Chapter 23

Presenting Chapter 23 and it is dedicated to @sweetyanchal who is celebrating her birthday today :D HAPPY BIRTHDAY :D:-*

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" Let me rephrase." He took a

seething step toward me.

"When it comes to you... I

don't like to share.

Samantha Young , On Dublin

Street (On Dublin Street, #1)

DARYA P.O.V

"No. It's blowing the candle" Nancy said to Wesley, while we were all making flower bouquet in the farm warehouse.

"Blowing the fire" Wesley repeated instead and I chuckled.

"Wesley no" Nancy groaned. "It's blowing the candle. Say it again" Nancy told him.

"Blowing the fire" Wesley said and I bit my bottom lip, while my body shook with silent laughter.

"No. No. Say it after me... Blowing"

"Blowing"

"The Candle"

"The Fire" Wesley said instead and I burst out laughing, while also dropping the flowers I was holding.

"I give up" Nancy cried throwing up her hands. "This is unfair. He listens to you but not to me" Nancy complained.  "Wesley you are making me sad" Nancy pouted staring at Wesley who was smiling adorably.

"Sad – bad. Happy- Good" Wesley said to her.

"That's a nice thought Wesley" I said and he flashed that adorable smile to me too. "Your dad taught you that?"

"Wesley dad good" he said handing me exactly twelve roses.

"I know and even Wesley is good" I said hugging his side.

'Your mate has entered the territory' Fox said through the link and my wolf perked up in excitement.

'Ok' I replied and picked up my cell phone to call Wesley's dad.

"The hottie is here" Nancy questioned smirking at me and I rolled my eyes at her nickname for Quillon. "You know you are so lucky Darya. You never had a boyfriend before and when you have one for the first time, he turns out to be perfect in every single way" she mused.

"Believe me, he is not perfect" I said just before Wesley's dad answered the call. After asking him to come here, I quietly packed Wesley's bag.

"Why do you say so? He seemed nice, polite; well-educated, is minted, good-looking and you also told me he cooks. If a girl gets a guy who can cook, then she has struck gold" Nancy pointed out dreamily and I rolled my eyes.

"That's how Quillon seems to others. But those who know him really well, also know that he is an ass"

"But you like him, don't you? Or else you would have never stayed with him" Nancy remarked and I looked away to hide my blush. "Darya?" she probed grinning when I did not answer her.

"Come on Wesley, your dad is going to come soon" I told him while Nancy laughed like a hyena. "We are going home early today" I said when he was about to check the time. "Your dad is waiting" I added while Wesley stood up.

By the time we reached the farm gate, Wesley's father had already arrived and after waving Wesley goodbye, I went to pick my own bag.

In the hollow trunk of the baobab tree, I changed my clothes and put the one I had worn to college today. It was a black jeans and striped sleeveless drop-hem tunic top.

After waving goodbye to my colleagues, I walked towards Nick's Graphic Design shop.

While I was chatting with Nick, I heard the familiar horn of Quillon's car. My wolf erected her ears and I swear, she grinned. "That's my cue" I told Nick and waving at my other guards, I sat in the passenger seat of Quillon's Lamborghini.

"Hi" I told him buckling my seat belt.

"Hi" he replied.

It's been four days, since our 'talk' and ever since then both of us were acting weird. I would have put full blame on Quillon as usual, but not this time because I feel strange too. I want to talk to him, say a lot of things to him, yet when I am with him, I cannot utter a word without turning pink all over.

So yes, things have been a little awkward.

We sleep in the same room, yet we barely talk to each other. It might also be because I doze fast while Quillon keeps watching business news and talking at length in his phone. I swear the guy loves earning money. Being with Quillon, I quickly realized he is a workaholic. He keeps himself busy with something or the other... he is never free!

If there is no work, he finds something to work at. I have never seen someone like that.

"Quillon" I called as I remembered something I had to tell him.

"Hmm" he said without looking at me.

Smiling softly, I continued, "Do you mind if I take Grace to Elegance Pack territory?"

He turned to frown at me. "Yes, I mind."

I tensed because I did not expect that answer. "It's her former pack and it is perfectly safe now" I reasoned.

"It brings painful memories and mom cries every time, she thinks about it. Going there would be disturbing to her. I don't want that" he said shaking his head.

"Do you know why she cries every time? Because she did not yet get to terms with what happened to her former pack" I snapped. "She cries because she was totally unaware of Elegance's destruction for months after it happened and I know, why your dad kept it a secret" I added quickly when Quillon glared at me. "I understand, he did that to protect his mate and his child, but even afterwards, he did nothing to help her."

