The floral arrangements lined the path like a procession of midnight blue and blood red petals, their colors almost too vivid under the moonlight. My gown trailed behind me as I made my way toward the mansion’s great doors, keeping my head down, trying to ignore the frantic buzzing of my phone hidden inside my small purse. I knew exactly who was calling—and I couldn’t bear to look at his name. Not now.
My senses were on high alert, straining to find the scent I’d been trained to track among the crowd. But it was hard to focus—the cloying smell of decay clung to every vampire in sight, thick enough to choke a wolf. I had to appear calm. I had to appear like a normal human.
I could not let anything show. A woman’s voice cut through the murmur and I heard her before I saw her pointing a well-manicured finger at me: “Why is that one not accompanied? ” I picked up my pace, but it was too late. Two vampire men appeared out of nowhere, blocking my path.
They towered over me—and they were close enough that I couldn’t hide my scent. “Where’s your master, human? ” one of them asked with a sickly-sweet smile. I bit my lip, stopping myself from drawing blood—that would be the worst thing right now.
“Around here somewhere, I’m sure,” I replied, inclining my head politely and moving to step past them. But a hand on my arm froze me in place. “Stay where you are. ”
The compulsion hit me like a lead blanket.
My body obeyed against my will, muscles locking in place. Just my luck—I’d run into one of the few vampires still skilled in the art of compulsion. A normal human would have been helpless. I had to pretend I was.
“She’s not particularly pretty,” one of them observed criticallyè. “No, she’s not,” the other agreed with a smirkè. “Probably not very important either. I doubt anyone will miss her.
” I swallowed hard. They weren’t wrong. And while I probably could fight my way out of this, doing it without revealing what I really was—that seemed impossible. I was the worst double agent in existence.
My first cover event, and I was seconds away from blowing it. A hand reached toward my face—and then a familiar voice cut through the tension like a knifeè. “What do you think you’re doing? ” The tone was bored, indifferent, yet the vampire attacking me froze instantly, hand inches from my face, his expression suddenly that of a man staring at death.
Damen moved toward us at an unhurried pace, his presence all elegant grace and lethal charm. “My prince,” one of them said, inclining his head. “Do you know this girl? ” Damen’s blue gaze descended on me, and for a moment, it looked like he was going to deny it.
Then:“I should hope so. She’s my bride-to-be, after all. ” My shoulders sagged in relief—before I remembered I shouldn’t have been able to move at all. I quickly caught myself, hitting Damen’s warning glance.
“Your bride? ” the vampire interrupted himself, sending his companion a wary look. “My apologies, my prince. I wasn’t aware you’d chosen a bride.
” Damen didn’t bother to answer, leaving the vampire looking like he’d swallowed something sour. “Please feel free to move, my lady,” Damen said to me, releasing the compulsion without looking at him. He took my hand and led me away from my aggressors with such poise you’d think nothing had happened. But as we reached the ballroom doors, he brought his lips to my ear:“Did one of them touch you?
” His fingers clenched around mine, betraying a rage his face didn’t show. “No. No, they didn’t,” I replied, confused. Why would he care?
It wasn’t like we were actually together. We entered the ballroom under the appraising gaze of the entire vampire elite. Damen leaned down and whispered:“Try not to trip again. ” “That happened once,” I grumbled.
I felt like a mockery of a princess from my childhood stories—draped in silver lace, being paraded around like cheap entertainment. The truth was, Damen wasn’t my prince. He was my master. And the vampire court gathered around us, whose eyes had followed my every step since we arrived, made sure I didn’t forget it.
Disdain and mockery were evident across every gaze I received. Ice-cold fingers traveled up my thigh beneath the daring slit of my gown, and a low, sultry voice whispered in my ear:“For crying out loud, Chloe. This is supposed to be sexy. Can you at least pretend you’re a little into it?
” “How do you even know how I look? You’re sitting behind me,” I countered, going for assertive but failing miserably. “I don’t need to see you. You’re as rigid as a statue,” Damen complained against my neck.
“You know, I’m beginning to think you don’t find me attractive. ” He wasn’t bearing his fangs yet, but his teeth grazed my skin, and it took all my willpower not to squirm. One would have to be blind not to find him attractive—and he knew it. Since we’d met, he’d made a game of flirting with me, finding my embarrassment highly entertaining.
My gaze traveled around the mansion—a lavish court from a forgotten age. An infinite crowd of vampires sipped blood politely from crystal cups—or, in some cases, from the throats of the living. A shiver ran down my spine. This could be me soon.
Everyone here expected it, after all. “Relax,” Damen brought the inside of my wrist to his lips for a kiss. “I promised I wouldn’t bite, didn’t I? ” I gulped.
He had promised. But still—“Chloe,” Damen’s arms tightened around me. “People are watching, and you being close to tears is suspicious. ” I bit my lip, feeling even more nervous.
I was supposed to look like a grateful bride—a human blown away by the honor of sitting on the great Damen Cromwell’s lap. But all I felt was fear and disgust. “Sorry,” I mumbled. “I didn’t mean to embarrass you.
” Damen scratched his throat, expectantly. I frowned, then realized. “I didn’t mean to embarrass you—master. ” I didn’t manage to make the title sound as adoring as I should have, but at least it wasn’t laced with the disgust I felt.
