Wolves of Betrayal

Chapter: 31. A storm of fury..

The Nightshade Packhouse was filled with an eerie silence as night settled over the territory. The moon hung high in the sky, casting a pale, silver glow over the dense forest surrounding the pack grounds. Inside the packhouse, no one dared to move, no one dared to speak. The tension in the air was palpable, a thick, suffocating fog that weighed heavily on everyone’s shoulders.

Darius was outside, his fury like a raging storm tearing through the night. His heart pounded with a mix of anger, guilt, and unbearable despair. He had been tearing apart everything in his path—the thick branches of trees, the large rocks scattered around the clearing, even the sturdy wooden benches and tables that stood outside the packhouse. His claws were out, his eyes wild, and his breath came in short, ragged bursts as he destroyed everything in sight. His powerful swings sent debris flying through the air, his roars echoing through the forest.

The warriors of the Nightshade Pack stood at a distance, watching their Alpha in this frenzied state, but none dared to approach him. They had never seen him like this—so lost, so furious, so broken. Darius was usually a calm and composed leader, someone who always had control over himself and his emotions. But tonight, he was a man consumed by rage and regret.

He couldn’t get Amara’s desperate face out of his mind—the way she had pleaded with him not to let Killian take her, the betrayal in her eyes as she was dragged away. He had failed her. He had promised to protect her, and when it mattered most, he had let her down. His heart twisted painfully in his chest with each thought, each memory of her voice begging him to save her.

Why did I let her go? he thought, his anger boiling over. How could I have been so weak?

He swung his fists at the trunk of a thick tree, the bark splintering under the force of his blow. “DAMN IT!” he roared, his voice filled with raw anguish. “I should have done something! I should have fought for her!”

No one moved to calm him. The pack members knew better than to approach their Alpha when he was like this. They had seen him angry before, but never like this. There was something almost feral in his eyes—a mix of self-loathing and heartbreak that was frightening to witness.

As the destruction continued, a figure emerged from the shadows of the packhouse. Maya, one of the most trusted and outspoken members of the pack, strode forward, her face set in a determined expression. She had heard the commotion and come to see what was happening, but when she heard Darius’s anguished shouts, she knew immediately what it was about. She had always been close to Amara and had sensed the growing bond between her and Darius. She knew how much they had come to mean to each other.

When she saw the state Darius was in, her anger flared. She had heard what had happened earlier at the border—that he had let Amara be taken by Killian. She stormed toward him, her own rage building with each step. She didn’t care that he was the Alpha, didn’t care that he was dangerous right now. She needed answers, and she needed them now.

“Darius!” she shouted, her voice cutting through the chaos. “What the hell have you done?”

Darius stopped in his tracks, his chest heaving with exertion, his eyes blazing as he turned to face her. His breath came in ragged bursts, his hands still curled into fists. “Maya, stay back,” he growled, his voice low and dangerous. “You don’t want to do this right now.”

But Maya wasn’t afraid. She took a step closer, her eyes blazing with fury. “I don’t care how angry you are, Darius! How could you let her go? How could you let Killian take her?”

The question hit him like a punch to the gut. His face twisted in pain, his eyes narrowing. “You think I wanted to?” he snapped, his voice rough. “You think I didn’t want to tear him apart right there and then? I had to choose, Maya. I had to choose between her and my pack.”

Maya’s eyes filled with rage, and she didn’t hold back. “No, you didn’t!” she screamed. “You let him take her because you were too weak to stand up for her when she needed you the most! You let fear control you!”

Darius flinched at her words, his jaw tightening. “I had to think of the pack,” he said, his voice shaking with a mix of anger and guilt. “If I defied the council, they would have declared war on us. I couldn’t risk the lives of my people.”

Maya took another step closer, her expression fierce. “And what about Amara’s life? What about her trust in you? She believed you would protect her. She loved you, Darius! She was falling in love with you, and you let her go back to that monster!”

Her words cut deeper than any blade. Darius’s chest tightened, and he felt his anger boiling over, but it wasn’t directed at Maya—it was directed at himself. He knew she was right. He had failed Amara. He had let her down in the worst way possible.

“I didn’t know what else to do,” he said, his voice breaking. “I didn’t know how to save her without risking everything.”

Maya’s face softened slightly, but her voice remained firm. “You’re the Alpha, Darius. You lead this pack. And this pack would follow you into hell if it meant bringing back their Luna.”

Darius stared at her, his breath coming in short gasps. “Their Luna?” he echoed, his voice low.

“Yes,” Maya said fiercely. “Amara is our Luna. She may not wear the title yet, but she’s earned it. The pack loves her, and they would fight for her. They would fight for her the way you should have fought for her!”

Darius’s eyes widened, and he looked around, seeing the faces of his pack members—faces filled with determination, loyalty, and something else… a willingness to fight. They were ready to stand by his side, to fight for Amara, no matter the cost.

“You’re telling me…” Darius began, his voice uncertain, “that the pack would risk going against the entire werewolf council for her?”

Maya nodded, her expression resolute. “Yes. They would. And so would I. You made a mistake, Darius, but it’s not too late to fix it. We’re strong. Stronger than you think. And if we have to go to war with the Blood Moon Pack, or even the whole werewolf council, then so be it.”

Darius’s heart pounded in his chest as he looked around at his pack. He had always known they were strong, but he had underestimated their loyalty—to him, and to Amara. A surge of determination filled him, pushing away the despair that had clouded his mind. He couldn’t leave her to suffer under Killian’s cruelty. He had to make this right.

“You’re right,” he said, his voice gaining strength. “I was weak. I was a coward. But not anymore. I won’t leave her there. I won’t let her suffer because of my failure.”

Maya’s eyes softened, and she nodded, a small, determined smile tugging at her lips. “Good. Because we’re ready to go to any length to bring her back.”

Darius turned to the gathered warriors, his expression fierce and resolute. “We’re going to get Amara back,” he declared, his voice ringing with authority. “We’re going to bring our Luna home. And if it means going against the werewolf law and becoming enemies of the other packs, then so be it. We fight for her.”

A roar of approval rose from the pack, their voices filling the night air with a powerful, unified sound. Darius felt a surge of pride and gratitude for his pack. They were ready to stand with him, to fight for Amara, no matter the cost.

“Maya,” Darius said, turning to her, his voice steady, “gather the warriors. Prepare for an assault. We attack the Blood Moon Pack at dawn.”

Maya nodded, a determined glint in her eyes. “We’ll be ready.”

As the pack dispersed to prepare, Darius took a deep breath, his mind clearing. He knew what he had to do now. He wouldn’t let his fear, his doubt, control him any longer. He had to fight for Amara, to bring her back from that hell.

He could still see her face in his mind, her desperate eyes pleading with him to save her. He had failed her once, but he wouldn’t fail her again. He would tear the Blood Moon Pack apart if he had to. He would face the wrath of the werewolf council, take on the entire world if it meant getting her back.

As he stood there, feeling the cool night breeze on his face, he whispered softly, his voice filled with a mixture of resolve and regret, “I’m coming for you, Amara. I swear, I’m coming for you.”

He had chosen his pack over his love once. He wouldn’t make that mistake again.