CHAPTER 89

Chapter 89

Angela’s POV

My mouth dropped open slightly as soon as Darius made his announcement. I guess I was just as surprised as every member of the Pack. When he said he would be stepping down as the Alpha, I could hear a loud noise ring in my ears. I didn’t want to believe he just said that.

Maybe it was a tactic. Maybe he was kidding. He couldn’t possibly leave.

I thought he loved being an Alpha more than anything. He was made to be an Alpha. Why would he step down? Who would he step down for?

At some point, I wondered if my decision not to become the Luna influenced his choice. It made some sense, but deep down, I knew that couldn’t be the reason.

He wouldn’t do that because of me.

“Did you know about this?” My mother asked.

I shook my head as words failed me. I knew nothing about this. We haven’t talked to each other for the longest time even though it’s just been two days. It felt as though it was an eternity. He was avoiding me and I was too ashamed to show myself before him.

I thought it was better to keep being invisible, staying in the shadow for as long as he was home. I’d lied to his face that I didn’t see myself spending the rest of my life with him. It was ridiculous.

“I have to go talk to him,” I told my mom.

“You should,” she patted my shoulder.

Reina was with her, I was sure she was in good hands. I’ll pick her up later tonight so she can sleep at home. Darius had already told me he wanted us both at the same place almost every time if possible till the entire problem with Ryker is solved.

The crowd was already reducing. People were going back to their various homes. I could see Darius standing at the front, talking to some of his people. By the time I got swallowed by the loud crowd, I couldn’t see who was who not to talk of Darius.

“Angela,” someone called my name and held my hand. I turned aside to see it was Halle.

She pulled me out of the crowd and walked me to one of the corners. It was empty and I could see people leaving. That was when I could finally breathe.

“Thanks,” I muttered.

She shrugged. “It was nothing. You’re still new to things like this. Next time don’t walk forward between the crowd, just keep going straight to your left or right, and soon enough you’ll be out of the crowd. It’s overwhelming sometimes,”

I nodded. Although it’s been six years since I left the pack, we barely had meetings when I was here. On days when meetings like this were called, my father would prefer for Brittany and I to stay home.

“I should leave. Thank you for your help once more,”

She grabbed my hand again before I could walk away.

19:12 Sat, 22 Jun RV @

Chapter 89

“Did you hear about Darius stepping down?”

I nodded. “He just announced it right there in front of everyone, didn’t he?”

“Did you know about this before?”

I frowned. What was with the interrogation?

“What difference would it make if I knew?”

“You can make him change his mind,”

I folded my hand against my chest.

Raising an eyebrow, I asked. “Change his mind?”

“Yes. He can’t just step down and leave the pack like that,”

“Y’all hated him. If I could remember, twenty minutes ago, you didn’t want him to be the alpha of this pack,”

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She smiled. “Not twenty minutes ago, Angela. My opinion about Darius has changed for a while. I understand he’s a terrible person, we both know that but he’s good for this pack. He’s a good Alpha who puts his people first and we’re learning to trust him,”

I disagreed.

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“No! You don’t trust him at all. Y’all are scared shitless of Ryker and you all know the only person that can help get rid of Ryker is Darius. Keep your fake love to yourself,”

“Angela,”

“No! Don’t say a single word more, Halle. You’ve said enough before and more than enough today. Charles would be a better Alpha, wouldn’t

he?”

I asked and she couldn’t give me a response.

I walked away from her to the podium and realized Darius wasn’t there. I asked one of his warriors who told me Darius had gone back home.

By the time I arrived home, he wasn’t there either. I decided to stay at home and wait for him, instead of looking around. I wished I could use the mind link like every other werewolf. It would’ve made it easier for me to reach out to him but I couldn’t.

When Darius finally came back two hours later, Reina was in his arms, asleep. He locked the front door behind him without acknowledging me. I didn’t say a word to him either but I followed him silently to Reina’s room. I stood outside while he helped her get settled into bed.

Once he was done, he walked out, locked her door, and began walking away. I followed him until he got to his study.

“I waited for you,” I announced.

“I took Reina for ice cream like I promised earlier,”

I nodded.

I wanted to complain about that. She shouldn’t be taking ice cream at this time of the night but that could still wait for another day.

19.12

Chapter 89

Sat, 22 J

“Okay, I wanted to talk to you about your announcement,”

“Which one?”

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His question made me rethink everything he said tonight. When he announced he wouldn’t be punishing the members of the Resistance group in a barbaric manner because of someone’s advice, a smile appeared on my face. I was proud he was taking my advice into consideration.

“About you stepping down after Ryker leaves the pack alone,”

“What about it?”

“What’s happening, Darius? You’re keeping me in the dark and I know something’s is wrong,”

“Nothing is wrong, Angela. Get some sleep,”

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I suddenly became light–headed and I couldn’t believe he just called me Angela.

“Angela…”

He looked up at me for a few seconds in silence before looking away.

“Yes. Get some sleep,”

I scoffed. I was so close to tears. My feet became stuck to the ground and I suddenly had a blurry vision because of the tears that pooled in

my eyes.

“You just called me Angela and you want me to believe that nothing’s wrong,”

“I can’t deal with your whining tonight. I have a lot to think about and this… this… is not going to make work easy for me,”

“What do you want me to do? I’ll do anything to help you,”

“Two days ago, you refused to do anything to help me,”

I shook my head. “I didn’t say I wouldn’t help you, Darius. I said not to put a label on it. I don’t have to become the Luna before I can help

you,”

He cleared his throat. “Trust me, the best help you can render right now is to leave me alone,”

I moved closer to him but Darius moved back. He seriously moved away from me. He wasn’t even looking at me.

“Is my sin that terrible? You’re going to keep ignoring me because I said I don’t want to become your Luna. Is that it?”

“Are you trying to gaslight me?”

“What?”

“You told me you don’t see yourself spending the rest of your life with me and you want me to stay happy with that,”

“Darius,”

19:12 Sat, 22 Jun RV @

Chapter 89

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“The world doesn’t fucking revolve around you, Angela. If you aren’t so selfish and self–centered, you would realize that your actions fucking hurt others too. If it was six years ago, if it was now, it still FUCKING HURTS. You don’t get to walk all over people’s feelings and act as if nothing happened and expect us to act as if nothing’s happened either,”

“Darius…” words failed me.

“Get out Angela. Get out of my life and leave me the fuck alone,”