Wolves of Betrayal

Chapter : 17. Lost in the nightmare..

The memory slammed into her like a wave, dragging her under, suffocating her in its darkness. And suddenly, Darius’s touch felt too much, too close. She wasn’t in the Nightshade Packhouse anymore; she was back in that cold, suffocating dungeon, and all she could see was Killian’s face.

“No!” she gasped, the word tearing from her throat. Without thinking, she pushed Darius away from her, her panic taking over. Her breath came in short, frantic bursts, her eyes wide with terror as she scrambled back, her body trembling uncontrollably.

Darius fell back onto the floor, his eyes wide with shock and confusion. “Amara!” he said, his voice filled with concern. “What happened? What’s wrong?”

But she couldn’t hear him. She was lost in the nightmare, her mind trapped in that dark place where Killian’s cruel laughter echoed around her. She clutched her head, her fingers digging into her scalp as if trying to rip the memories away. “Get away… get away from me!” she cried out, her voice breaking.

Darius sat up quickly, his heart pounding as he saw the terror in her eyes, the way she recoiled from him. He reached out, but he stopped himself, realizing that his touch might only make things worse. “Amara, it’s me,” he said softly, his voice steady and calm. “It’s Darius. You’re safe. I swear, you’re safe.”

But her breathing was ragged, her eyes darting around the room as if she were searching for a way out. Tears streamed down her face, and her body shook with the force of her sobs. She was trapped in that nightmare, and no matter how much she tried to pull herself out, the darkness kept dragging her back down.

Darius felt a stab of pain in his chest, watching her crumble like this, watching her break apart under the weight of her fear. He wanted to help her, to hold her, to make the nightmares go away. But he knew he had to be careful. He had to let her come back to him on her own terms.

“Amara, look at me,” he said softly, his voice a gentle command. “Look at me and breathe, okay? Just breathe.”

Her eyes flicked to his, and for a moment, he saw a flicker of recognition through the haze of her panic. She stared at him, her chest heaving as she tried to catch her breath, tried to pull herself out of the dark spiral. She could see Darius, could see the worry and fear in his eyes, and she clung to that like a lifeline.

“Darius,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. “I’m… I’m sorry…”

He shook his head, his expression softening. “You don’t need to apologize,” he said gently. “You don’t ever need to apologize for this. Just take your time. I’m right here.”

She nodded, her breaths slowing as she focused on his face, on the steadiness of his voice. She tried to remind herself that she wasn’t in the dungeon anymore, that Killian wasn’t there, that he couldn’t hurt her. She was with Darius. She was safe.

Slowly, the room came back into focus, the shadows receding as she pulled herself out of the nightmare. She took a deep breath, then another, her trembling starting to subside. She wiped the tears from her cheeks, her body still tense but no longer shaking.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered again, her voice thick with emotion. “I just… I can’t… I keep seeing him…”

Darius’s eyes softened even more, and he moved a little closer, still careful to give her space. “You don’t have to explain,” he said quietly. “I’m sorry I pushed you too fast. I should have known…”

She shook her head, fresh tears welling up in her eyes. “It’s not your fault,” she said, her voice breaking. “It’s him. Killian… he… he hurt me in ways I can’t even describe. I thought I could get past it, but it’s like he’s always there, in the back of my mind.”

Darius’s jaw clenched, a flicker of anger passing through his eyes. “I swear to you, Amara,” he said, his voice low and fierce. “I won’t let him hurt you again. Not ever.”

She looked at him, her heart aching with a mix of fear and gratitude. “Thank you,” she whispered. “I want to be close to you, Darius. I want to be able to… but sometimes, it’s like my mind just won’t let me.”

He nodded, understanding her completely. “We’ll take it slow,” he said softly. “As slow as you need. And if you’re not ready, that’s okay. I’m not going anywhere.”

For a long moment, they just sat there, the silence heavy but not uncomfortable. Amara’s breathing steadied, and she felt a small measure of peace returning to her, knowing that Darius was there, knowing that he understood. She wasn’t ready to face everything yet, but with him, she could start to heal.

“Thank you,” she whispered again, her voice barely a breath. “For being here. For understanding.”

Darius gave her a small, reassuring smile. “Always,” he murmured. “We’ll get through this together. I promise.”

And for the first time in a long time, Amara allowed herself to believe that maybe, just maybe, she could find a way to move forward—step by step, day by day, with Darius by her side.

The next morning Amara sat on the edge of her bed, her knees pulled up to her chest, her mind churning with a whirl of emotions. The morning light filtered through the curtains, but she barely noticed. She was too lost in her thoughts, too caught up in the guilt that gnawed at her insides like a relentless tide. She could still feel the warmth of Darius’s body against hers, the way their lips had moved together in a desperate, passionate kiss, only for her to push him away in a sudden, frantic panic.

She hadn’t meant to lead him on, hadn’t meant to stop him like that. Darius had been so gentle, so patient with her, and yet, when things had heated up between them, she’d thrown him off her in terror. The memory of Killian’s abuse in the dungeon had been like a cold knife stabbing through her thoughts, and she’d reacted instinctively, shoving Darius away before she could even process what was happening.

But now, in the light of day, the fear had faded, replaced by a heavy sense of guilt. She had been the one to start it. She had been the one to kiss him, to pull him closer, to whisper that she needed him. And then she’d pushed him away, leaving him confused and worried.

Darius had been nothing but understanding, his eyes filled with concern rather than anger. He had reassured her, told her it was okay to take things slow, that he was willing to wait until she was ready. But she couldn’t shake the feeling that she had hurt him, had taken something from him in that moment.

He’s been so good to me, she thought, her heart aching with a mix of guilt and affection. From the moment I arrived in his pack, he’s done nothing but support me—even when he found out I was the mate of his enemy alpha.

She remembered those early days vividly. She had arrived at the Nightshade Pack, exhausted and terrified after escaping the Blood Moon Pack. She had been ready for hostility, ready to be turned away, or worse, thrown into another dungeon. But instead, Darius had welcomed her with open arms. He had listened to her story without judgment, had given her a place to stay, and had made sure she was safe.

Even when she had announced that she was Killian’s fated mate—something that could have turned his entire pack against her—he had stood by her side. His pack had questioned her presence, and some had even feared she might be a spy. But Darius had defended her, saying that she deserved a chance to prove herself. He had protected her when she had no one else.

He’s been nothing but patient and kind to me, and I keep pushing him away, she thought, her guilt growing heavier with each passing moment. I owe him for everything he’s done. For believing in me when no one else would.

She needed to talk to someone. She needed advice, someone who could help her sort through this mess of emotions. And she knew exactly who to turn to.

Maya.

Maya had been one of the first members of the Nightshade Pack to make her feel welcome. She had a way of making things seem simpler, easier to understand. If anyone could help her figure out what to do, it was her.