Chapter 281

DARIUS’S POV At first, it was meant to be nothing. Just a demonstration. A chance for Aurelia to sit on the sidelines, catch her breath, and learn from watching two seasoned warriors exchange blows. That’s what she thought. That’s what Kael pretended. And that’s what I wanted it to be. Because there were a lot of things that could happen if I lost control. Things I’d spent years training myself to bury. My wolf was never far from the surface where Aurelia was concerned. One wrong push and it would tear its way out, consequences be damned. But the moment our wooden swords crossed, I knew this was no simple spar. Kael’s eyes burned with challenge, every strike sharper than it needed to be, every movement brimming with defiance. He wasn’t sparring me. He was testing me—testing my restraint, my claim, my calm. And he was doing it on purpose. I remembered what he said before, his voice low and steady, like a blade sliding into flesh: You don’t deserve her. If you won’t claim her, I will. Ka