"The pack was completely under the control of rogues... no one could have done anything" Quillon spat.

"I know the rogues were powerful and were killed only after five Alphas' attacked together. But that isn't what I want to say here. Even after the rogues were swiped out of the territory, your dad did not take her there. It's been seven years and it is very secure. Cortez has it guarded. Your mom was born and brought up there. She must have so many memories there and... for her to let go, she must first make peace" I said breathlessly.

"She has been there once... saw the ruins... lost control and almost got herself killed" Quillon said and my eyes rounded when I heard it. "I do not want her stepping on that land" he concluded.

"Grace has seen the ruins and that's what she remembers. That's what hurts her. It is changed now. The pack is no longer a wreck. It's beautiful, greenery all around and I think looking at that positive change will help her" I whispered with a smile.

"Mom is not going there. You are not going there. End of discussion" Quillon launched harshly and I growled at him.

Quillon narrowed his eyes when he saw me and gnashing his teeth, "If you run or do anything stupid like that, you are going to regret it" he said in a lethal tone.

Oh Yeah? You just baited a wrong person Quillon. Now watch as not only will I run to Elegance but I will also take your mom with me and hopefully have her and Cortez meet. But then the thought of facing the Alphas' scared me because they did not know I was marked.

Sel did not tell anyone because she wanted me to be the one who tells it to others and each passing day, I avoid doing so.

"Stop it" Quillon barked and I jumped in my seat.

"Stop what?" I asked perplexed.

"I know something is cooking in that little head of yours, so stop it. Stop plotting" he hissed poking my temples.

"Aahh..." I groaned rubbing my temples and sent him a nasty glare. But then as I was running a hand through my hair, I realized something. "I wasn't plotting anything. I was just thinking how to say to my friend that I am not coming to Elegance" I lied. Quillon is smart and he will figure out quickly if I argue with him more and more.

"Who is this friend?" he asked curiously.

"Sabine" I replied smoothly. She is one of my two closest friends in boarding school.

Quillon nodded and continued driving.

We drove in silence for the next twenty minutes, until Quillon growled and started cursing like a sailor.

"What's wrong?" I asked seriously surprised to see the sudden change in his behavior.

"Czar Pack wolves" he growled and my eyes widened. Czar pack was one of the four packs that Serene Pack shared it's border with. Vincent Evigan was the current Alpha of that pack and my friend, Sabine, who also belonged to Czar once had told me that Vincent hates Quillon ever since Quillon 'kidnapped' Bee from Czar.

Oh! By the way, my friend Sabine, happens to be Vincent's cousin sister.

"What about them?" I asked curiously.

"Two of the Czar Pack wolves have trespassed" Quillon said compressing his lips to form a thin line.

"Oh! What are you going to do to them?"

"Them nothing. But I would love to torture that unbearable bastard Alpha of theirs" Quillon's smirk was cold and I nervously licked my dry lips as I saw that.

Vincent is going to regret being enemies with Quillon.

QUILLON P.O.V

'How old are the wolves?' I demanded through the link, while driving towards the western border of the pack territory.

'Q, these she-wolves are pups' Nevin said and I rolled my eyes.

'She-wolves?'

'She-wolves and they look like they are about to cry' Nevin groaned. What a mess!

'No one is going to hurt or harass them' I commanded.

'Got it' Nevin replied and I continued driving. My eyes drifted towards Darya, who for some uncertain reason was exceptionally quiet. Then she pulled out her phone, texted something. I wanted to ask her what the matter was, but then, she closed her eyes and rested her head against the window.

She looked peaceful and I did not want to disturb her.

Sighing, I increased the speed.

Constant whines of the Czar Pack she-wolves were heard from a distance and when they saw me, the she-wolves got scared and they started crawling backwards. One was brown and the other was gold in color.

Fear!

Everyone could sense their fear.

Darya climbed out of the car and gasped when she saw the two girls. "They are pups" she said with a frown and I nodded. "Are you going to capture them?" she asked incredulously.

At her question, the brown wolf looked at me and I took that opportunity to stare at her black eyes. I stared at her eyes, long enough to realize that she was no threat and neither was her friend. They had accidentally trespassed while they were playing.

"Quillon?" Darya called and I shook my head as a reply for her question. I don't hurt little girls.

