Torn Between Destinies Chapter 8 - Eight

The next morning, I woke up with the weight of the night still heavy on my chest.

I had barely slept.

Every ti I closed my eyes, I saw Darius’s face.

He wasn’t pleading.

He wasn’t demanding.

He was just there.

Waiting.

And I hated how much I wanted to run back to him.

I sat up on my bed, the old mattress creaking under , and stared out the window.

The sun was just rising over Thornridge, painting the trees gold.

Everything looked so peaceful, so normal.

But inside , nothing was peaceful.

Nothing was normal.

I pressed my hand to my heart.

"I can do both," I whispered to myself.

I didn’t know if it was true.

But I had to believe it.

I had to believe I could find my mother and have Darius.

I had to believe fate wasn’t so cruel that it would make choose between love and duty.

A soft knock at my door made jump.

I wiped my face quickly and called out, "Co in."

The door creaked open, and Father stepped in.

His tall fra filled the doorway. His dark eyes studied carefully.

"You didn’t co ho last night," he said.

I dropped my gaze.

"I needed space."

He sighed and ca to sit at the edge of my bed.

For a long mont, neither of us spoke.

Then he said, "Alpha Darius asked to see you today."

I stiffened.

"Did he?" I said, trying to sound casual.

Father nodded. "He spoke with . He’s serious about you, Luciana. More serious than most."

I bit my lip.

Of course he was serious.

That’s what made it so dangerous.

"I told him," Father continued, "that you would have the final say."

I looked up at him, surprised.

"You did?"

His face softened. "You’re not a child anymore. I can’t force your heart."

Sothing in my chest cracked a little.

Maybe he didn’t understand everything I was going through—but he understood that much.

I nodded slowly.

"Thank you," I whispered.

He stood, smoothing out the wrinkles in his shirt.

"He’ll be waiting near the south garden," he said. "When you’re ready."

And with that, he left alone with my decision.

I sat there for a long ti after he left, staring at the patch of sunlight on the floor.

I thought about everything.

The dream.

The warning.

The mission to find Mother.

And Darius.

His steady eyes.

His quiet strength.

I couldn’t deny it anymore.

I didn’t want to.

I loved him—or at least, the start of love was there, blossoming fast and fierce inside .

Maybe I was being selfish.

Maybe I was making a mistake.

But I couldn’t keep living with an empty heart.

Not when it had finally found sothing—or soone—that made it beat faster.

"I’ll find a way," I whispered. "I’ll do both."

I stood up, smoothed down my dress, and walked out the door before I could talk myself out of it.

***

The south garden was quiet when I arrived.

The roses were in full bloom, red and gold and pink, their scent heavy in the warm air.

And there he was.

Darius.

Standing under the old oak tree, hands in his pockets, head tilted back to look at the sky.

For a second, I just watched him.

He looked... peaceful.

Like he belonged there, rooted deep into the earth.

Like he was part of Thornridge now, whether I said yes or no.

I took a deep breath and stepped forward.

He heard , because he turned around—and when he saw , he smiled.

It wasn’t a cocky smile.

It wasn’t a forced one.

It was soft.

Hopeful.

"Luciana," he said.

I stopped a few feet away from him, heart hamring in my chest.

"I thought about what you said," I said, my voice barely louder than the breeze.

He waited, not pushing.

"I..." I swallowed hard. "I want to be with you."

His eyes lit up, but he still didn’t move.

"I want to try," I continued. "Even if things are complicated. Even if I’m scared."

He took one step closer, slow and careful, like he thought I might bolt again.

"I’ll be whatever you need," he said, voice rough with feeling. "For however long you need."

I smiled, a little shaky but real.

"I need you now," I whispered.

He closed the distance between us and gently took my hand.

His palm was warm and solid, grounding .

"I’ll take care of you," he said. "No matter what cos."

Tears stung my eyes, but I blinked them away.

"I have things I need to do," I said. "Important things."

He squeezed my hand.

"Then I’ll help," he said. "Or stay out of the way if that’s what you need."

I laughed a little, breathless.

"You really don’t know what you’re getting into," I said.

He smiled that slow, devastating smile.

"I know enough."

And then he leaned down and kissed .

It wasn’t a demanding kiss.

It was slow, sweet, filled with promises instead of demands.

I lted into him, feeling the fire between us burn away all the doubts, all the fear.

For a mont, there was no prophecy.

No missing mother.

No ticking clock on my wolf nature.

There was only Darius.

When we pulled apart, he rested his forehead against mine.

"So it’s yes?" he whispered.

I nodded.

"Yes."

He exhaled shakily, like he had been holding his breath for days.

"I’ll talk to your father," he said. "We’ll arrange the ceremony."

I nodded again, dazed.

The ceremony.

It was real now.

I was going to be Luna to Darius’s pack—Stormclaw Pack.

I was going to have a new ho, a new future.

And still... sowhere deep inside , the warning pulsed like a silent drum.

Find Aira.

Before it’s too late.

I couldn’t forget.

I wouldn’t.

But for now, I allowed myself this mont.

This one, shining mont of happiness.

Because I knew darker days were coming.

And I would need every scrap of joy to survive them.

That evening, the pack house buzzed with preparations.

Adah fussed over decorations.

Father arranged for ssengers to carry the news.

Even the kitchen bustled with excitent, making plans for a great feast.

3

And through it all, Darius stayed by my side, his presence a steady comfort.

"You’re quiet," he murmured as we stood watching the sunset from the balcony.

"I’m just... thinking," I said.

He brushed his knuckles lightly against mine.

"Second thoughts?"

I shook my head.

"No. Just... a lot to carry."

He nodded.

"I’ll carry so of it with you," he said simply.

My throat tightened.

I didn’t deserve him.

But I was selfish enough to want him anyway.

"We should celebrate," he said, trying to lighten the mood.

I smiled faintly.

"Maybe after the ceremony."

"Deal," he said, bumping his shoulder lightly against mine.

I turned to him, feeling a deep warmth in my chest.

"I’m glad it’s you," I said softly.

His smile was like the sun breaking through clouds.

" too, little wolf," he said.

I laughed at the nickna.

It felt... right.

Like maybe fate hadn’t been so cruel after all.

Maybe, just maybe, it had been waiting for the right mont all along.

As the stars blinked into the darkening sky, I made a new promise to myself:

I would find my mother.

I would complete my destiny.

And I would fight like hell to keep this happiness too.

Both.

Not one or the other.

Because I was Luciana of Thornridge—and I wasn’t going to be torn apart anymore.