DARIUS POV
The shadow barrier slamd into my chest and threw twenty feet backwards.
I hit the ground hard, tasting blood in my mouth. Around , the other pack mbers were fighting against the dark wall that had appeared out of nowhere. The Shadow Lord Commander’s magic was stronger than anything I’d ever felt.
"Dad!" Kael yelled from the other side of the barrier. "Are you okay?"
I could see my boys through the black energy, but I couldn’t reach them. The barrier removed from everyone I cared about. Aria was stuck on the other side with the baby, facing both the Shadow Lord Commander and Lady Vex alone.
"I’m fine," I lied, wiping blood from my lip.
But I wasn’t great. Not even close.
The truth was, I was dying. Had been for months. The pack doctor said I had maybe a week left, two if I was lucky. So kind of strange disease that ate away at an Alpha’s life force. I’d been hiding it from everyone, especially my kids.
I didn’t want them to see weak.
Now, watching them stuck while evil closed in, I realized how stupid I’d been. I should have told them. Should have spent my last days making things right instead of hanging onto my pride.
"The barrier is too strong," Elder Malin said, pushing his hands against the dark wall. "I can’t break through."
"There has to be a way," Beta Marcus said desperately. "We can’t just stand here while they’re in danger."
I stared at the shadow magic and felt sothing click in my head. I’d seen this kind of block before, in the old books about ancient magic. It fed on life force to stay strong. The more power you threw at it, the stronger it got.
But what if you gave it exactly what it wanted?
"I know how to break it," I said quietly.
Everyone turned to look at . "How?" Elder Malin asked.
I took a deep breath. "The barrier feeds on life energy. If I give it all of mine at once, it should overload and fall."
"That’s suicide," Beta Marcus said. "You’ll die."
"I’m dying anyway," I revealed. The words felt strange coming out of my mouth. "I have an illness. Maybe a week left."
The shocked silence that followed was painful. These people had followed for years, trusted to lead them. Now they were finding out I’d been lying to them.
"Why didn’t you tell us?" Elder Malin asked softly.
"Because I’m an Alpha," I said. "Alphas don’t show weakness."
Even as I said it, I knew how stupid it sounded. Look where my pride had gotten us. My boys were trapped, about to face enemies I couldn’t help them fight.
"Dad, no!" Jaxon’s voice ca through the barrier. He’d heard everything. "There has to be another way!"
I walked closer to the dark wall and pressed my hand against it. The dark magic burned my skin, but I didn’t pull away.
"Listen to , boys," I said, looking at each of my kids through the barrier. "I haven’t been the father you deserved. I was so worried about making you strong that I forgot to show you love."
"Stop talking like this," Lucien said, his voice breaking. "You’re not going anywhere."
I smiled sadly. "I’m proud of all of you. Kael, you’ll be a better Alpha than I ever was. You have honor and wisdom. Jaxon, your heart is bigger than you know. Use that kindness to help others. Lucien, your healing gift will save more lives than any warrior ever could."
Tears were running down their faces now. My strong, brave boys were crying, and it was breaking my heart.
"And Aria," I said, looking at the young woman who had changed everything. "Take care of them. Help them be better than ."
"Mr. Darius, please," she said, holding her bright baby close. "Don’t do this."
"I have to," I said. "It’s the only way to save you all."
The Shadow Lord Commander was getting closer. Lady Vex was circling around the other side. They had maybe two minutes before the attack started.
I closed my eyes and reached deep inside myself, finding the core of my Alpha power. All the strength I’d built up over forty years of leading. All the life force that was slowly being eaten away by disease.
I grabbed hold of it all.
"I love you, boys," I whispered. "Rember that."
Then I shoved every bit of my remaining life into the barrier.
The shadow magic lit up like lightning. Power flowed through the dark wall, more energy than it was ant to handle. I felt my strength leaving , my beating slowing, my vision going gray.
But it was working. Cracks erged in the barrier. The dark magic began to flicker and fade.
"It’s breaking!" Elder Malin shouted.
The barrier broke like glass, disappearing into nothing. The way was clear.
I fell to my knees, gasping for air. Everything hurt. My chest felt like it was on fire, and my hands were shaking.
"Dad!" All three of my sons rushed to my side.
"I’m okay," I said, but we all knew it was a lie. I could feel my life slipping away with each breath.
"Hold on," Lucien said, putting his hands on my chest. "Let heal you."
"Save your strength," I told him. "You’ll need it for the fight."
Kael grabbed my hand. "Don’t leave us. Please."
I wanted to stay. Wanted to see them grow old, have families of their own. Wanted to watch Aria’s daughter grow up and change the world.
But my body was shutting down. The sickness and the magic had taken everything I had left.
"Be better than ," I whispered. "All of you."
That’s when I heard the footsteps behind us. Heavy boots on the ground. A cold laugh that made my blood freeze.
I turned my head and saw him. The Shadow Lord Commander, standing just twenty feet away. But he wasn’t alone.
Lady Vex was with him, looking different than before. Stronger. More dangerous.
And there was soone else. A person in a dark cloak that I couldn’t quite see clearly.
"How touching," the Shadow Lord Commander said. "A family reunion."
He raised his hand, and I could feel dark power building around us. "Too bad it’s about to be cut short."
"Wait," the cloaked person said, stepping forward. "Let handle this one."
The voice was familiar, but I couldn’t place it. The figure pulled back their hat, and I felt my heart stop.
It was Elena. My mate. My wife. The mother of my kids.
But she was ant to be dead. I’d watched her die fifteen years ago.
"Hello, Darius," she said with a smile that wasn’t quite right. "Did you miss ?"
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