"Vincent was informed and he might be here soon" Harvey supplied watching the girls, who thankfully, were wise enough to still be in their wolf form.

"How soon?" I queried.

"In about five-ten minutes"

"You can leave after I exchange few polite words with your Alpha" I told the she-wolves and they whimpered some more.

"They are so young" Darya whispered staring at the she-wolves with pity.

Exactly five minutes later, Vincent arrived with pomp and show. By pomp and show I mean, five SUV's with the Czar Pack fighters as passengers. I smirked when I saw that.

I stepped ahead, with my friends while Darya sat on the hood of my car.

Seriously? He has to come that prepared just to talk to me.

'Let's bring some fighters just to bait them' Nevin suggested through the link.

'I already called Quinn and his friends' Harvey said and I laughed.

"Something amusing you Sanders" Vincent Evigan growled and my wolf bristled. The last time I had seen that bastard, I wanted to rip his head from his shoulders.

"Yes... your face" I said and my friends laughed while the Czar wolves growled murderously.

"It's better than yours any time of the day" Vincent hissed and I cocked an eyebrow. "Ask your mate if you want to" Vincent smirked and my smile got wiped off, while my wolf exposed his sharpest canine. "The bitch is here isn't she?"

"What the fuck did you just call mate?" I snarled thunderously, curling my fists tightly.

"Hi Vincent" Darya said and when I looked at her, I found her waving at him with a smirk. How does she know Vincent?

"I called her what she is" Vincent said glaring at Darya.

"I see you are still angry that I received your 'Best Student' trophy" Darya sighed dramatically getting off the hood.

Boarding School! That's how they know each other. I decided to ask Darya more on this topic later.

"But you are in college now and I don't think you have any serious competition there, so why not try getting a trophy there?" Darya asked walking ahead and Vincent narrowed his eyes.

I watched him like a hawk and tensed when I realized that instead of hatred another emotion was radiating from Vincent and it was... desire. That fucking lecherous bastard is attracted to MY MATE!

"Oh! How stupid of me. I forgot there is no trophy for Best Male Chauvinistic Pig" Darya smiled sweetly standing beside me.

"Whatever shit you spoke, one thing was right... you are stupid" Vincent said and Darya rolled her eyes. Oh yes! Vincent was attracted to Darya but he was hiding it by pretending to hate her. He is doing exactly what I am doing. But I still did not appreciate his feelings of attraction to Darya.

She is only mine.

"Mind your language Vincent, you are talking to my mate. If you utter one more foul word about her, then you are going to regret it" I warned glaring at him and he rolled his eyes.

"I am not here to waste my time on either one of you. Let them go" Vincent said barely looking at the she-wolves, who were mercifully quiet.

"They trespassed" I said calmly.

"Accidentally" Vincent added through gritted.

"Hmm... if I recall correctly, the last time my pack wolves trespassed accidentally, you still captured and imprisoned them for a week" I said angrily. I wanted revenge for what Vincent did, but I refuse to take it on these little girls.

"They are pups... who shifted recently and they have not yet been thought about the pack boundaries" he ground out glaring at me. I knew that too.

"I will let them go. Only after you apologize to what you did to my pack wolves" I said cruelly staring at Vincent's brown eyes that started turning gold in unconcealed anger. Everyone in his pack was glaring at me but my eyes were centered on Vincent who was trembling in rage.

Suddenly, a guy from Czar pack stepped ahead. "I am sorry. It was my fault. I had blocked your pack wolves before they could escape. But please let my sister go" he said and I tensed.

I did not want the emotional angle now.

Before I could utter the words granting the she-wolves their freedom, Darya said, "Go" looking at the whimpering she-wolves.

I nodded and my friends who were circling the girls, made way for them to pass. The she-wolves ran as fast as their feet could take them.

"Thank-you" the guy who had spoken earlier said looking at me and I nodded.

At that precise moment, there was chattering, whistling and cheering noise. Every single head turned to look at Quinn and his gang of five friends, who had come to the clearing. All of them were holding bats and canes, except for Quinn, who was holding a... football?

"Yo! Someone called us to get rid of Czar bitches" Quinn said with a smirk and raised his brows when he saw the Czar Pack wolves, who looked like they were about to shift.

"Why are you holding a football?" I asked confused.

"I thought I'll shove it into Vincent's ass" he grinned proudly and I shook my head.

"Oh God!" Darya whispered from beside me. She always gets stunned by Quinn's 'creative' mind.