“Good girl,” Damen grinned, giving my thigh a firm squeeze. It took all my willpower not to yelp
If someone had told me only a few days ago that I, Chloe, would become a vampire’s bride—I wouldn’t have believed them. To a calculating predator like a vampire, nothing is more prey than his chosen bride. Brides are paraded around by their masters as glorified living blood bags, in exchange for wealth and status.
I’d been raised to fear this world with good reason. Because I was a werewolf—something no one at this horrifying pretense of a party could ever find out. “Come,” Damen said abruptly, pulling me after him. He parted the crowd like a dark ship cleaving through a sea of bodies.
“We’re going to dance. ” His long fingers were cold against my back, though not as cold as his icy blue gaze. We executed the steps I’d only recently been taught, under the watchful eyes of everyone in the room—some envious, some calculating, others pitying. I hated every second of it.
“I think we should rather keep a low profile,” I objected as he dipped me toward the ground. “We’re too exposed. Everyone is staring. ” Damen flashed me a brilliant smile.
“Comes with the job. ” I sighed. For Damen, life was one long joke—and the fact that someone was very intent on ending his didn’t phase him in the slightest. I’d heard that the more time passes, the less vampires have the ability to feel emotions.
Damen clearly had lost all ability to feel fear—and any form of intelligent thought. If I wasn’t so desperate, I would have fled along time ago. But ever since making my wish, I’d been in fact particularly desperate—and hiding among the vampires was the best solution I could think of to escape the predicament I was in
But I couldn’t help wondering—how did I end up here? Only a few days ago, I’d been patrolling the streets of my town, fighting vampires.
Now I was dancing the night away in a ballroom full of them
Two days ago, I was late. Vivien told me instead of a greeting when I found her in a dark street corner, half an hour past our rendezvous point. Her red hair was tied back into a severe ponytail, and her dark sports clothes couldn’t be more casual—yet she still managed to look like a supermodel. She was the beta of my pack, one of the strongest and most cunning wolves I knew.
“Sorry,” I mumbled, looking for an excuse. The truth just wouldn’t cut it. “I thought you were going to pull a Jake,” she sighed, heading for a crossroads at a hurried pace. I trailed after her, trying to figure out what she meant by that.
“You mean, you were afraid I wasn’t going to show? ” Vivien smirked. “No, I thought you’d just be hours late, drunk, and accompanied by a hooker. ” I bit my lip, weighing my words.
Jake wasn’t the most reliable member of our pack, but I doubted he’d ever do that to Vivien. “Still, I’m sure you’d feel better if he were here instead of me,” I mumbled apologetically. Vivien tensed as we turned a dark corner. “I’d feel better if Harry was feeling better,” she grumbled, avoiding giving me an answer.
That mating bond of his had been a real nightmare. Vivien had had to handle most of Harry’s Alpha duties ever since he’d been mated—which hadn’t been easy for her. “He needs some time to recover,” I argued. “When he broke his bond, it almost killed him.
” Mating bonds are scared to us wolves—once formed, they are extremely rare to see broken, since we rarely survive the separation. “Yes, well, you broke your bond with your fated mate, and I don’t see you on the brink of death,” Vivien put a hand on my shoulder, giving me an affectionate look. “I’m proud of you, you know. You’ve been incredibly strong.
” Guilt twisted my heart. If only she knew. I was doing so well only because my mating bond was far from broken—like she and everybody else believed it to be. They couldn’t begin to suspect I was still very much bonded to the most hated rogue wolf in the region.
If my Alpha found out, I’d be banished—or worse
I was about to reply when a muffled scream pierced the air around us. Passersby didn’t react—they were humans without enhanced hearing. “What was that? ” Vivien glanced over her shoulder.
She was already turning, her expression calm and collected but edged with alarm. “Shouldn’t we turn? ” I asked, my wolf itching to claw its way out. “Not now—we’d only attract attention.
” But we didn’t need to make the choice. A second scream, closer this time, decided for us. We broke into a run, following the sound to the back alley of a club. There—hidden behind a fire escape—a woman was being pinned to a wall by a cloaked figure, who turned when he heard us approach, bearing his fangs.
A vampire. I winced. So the rumors were true—vampires had begun attacking humans again. “Step away from the girl,” Vivien warned.
“Or what? ” the vampire asked, voice deceptively pleasant. Vampires always sounded hypnotic—it was part of their lure. But to our wolves, they reeked of death and decay—kind of ruined the appeal.
The blonde woman being pinned down tried to speak, but her words were muffled by her captor’s hand. Then a second vampire emerged from the shadows, moving with all the eerie grace of a big jungle cat. “Wolves,” he said, wrinkling his nose. “Smells like wet dog for miles.
” “You’re breaking the Accords, attacking a human,” Vivien reminded them. “Let her go. ” “The Accords? ” the one holding the woman laughed.
“We didn’t make the rules, and we’re done following them. ” Vivien and I exchanged a wary look. This wasn’t good. The Accords, signed a century ago, bound vampires and werewolves to two major rules: don’t attack humans, and don’t turn others against their will.
But it seemed those rules meant nothing anymore. “Don’t make me come here and bite you,” Vivien warned, her voice hard. A werewolf bite induced a transformation into one of our kind—but very few survived it, and no vampire ever had. Essentially, we bit them, we killed them.
