Chapter 32 --THIRTY-THREE - SHE CALLED FOR ME

Chapter 32: Chapter-THIRTY-THREE - SHE CALLED FOR MEDarius looked away when she looked back at him. When he lifted his head, she had already gone with the Moonseeker. He looked down at his bare feet and exhaled slowly. It was for the best. They had to distance themselves as much as possible. Darius knew he had angered Serena. He was a bit uncomfortable with it, the way she looked at him like a hostile stranger. But if he limited how often they crossed paths, if he kept his head down and stayed focused, he’d survive it, eventually. After a while, he began to pace around the temple. He went to every corner and soon began to look at the stone carvings. Nothing of importance to him. He knew the stories behind each of these carvings, the same stories he had grown up hearing from his mother. She had adored this place, told him each tale like it was scripture. He stopped at one that had a crude drawing of a couple under the moonlight, holding hands. They were fated mates, and shared the most revered bond given to werewolves. At least, it used to be. Darius clenched his fist. He would not succumb to it. He couldn’t make out the conversation that Serena and the Moonseeker were having. The priestess was patient, but rarely did her meetings last this long. Perhaps it was because Serena wasn’t one of theirs. Still, unease prickled up his spine. Darius shook his head and sat at the altar, looking at the weathered ceiling. Behind him, he knew the Lunara statue was looming over him. He didn’t need to look; he had been here more than enough to know the temple like the back of his hand. He heard Serena’s voice, louder than it usually was but he still couldn’t make out her words. The Moonseeker did not hurt people unless... she oversaw every execution that happened in the pack. They were few, but she led them. But executing Serena was far from his mind. He would never allow it. His hold on his wrist tightened. He was getting softer with her around, and he hated it. He heard intelligible words from the Moonseeker, and then it went deathly quiet. It was like the air had been sucked out of the temple. Darius strained his ears to pick up something, anything. The room they had gone into had been made with ancient magic, and Darius could not eavesdrop on the conversation. No one could. A few seconds passed, and something crashed to the floor, a ceramic bowl, Darius assumed. Not long after, he heard an anguished cry come from the room. The voice belonged to Serena. Darius shot up from where he sat, making his way to the entrance of the secluded room. The curtains were drawn, obscuring Darius’ view. He stood rooted to the spot, unsure of what to do. While he had to follow the rule that no one, unless permitted by the Moonseeker, could gain access to that room, on the other hand, Serena sounded like she was in terrible pain. Another scream tore through the still air, longer this time, like her soul was being dragged from her body. The Moonseeker seemed to have gone silent. Darius could not bear to listen to Serena’s cries and screams. It sounded like she was being branded with steel coated in wolfsbane. Her screams went on, but his body finally moved when he heard his name from her lips. "Darius," he heard her tearfully say. "Serena," he called out, his voice sharper than he intended. "You have come far enough," the Moonseeker warned. Darius remained still before he shook his head. If Lunara struck him down, so be it. He had promised himself that no harm would come to Serena until she had left Ironshade. The red-haired man walked briskly and pulled the curtains roughly, almost tearing them from their rod. Darius’ eyes widened at the sight. Serena was on all fours, drenched in sweat, her body wracked with tremors. Tears streaked down her face, mingling with the saliva that dripped from her trembling lips. She was muttering something, but he could barely hear her. He tore his gaze to the Moonseeker, who had a deep frown. She held a staff to his neck. Darius had been so distracted by Serena that he hadn’t realized the priestess’ presence. He opened his mouth to speak, and then Serena screamed again. She trembled, crawling forward. He noticed her nails seemed longer than normal, the hair on her body was more visible, and her clothes had ripped in some places. Had she been trying to shift all this time? He remembered she didn’t let him reject her because she claimed she had only just found her wolf. Darius’s breath caught. Gods. She had been telling the truth all along. But still, shifting had never been this agonizing, as far as he knew. He grabbed the staff and looked at the priestess, his brows furrowed. "What is going on with her?" he demanded. The priestess’ face changed into what would have stricken fear into his heart, but the adrenaline coursing through his veins had given him enough confidence. "You are interrupting, Darius," she replied in an eerie tone. Darius stepped between her and Serena. "She called for me," he growled. "She called my name." The Moonseeker’s gaze sharpened. "Have you forgotten the sanctity of this place? What I demanded?" Darius heard Serena whimper, he ignored the angry priestess and rushed to her side. He didn’t hesitate. He dropped to his knees beside her and gathered her trembling form into his arms. Her skin felt like a hot stove. "Darius," she whispered, struggling to call out to him. He pulled Serena close to his body, brushing the blonde strands that had stuck to her forehead. Her body trembled, and she winced at his touch. "I’m here," he said, ignoring the shadow of the Moonseeker. Serena’s eyes opened briefly before they fell closed, and she stopped trembling, her body going rigid.