"You'll be dead before that brat" Vincent snapped in fury at my brother.

Growling in rage, I was about to attack Vincent, but guessing my intentions; Darya stepped to stand in front of me. "Alright" she said in a high pitched voice. "Everything is sorted out, let's go to our respective packs" she said clapping her hands cheerfully trying her best to ignore that everyone from my pack were glaring at Czar wolves.

"We are going" Darya said once again holding my hands. Sparks of electricity sent tremors all over my body by her touch, but I ignored it and frowned at Darya. "Goodbye Vincent" she said turning towards our pack, while also taking me with her.

"Goodbye" Vincent replied from the other side, while his pack wolves climbed inside their car.

"Damn! I thought there would be a fight" Quinn pouted while we were walking to our house.

"I wanted to hospitalize him" Nevin grumbled.

"When did the rivalry between Serene and Czar began?" Darya asked.

"It's been like always. We tend to stay out of each other's business but after Czar refused to send Bee to the pack, it got worse" Quinn answered her.

"Vincent had no right to do that" Nevin growled.

"Agreed" Darya murmured.

"How do you know Vincent so well? Classmate?" I asked turning to face her and it earned everyone's interest, because they all turned to look at Darya.

"Yes" she said uninterestedly.

"You called him MCP" Harvey pointed.

"That's what he is" Darya said in a duh tone. She was refusing to say much about him and I was also aware of the way she avoided eye contact while answering.

I stopped in my tracks and everyone else did to. "Go ahead. We will join you soon" I told my brother as well as my friends, without taking my eyes off her. Darya paled and looked at me nervously.

Others could sense the tension in the atmosphere because they left without saying another word.

'Don't do something stupid' Quinn warned me through the link and I glared at the back of his head.

Once I was sure they were out of earshot, I looked at Darya. "Start talking" I told her. We were in a forest clearing, where the only sound was flapping of leaves.

"About?"

"Vincent" I told looking her in the eye and she lowered her gaze, but her cheeks turned a light shade of pink. As I saw that a cold sensation settled all over my body and I paled visibly. Why was she refusing to meet my gaze? The blush was like a body blow. My imagination went into a loop.

Darya did not have a boyfriend. That's what the file said, but could it be really true? Most of the things in her file were wrong and what if this was also wrong? What if she and Vincent were involved in high-school? My wolf whimpered in pain and I clenched my fists. I need a drink.

'You deserve this' my wolf blamed me with a venomous hiss. Of course he would because he always wanted to wait for his mate.

I decided to be realistic and just close the topic. Try my best to forget it.

However, Darya opened her mouth at that moment, "Just don't go all wolf okay?" she warned in advance and I gulped. I know, she would tell everything completely unaware that it would be a torture for me to hear it.

"Darya-" I tried to cut her off. Say that it didn't matter even though the thought painfully pierces every single cell in my body.

"Fine. Vincent kissed me once" she said holding up a finger still not looking me in the eye. I growled aggressively, now wanting to wipe Vincent off the face of the earth.

That fucker!

Of all the girls in the world he wanted my mate.

"He had placed this stupid bet with his friends" Darya continued and I narrowed my eyes. The bet? Vincent was the guy who later got expelled by Granel from the school?

"He got expelled?" I demanded.

"No" Darya shook her head. "I did not let Granel do that. Instead Vincent and his friends were suspended for a week."

"He should have been expelled" I grumbled under my breath. That would have given me some satisfaction.

"No. It would have destroyed his career" Darya said with a frown. "But yes, after that incident he hates me. Not that we were friends before that" she added unconcernedly.

Darya wasn't aware that Vincent liked her and I for sure, am not going to tell her that. She is only mine and if she doesn't like me, then she has to learn to like me because the only man in her life will be me.

"He was also pining after the best student trophy so much but at the last moment I snatched it from right under his nose" she said chuckling.

Yeah, Vincent deserved to be beaten by a girl.

"That's just it. I would avoid him and he would avoid me" Darya said with a casual shrug.

I compressed my lips and tried my best to hide my grin because I felt like a mountain was lifted from my shoulder. Darya has no bloody idea how much knowing the whole truth meant to me.

There is nothing between Vincent and Darya. He might be attracted to her but he better get over it because if he doesn't... I will have to kill him.

"That's good" I said and Darya narrowed her eyes at me.

"Why? What did you think?" she demanded.

Oh Fuck! Why did I say that?