Which was why the Accords forbade it. “You wouldn’t dare,” the vampire replied, bearing his sharpened teeth. Vivien smirked, disdainful. “A bite from a vampire wouldn’t kill us, though.
It only seems fair that if we can’t do it, neither can they. ” The vampire holding the woman hostage dropped her to the ground and ran toward Vivien in a poor semblance of an attack. She took a mere second to parry. Vampires are quicker than us, but they aren’t as strong—they rarely have the upper hand in hand-to-hand combat, especially against a skilled fighter like Vivien.
The same could not be said about me. When the second vampire came at me, I barely managed to avoid his arm and dodge to the side—losing my balance in the process. My attacker seized the opportunity and pounced, pinning my arms to the ground, his fangs inches from my face. I retaliated by headbutting his nose, making him screech and loosen his hold.
My arms freed, I grabbed him by the throat with one hand, ready to punch with the other. Then Eve’s face flashed before my eyes—twisted in fear, covered in blood. I choked, frozen in place. “Chloe!
” I heard Vivien scream, but it sounded far away. I couldn’t move. The vampire pinned me back down. I let him, feeling all the air leave my lungs.
Then his body was suddenly lifted off me—and I expected to see Vivien’s face above mine. Instead, it was his vampire friend, who had come to my rescue. “Feeding discreetly is one thing,” he said,“but if we get caught, we’re done for. This isn’t worth it.
Let’s get out of here. ” “Why would we get caught? ” my attacker frowned. “Because there are two wolves here—and at least one of them looks competent enough to live to tell the tale.
” He pointed at Vivien, who was crossing her arms and clenching her jaw. Reluctantly, his companion moved away, giving her a wary glance. “Whatever. The king will soon be dethroned,” he warned, walking past us.
“We’ll have our fun, dogs. ” Vivien barely raised an eyebrow, watching them leave. I hurried to the blonde woman’s side. “Are you okay?
” I helped her to her feet, trying to think of an excuse to explain away what she’d heard. It was best humans didn’t know about the supernatural world. “I’m fine,” she replied, scrubbing at her clothes. She looked and sounded fine—if a little miffed.
You’d think she hadn’t almost gotten bitten by a vampire. “Chloe. ” Vivien joined us, putting a hand on my shoulder. “What happened back there?
” I stubbornly avoided her gaze. I knew she was giving me a pitying look—I was used to receiving them but still couldn’t stand them. I didn’t deserve her pity. Not after what I’d done to Eve.
Not after what I was still doing with Nate. My eyes met the blonde’s clear blue ones—and my wolf immediately tensed. This woman we’d just rescued was no ordinary human. I could tell.
She wasn’t a vampire, and she wasn’t a wolf. But a dangerous aura emanated from her nonetheless. “You’re a witch,” Vivien guessed, assessing her much more quickly than I had. The stranger nodded.
“Thank you for your help. I am now in your debt. ” She didn’t sound very pleased though. It made me uneasy.
I gave her a tentative smile. “Don’t worry about it. You don’t owe us anything, really. ” The witch sent me a thundering look.
“That’s not how it works. I collect debts, not the other way around. My higher-ups will not be pleased,” she added, glancing down. “Why are you looking down?
” I asked, confused. “Because that’s where they are,” she replied lightly before settling her gaze on me. “You’ll both get a wish. Free of charge.
” Vivien and I exchanged a confused glance. “Wait—are you the witch who lives in town? The one who grants favors? ” “I grant favors for a price,” she replied, staring at her nails.
“And trust me, they never come cheap. Although I leave it up to the customers to decide whether the price is worth it or not. ” Vivien scoffed. “I bet you avoid reading the fine print.
” “If that’s what you choose to believe, suit yourself,” the witch shrugged. “Your wish will come for free. No fine print, no price, no consequence. Anything you want.
” I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. “Anything? Except killing people? ” I asked.
“People are people. Forcing them to fall in love, surely—I can do that too. Why, would you like someone dead? ” I shook my head, heart beating at the idea of having that kind of power.
“We’re not interested, thank you,” Vivien said, grabbing my hand. “Come on, Chloe. ” The witch crossed her arms. “I can read auras, you know.
Yours screams unrequitedly love. ” Vivien’s face became as red as I’d ever seen it. She was usually not one to show much emotion, so seeing her so flustered felt even more surprising than having a witch offer us our dreams on a silver platter. “We’re going now,” Vivien stammered.
“Thank you, but no thank you. ” She pulled on my hand and dragged me behind her. I took one last glance at the witch. “I’ll be seeing you soon,” she said, like there was no doubt about it.
And she ended up being right. Because I was about to make my wish that very night—changing my life for the worse. For making the wish was what would lead me straight to the nest of vipers that was the vampire court
Three days later, at the ball, my dance with Damen ended abruptly. My head spun from all the swirling steps I’d had to execute—but also from the stress of monitoring the entire ballroom for threats while doing so.
Damen wasn’t any help, criticizing my every step in between shameless flirting attempts. I had a hard time pretending it didn’t work on me. He was supposed to be my one ally in this strange, dangerous world—and yet he couldn’t be less reliable. He just couldn’t seem to comprehend the notion of danger.
