Wolves of Betrayal

Chapter : 43. Stranger beneath the paw..

As Darius got near the edge of the forest, a howl—desperate and filled with fear—echoed through the trees. Amara’s howl. His heart stopped, cold terror freezing his veins for a moment before fury consumed him. She was calling for help.

Darius didn’t hesitate. He shifted mid-stride, his body elongating and twisting as he transformed into his wolf form. His fur bristled as his massive silver-gray wolf barreled through the forest, his paws pounding against the earth with every stride.

In the distance, he saw her—Amara, running for her life. And behind her, a dark, hulking figure was gaining on her, his teeth bared in a vicious snarl.

Darius let out a ferocious growl, his wolf pushing harder, faster. He couldn’t let that wolf touch her. He wouldn’t let him.

Just as the dark wolf lunged toward Amara, Darius slammed into him with all the force he could muster, his jaws snapping at the intruder’s throat. The impact sent the wolf flying backward, and Darius didn’t waste a second. He pounced on the intruder, his teeth sinking into the wolf’s shoulder, his growls reverberating through the forest.

The dark wolf let out a yelp of pain, thrashing beneath Darius’s weight. But Darius was relentless. His wolf wanted blood, wanted to rip this intruder apart for daring to touch his mate.

Amara stumbled to the ground, gasping for breath. Through her blurry vision and closing eye lids she watched the two wolves battle, with terror. She could barely process what was happening, her body trembling with fear and exhaustion. But seeing Darius—his powerful, silver-gray wolf standing between her and her attacker—gave her a surge of hope.

Darius’s wolf was a blur of motion, his teeth and claws tearing into the dark wolf as they fought for dominance. The intruder tried to fight back, but he was no match for Darius’s fury. Darius was protecting his mate, and he would not lose.

With one final, powerful strike, Darius slammed the dark wolf to the ground, pinning him beneath his massive paws. The intruder let out a weak whimper, blood staining his dark fur as he struggled to breathe.

The air was thick with tension as Darius stared down at the dark wolf lying defeated beneath his feet. His heart was still pounding, his muscles tight with the lingering rage of the battle. The scent of blood and sweat hung in the air, mingling with the faint scent of pine and earth from the surrounding forest. But his focus wasn’t on the wolf he had just brought to submission. His attention was solely on Amara.

She lay crumpled on the ground a few feet away, her body still and motionless. Blood trickled from a wound on her head, staining the earth beneath her. Darius’s chest tightened with fear as he took in the sight of her pale face and closed eyes. The adrenaline that had fueled him during the fight quickly gave way to sheer panic.

Without a second thought, Darius handed over the defeated wolf to the arriving warriors, his voice sharp and commanding. “Take him to the cells. I’ll deal with him later.”

The warriors rushed forward, dragging the whimpering intruder away. Darius didn’t waste another second. He shifted back into his human form and dropped to his knees beside Amara, his hands trembling as he gently cradled her head, his fingers brushing against the blood that had matted her hair.

“Amara…” he whispered, his voice thick with worry.

Her breathing was shallow, her face pale, and the sight of her in such a vulnerable state sent a wave of fear crashing over him. His heart ached with guilt. He should have been there sooner. He should have protected her. The thought of her being hurt—of something worse happening to her—was too much to bear.

Darius gathered her limp body in his arms, lifting her carefully as though she were the most fragile thing in the world. Her head lolled against his chest, and he could feel the warmth of her blood soaking into his shirt. His mind raced with worry, his wolf howling inside him with fury and anguish.

“You’re going to be okay,” he murmured softly, though the words were as much for himself as they were for her. “I’ve got you, Amara. I won’t let anything happen to you.”

With Amara held securely in his arms, Darius ran back towards the packhouse, his movements swift and deliberate. His body ached from the fight, but none of that mattered now. All that mattered was getting her to Helena as quickly as possible.

