Page 39 of Snowbound with the Alpha Wolf
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Darcy didn’tdare speak as Adrian settled on the sofa, staring at the fire. Chin propped up on one fist, he ignored the steaming mug of cocoa she set on the coffee table beforehim.
She’d dreaded this moment, thisrevelation.
The Dark Kingdom was a powerful paralleluniverse created by the goddess Danu where Others could freely exercise their magick without fear of humans seeingthem.
Here in the Skin world, Earth, Others such as Lupines had to keep their magicksecret.
In the Dark Kingdom, no such restrictions existed. The Dark Kingdom could be brutal and dangerous and feared by Others living in the Skin world, for those who called the DarkKingdom home were far more powerful than ordinaryOthers.
“Lars was no ordinary Lupine. He was a Dark Lupine, and that’s what made him turn to evil. Lupines who have resided in the Dark Kingdom can never adjust fully to life among Skins, no matter what theythink”
Darcy squirmed, uncomfortable with the turn of conversation. “There are more Dark Others than you know in the Skin world,Adrian. Some half breeds, some with one-quarter blood. Even full-blooded Dark Others. That doesn’t make them bad. They’re only more powerful because they’ve spent a lifetime practicing their magick without any restrictions. As nasty as he was, even Lars had his good side, I’msure.”
“I loathe Dark Others.” A muscle jumped in his tight jawline. He jumped to his feet and began to pace. “Ihave no need of a lecture on their powers, Darcy. Lars killed mygrandmother.”
Her pulse kicked up. “How?”
“He deliberately starved her. Lars couldn’t abide weak Lupines or elders. Anyone who couldn’t pull their weight was banished. My parents saw this happening, couldn’t prevent it, and they moved to Alaska to form their own pack, taking some of the elders with them. Gran was toofrail for thejourney.”
Understanding filled her, and a lump clogged her throat. “That’s why you remained behind. To protecther.”
“Lars was furious. He wanted revenge against my parents for leaving, so he targeted Gran. My only choice was challenging him for leadership.” Adrian exhaled. “I lost, and Gran was thrown out into the snow, toperish.”
Burning with intensity, Adrianfocused his dark gaze on her. “And now, I need answers from you, Darcy. Why did you hesitate in killing him? Why did he call you honey? What is Lars toyou?”
The question she’d anticipated—and dreaded. Darcy clenched her fists. She couldn’t meet hisgaze.
After all they’d been through, after all he’d risked for her, she knew the truth. Adrian loved her, and she loved him equally.She’d always been the type to roam and not settle, but she tired ofroaming.
Becoming his mate wasn’t what she’d seen in her future, but it was a future she could embrace. Except the coldness in Adrian’s eyes warned she could lose thatoption.
“Lars was as you said.” She struggled with the truth, a reality that had shamed her for years. “I knew him, which is why I asked the goddessto send me to save you ten yearsago.”
Adrian said nothing, but a muscle twitched in his cheek. His nostrils flared, as if he’d caught the sour scent of her fear. Of course. He was an alphaLupine.
“Lars was…” Darcy’s throatclogged.
Gods, she hated this. Hated her origins, hated her childhood. Never could she escape her damnable past. Always someone would be ready to condemnher forit.
“Lars was my uncle. My mother’s brother.” Darcy bit her lip. “He lived with my parents in the Dark Kingdom until going to earth to form his own pack. Your pack.” She said the words she’d dreaded. “I’m from the place you detest, Adrian. I was born and raised in the DarkKingdom.”
Shock dawned in his eyes. Adrian remained silent, but this time, she knew it was from theinformation she’drelayed.
Now she felt it necessary to explain in a rush. Before he reacted, before he madeaccusations.
“I had little to do with him, I swear it. I only knew that he’d come here to Colorado to live and rule as an alpha because he tired of the dangers in the Dark Kingdom. But Lars had no discipline, little control. My mother tried to talk him out ofit…”
“No.” Adrian shook his head. “It makes no sense. You cannot be from the Dark Kingdom. You’re a ChangelingShifter.”
“As was my father. I inherited his ability. But on my mother’s side, pureLupine.”
“A Changeling Shifter born in the Dark Kingdom. With magick far more powerful than ordinary shifters or Others,” he said slowly. “You did not tellme.”
Now the truth was finallyout. Darcy had told him she possessed darkmagick.
The magick he hated more than anythingelse.