“This guy’s facial hair looks suspicious,” he mock-whispered, pointing to a nearby vampire’s mustache. “Do you think he’s the killer? ” I sighed. He clearly couldn’t take anything seriously.
“Well, I’ve done my fair share of parading you around,” Damen said, letting go of my hand. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go get ridiculously drunk. ” I grabbed onto his arm, trailing after him. “I thought vampires couldn’t get drunk,” I mumbled, trying to keep up with his hurried steps.
“Don’t remind me,” he sighed dramatically. “I still intend to try. Feel free to join me—who knows, you might actually end up having fun. ” He pretended to gasp when I refused to let go of his arm.
“I have to stay by your side,” I grumbled. He scratched his throat, giving me a pointed look. I sighed in resolve. “I have to stay by your side, master.
” He beamed. “It’ll be safer,” I added, slightly distracted by his bright grin. “Safer for who? ” he rolled his eyes, snatching a glass of blood from a passing waiter.
“You’re so twitchy. One would think you’re the one needing my protection. ” I grimaced, trying to shush him into being more discreet. He didn’t have much confidence in my abilities as a bodyguard—understandable, given that he didn’t know I was a wolf.
Still, he’d agreed to this arrangement. He could have said no when we’d signed the contract with his grandfather. I regretted not seeing Ian Cromwell at tonight’s reception. He at least seemed to believe in me.
“Blondie,” Damen pointed to my forehead. “With all this frowning, you’re going to be prematurely wrinkled, and nobody wants that. ” A painfully beautiful young woman with long raven hair and clear blue eyes approached us—her walk reminding me of an elegant panther, graceful in its lethality. I’d never met her before, and I was struck silent by her flawless beauty, only accentuated by the splendor of her shimmering dress.
She put a hand on Damen’s shoulder and placed a delicate kiss on his cheek. They seemed well acquainted, despite his obvious displeasure at her arrival. Could she be an ex-girlfriend? She looked only slightly younger than him—in her mid-20s, like me.
“Chloe,” Damen smiled so brightly it looked forced. “Meet Alexandra, my mother. ” I did my best to execute the customary curtsy I’d been taught only a day prior—while hiding my astonishment. This young girl was Damen’s mother.
I best remember not to assume anything about age when meeting a vampire. It was impossible to know how old they were. Alexandra briefly glanced at me, without any form of greeting. Then back to her son.
“Your bride? ” She asked with the barest of frowns, her words laced with disdain. “My love, you really should have let me pick one for you. I had plenty of perfectly suitable candidates lined up.
And you had to go and pick that. ” I schooled my features into a neutral expression. I wasn’t allowed to react to anything a vampire threw at me. It was against the rules.
Ever since becoming Damen’s bride-to-be, the rules had been drilled into my brain by the forceful, efficient staff of the Cromwell family estate. None had been as strict and insistent as Mrs. Jones, the head intendant. Shortly after being hired by his grandfather—and meeting Damen—I had been taken to my own penthouse suite within the luxurious hotel they were staying in.
An insane labyrinth of rooms, all more breathtaking than the next—but I barely had time to appreciate any of it. I was almost immediately joined by an entire staff of people, exclusively human, tasked with preparing me to be my future husband. “Do not ever call him that,” Mrs. Jones had snapped.
“Should the bridal ceremony take place—which I can almost guarantee won’t happen, as I’m certain the young master will have regained his senses before then—you’ll do well to remember you are not his equal. Your role will be to serve him. ” I had nodded, trying my best to take everything in while being groomed from head to toe. “Your nails—darling!
” a third party had groaned. “How dare you walk around with nails like these. ” I was never expressly told what was wrong with my nails—because there had been too much to do. I was, according to all those experts on good looks, a shipwreck.
“We have two days to teach you some basics before your first outing with Master Damen,” Mrs. Jones explained as she tried to get me to fix my posture. “Should he keep you around after the ball—which he won’t—we’ll meet together every day to pursue your training. We can’t let just anybody attend to the young Master’s needs, can we.
” I’d surmised indeed. “You’ll be given proper etiquette training—how to walk, talk, dress, converse amongst the vampire elite. ” “There’s an elite? ” I’d asked, curious.
Mrs. Jones had given me the most disdainful glance I’d ever seen. “The Cromwells are the elite, young lady. And I’ll be damned if you aren’t taught well enough to treat them according to their rank.
” A part of me still found all this extravagance slightly ridiculous. Among wolves, there wasn’t really any notion of class. Or at least, not with my pack. My Alpha Harry wasn’t particularly bossy—or at least not with me, despite him being quite influential among our entire community.
I just tended to forget, because he was like an older brother to me. Meanwhile vampires, it seemed, had an intricate class system—and interacted much more with humans than we wolves did, essentially considering them slaves. To say this didn’t make me very comfortable would be an understatement. But right now, there wasn’t much I could do or say.
I’d made my bed, so to speak. If I was going to survive the inextricable mess I’d gotten myself into—and hide amongst the vampires—I was to do it acting as Damen’s bride while secretly trying to prevent whoever was after him from killing him. Somehow. God, if I hadn’t been doomed before, I was certainly doomed now.
There was no way I, the most desperately disappointing omega wolf of the region, could save a vampire from a danger even his grandfather—one of the eldest and most powerful vampires alive—could make sense of. One week ago—the day I met Ian Cromwell. Vivien was driving us across a large, crowded boulevard. “Well, I’ll be leading the negotiations,” she reminded me.