He sprinted through the forest, his heart pounding in his ears, every muscle in his body burning with the effort of carrying her. The packhouse was in sight now, and he pushed himself harder, his legs moving faster as he closed the distance between them.

When he burst through the door, his voice rang out in the stillness of the house. “Helena!” he called, his tone desperate. “I need you—now!”

Helena appeared almost immediately, her face etched with concern as she saw Darius holding Amara’s limp form. She didn’t need to ask what had happened. Her healer’s instincts kicked in, and she rushed forward, guiding Darius toward one of the beds in the infirmary.

“Lay her down gently,” Helena instructed, her voice calm but firm.

Darius carefully placed Amara on the bed, his hands lingering on her for a moment longer, unwilling to let go. He could feel the rapid beat of his heart, the fear that had settled deep in his bones. He had never felt so helpless.

Helena worked quickly, examining the wound on Amara’s head, her fingers moving with practiced precision. She muttered under her breath, reaching for her herbs and salves, preparing to treat the injury.

Darius stood back slightly, watching her every move, his fists clenched at his sides. He hated this feeling—the inability to do anything, to help. He wanted to tear apart the wolf who had done this to Amara, to make him suffer for every drop of blood she had spilled. But right now, all he could do was wait.

“Is she going to be okay?” Darius asked, his voice hoarse with worry.

Helena glanced up briefly, her expression reassuring. “She’ll be fine, Darius. The wound on her head looks worse than it is. She fainted from the shock, but she’ll wake up soon.”

Darius let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding, though his heart was still heavy with worry. He couldn’t tear his eyes away from Amara’s still form, his mind racing with a thousand different thoughts.

The fear that had gripped him when he’d realized she was in danger was still fresh in his mind. He had come so close to losing her. Too close. And the thought of that made his stomach twist painfully.

“I should have been there,” he muttered under his breath, more to himself than to Helena. “I should have stopped this from happening.”

Helena glanced at him, her expression softening. “You couldn’t have known, Darius. You got there in time, and that’s what matters. She’s safe now.”

Darius nodded, but the guilt still gnawed at him. He stood by Amara’s bedside, refusing to leave her side even for a moment. His eyes were fixed on her pale face, his hands clenching and unclenching as he struggled with the emotions coursing through him.

Minutes stretched into hours as Helena continued to treat Amara, cleaning the wound on her head and bandaging it carefully. Darius remained silent, his heart heavy with worry. He couldn’t lose her. He couldn’t bear the thought of living in a world without her.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Amara stirred.

Her eyelids fluttered, and a soft groan escaped her lips as she slowly regained consciousness. Darius’s heart leaped in his chest, his body tensing with anticipation as he watched her wake. He knelt beside the bed, his hand gently brushing against her cheek.

“Amara,” he whispered, his voice filled with relief. “You’re okay. You’re safe.”

Amara’s eyes blinked open, her gaze unfocused for a moment before it settled on Darius’s face. She blinked again, as though trying to make sense of where she was, and then her eyes widened with recognition.

“Darius…” she whispered, her voice hoarse.

Darius’s throat tightened with emotion, and he leaned closer, his hand still resting on her cheek. “I’m here,” he murmured, his voice thick. “I’m not going anywhere.”

For a moment, Amara was silent, her mind struggling to piece together the events that had led her to this moment. The last thing she remembered was the terrifying presence in the forest, the crushing weight of her attacker pinning her down. And then… nothing.

But now, seeing Darius beside her, the terror that had gripped her began to ebb away. She was safe. Darius had found her, had saved her.

Tears welled up in Amara’s eyes, and before she could stop herself, she reached out and wrapped her arms around Darius, pulling him close. She buried her face against his chest, her body trembling as the fear and relief overwhelmed her.

Darius held her tightly, his arms wrapping around her as if he could protect her from every danger in the world. He could feel the tremors running through her body, the fear that still lingered. His heart broke for her.

“You’re safe now,” he whispered, his lips brushing against her hair. “I’ve got you. No one’s going to hurt you.”