Darius stood up and offered a hand to Serena, which she took. He pulled her up gently, and for a breath longer than necessary, neither of them let go. Then Serena released his hand, brushing her skirt off with a sheepish smile.
"My first attempt at cheering you was successful," Darius said, grinning with an air of satisfaction.
Serena chuckled and shook her head. "I believe this is your third attempt."
Darius lifted a brow, amused. A small part of him mourned the absence of her hand in his.
"Yes, indeed," she said, adjusting the edge of her sleeve. "However, the second attempt was a failed promise."
Darius paused, squinting at her as if trying to place her meaning, then it clicked. The apples. He’d promised her a cartful of them back at the castle.
"You are a greedy little thing," he said, shaking his head.
"I was not the one who made the promise," Serena rebutted.
Darius laughed, and he gestured to the back of the house. "Fair enough."
Serena followed his lead, a smile playing on her lips. "Alexander sent you pretty quickly."
Everything had been a blur for her; she could not recall what Alexander had said to her. She did note his crestfallen expression when he asked what punishment would be given to ’Louis.’
"I moved quickly," Darius corrected.
"Hm." Serena glanced down at her feet, then up at Darius again. "Do these soldiers receive punishments often?"
She groaned and placed a hand over her eyes briefly, and then her eyes met Darius’ concerned face.
"Are you okay?" Darius asked, hovering by her side.
"Yes, I just need a cup of water," Serena murmured, blinking through the lingering sting. "My question..."
"General Silas oversees the military," Darius said, watching her closely. "And to answer you- yes, it would be often."
Maybe she had gotten so soft, or it was the healer in her who hated seeing people in pain, or the thought of it.
"Serena," Darius began. "I run a cardinal pack. I take pride in it. But to run smoothly, it demands a great deal. Order, sacrifice... discipline."
Serena fidgeted before she jabbed a finger in his direction, her confidence at an all-time high. "I know nothing about this pack, and everyone refuses to tell me."
Darius sighed and ran his hand across his face. Every time he looked into those emerald eyes, his resolve ebbed away inch by inch. He worried for himself, when he would get to the point where he could no longer tell her ’no.’
"You are not part of the pack, after all," he said finally.
The words slipped out sharper than intended, and the moment they left him, he saw the way her expression faltered. Her cheeks flushed, and she quickly looked away.
Serena wondered why she kept overestimating her presence in Ironshade. Yes, she posed a threat to their little society, but she was still irrelevant. And she did not like that. Perhaps it was because she was mated to one of the most important wolves in Ironshade.
Or it was the long time she had spent out of contact with people she could relate with. The attention was something she imagined she would be able to give up.
"I am well aware," she muttered.
Darius cursed himself inwardly. He stepped closer, his tone gentler this time. "Ask me anything," he said, "and I’ll answer as truthfully as I can."
A smile crept up on her lips, and she raised a brow. "As truthfully as you can?"
Darius nodded solemnly, placing a hand to his chest like a knight swearing a vow. "Yes. I do reserve the right to decline and I won’t be spilling family secrets to non-family members."
He shut the thought down before it could finish forming, but his wolf wasn’t so disciplined. It chuckled darkly in the back of his mind.
"Okay, that is fair." She looked at the trees. What would she ask him now?
His parents felt like a wound half-healed, she didn’t want to ruin the quiet peace they’d built.
"Have you ever been in love?" she blurted out before she could stop herself.
Her lips parted again, ready to repeat the question, but when she turned to face Darius, the words froze in her throat. He had heard her, that much was clear from the shift in his expression. His brows had drawn just slightly together, and his gaze had gone distant, as if searching through a memory.
They both turned to see Alexander jogging toward them, his uniform slightly rumpled, cheeks flushed with the effort. A small smile tugged at his lips, though it seemed a little too practiced.
"Oh, thank Lunara," he panted, slowing to a stop. "I thought you had gotten lost."
Serena blinked. The concern felt misplaced- she hadn’t gone far, and certainly not with Darius beside her.
"Oh no," she said, schooling her expression into something polite. "I was in the capable hands of your Alpha."
Alexander nodded and then laughed. "That he is."
The words sounded hollow to Serena, not like Alexander really believed it. She ignored it and glanced at Darius, who had his lips set in a thin line. ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ novèlfire.net
"What is next on our agenda?" Serena asked.
Alexander looked between the two of them and shrugged. "The strategy hall. The training grounds would leave you exhausted."
"Commander, you have no reason to worry about that-"
Serena swallowed her words when Darius placed his hand on her shoulder and shook his head. She would ask about that later.
"Very well then. If you, the Alpha, see it fit, then we will go to the strategy hall."
Alexander bowed his head slightly and joined her at her side, gesturing for her to follow him.
They had walked for a while now. The further they went, the quieter it became, just the crunch of gravel under boots and the occasional bird call overhead. The strategy hall was placed a ways off from the main training ground and the sleeping quarters.
The strategy hall finally came into view: a towering structure that stood like a sentinel, tucked away in a quiet clearing. It seemed functional, more than ornate.
"Welcome to Ficus Hall," Alexander said, flinging the heavy doors open.
Serena looked around. The ceiling resembled that of the Great Hall Darius had shown her when she was in the castle. The images were not as magnificent as the castle’s, but they were still impressive. Its painted panels were weathered, the once-vibrant colors dulled by time, and fine cobwebs clung to the corners.
Darius must have spent a great deal of effort to keep the ceiling of the Great Hall looking as beautiful as it did.
"Ah yes, I do wish I was able to paint with our greats," Alexander commented.
Serena fixed her gaze on the commander. "You can paint?"
Alexander offered a humble smile, his tone tinged with embarrassment. "Yes. I do not hold a candle to my father, ha."
"Your father?" she asked, curiosity piqued.
He nodded. "Yes. He held the title Shadewright."
"What is a Shadewright?" Serena asked.
"A genius in painting," Alexander explained, with the same reverence one might use to describe a master swordsman. "Just like our Alpha."