I nodded, expecting nothing else. I was still stunned she’d accepted to take me along to meet with a vampire king. But desperate times called for desperate measures. Vivien couldn’t deny Ian Cromwell his audience—and it wasn’t safe for her to go alone.
With our Alpha unable to attend, and Vivien’s usual backup missing in action, I’d been assigned the job instead. The city, with its ceaseless motion and cacophony, was a stark contrast to the quiet orderly life I was accustomed to in our small town of Grimswood. We were headed to an opulent hotel nestled among the city skyscrapers like a grand old monarch. It was here, in a suite that probably cost more per night than my entire monthly expenses, that we were to meet the vampire king.
I stared dumbfounded at the luxury that enveloped us. It wasn’t like our pack wasn’t well off—but the hotel lobby here was something else. A vast expanse of marble and gold, with chandeliers that sparkled like stars captured within glass. Cromwell staff greeted us with a politeness that bordered on reverence, guiding us through corridors with the ease of those accustomed to catering to the whims of the powerful.
The suite, when we finally arrived, was nothing short of astonishing—a panoramic view of the city now alight with the vibrant colors of night. I wondered, as we waited for Ian Cromwell to make his appearance, what sort of man thrived in such a place. “It’s nighttime. He should be there soon,” Vivien grumbled through her teeth.
She was trying not to show it, but I knew she was nervous. This meeting had to go well. We just couldn’t stop every new vampire attack from happening. It wasn’t sustainable.
We needed a vampire king to reign in his people, like he was supposed to
“Good evening, ladies. ”” I could tell the vampires we’d rescued the witch from a few days ago weren’t near the same caliber as Ian Cromwell. When the man finally decided to make his grand entrance, he was a classically handsome man in his mid-50s, with marble-like features and a bright smile that didn’t have an ounce of warmth. He was fascinating to look at—graceful in his movements in a way that was almost predatory.
It was hard to look away from him. There was something hypnotic about the way he moved—fascinating, and yet terrifying. A shiver ran down my spine. My wolf told me to run.
His scent was enticingly sweet and pleasant—almost sickeningly so. But there was something nauseating underneath it. The smell of death and decay. “Vivien,” he said, giving her an appraising look.
“You’re even more beautiful than I remember. ” Vivien inclined her head politely. “And who’s this? ” Ian added, turning toward me.
“I was expecting your infamous Alpha to come along instead. ” “Harry’s indisposed,” Vivien said tightly. “He’s been recently mated. ” Cromwell gestured for a staff member to bring him something dark red liquid—I realized it was blood as he pulled it toward his lips.
“I wasn’t aware these mating bonds of yours were such an impairment. At least, not for an alpha as renowned as yours. ” He said this lightly, pleasantly, but with a hard edge to his words that couldn’t be mistaken for anything other than a threat. “His bond is a fated bond,” I explained, feeling defensive.
Not only did I not appreciate anyone belittling my Alpha—I myself was part of a fated pair, something few other wolves could really understand. It was so rare. “Fated pair,” Cromwell’s eyes glistened in interest. “Sounds fascinating.
I would love to meet your great Alpha’s little mate. Tell him to bring her to me next time, won’t you. ” I was sure Vivien would have liked nothing more than to tell him off, but she nodded evasively instead. Probably wise, not to tell an important vampire our Alpha would rather die than let his mate near him.
“Why did you want to meet with us, Mr. Cromwell? ” she asked politely, straight to the point. “Aren’t we?
I like that. ” He paused to drink another sip of blood before going on, in a neutral tone. “I would like to strengthen my relations with your kind. I’m aware some of the vampires in the area haven’t been particularly well behaved as of late.
” That was a rather subdued way of putting it. Cromwell hadn’t done a thing about the increase of vampire attacks these past couple months. The entire werewolf community was pissed. Tensions were escalating, and he very well knew it.
“You might say that,” Vivien replied neutrally. Cromwell nodded. “I could ensure they’re kept in line. In fact, I’d love nothing more than to do so.
You know, I’m rather good at that sort of thing. ” “Which brings the question—what changed? ” Vivien nodded carefully. “It’s just—you see, I’ve been rather busy as of late,” Cromwell said airily, looking at his nails.
“Rather pressing family matters. ” Vivien looked only very slightly surprised. “I wasn’t aware you had a family,” she commented pleasantly, though I was sure she felt nothing remotely pleasant at the prospect. “I have a daughter—the apple of my eye,” Cromwell replied with so little emotion I briefly wondered if he was being sarcastic.
“And she herself has a son. He’s very recently been turned—and he’s a little mercurial, you see. ” I wondered what he meant by mercurial. “Is your grandson the one behind the attacks?
” Vivien asked coldly. Cromwell laughed. “Oh dear, no. Damen isn’t like that.
He is a Cromwell, after all—and my heir. He’s perfectly civilized. But for some reason I cannot begin to fathom—seeing as he is such a delight—” he scratched his throat before pursuing. “—someone seems dead set on having him killed.
” Vivien frowned, looking confused. “Someone’s trying to kill your grandson,” she repeated, processing the words. “And you have no idea who it could be? ” “None,” Cromwell confessed with a pained sigh.
