Moonbound: The Rogue's Second Chance-Chapter 26 - TWENTY-SIX - MOONSHADE PIES

The ride to Blackthorn Keep had Darius perplexed. He whistled at the thought of the Moonseeker’s abilities.

He wondered if one could lie to her. She hadn’t even asked if Serena was truly his mate or not.

Darius exhaled as he rode quickly down the dirt path. The wind pulled at his cloak, cool against his skin, but his mind was elsewhere.

The Moonseeker wanted Serena? He tried to figure out what reason she could possibly have for requesting her.

Ronan remained silent, not because they were arguing, but because of the unspoken fact that the wolf was unsure what to make of it.

The Moonseeker was the spiritual head of the pack. Though Darius, as Alpha, could ignore her and do as he pleased.

However, the implication of doing so would mean he was disregarding a direct emissary of Lunara, the moon goddess.

Darius’ hands tightened on the reins of his horse, lost in thought. Whatever the Moonseeker was asking for, he hoped it wouldn’t harm Serena in any way.

Darius jumped off the horse and sighed. He led the animal to a tree and tied it securely.

He made his way to the door and gave it a few hard knocks.

He heard Serena’s footsteps, she sounded like she was in a hurry.

"Hold on, I’ll be with you soon," she called, her voice muffled through the door.

Darius heard the sound of bolts unlocking before he caught a glimpse of her golden hair. Her eyes widened when she saw him.

He wondered why she was always surprised to see his face.

"Serena," he greeted.

"Hello, Darius," she said, stepping aside for him to enter.

He brushed past her, and she closed the door behind them.

"You don’t refer to me as Alpha..."

Serena stiffened, picking at something unseen on the door. "I-"

Darius folded his arms and shook his head, offering a small smile. "It’s okay. I’m not offended. And please, don’t call me that."

He saw her shoulders relax as she exhaled slowly. His gaze drifted downward, noticing the way she played with her fingers awkwardly. Her hands were covered in white... dust?

The moment she realized he was staring, she hid them behind her back, looking away briefly. Her actions sparked worry in Darius’ heart.

"Are you sick?" he asked, stepping closer.

She stifled a laugh. "No, not at all. I was cleaning up when you knocked, so I didn’t get a chance to wash up."

Just then, she sneezed, waving away the white particles. Darius blinked, and the he laughed.

—

Darius looked around the main hallway. To an unobservant eye, Serena hadn’t changed much. But to him, a lot had shifted- a welcome change.

Furniture had been moved, decorations repositioned, and the scent of pine filled the air. Darius pinched his nose briefly before walking into the kitchen to join her.

He followed the faint clatter of metal and running water, stepping into the kitchen just as Serena plunged a pan into the dish basin. She hissed before dunking her hand into the water.

Darius had noticed how anxious she could be about certain things in the pack, or rather, anything concerning the pack.

At first, he had thought it was simple caution, a rogue’s instinct to tread carefully in foreign lands. But no, he had long since dismissed that. This was something else.

Leaning against the wall, he closed his eyes briefly, different thoughts warring within him. He pushed himself off and decided to ease her into learning that the Moonseeker had summoned her.

"Who is the current Alpha of Crimsonclaw?" he asked suddenly, folding his arms.

Serena grabbed a rag cloth and wiped her hands. Her lips parted slightly as she studied him, eyes searching for the meaning behind the question.

He merely raised a brow, "Well?"

"Alpha Maverick Hale," she finally replied.

Darius watched as she glanced at him before dropping another pan into the basin.

"You are correct."

"Did you come all this way just to ask me that question?" she asked, amusement tinging her voice.

Darius cleared his throat, unsure how to proceed. He had ridden here without a plan, so unlike him. Moving closer, he stopped near where Serena stood as she washed the pans.

"Of course not. I’m a very busy man," he replied smoothly.

"I see," Serena replied. Her tone suggested she didn’t believe him at all, and his upper lip twitched.

The smell of smoke filled the kitchen. Serena opened her mouth to speak before her eyes widened.

"Oh, sweet Lunara," she muttered, rushing to grab a peel. She worked quickly, sliding the pies out of the oven.

Bending over, she inspected the crust of one pie, breaking a small piece off before exhaling in relief.

"It’s not burnt," she said, turning to Darius. "Since you came all the way here, leaving your work, I’d like to offer you moonshade pies."

Darius’ jaw tightened ever so slightly as he looked between Serena and the pie before answering, "It would be rude to turn that down."

—

Darius tapped on the oak table absentmindedly as he waited for Serena to return. She had already set down a pitcher and filled his cup with water.

The blonde woman emerged from the kitchen holding a plate with a slice of pie. The filling was pale blue, confirming his assumption, it was moonshade pie.

It had been many moons since Darius had tasted one. They were particularly sweet with a tangy taste unique to the berries they were made from.

She set the plate down quietly, and when Darius looked up, their eyes met. Serena quickly looked away and hurried off.

"Would you not be joining me?" he asked.

Serena seemed to weigh her options before replying, "I will."

When she left again, Darius rubbed his temple and sighed.

The memory hit him suddenly, his mother setting the table for his father and him. Serena was the first person to do that since she had passed.

A short while later, Serena returned with her own plate, her brows knitted with worry.

"You look pale. Do you have a headache?" she asked, setting her plate down in a hurry.

Darius looked up and shook his head.

"No, it’s nothing. Sit, sit."