Moonbound: The Rogue's Second Chance-Chapter 89 - EIGHTY-NINE - RETELLINGS

The night breeze tickled her, lifting her hair up and then bringing it down like it was a child playing some sort of game.

She ran her finger over the embroidered design she had made; red thread was the only one available. Serena had worked quickly, trying to get the likeness of the wolf head belt that Livia had added to her dress.

She had lunch and dinner in the comfort of her room. The room was a breath of fresh air, and she had moved furniture around to suit her taste. Serena yawned and looked at the night sky; she had not seen Darius for a day now.

She scratched the design and clicked her tongue. Serena had started thinking of him more than she would like to admit.

"How are you?" Serena asked.

The wolf grunted and then pawed at the borders of their consciousness. "I am getting stronger by the day."

Serena leaned over, supporting her chin in her hands. She licked her lips and blinked slowly. Hope made her chest swell; if Feyra was getting strong, then that meant someday she would be able to run across the forest floor.

"Do not get any hopeful ideas now," Feyra warned.

Serena chuckled and sat up, letting her back touch the backrest of the stone bench. "I am just thinking," Serena said aloud.

"Thinking about what?"

She whipped around to see Darius emerging from one of the archways, rolling up one of his sleeves. He smiled once he met her eyes.

"Oh, nothing. I was conversing with Feyra," Serena said.

Darius looked around before he made an ’ah’ at the realization. "Feyra? It sounds like something a child of Fenros would bear."

Serena raised a brow and shot him a questioning look. It was the first time that someone had said that to her about Feyra.

Yes, the moon goddess Lunara was responsible for their creation and their wolf spirits, but there are a handful of said wolves who are governed by minor gods and goddesses. Feyra was nothing more than a benevolent spirit; only when she was concerned did she lash out.

Wolves governed mainly by Fenros were wild, headstrong, and sometimes bloodthirsty. Serena pressed her lips into a thin line.

"I doubt that; she is not like those wolves. And yet again, it would be obvious if I was ruled by Fenros."

Darius nodded, taking a seat next to her. He placed his right leg over his left. "I suppose you are right; you would have been a hassle to deal with if it were the case."

"You were out all day..." Serena said, shifting the topic at hand.

Darius shot her a cocky smile. "You noticed; did you miss me?"

Serena smoothed the napkin on her lap and kept her gaze forward. "No, I just guessed."

Darius chuckled and placed his hand on his lap. He took a few seconds to look around. He could not hear anyone walking about; there were few staff that were available at night. He and Serena had a bit of privacy for now.

"I find that hard to believe; do not tell me you waited all day for me."

Serena glanced at Darius and shook her head. "Of course not; I had things to do."

"Do tell," Darius said, leaning back on the bench.

"Well, for starters, I arranged the room you gave me just the way I liked-"

Darius interrupted her retelling. "Your room. It’s your room, not the room I gave you."

Serena turned to face him and she nodded, averting her gaze. "Thank you. I arranged my room just the way I liked. I had lunch and dinner, brushed up on a few books, and did this."

Darius followed her gaze to her lap, and there sat a white cotton napkin that had a design on it, a snarling wolf in red thread by the corner.

Serena snatched it from where it sat and handed it to Darius. "I am not as skilled as I was when I was a girl, but it is still something."

Darius took it from her hands, deliberately letting his fingers brush against hers. He held it up to the moonlight, inspecting it. From his peripheral vision, he could see Serena leaning forward, as though she was waiting for some sort of approval or scrutiny from him.

"I would say you are on par with the older ladies of our pack," Darius said.

He brought it down and folded it into a triangle in a way that would showcase the design. He held her hand and placed the napkin in her hand and closed it. "You are very skilled."

Darius smiled when she did; it always warmed his heart when he saw a genuine smile on her lips.

"Thank you."

Serena laid the napkin flat on her lap and then looked at Darius. "So I guessed correctly; you were out all day. You must be tired."

Darius laughed and rubbed the back of his neck. "I was out all day, but I have seen you, and I am magically no longer tired. Can you believe it?"

Serena chuckled and shook her head, as though she could not believe his words. "I cannot."

Darius shrugged. "I would tell you about what lovely adventure I went on, but it is boring."

"I would still like to hear," Serena said.

—

Serena paid rapt attention to his words as he went on and on. She herself could not remember what the borders looked like, as she fainted shortly after getting there with Emmett.

Darius had purposely left out the deal with Liam; it was deemed unnecessary. He had given the wood bark to Elder Julian to decipher and get back to him.

He noticed how Serena nodded off as he spoke; it took a greater part of his will not to laugh. Darius moved closer to her, and soon she let her head drop on his shoulder.

"Did you not do anything else with your day?" Darius asked softly.

"I tried on a beautiful dress that Livia made for me. It is the best thing I have ever put on. I’d like to thank you and Livia," Serena said groggily.

Darius looked up to the night sky and he smiled. "I am glad."