“In fact, I can’t be certain if the culprit would be satisfied with his demise, or if it’s our entire family he or she is after. Which is why we elected to hire extra security. ” “I don’t see how that concerns—” Vivien’s eyes widened in understanding. “You’d like someone from our pack to become your grandson’s bodyguard.
” “Precisely. ” Cromwell grinned like a cat. “We tend to hire specialized humans for the job—or sometimes other vampires. But Damen’s been attacked twice now, and his mother is becoming somewhat paranoid.
Her theory is that the job could have been ordered by someone from the inside. Which is why a neutral party—someone who isn’t usually part of our world—but with the physical enhanced capabilities for such a task—seems ideal to me. ” Vivien and I exchanged a look. I couldn’t tell what she was thinking.
To be completely honest, you’re the one I had in mind for the job,” Cromwell told Vivien. “I know you’re an influential member of your pack—and rumors of your great beauty have not been exaggerated. ” Vivien ground her teeth. “I’m flattered, but there’s no way I can leave my Alpha’s side right now,” she replied honestly.
“That’s a shame,” Cromwell took another drink. “To be completely honest with you, I think this assignment could be beneficial to both our people. I’ve got a hunch that the ones responsible for attacking my family could be the same people encouraging vampires to go after humans. ” “You have a hunch?
” Vivien challenged, dubious. “Yes. As you know, my family has tremendous influence over this country’s various vampire clans. We’ve always played a major role in ensuring peace is kept with the humans and the wolves.
” Vivien nodded, conceding to the fact. “My belief is that someone is challenging our authority—going after us and weakening our influence by encouraging rogue vampires to misbehave—putting us on the spot. I’d like the wolf looking after Damen to not only keep him safe, but to help me investigate who could be encouraging these attacks. ” I thought back on the vampires Vivien and I had stopped only a night prior.
One of them had claimed their king would soon be dethroned. Upon hearing Cromwell’s input, it now seemed likely it was him they’d been referring to. “I will speak with my Alpha about finding you the right candidate,” Vivien said, inclining her head. “I can already think of a couple names that seem right for—” “What about you, pet?
” Cromwell interrupted, eyes snapping to me. I blinked in stupor. Was he really talking to me? Me, the weakest wolf in our pack?
“Not her,” Vivien interrupted, giving me a look. “Chloe’s not—” “She seems perfect to me,” Cromwell said. “She’s a wolf. She’s part of your pack, and you brought her here—so I know she must be competent.
” Vivien was trying to maintain her composure, but I could tell it was difficult. “Chloe is very young,” she tried. “And besides,” Cromwell interrupted, never taking his eyes off me,“she must must be mated. ” Vivien’s face gave her away.
I was mated—but she didn’t think I was, and it showed. And I was not about to tell her otherwise. Neither she nor anyone in my pack could find out I was still mated to Nate. I gulped, just thinking of what would happen if any of them—especially my Alpha—was to find out.
Betraying him like that after everything he’d done for me. “She isn’t mated,” Cromwell clasped his hands. “Well that settles it then. You’re hired,” he told me confidently.
I didn’t know what to say. On the one hand, I wasn’t remotely competent enough for the job. Cromwell had said he’d wanted someone like Vivien—one of the most powerful werewolves in our pack, if not the country—and it was clear she didn’t want me to accept, as it would surely reflect poorly on all of us if I were to fail. But on the other hand, this could be my chance.
If I worked for the vampires under cover, Nate would be unable to approach me without creating a huge diplomatic incident. This would buy me some time to figure out the terrible truth I’d learned after making my wish to the witch. This was a one-in-a-lifetime opportunity. “I won’t offer again,” Cromwell teased.
“Thank you,” Vivien said, getting up. “I will find you a suitable candidate and get back to you. Let’s go, Chloe. ” But I ignored her.
He’d said he wouldn’t make the offer again, and I could tell he was being serious. There were plenty of other shifters around he could ask. Except—it had to be me. What I’d discovered upon making my wish.
I couldn’t let it happen. “Chloe! ” Vivien insisted. “Get up.
Let’s go. ” I was in trouble and needed to stay away from my mate—and I couldn’t ask my pack for help. Not without telling them how I’d betrayed them. Not without dragging any of them down with me.
I saw no escape—none apart perhaps from the one Cromwell was unknowingly offering me. “You’re really offering me the job? ” I asked Cromwell in a small voice. He smiled at me in a way I tried to convince myself was kind.
“Of course I am. ” He took my hand in his—it was icy cold. “In fact, I feel better already, knowing you’ll be looking after my daughter’s pride and joy. ” “You said he was recently turned—and mercurial.
We all know that’s code for dangerous and unable to refrain his urges,” Vivien shouted, affronted. But Cromwell ignored her. “What do you say, pet? ” he asked me with a sardonic smile.
I felt cold—but not as cold as I did only three days ago, after making my wish. Being a vampire’s bodyguard couldn’t be worth than the consequences awaiting me. “I accept,” I declared, squeezing his icy hand. His smile spread wide
Five days later, at the vampire ball, after my dance with Damen ended, his mother approached us again.
