Darius rushed to catch Serena on the steps. He met her eyes and gave her a small smile. She raised a brow and tilted her head.
"Would you like to see around the town?" he asked, the words leaving him softer than he intended, tinged with a sheepish edge that made him clear his throat immediately after.
Serena didn’t answer right away. Instead, she tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, her gaze slipping past him to the street below.
The last time she was out properly was when she ’escaped’ from Oakspire. Letting this opportunity slip past her fingers would be foolish.
She continued down the stairs as if she hadn’t heard him. She wanted him to ask again.
"It would not take most of your time," he said, trailing behind her.
She tapped her finger on her arm, pretending like she was giving it a thought before she replied.
"Hm," she said at last, tilting her head as if weighing something of great importance. "Maybe seeing some stands wouldn’t be so bad."
Darius smiled and breathed a small sigh of relief. He joined her side, careful to keep a respectful distance, and gestured toward the open square.
"This is Longdale," he began. "The largest town in Ironshade."
Her eyes swept across the area, taking in the buildings, the running children, and the plants. The Infirmary was the largest building she could see. A few yards away was a fountain made out of white stone.
In her excitement to get to the Infirmary, she had overlooked the fountain and the beautiful buildings. She reached the bottom of the steps and dropped her dress.
"Would you live here?"
Darius did a double take at her question. He almost laughed at the randomness of it. He looked at the town, and the gears in his head turned. He had never thought about not living in a castle, he had done so since he was born.
Longdale was a fun town, though his visits were infrequent due to how far it was from the castle. He stroked his chin and hummed.
"I would not," he answered.
Serena walked with him, then reached a small building on the quieter side, and she looked up at him.
"Is there a reason?" Serena asked.
Silverstone did not have towns. It was on the verge of establishing one just before she was exiled. There must have been hundreds of wolves in Ironshade, maybe even more.
"There’s too many people here, and it seems dangerous for me to live here."
"What if you weren’t an Alpha?" Serena asked.
Darius leaned on the wall, looking at the passing people. He turned his head and watched a group of teenagers arguing over a card game on a crate. A merchant’s child stumbled on a cobblestone and was gently lifted by a nearby stranger. The town was alive with the kind of freedom he’d never truly known.
Darius digested Serena’s question. A life where he was not a leader, just a normal wolf like the passersby right here. What would it have been like without these responsibilities, without all the expectations, the mountain-load of work?
He rubbed the back of his neck, lost in thought. What would it have been like without his father’s harsh scrutiny, his madness, the cruelty? Heaven, perhaps. But then, would his mother be in the picture? Her face was still alive in the paintings that filled his study.
It was all speculation. Darius would never know. This was his reality, and nothing could change the past. He looked at Serena, who seemed eager for his reply.
"I don’t know," he murmured. "I think... maybe. If things had been different."
A soft chuckle left her lips as she shook her head, a smile curving at the corners. "Your imagination must be boring."
Darius arched a brow, clearly amused. "Oh?"
"Yes," she said, her voice light with teasing.
Darius pushed himself off the wall and gestured for them to follow the alleyway. He would show her the interesting places in Longdale.
"Would you like to live here?" he asked, throwing the question back at her.
Serena nodded, as she had answered the question long before she even asked Darius. The Infirmary played a big part in her decision-making. She had never been around so many wolves in her life—never even seen this many before.
She wished she could live here forever. So much hope Darius had given her with a simple hug. Serena had already imagined the life she could have had here. Her lips tugged down in a frown, and she sighed.
"What’s wrong?" Darius asked.
Serena glanced at him and shook her head. She clenched her gown and walked on. She would not ruin her mood with her own hands.
"I remembered something, but it’s nothing," she forced a smile and looked forward. "Longdale seems nice. I would like to be a healer." ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ novel⁂fire.net
Darius hummed in acknowledgement. The life of a healer was something else. The last rogue attacks on his pack had left many injured, and thankfully they recovered with the help of the healers. He could not imagine Serena dealing with all that blood and fluids.
But she seemed to move fast and knew of things healers didn’t. Darius didn’t dwell on it. It was connected to her mother, so that must be why she wanted to be a healer.
"You have the gift for it," he said. "You could study under our healers."
Serena smiled wistfully. Perhaps she could pick a few things from the older healers.
"There’s no need for that. I will be gone in spring."
"That’s true," Darius said quietly.
The mood between them shifted. Both of them were uncomfortable. That was the deal, was it not? Everything grew more complicated with the interaction.
For a brief second, Darius saw himself before his council, pleading for them to consider Serena as their Luna. His eyes widened, and he shook his head. What kind of thought was that? A rogue as their Luna? The council would erupt. His people wouldn’t accept it, not after what rogues had taken from them.
He slid his hands into his pockets, fingers curling into fists. That future didn’t exist. And yet, a small part of him whispered... what if it could?