now desperate to find her. I knew he wasn’t helping me. He had his own agenda, and I was going to find out exactly what it was. But first, I would deal with Cole Lucky. The man who thought he could take what belonged to me. As if my problems weren’t enough, my pack was under attack. Rogues? Traitors? A rival Alpha? I couldn’t pinpoint the source. But whoever they were, they had chosen the worst possible time to challenge me. I would crush them. But not before I got what I wanted. I had already decided. Until I found Natalie—until I had her back—no one would know peace. I sat up, rolling my shoulders, my muscles tense with frustration. The hunger inside me was unbearable, an itch I couldn’t scratch. Tomorrow, I would continue my search. Tomorrow, Gabriella would bring me another girl. But tonight, I would sit in this darkness, haunted by the scent of the one woman I could never forget. And for the second time in my life, I hated the fact that I had let go of someone I desperately wanted.