Chapter 30 – My Mate Is My Greatest Curse

Elaine laughed softly, shaking her head. “It hasn’t even been that long.”

Roselyn grinned mischievously. “It felt like forever.”

Darius shot his sister a pointed look. “Roselyn, calm down. She just got discharged.”

Roselyn pouted but zipped her lips, though her excitement still shone through her bright eyes.

The drive to the pack house was short, but to Elaine, it felt momentous. She watched the landscape blur past-the dense woods, the well-kept roads, the occasional cluster of houses, until at last the pack house carne into view.

It was grander than the pack house in Silverblade, with its stone walls and wide balconies overlooking the forest. As the car rolled to a stop, a wave of nervousness fluttered in her stomach.

Darius caught the subtle shift in her expression.

“You’ll be fine,” he murmured, his voice steady, reassuring.

Inside, the pack house was alive with quiet bustle. Members passed by, nodding respectfully to Darius, their gazes curious when they lingered on Elaine. She felt a flush rise to her cheeks, but Darius’s presence at her side kept her grounded.

He led her up the main staircase, past polished wooden railings and wide hallways, until they reached a room at the end of a corridor. He opened the door for her, gesturing inside.

“This will be your room.” He said.

Elaine stepped inside and was immediately struck by how warm and welcoming it felt. The room was modest yet comfortable-soft bedding, a writing desk by the window, and a view of the forest beyond.

Sunlight spilled across the floor, giving it a golden glow.

She turned to him, overwhelmed. “Darius, this is… more than I expected. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” he said simply, his gaze lingering a moment longer than usual before he cleared his throat. “Settle in, and later today, I’ll introduce you to your new duties.”

Roselyn practically burst into the room behind them, unable to contain herself any longer. “Oh, it’s perfect!

And you’re right next to my room. We can talk all night if we want!”

Elaine laughed, shaking her head in amusement. “I’m starting to think you had something to do with this room being chosen.”

Roselyn winked dramatically. “Maybe.”

Darius rolled his eyes but didn’t argue.

“Elaine,” he said, drawing her attention back to him, “tomorrow, come by my office. We’ll go over your responsibilities. Nothing overwhelming at first, just easing you into it. But for now, take a rest or walk around the pack house, get familiar with your new home”

Elaine felt her nerves again, but they were steadied by the trust she saw in his eyes. For the first time since arriving in Crescent Moon, she allowed herself to believe she might truly have a place here-not just as a guest, but as someone who belonged.

“I’ll be there, and thank you again for the opportunity.” She promised.

As Darius left the room, Roselyn plopped herself down on the bed, grinning from ear to ear. “See? I told you it would all work out.”

Elaine smiled softly, her heart lighter than it had been in a long time.

“Yes,” she whispered, almost to herself. “Maybe it really will.”

“Now, do you want a tour of the pack house?” Roselyn asked her excitedly.

Elaine’s pov

More Rewarth

I had been working with Alpha Darius for a month now, and to say this Alpha was busy would be an understatement. His pack, Crescent Moon, was far larger than Silverblade and carried with it a reputation as a warrior pack. Because of that, alliances, requests for warriors, and negotiations seemed to pour in daily.

I quickly realized that handling his schedule was like trying to keep water in cupped hands-it constantly threatened to spill over.

Surprisingly though, I loved it here. Darius was not only easy to work with but also patient in ways that often caught me off guard. He wasn’t the cold, untouchable Alpha that others expected. He listened, he valued opinions, and even if he didn’t always show it outwardly, I knew he cared for his people deeply.

And then there was Roselyn. His sister had easily become my friend, her energy infectious and her laughter impossible to ignore. She, along with Seline, had taken me under their wing, insisting that I needed a “relaxation and shopping day” far more than I needed rest. The first time they dragged me out-a week after I was discharged from the hospital-we had shopped from morning until late at night. I had never been so exhausted in my life.

Darius had not been happy about that outing, though I wasn’t sure if it was because of my health or because his sister had nearly broken me with her relentless energy. Probably both.

Still, I couldn’t deny that being here felt like a second chance at life.

But then there was Darius himself.

I didn’t know what to think about him.

From the moment we met, there had been a connection-something unexplainable and persistent. My wolf felt it too. Around him, we were both at peace, as if we had known him forever. If I relied only on what I felt, I would swear he was my second-chance mate. And yet, no matter how strong that pull was, there was no mate bond. No thread tying us together the way fated mates were bound.

It was… frustrating, to say the least.

I always wanted to see him, to be near him, and I found myself looking forward to even the smallest interactions. But I had no right. His true mate-his fated one-was somewhere out there. And I didn’t know if he even felt anything for me beyond companionship. I couldn’t allow myself to hope.

Besides, my life was complicated enough. I had my pup to think about. Carrying an Alpha pup meant I would likely give birth in just four months instead of the usual term, and every decision I made now had to consider that life growing inside me.

Adding Darius into the equation… he was a complication I couldn’t afford.

More forand

Worse, I knew Alpha wolves didn’t easily accept pups that weren’t their own-whether from another Alpha or an ordinary wolf.

I had to protect my child, no matter what.

I didn’t want to be forced to leave Crescent Moon just because of a messy entanglement with its Alpha. I refused to let history repeat itself.

“Elaine, can you come to my office?”Darius’s voice slid into my mind through the mind-link, calm but commanding.

I glanced at the stack of papers on my desk. I was nearly finished for the day, which only made his request more confusing. He rarely called me after hours unless it was important.

“Of course, Alpha,” I replied mentally, and quickly scolded myself for the slip. Darius hated when I called him that.

I smoothed my hair and made my way down the hall. When I reached his office door, I hesitated a moment before knocking.

“Come in,” his voice called from within.

I opened the door, stepping inside. The sight that greeted me instantly put me on edge. Not only was

Darius seated behind his desk, but Beta Marcus and Gamma Evan were there as well, both with grim expressions.

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