"You just became the most valuable target in this entire territory."
My breath hitched.
The words echoed in my head, louder than the pounding of my heart.
"Stop talking," I snapped, my voice sharper than I intended. "You don't know anything about me."
But even as I said it… I knew it was a lie.
Because he did.
His eyes dropped to my stomach again—calm, certain.
Unshaken.
"I know enough," he said.
Something inside me recoiled.
I took a step back.
"Stay away from me."
He didn't move.
Didn't push.
Didn't threaten.
And somehow… that made him even more dangerous.
"Relax," he said, his tone almost bored. "If I wanted to hurt you, you'd already be dead."
My jaw tightened.
Arrogant.
But the worst part?
I believed him.
The air around him felt heavy—like power wrapped in silence. Not loud like an Alpha trying to prove dominance.
No.
This was something else.
Something controlled.
Calculated.
"Who are you?" I demanded.
He studied me for a moment before answering.
"Darius."
The name meant nothing.
But the way he said it…
Like it should.
"Just Darius?" I asked coldly.
A faint smirk touched his lips.
"For now."
I didn't like that answer.
I didn't like him.
And yet… my instincts weren't screaming at me to run.
They were telling me something far more confusing.
Pay attention.
I hated that.
"I'm not staying here," I said, turning away from him. "And I don't need your help."
I took a step forward.
Then another.
I didn't get far.
"You won't make it through the night."
I stopped.
Damn him.
Slowly, I turned back.
"I just took down three rogues," I said. "I think I'll manage."
His gaze didn't waver.
"Three weak ones," he corrected. "You got lucky."
My eyes narrowed.
"Lucky?"
He stepped closer this time.
Close enough that I could feel the shift in the air between us.
"You don't even understand what's happening to you," he continued. "That power you felt? That wasn't control."
My stomach twisted.
I didn't respond.
Because he was right.
"And when it comes back," he added quietly, "you won't be able to stop it."
A chill ran down my spine.
"What are you saying?" I asked.
"That if you stay out here alone…" His eyes darkened slightly. "…you won't die fighting."
My breath caught.
"You'll lose yourself first."
Silence fell between us.
Heavy.
Uncomfortable.
My mind raced.
Everything that had just happened—the strength, the speed, the way something inside me had taken over…
It hadn't felt like me.
It had felt like something breaking loose.
Something dangerous.
I clenched my fists.
"I'm not afraid," I said.
"Then you should be," he replied instantly.
The words hit harder than they should have.
I looked away.
For the first time since he appeared… I didn't have a response.
That annoyed me.
A lot.
"I'm not going with you," I said finally.
"I didn't ask you to."
I frowned.
"Then what do you want?"
His gaze held mine.
"To see what you become."
My stomach dropped.
That wasn't a normal answer.
That wasn't even a reassuring one.
"That's not comforting," I muttered.
"It's not supposed to be."
Of course it wasn't.
I exhaled slowly, running a hand through my hair.
Think.
I needed to think.
I had no pack.
No allies.
No idea what was happening to my body.
And now—
A child.
The thought hit me again, heavier this time.
My hand moved to my stomach instinctively.
I still couldn't believe it.
Didn't want to.
But the feeling…
It was real.
"What happens to rogues here?" I asked suddenly.
Darius didn't hesitate.
"They die," he said. "Or they become something worse."
I let out a humorless laugh.
"Great. Those are my options?"
"For most," he said.
My eyes flicked back to his.
"And for me?"
A pause.
A small one.
But I noticed.
"That," he said slowly, "depends on whether you survive what's coming."
My chest tightened.
"What's coming?"
Before he could answer—
A howl split through the forest.
Loud.
Sharp.
Close.
My body tensed instantly.
Darius didn't move.
Didn't react like he was surprised.
Which meant—
"You knew," I said, my voice low.
"Yes."
Anger flared.
"Then why didn't you say anything?!"
"Because I wanted to see if you'd sense it first."
I stared at him in disbelief.
"You're insane."
"Maybe."
Another howl.
Closer this time.
Then another.
And another.
My blood ran cold.
"That's not three rogues…" I whispered.
Darius's gaze shifted toward the trees.
"No," he said calmly. "It's a pack."
My heart slammed against my ribs.
A rogue pack.
Worse than anything I had faced before.
My instincts screamed at me to run.
But where?
There was nowhere to go.
"They're hunting," I said.
"Yes."
"For me?"
A pause.
Then—
"For us."
My breath caught.
Us?
I didn't have time to question it.
The trees ahead rustled violently.
Shadows moved.
Fast.
Too many.
My pulse spiked as figures began to emerge from the darkness—eyes glowing, bodies tense, surrounding us from all sides.
At least ten.
Maybe more.
My body reacted instantly, shifting into a defensive stance despite the fear clawing at my chest.
I couldn't fight this many.
Not even with whatever power I had.
Not while—
My hand tightened over my stomach.
Darius stepped forward.
Just slightly.
Positioning himself in front of me.
The movement caught me off guard.
"I don't need your protection," I said through gritted teeth.
"I know," he replied calmly.
"Then what are you doing?"
His voice dropped—low, dangerous.
"Making sure they don't touch what's mine."
My breath hitched.
Mine?
Before I could react—
The leader of the rogue pack stepped forward, his lips curling into a cruel smile.
"Well," he drawled, his gaze flicking between us. "Looks like we found something interesting tonight."
His eyes landed on me.
Then slowly… dropped to my stomach.
My blood ran cold.
"An unclaimed female," he said softly. "Carrying a powerful scent…"
My heart pounded violently.
No.
No, no, no—
Darius's entire presence shifted.
The air around him turned deadly.
"Walk away," he said quietly.
The rogue leader laughed.
"And miss this?" His smile widened. "I don't think so."
The pack closed in.
Step by step.
Slow.
Predatory.
My breathing quickened.
This was bad.
This was really bad.
I glanced at Darius.
For the first time…
He didn't look calm.
He looked—
Interested.
Excited.
Like this was exactly what he had been waiting for.
"Stay behind me," he said.
"I'm not hiding—"
"Aria."
I froze.
My heart stopped.
Slowly…
I looked at him.
"You… know my name?"
His eyes flickered.
Dark.
Certain.
"Of course I do."
A chill ran down my spine.
Because there was only one question left.
One terrifying question.
If I never told him who I was…
Then how does he know me?