Chapter 5 5: The Chase and the Reckoning

Amara's POV

The chilly night air burnt my lungs as I ran, breathing in quick gasps. Despite the pain in my legs, I persisted. The thick woodland was hardly lighted by the moonlight, and the shadows encircled me like claws. My heart thumped with both terror and resolve. They couldn't catch me. Never again.

"Amara!"

The sound of his voice chilled my blood. Darius.

My chest heaved as I whirled around. His dark eyes were fixed on me as he stood a few feet away, his face unreadable. I felt a flash of anger.

With a trembling voice, I spat, "You have no right to say my name." "You turned me down. I was taken by them. Why have you come here now?

Darius stepped forward, a puzzled expression on his face. "Amara, I"

"No!" I interrupted, gesturing to him with a quivering finger. "You're not allowed to talk! After everything, you're here now, even though you flung me aside like I was nothing? Why?

He looked... confused as he opened and closed his mouth. The powerful Alpha, Darius, was silent for the first time. I didn't care, though. I turned away from him and resumed my run.

Anarchy broke out once more in Viktor's realm. With his eyes flaming with rage, the Alpha slammed his fist into the wooden table. "She escaped?"

The elders and warriors in the room were silent. Nobody was brave enough to speak. Viktor turned to his Beta; his jaw gritted. "We will go to war."

The Beta paused. "Are you sure, Alpha?"

A menacing smile twisted Viktor's lips. "That child developing inside of her is now mine. And what is mine shall be mine.

I knew it was risky to go with Darius, but what other option did I have? I couldn't compete with Viktor on my own. However, I told Darius one thing.

I remarked icily as I walked next to him, "I will never forgive you."

He nodded but winced. "I don't think you will."

There was silence between us. I appreciated that he didn't try to speak. I was emotionally and physically worn out. But a storm built deep within. The last person I wanted to depend on was Darius. But here we were, walking together, returning to the Lycan Pack.

Every step of the tense ride was laced with unspoken words. However, disaster soon caught up with us.

The assault was unexpected. The trees' shadows shifted and then growls and snarls filled the air. The men of Viktor.

Darius instantly transformed into his wolf and charged at the closest adversary. I took a step back, my heart pounding. I lacked the strength and weapons to fight. I wasn't defenseless, though.

My instincts kicked in when a warrior lunged at me. My blood roared in my ears as my body burned. A blast of vitality sprang out of me. My hands shook, and suddenly a strong force erupted, sending the man hurtling with a painful crash into a tree.

I let out a gasp. What was that, exactly?

His eyes widened in surprise as Darius turned. The other fighters paused, their faces displaying a hint of panic.

Breathless, I stood there looking at my hands. Something had woken up inside me. Something hazardous.

Darius took a cautious step toward me. "Amara."

My heart was racing when I looked up. There were more adversaries on the way. The conflict wasn't over. And now, I was no longer just running.

The struggle had finally begun.