“Well, thank you, mother, for this warm and loving conversation,” Damen said. “But my darling Chloe and I must retire for the evening. ” He grabbed my wrist, clearly aiming to drag me away—but his mother blocked him. “Don’t call her by her name, Damen,” she snapped, showing a hint of emotion for the first time in the evening.
“Somebody might hear. ” “So what? ” her son replied lightly, though tightening his hold over my wrist to the point of pain. I didn’t think he was doing it intentionally.
But I’d learned not to assume anything with him. “Vampires don’t refer to their property by name,” his mother said. “You do well to remember it. Now is not the time to be showing weakness.
” I lowered my eyes, as I must under these circumstances. I tried to whether or not Damen’s mother was telling him this out of the goodness of her heart—or because she was simply obsessed with their family image. “Careful, mother,” Damen laughed. “Someone might think that you care.
” “Of course I care! ” Alexandra snapped—before frowning at her own outburst. “Yes, you and your impeccable mother’s instincts. ” Damen turned to me.
“Chloe, did your parents let you do drugs? Cuz my mom introduced me to co—when I was 12. Isn’t she the best? ” he added, smiling broadly at his mother.
Alexandra bent toward him, whispering her next words into his ear—probably thinking I couldn’t hear them. A human wouldn’t. But I wasn’t human—and my hearing was excellent. “Behave, or I’m revoking your visiting rights,” she said, grazing his cheek with a finger.
“I’m only saying this because I love you, darling. ” An image of Nate flashed in my mind upon hearing her last words. He too tended to follow his warnings with a declaration of love. The realization made me grind my teeth.
“Shall we? ” I blurted out without thinking, pulling decidedly on Damen’s arm. We wolves are protective—it’s the thing—and I was, after all, meant to protect Damen. Though his mother didn’t know that.
Being subjected to her cold, angry gaze, I realized my little display hadn’t been well received. “How dare you,” Alexandra muttered, briefly glancing around to make sure no one heard me speak without being addressed. I shouldn’t have done that. That was very foolish of me.
To everyone here, I must act and look like Damen’s plaything. Asking him to do anything was a major faux pas. “You’ve read my mind,” Damen said with a tight smile that seemed to indicate I’d be paying for that later. He attempted to drag us away again, but his mother put a hand on his chest.
“Darling,” she said, sounded exaggeratedly sweet,“now that you’ve finally chosen a bride for yourself, how about you give everyone here a little demonstration? ” I frowned, confused. A little demonstration? What did she mean by that?
Around us, a couple of vampires turned toward our trio with barely disguised interest, having heard Alexandra’s intentionally loud comment. Damen briefly clenched his jaw. “I’ve already drunk from her earlier this evening, mother,” he replied in a disinterested tone. “I don’t think clo—I mean, my lowly, unbecoming plaything you so loathe—is ready to go again.
” Realizing what Alexandra was suggesting, my entire body went rigid. She wanted Damen to drink from me—here, in front of this entire crowd of vampires. Though I supposed it was what everyone believed me to be here for. I’d seen it happen a couple of times already this evening—most vampires didn’t bother hiding when they drank from their slaves.
“You don’t look like you’ve had any blood recently,” Alexandra observed with a tight smile. “You’re so pale, my love. You need to feed. ” I sent Damen a brief, panicked stare—he ignored it—and I felt my heart plummet.
This couldn’t be happening. Ian Cromwell had sworn to me this wouldn’t happen
Six days ago, shortly after meeting Ian Cromwell, the vampire king’s car pulled up in front of a small manor built onto large grounds at the very center of the city. It was like a small oasis amongst the desert of concrete. My wolf was slightly appeased by the more quiet and natural haven—though not by much.
It knew we were essentially walking right into the lion’s den, so to speak. “Remember,” Cromwell told me before we exited the vehicle. “No one can know of your true nature. Not even Damen.
” I gave him a pointed look. Even if I did want to tell Damen, or any other vampire for that matter, Cromwell had well ensured I couldn’t. It would make them look weak and vulnerable if other vampire clans were to find out they—the supposedly most powerful family on the continent—had to resort to asking werewolves for help. He’d explained earlier, while we were still driving, my mind reeling from the decision I’d made to accept his offer to become a bodyguard.
“You understand we’re in a precarious situation here, hence the drastic measure,” he’d pointed out. “That’s precisely why I would like to ask you to keep your werewolf identity secret from every single vampire you’ll encounter, until you’ve completed your mission. ” I didn’t really mind keeping my identity a secret. However, I didn’t think it would be possible to keep it a secret—and I’d been about to tell Cromwell about my reservations when——“Damen can never know you’re a werewolf.
You won’t tell him—and you’ll hide it from him—and all other vampires—at all costs. ” And as Cromwell spoke, looking straight into my eyes, pupils expanding slightly, I’d understood too late. This wasn’t a request. It was a command—one that seemed to imprint itself at the very center of my brain, making my wolf cower in shock.
My breath froze in my lungs as I realized I’d have no choice but to comply. I wouldn’t be able to tell any vampire I was a werewolf. If I tried—“Did you just—? ” I gulped.
I’d never experienced a vampire compulsion before. It was a rare but powerful gift that not all of them possessed. Unfortunately, it appeared Cromwell was remarkably gifted in the art. “I apologize, pet—but it’s for the best.
