Chapter 9 8

Darius's POV.

For years, my wolf had been nothing but rage and chaos. I could never keep him under control or calm him down.

My human side was supposed to be dominant. My wolf was supposed to listen. Yet, it took over at will and made me go berserk. And so, I left home for a while to cool off. I couldn't risk losing control and hurting my family.

I left for a week, and now I was stepping back into the mansion, the familiar scent of home wrapped around me.

“Darius, you’ve been away for so long.” My mother’s voice broke through the silence. 

She stood not far from the dining hall, her eyes laced with worry.

I ran a hand through my hair, trying to ease the tension from my shoulders. 

“Mom, it was just one week,” I muttered, walking to the dining table and sinking into the chair.

She sat down beside me. “One week is a lot. You didn’t even tell anybody where you were going. And you left your mate in there.”

“I needed to clear my head” I sighed.

“It's your wolf again.” She said softly, looking at me. “Your mate hasn't come out of her room once Darius.”

She hadn’t even stepped out of her room since I left?  I didn’t even know her name.

My mother’s gaze lingered on me. “There’s a way you look at her,” she said softly. “You don’t look at her like she's your mate, Darius.”

I stiffened, forcing my expression into the same cold mask I always wore. “What do you mean?” I asked flatly.

She exhaled. “I’m no child, son. You look at her indifferently. Why is that?”

“Nothing,” I muttered. “She’s human.”

“That’s not it. Many wolves get mated to humans nowadays, and it’s perfectly fine. There’s something else. Is it because of where you found her?”

My teeth clenched so tightly I thought they might crack. 

I rose to my feet. “I need to go upstairs,” I muttered. Her sigh followed me, but I didn’t look back.

Yes, I hated that I found my mate at a brothel. A freaking brothel. How many men had fucked her? I didn't want to think about it. There might be a reason behind her working at a brothel. But I couldn't bring myself to think about it.

I climbed the stairs two at a time then entered my room. In my room, I stripped off my coat, tossing it carelessly on the chair, then pulled off my socks with a sharp tug.

“Irene,” I called.

The door opened almost instantly, and Irene rushed inside, her head bowed. “Yes, Alpha?”

I stared at her for a moment, “Where is she?” I asked.

Her brows knit slightly. “Who?”

“The girl,” I said. I didn’t even know her name.

“Oh, you mean Soraya?” Irene asked carefully.

“Yes.” I leaned back against the edge of the bed.

“She’s in her room,” Irene replied.

I glanced at Irene. “Did she eat?”

Irene nodded quickly. “Yes, Alpha.”

“How long has she been in her room?” I pressed.

Her voice softened. “Ever since she came here Alpha. Ever since that night, she has not left her room for anything.”

I studied her for a moment, then gave a curt nod. “You may go.”

She curtsied and stepped out of the room.

I went to the bathroom to have a bath, I still felt uneasy, my wolf was still restless like he might get out of control soon. When I was done, I changed into a black loose t-shirt and pants.

By the time I stepped out, it was already past eight in the evening.

My feet carried me to her room, almost without thought. For a moment, I considered opening the door outright—this was my house, after all. But I found my knuckles knocking on the door instead.

‘Soraya. So that was her name.’ I said in my head, as though reminding myself.

The door creaked open.

She looked surprised to see me, her eyes widening slightly. “You are back,” she said.

I shoved my hands into my pockets, meeting her gaze evenly. “You didn’t want me to come back?”

Her brows rose, and she scoffed. “What do I care? I don’t own you, do I?”

I brushed past her into the room.

Her loud gasp followed me. “Why did you just walk in? I didn’t say you could walk in!”

“This is my house,” I said, “and so are all the rooms here. I can walk in as I please.”

Her eyes narrowed. “If it’s your house, and you don’t want me to have my privacy, then let me go.”

I turned fully toward her. “I told you, you can’t go. You are my mate.”

She crossed her arms over her chest, glaring at me. “Where did you go? You left late that night. Where did you go by that time?”

I stiffened. “It’s none of your business.”

“Oh, you’re right, it’s none of my business.” She tilted her head. “You probably went to a brothel, I guess.”

My eyes snapped to hers, heat flaring in my chest. I lifted a hand, pointing at her in warning but froze mid-air. “I did not go to a brothel.”

“How am I so sure?” Soraya shot back. “I mean, you came to a brothel. That’s where you found me. Weren’t you looking for somebody to bed with? How am I sure you didn’t do that again?”

I raised a finger at her, my patience was already thinning. “I didn’t even go to a brothel. Think whatever you want.” 

“How do you even know my name?” She probed, her eyes fixed on me.

“What does that even mean?” I muttered but shrugged it off.

“I heard you’ve been in here ever since. Why is that?”

“I had no reason to step out. Do I have a family here, or friends, or anybody? Why should I step out?”

“You stayed in this bedroom for one full week.” I pointed.

She lifted her chin. “Yeah. And it’s going to be a month soon.”

I ran a hand through my hair, biting back the growl rumbling in my throat. 

As Alpha of this pack, my presence commanded respect. Every staff member in this house room lowered their gaze the moment I entered.

Same thing with humans. Once they recognized that I was an Alpha, they respected me.

But Soraya didn’t look away, nor flinch. She just stood there, glaring at me like I was no one, like I wasn’t the Alpha, like I wasn’t the man who could crush her with a single order.

And that  infuriated and intrigued me more than anything.

Her pointy finger tapped lightly against my chest.

“Mr. Darius,” she said, “it’s high time you left my room.”

I stared at her. The audacity of this girl.

“I’m not leaving,” I told her flatly.

Her brows arched, disbelief flashing in her eyes. She even tried to push me with those small hands of hers. But I didn't move an inch.

“I said I’m not leaving,” I repeated.

She opened her mouth to retort, but before she could speak again, I lifted my arm and pulled her against the bed, caging her in.

“You talk way too much,” I muttered.

Her eyes widened, as my face hovered over hers. That was when I noticed the calmness that sank deep into my bones.

My wolf didn't feel so restless, I didn't feel like I was going to go on a rampage soon.

What is this feeling?

My lips parted but no words came.