Darius pov


    “After hundreds of years, I still can’t believe we finally had sex! Oh, goddess, it felt so good. Darius, I want her again. I want to be inside her. Do you think she’s rested enough? She passed outst night, but she has a wolf so she should be able to take us again, right? Right? Hey, why aren’t you answering me?”


    As Ss’s voice echoed in my head, I ignored him, absentmindedly toying with the coin between my fingers. My thoughts drifted back tost night, the memories reying vividly, and my frown deepened.


    “I’m truly excited to meet the king’s mate. The goddess works in mysterious ways, I can’t believe she actually granted <b>the </b>king a second chance mate when no one has ever had one before,” one of the elders, whose name I couldn’t recall, eximed from across the table.


    “I agree with you, Elder Jackson, This is truly remarkable; it shows that the goddess greatly favors the king,” another elder chimed in, but I ignored them.


    As they all spoke, I tuned them out, my gaze vacant as I thought about that she–wolf.


    That girl–I had slept with her. I had spent the night with someone other than my Liana.


    For so many years, I hadn’t so much as touched a woman. Sure, my betas had, for generations, tried to set me up with someone, because to all of them, my heartache, my sadness over my mate could be cured by another woman.


    But it was never the <b>case</b><b>. </b>


    To be honest, I knew I’d had many centuries to grieve my mate and to let go of that pain or so everyone said. Even though I pretended not to hear the whispers around me, I still caught every word.


    “You’d think that after so many years, he would finally forget his mate, but it seems he can’t.”


    “How could someone love another this way? He’s still hell–bent on his mate who died so many centuries ago.”


    “Right? He’s really lucky. The goddess basically gave him eternal life, he could be enjoying his riches and as many women


    <b>as </b>he wants.”


    That was what they all said behind their carefully crafted smiles. Cruel wordsced with honey, evil eyes hiding behind masks of awe and respect<b>. </b>


    But what they didn’t know was that, even after so much time had passed, I couldn’t forget. No matter how <b>hard </b>I <b>tried</b><b>, </b><b>I </b>simply couldn’t.


    The memories of that day <b>were </b>still fresh in my mind.


    <b>Because </b>the moon goddess had made sure I would never forget what happened that day.


    She had made sure I remembered every single detail-


    From the color of the walls sttered with her <b>blood</b>, to how that same blood soaked into her white dress, staining it


    <b>1/3 </b>


    crimson. I remembered <b>how </b>pale she looked as she stared at me with trembling lips, whispering <b>those </b>words under


    breath:


    “F–forgive me, my king… forgive me for leaving so soon and taking our unborn child with me<b>. </b>Please do not grieve for ton long. Be happy. That is my dying wish, for you to be happy…”


    That was all she managed to say before she drew herst <b>breath</b>, before her eyes closed and never opened again.


    Even as she was dying, herst words had been for me. She truly wanted me to be happy.


    But how could I be, when I had watched my mate, the only person who kept me sane, die?


    I couldn’t.


    So I went rogue. Ss went rogue. And we killed.


    We took the lives of everyone involved in her death because we couldn’t let her go to the afterlife alone. Those people had to follow after her.


    And before I could evene to my senses, so much blood had stained my hands.


    I found myself standing among the bodies of those I had in.


    The moon goddess made sure I would remember everything from that day.


    Even in my dreams, the terror still followed me.


    That was my punishment.


    But I have lived it long enough.


    I wanted the mercy of death, and I would have it.


    “Beta Cassian has told everyone that the king When will you mark her as your <b>Luna</b>, my king?”


    mateis very pretty and kind. He says the king is already smitten with her.


    I lifted my gaze at his words, tilting my head slightly as I stared at him. The moment my eyes met his and narrowed, he immediately stiffened, swallowing nervously. But in the next second, Cassian’s awkwardughter cut through the tension.


    “Haha, when did I say that, Elder Bruce? My king, I never said that, When did I say that?”


    I


    My gaze shifted to <b>Cassian</b>, who sat beside me with his lips tugged into a smile, a guilty glint flickering in his eyes. I merely narrowed my own for a brief moment, then looked away, ignoring himpletely.


    I already regretted being here. I had only agreed to let these people meet the girl because Cassian had pleaded with me, saying they would keep pestering me if I didn’t.


    To be honest, I couldn’t care less about their curiosity, I could easily ignore them and their questions. I was far older than any of the men before me, and their opinions were nothing to me.


    The only reason I still allowed the existence of elders in this pack was because it was an ancient custom, <b>one </b>that existed


    21:25 Sat, 2 Aug


    long before I became the Lycan King. I had no intention of shattering every tradition. Even though I had killed most of the original elders, those who had yed a part in my mate’s death, I had appointed others to fill their ce.


    “Darius…” Ss called out in my head, and even when I didn’t respond, he continued


    “Do… do you think it’s possible to make her our Luna?”


    I raised a brow at his words, the coin I had been toying with suddenly stilled between my fingers. My gaze darkened, and almost immediately, the conversations around the table fell silent.


    I could feel everyone’s eyes on me as I leaned back in my seat, tilting my head slightly


    “What did you say?” I asked through the mindlink, my voice cold and sharp.


    For a brief moment, there <b>was </b>silence. Ss knew I was angry, but like the fool he was, he kept going


    “I meannnn, we don’t have to mark her or anything, and I’m not saying we won’t find a way to break the curse, but at least while she’s here, let’s give her the title of our Luna. What do you say?”


    I didn’t respond, so he pushed on.


    “I mean, think about it–if she’s here without the title of our mate, she’ll be bullied. Others will think we don’t ept her


    “That’s because I don’t ept her,” I cut him off, my tone sharp. He paused for a second before awkwardly clearing his


    throat.


    “I mean, I know that but….


    Before he could finish, his words trailed off as a familiar scent drifted in from just outside the door.


    And then-


    “Greetings to the Lycan King, the Beta, and the Elders. Lady Nyssa, the King’s mate<b>, </b>has arrived.”


    As soon as the voice echoed from the other side, the two doors swung open, and the moment the she–wolf stepped inside, I froze. My breath hitched.


    A


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