Wolves of Betrayal

Chapter : 40. The surprise of a lifetime..

The days in the Nightshade Pack seemed to blur together as Amara and Darius settled into a rhythm that felt both natural and exhilarating. With each passing moment, Amara grew stronger, more confident, and more in tune with her wolf, Lyra. She spent her mornings training, her afternoons working with the pack, and her evenings with Darius, their connection deepening in ways she hadn’t thought possible.

But despite her growing strength and happiness, Amara still had moments of doubt. She had only recently shifted for the first time, and though she had Lyra by her side now, she still questioned if she could truly stand as the Luna of the Nightshade Pack. Darius believed in her—his confidence in her was unwavering—but she often wondered if she was really ready to take on such a responsibility.

One sunny afternoon, after a particularly tough training session, Amara sat by the river that ran through the edge of the pack’s territory. The sound of the water rushing over smooth stones helped calm her nerves. She’d been sparring with Darius all morning, learning how to defend herself both in human and wolf form. Though her body was sore, there was a sense of satisfaction in knowing she was getting stronger each day.

Still, there was a knot of uncertainty in her chest. She loved Darius more than she had ever thought possible, and she wanted to be his Luna, to stand by his side as his equal. But the weight of the responsibility sometimes overwhelmed her.

As she sat there, watching the river flow, she didn’t hear Darius approaching until he was right behind her.

“Lost in thought again?” he asked, his voice warm and familiar. He sat down beside her, the scent of pine and earth clinging to him, a reminder of the morning’s training.

Amara smiled, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Just thinking,” she said softly, running her fingers through the cool water. “About everything. About being Luna.”

Darius’s brow furrowed slightly as he studied her. He could sense her hesitation, the way she was still holding back despite all the progress she had made. “You’re doubting yourself again, aren’t you?” he asked gently.

Amara nodded, her shoulders sagging slightly. “I want to be Luna,” she admitted, her voice quiet. “I want to be the woman you believe I am, but… sometimes I wonder if I’m really ready. If I’m really strong enough.”

Darius turned toward her, his hand gently cupping her cheek. “You are strong enough, Amara,” he said firmly, his eyes locking onto hers. “You’ve proven that time and time again. You fought your way back from the darkness, found your wolf, and learned to embrace who you truly are. You’re more than ready.”

Amara leaned into his touch, the warmth of his hand grounding her. “It’s just hard to shake the doubt sometimes,” she whispered.

Darius smiled softly, his thumb brushing over her cheek. “You don’t have to carry that doubt alone,” he murmured. “You have me, and you have the pack. We’re all here for you, every step of the way.”

Amara closed her eyes, her heart swelling with gratitude. Darius had been her rock, her strength when she didn’t have any left. And she knew, deep down, that she could do this. She just needed to trust herself.

As if sensing the shift in her thoughts, Darius leaned in and kissed her forehead, his lips lingering for a moment. “I have something planned for tonight,” he said, his voice light but filled with an undercurrent of excitement. “I want you to meet me in the meadow after sunset.”

Amara’s brow furrowed in curiosity. “Something planned? What are you up to?” she asked, a playful smile tugging at her lips.

Darius chuckled, standing up and offering her his hand to help her up. “You’ll just have to wait and see,” he teased. “But trust me, you won’t be disappointed.”

Amara raised an eyebrow but took his hand, standing beside him. “You’re being very mysterious,” she said, narrowing her eyes at him playfully. “Should I be worried?”

Darius laughed, wrapping his arm around her waist as they began to walk back toward the packhouse. “No need to worry,” he said with a grin. “Just be ready.”

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As the sun began to set, casting a warm, golden glow over the Nightshade territory, Amara found herself standing in front of the mirror in her room, her heart racing with anticipation. Darius had told her to meet him in the meadow after sunset, but he hadn’t given her any details. She had no idea what he had planned, and the curiosity was starting to eat away at her.

She glanced at herself in the mirror, smoothing down the simple white dress she had chosen to wear. It was a soft, flowing dress, nothing too fancy, but it made her feel beautiful, comfortable. She wasn’t sure what Darius had in mind, but she wanted to look her best for him.

Taking a deep breath, she turned and headed out of the packhouse, her steps light as she made her way toward the meadow. The sky was a stunning mix of oranges and pinks, the last rays of sunlight painting the horizon in a breathtaking display of color. As she walked, she couldn’t help but feel a sense of excitement building inside her. There was something in the air—something magical.

When she reached the meadow, her breath caught in her throat.

The meadow had been transformed into something out of a fairy tale. Lanterns hung from the branches of the trees, casting a soft, warm light over the grass. A blanket had been spread out in the center of the meadow, surrounded by candles and scattered flower petals. It was beautiful, romantic, and completely unexpected.

And standing in the middle of it all was Darius, looking every bit the powerful, handsome Alpha she had fallen in love with. He wore a simple, dark shirt and pants, but there was something different about him tonight—an intensity in his eyes, a tenderness in his expression that made her heart skip a beat.

“Darius…” Amara whispered, her voice barely audible as she took in the scene before her. “What is all this?”

Darius smiled, walking toward her, his eyes never leaving hers. “This,” he said softly, taking her hands in his, “is a special night. A night to celebrate you, us, and the future we’re going to build together.”

Amara’s heart raced, her pulse quickening as she looked up at him. There was something in his voice, something in the way he was looking at her, that made her feel like this night was about to change everything.

Darius led her to the blanket, motioning for her to sit beside him. The soft glow of the lanterns bathed them in light, the scent of the flowers filling the air. It was perfect—too perfect.

As they sat down, Darius turned to face her, his expression serious but filled with love. “Amara,” he began, his voice low and steady. “You are the strongest, most incredible woman I have ever known. You’ve faced challenges that would have broken others, but you’ve come out of them stronger, more resilient, and more beautiful than ever.”

Amara’s breath hitched, her eyes glistening as she listened to his words. She had never heard him speak like this before, and it filled her with a warmth she couldn’t describe.

“You’ve become a part of this pack in ways I never imagined,” Darius continued, his hand reaching out to gently cup her cheek. “You’ve shown kindness, strength, and leadership. You’ve earned the respect of everyone here, but more than that… you’ve earned my heart.”

Amara’s eyes widened, her pulse racing as she realized what was happening. “Darius…” she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion.

Darius smiled, his eyes filled with nothing but love as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box. He opened it, revealing a simple but stunning silver ring adorned with a sparkling moonstone. The sight of it took Amara’s breath away.

“Amara,” Darius said softly, his voice thick with emotion. “Will you do me the honor of becoming my mate? Will you stand by my side as my Luna, my partner, and the love of my life?”

Tears welled up in Amara’s eyes, her heart overflowing with love and joy. She had never expected this, never thought she would find herself in this moment, being proposed to by the man she loved more than anything.

“Yes,” she whispered, her voice barely audible through the tears. “Yes, Darius, I will.”

Darius’s smile widened, and he slipped the ring onto her finger, his hands warm and steady. The moment the cool metal touched her skin, Amara felt a surge of warmth flood through her, a deep sense of peace and belonging.