Chapter 70

Darius's POV Silence descended in the private room. Reece Kane, sensing the tension, slipped out with the excuse of visiting the restroom. I knew he was giving us privacy, though I wasn't sure if I should thank him or curse him for it. "I shouldn't have asked Reece to get you here under false pretenses," I admitted, my wolf stirring restlessly within me. As Alpha of Silver Creek, I was used to commanding respect, not begging for favors. "For that, I apologize. It's just that—" "You seem to be apologizing a lot recently," Dorothy sneered, her scent shifting with her displeasure. Even angry, her natural fragrance reminded me of wild berries and forest paths - so different from the perfumed elegance I was accustomed to. I took a deep breath, trying to center myself. The jade ring was causing more trouble than it was worth, but my father's health was deteriorating. "I know. But the ring is very important to my father. I'd like you to reconsider. If it's not money you're looking for, perhap