AS THE CAR got closer to the hotel, Darius immediately felt nervous. He racked his brain for ideas on how to get his mate to agree to go out with him but came short of anything.

He didn't even know what to say if he came face to face with her.

"Maybe we can ask for the hotel manager's help. He can create a chance for you to be alone with Luna Ophelia and then you can ask her out on a date," the Captain suggested.

But the King was skeptical. "Is that not abuse of power?"

Samuel chuckled, causing Darius to cast him a sharp look and his face instantly turned serious once again but there were still traces of amusement.

"Sorry, Alpha. It's just that I have never seen you this worried about what someone thinks about you.

"People are indeed right when they say that soulmates bring out the best in one another.

"Anyways, I do not think Luna Ophelia would think you are abusing your power," the Earl Delta Captain reassured but the Alpha King was not convinced.

Darius didn't have the opportunity to respond to this as Samuel pulled up into the hotel's driveway.

A few minutes later, the door was pulled open and Darius stepped out of the car. Instantly, his mate senses went on override and he felt himself go weak in the knees.

His mate was so close yet so far. The Alpha King could just reach out and touch her but at the same time, it felt like she was miles away.

On reaching the entrance to the hotel, Darius began hearing some raised voices and a pleading voice. Opening the door, he found Ophelia standing by the reception area with a group of men.

A short middle-aged male in a dark brown suit seemed to be begging a taller blond male who looked like he would not be listening to it any time soon.

Normally, the King would walk past situations like that but when he saw his mate looking both terrified and confused, he knew he couldn't just walk past.

It was at that moment that Darius realised that he was willing to hurt anyone responsible for causing his mate to be that way.

"Gentlemen, what seems to be the issue here?" Darius asked as he reached them.

He didn't fail to notice the slight relief that passed Ophelia's face, and he instantly felt happy that his presence could make her feel that way.

The blond man turned to glare at Darius but his eyes widened upon seeing the people behind Darius.

"And, who might you be?" Blondie asked once he recovered from his shock.

"That is not the issue here. My problem is seeing grown-ass men ganging up on a small female who is too terrified to even speak.

"So I ask again, what is the issue here?" Darius asked calmly but anyone could hear the underlying malice in his voice.

"This does not concern you, Sir. So, my advice is that you mind your business and go on your merry little way," Blondie advised, walking closer to stare Darius in the face.

Darius raised a brow at the blatant invasion of privacy.

"And I advise that the next sentence to leave your lips better be respectful. Back. Up. Now!" Samuel warned in a tone that was anything but friendly.

The Alpha King shot a glance at the Earl Delta Captain. Usually, Samuel would not let anyone get so close to Darius but this time, he reacted thirty seconds later than he normally would.

"Sorry, Alpha, I was distracted," Samuel's voice filled Darius' head.

It was evident in the Captain's voice that something was wrong. The King decided to let it go for now. He would question him later.

Ignoring the annoying blonde, Darius turned to the man who was pleading.

"What happened here?"

"About an hour ago, Mr Stunner got a package delivered to him here and requested for Ophelia to bring it to his suite.

"Usually, we would not let the receptionists go to the rooms of the guests but this was a request made by a VIP guest so we had to agree.

"Later we heard a commotion coming from his room. We found him on the floor, claiming that Ophelia had attacked him," the man explained.

Blondie turned to face the man.

He threw a short glare at Darius then walked back to stand beside Ophelia. Darius didn't like how uneasy that made him feel. His worries were confirmed when Blondie grabbed Ophelia by the arm.

"This slut came into my room and tried to seduce me..."
Darius ignored the rest of the suicidal man's words and focused on his tight grip on Ophelia's arm.

"You have ten seconds to get your hands off her before you lose it."

From a very young age, Darius began training his mind to be calm in all situations, even in cases when all he wanted was to explode in anger.

The blonde man whose name Darius couldn't be concerned about kept his tight grip on Ophelia's arm. His facial expression showed that he was daring Darius to do his worst.

Hunter growled in anger, appearing in Darius' mind for the first time in a long time.

He fought for control against the King's barriers but Darius was surprisingly stronger, and kept the walls up because if he didn't, Darius knew that there would be bloodshed once Hunter was let out.

The Captain whispered to the King, "Calm down, Alpha, there are humans around. You would not want to clean up the mess once Alpha Hunter takes over."

Darius knew that much. His wolf was a lot messier than him. Shutting his eyes, Darius took calming breaths.

Finally, he opened his eyes and in a split second, Darius had Blondie's wrist in a crushing grip. Blondie struggled against Darius' grip but was not successful at freeing his hand.

"Are you fine?" Darius asked Ophelia.

She nodded without responding. Darius studied her countenance for any indications of discomfort or pain caused by Blondie's hold.

He breathed out a sigh of relief when he found none and only then did he turn back to Blondie who was still struggling, uttering profanities that would make a mother block her children's ears.

"So, how does it feel?" Darius asked with a pointed stare at Blondie.

"Unhand me now or I will make you regret it," Blondie warned seriously but only managed to sound like a frightened child to Darius.

"I'll ask again, how does it feel to be held by someone stronger than you, realising that you can not get away no matter how much you try and struggle?" Darius asked calmly.

{•}

Thank you for reading.