Chapter 3
At the welcome home party, Eleni sat beside Dario. Rory sat alone in the corner, his gaze finding Eleni now and then, his eyes wet with hurt.
Eleni seemed unaware. Her attention was fixed solely on Dario.
The Betas were eager to share with Dario all that Eleni had hunted over the past year. He sipped his water, barely listening.
Suddenly, someone spoke up.
"You guys remember the rogue in that warehouse?" said a Beta.
Dario looked up to see the same Beta who had spoken with Rory that morning.
"Oh, yeah, I remember. Alpha was a total badass, charging in alone. But she really owes Rory. He took the silver dagger meant for her."
"Small as Rory is, he has courage. No weapon, and no armor, yet he leapt between our Alpha and the rogue."
"When he was unconscious, Alpha spent three days watching over him in the healing den, never sleeping for a bit."
As the pack spoke of Eleni and Rory, Dario tightened his grip on his drinking horn, the carved bone pressing into his palm.
He didn't say a word or show any emotion. He only quietly listened. 'So that's how they got close,' he thought.
"Remember when another rogue merely looked at Rory?" a female Beta said. "Alpha snarled so fiercely that the wolf fled our territory. I have never seen such possessiveness."
Dario dropped his gaze, a dull ache throbbing in his chest.
A quiet voice came from the corner.
"Alright, guys, knock it off. Her mate is still with us," Rory said.
As soon as Rory said that, Dario shot him a look.
Rory hesitated and then added, "Mr. Callahan, do not mind them. Alpha only shows concern for me as a leader."
Right then. Eleni spoke up. "Give Rory a break. Stop this teasing."
Her words were not commands. They were a defense for Rory.
Dario sat in the center of his pack, yet felt utterly alone, a stranger on this territory.
He drew in a deep breath, set his horn down with a loud thud, and said, "I need air."
*****
Dario was spacing out in the corridor when, out of the corner of his eye, he spotted a familiar figure. His heart skipped a beat. It was a rogue on the run.
Dario held his breath and followed the man silently, masking his scent.
He stealthily closed in, barely a breath away from grabbing the rogue, when Rory suddenly called out from behind.
"Mr. Callahan, what are you doing here?" he said.
The rogue ahead shot Dario a wary look and then bolted down the corridor.
Dario gritted his teeth. Just as he was about to pursue, Rory blocked his path.
"You think you are special because Alpha chose you as her mate? Don't get so cocky," Rory said.
As the rogue was about to slip out of sight, Dario tried to push past, but Rory caught his wrist, holding him back.
"Mark my word. Eleni will be mine in the end," Rory said.
Dario, seething, slammed Rory to the floor.
Rory cried out, startled.
Dario rushed ahead, but the rogue had already vanished.
He turned to find Eleni rushing over. She helped Rory to his feet, her glare at Dario so sharp that it felt like claws across his skin.
"What are you doing? Rory is unwell. If you have a grievance, direct it at me," Eleni said.
Rory had just ruined his hunt, and now Eleni was defending him. Dario's face was stone cold, rage boiling within.
Rory leaned weakly against Eleni and whispered, "Alpha, do not blame Mr. Callahan. I should not have blocked his path. He was right to push me."
Dario shot Rory a frosty glare, his voice icy. "Good that you understand."
He turned to leave, but a slender hand seized his wrist.
Eleni looked at him, expressionless. "Apologize to Rory."
Dario looked up in disbelief. "What did you say?"
"I said, apologize to Rory. You pushed him. Should you not say sorry? Has the year of the border patrol really changed you so much?" she asked.
Her nails dug into Dario's wrist. He winced, his brows furrowed. "Do you know how badly he ruined my hunt? If he had not blocked me, I would have captured the rogue."
"Enough. Whatever the reason, you pushed him. Apologize to Rory. Now," Eleni said.
Dario's jaw tightened, eyes locked stubbornly on her. "And if I refuse?"
Everyone from the hall came out to see.
"Dario, being Alpha's mate does not grant you leave to mistreat packmates."
"You pushed Rory. You owe him an apology."
"We serve together from now on. If you act thus, we do not wish to serve with you."
They crowded around Dario, a wave of accusation crashing upon him.
Dario looked at Eleni, but her expression did not flicker. She simply repeated, "Apologize to Rory, and I'll let this pass. We're of the same pack, so let us not make this tense."
Stubborn defiance burned in Dario's eyes. He clenched his fists.
When he was young, he was the smallest in his pack, and other pups would pick on him.
Once, Eleni, from another pack, shoved those bullies aside and stood before him, her tiny frame fierce and unwavering.
"If you ever harm him again, I will beat you until you cannot stand," she said.
But now, she sided with others, forcing his apology.
Dario pressed his fingertips into his palm and drew a deep breath, trying to fight the sting spreading in his chest.
But he could not stop his eyes from reddening.
He murmured, "Alright. I'll apologize. I am sorry, Rory. I should not have pushed you."
As soon as he said it, it was as if all the strength had left him. He straightened his back, trying to hold his pride.
Eleni's expression softened. She returned to treating him as she always had, gentle and familiar.
She released Rory and walked to Dario. "Alright, Dario. Let's continue the—"
Dario dropped his gaze and pulled from her touch, turning aside.
"I'm tired. I'm going back," he said.