"Nothing" I said and continued walking ahead, simply refusing to discuss further on this issue.

"Quillon" Darya called but I ignored her. "Haww...." She gasped, "You thought Vincent and I were involved didn't you?" she said and I scowled at her.

When Darya saw that she started giggling, "Even though I think Vincent is cute, there is nothing-"  I lost my temper because there was that word 'CUTE' which I loathed. It is meant for puppies and teddy bears.

Unfortunately, my mate like cute guys!

Growling, I caught her by the arms and whirled her to face me, before she could finish her sentence "I had warned you that there is not going to be anyone other than me" I said lethally looking her in the eye. "No cute guys or anyone" I spelt out curtly. Darya sucked in a breath and nervously licked her bottom lip.

I was close to her, touching her and trying my best to ignore the sparks of electricity I felt, by controlling myself. But when she licked her lower lip, I gave in to the temptation and without further ado; I lowered my head and slammed my lips against her.

However, I pulled back abruptly when I tasted her strawberry lip gloss. I did not want that gloss on my mouth. So, using my thumb, I wiped it off her lips and kissed her.

Darya's sweet flowery scent intoxicated me as I slowly ran my tongue on her bottom lip while kissing her. She moaned and opened her mouth, giving me easier access. My wolf purred like a jungle cat as I tasted her in untamed desire.

Enclosing an arm around her slender waist, I hauled her to my chest while she wrapped her arms around my neck. This is what I wanted to do since the past four days. Kiss her senselessly.

When Darya let out another breathy moan, I pulled away to snatch in as much oxygen as possible. I watched her do the same and smiled in satisfaction when I saw that slightly swollen lips. Knowing I was the cause of that made me incredibly proud.

I was about to kiss her again but stopped when my wolf who until now was rolling on his back in excitement, quickly rolled over and stood up.

The wild, aggressive, lethal side that I always suppress immediately started taking over and my whole body turned as rigid as an iron pole. My senses were on high alert and within seconds, I was able to sense strange presence.

He wasn't here yet, but he was coming towards us.

When Darya sensed the change in me, she opened her eyes. Her eyes widened when she looked at me and I realized that my eyes had changed color.

"Quil-" I silenced her by placing an index finger on her lip.

"Shhsssh" I said ominously and she hitched her brows. She hasn't sensed the danger yet and I wasn't surprised because my senses were ten times stronger than other wolves.

He wasn't alone. He had a company.

"Can you sense it?" I asked in a whisper while she stared at me in confusion. Darya shook her head and I smirked, "Fear."

"Fear" Darya gulped.

"Theirs" I said pointing my finger upwards and slowly looked up. Hundreds of birds flew away because they knew something bad was going to happen here, in a few minutes. Darya looked up, blinked and then looked back at me. But she stiffened and I understood that now she too could feel something was wrong.

"He is coming" I said with a smirk.

"Who?" her voice was barely audible.

"Konrad" I answered with a sinister smile. However, when I glanced at Darya, I saw that every scrap of color had drained from her body leaving it pale. My wolf did not like watching that and he immediately wanted to give comfort to her.

But with Konrad coming here, I couldn't do that and hence I called my Quinn because I wanted her taken away.

'Come here now' my voice was a command.

'What's wrong?' Quinn asked tensely.

'Konrad'

'I will be there'

Barely a minute later Quinn was with us. "Take her away" I told him glancing at Darya.

Darya who was in her own stupor until now, snapped out of it, "I am not going anywhere" she said tersely.

"Do not argue with me on this" I told glaring at her. If I have to, then I am going to force her to submit to me.

"He is not here for you. He is here for me" she said looking me in the eye.

"But you are wrong Darya" an unfamiliar voice said from the other side, but I already knew it belonged to Konrad.

Darya inhaled sharply and so did Quinn. Both turned to look at him, but I didn't.

"I am here for Quillon Sanders" Konrad added smoothly. My wolf bristled the moment he said my name but I pushed him back.

Slowly, taking my own time, I turned to look at Konrad and when his mint green eyes clashed with my dark ones, I smirked.

The game starts now!

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Haha... I feel so happy to end this chapter here, like this... lol! I really hope you liked this chapter as well as the new character introduced, who isn't much in the story but is still needed.

BTW, what do you think will happen now?

I am so excited to post the next chapter, but you have to wait a little for it as it will be out on 20th. I cannot post it earlier because I am going to my gran's place next week. Sorry :(

Please vote, comment and follow.

Thanks :)