It’ll be easier for you to execute your purpose that way. ” “Even if I don’t tell them, won’t the vampires be able to tell? I thought your kind could smell our wolves. ” Something glinted in Cromwell’s eyes as he handed me a small flask that until then had been hidden inside his jacket pocket.
“This potion will ensure no vampires will know about your wolf,” he explained. “You’ll need to take a new one every week, which I’ll ensure you’ll receive. This will give us a chance to speak on your progress regularly. ” And that was how I’d been compelled to keep yet another secret—piling it on top of the long list of secrets I’d already been keeping.
Secret one: I was still bonded to Nate. Secret two: I was a werewolf. Secret three: I’d made a wish I couldn’t come back from. Cromwell pulled a dark cloak over my head as we exited the car, and he took my hand to guide me across a large hall, up a flight of stairs.
Once we’d entered a small, yet elegantly furnished sitting room, he told me to wait for him there while he went off to get his mercurial grandson—and heir. I hadn’t had much time to check my phone that evening, and had avoided doing so even when I very well could have. I knew what was awaiting me—but it still twisted my heart to see Nate’s name appear on my screen. He’d sent me over a hundred texts, left me endless voice messages.
My fingers itched to open them—to hear my mate’s voice. The very impulse brought tears to my eyes. I was so ashamed. I’d betrayed my pack for him.
I was hiding in a den of vampires because of him. My entire life was in shambles because of our bond. And yet here I was, moved at the insistence he placed in trying to reach me. Why was I like this?
I bit my lip so hard it drew blood. I came here to escape—but how was I hoping to achieve that exactly? Did I really want to keep away from Nate? Or was I hoping I could salvage our relationship somehow?
Shame flooded my very soul. If my friend Emma could read my thoughts right now, she’d be horrified at how pathetic—wait—speaking of Emma and the pack—I scrolled through the notifications on my phone—and I was surprised to find that while Vivien had tried to contact me just as much as Nate, neither Emma nor my Alpha had. Surely they knew I was going to be working for the vampires by now. They must be furious with me.
I bit into my lip again, drawing more blood. Just as the door to the sitting room opened onto the silhouette of an impossibly tall man—who barged into the room with little to no pretense. “Good evening, whatever your name is,” he said, sagging onto a nearby chair—though with such grace he made it look an art form. “Shall we?
” He was barefoot, I realized, my eyes traveling up his long legs. I was surprised to find him wearing dark sweatpants and a white t-shirt that should only accentuate the paleness of his skin—except it only made it look all the more flawless. To be fair, this man could probably be wearing a garbage bag—and still put everybody else to shame. “Come,” he said, beckoning me over with a finger.
But I was too stunned to move. The thing with vampires was that they were all unfairly beautiful. What werewolves have in pure strength, they compensate with allure—their charm being essential to lure in their prey. Which explained their flawless features, graceful movements, and enthralling voices.
So I was obviously expecting Cromwell’s grandson to be gorgeous. But this—this was just—“Are you deaf? ” Damen mocked, though it just felt like he’d given me the world’s best compliment, because I was blushing all over. I’d never seen someone so beautiful in my entire life—and I was using all my energy not to gape.
Framed with wavy black hair, his features bore a delicacy that would have felt feminine if it weren’t for their sharpness—added to an eerie, apathetic blue gaze. His presence was as threatening as it was appealing—an odd, exquisite contrast—disturbing. I was captivated by the curve of his long eyelashes against his high cheekbones. But it was his scent that truly stole my attention.
A regular human would have thought nothing of a vampire’s scent. But we werewolves can smell them for what they are—decaying bodies, naturally kept alive by blood magic—and there’s nothing like the lingering smell of death that sticks to them to put our wolves on edge. But Damen smelled nothing of the sort. His scent was that of a forest at dawn—crisp and breathtaking—and intertwined with smokier tones, reminiscent of a distant campfire.
He smelled unexpectedly refreshing—freeing, even. “I’m sorry—you were saying? ” I asked, feeling myself blush furiously. I felt ridiculously underwhelming next to him.
It didn’t help that he was staring at me like I was no better than the scrape of his shoes. He got back up—and in one swift movement, came to tower over me. “I’ll be sampling you,” he explained, raising my chin up with his index finger—surprisingly gentle. I shivered at his touch.
And not only because it was cold. “Me? ” I asked, a little muddled. “Your blood,” he explained—though I’d lost track of the conversation even more when I felt his thumb graze my lower lip.
“This will do,” Damen said, drying some of the blood that had flooded my skin with his finger—slowly bringing it to his own lips. I briefly wondered if letting him drink my blood would result in a diplomatic incident between our kinds. My throat went dry as I watched him lick his finger. It felt so intimate to see him do so.
It wasn’t though—not really. But Damen’s pupils dilated, and his eyes snapped to my mouth upon tasting my blood. I felt locked in place. “Is it okay?
” I asked, feeling particularly self-conscious. Damen didn’t respond right away. Instead, he briefly hesitated before lowering his mouth slowly against mine—and for the barest moment I wondered if he was going to kiss me. Instead, he barely grazed my lip—and then gave it a small lick.
We weren’t even properly touching—and yet my pulse was wild long after he’d pulled away. Our eyes met. His were impenetrable. “I see you’ve made Chloe’s acquaintance, then.
” Cromwell’s voice boomed into the room—and I jumped away from Damen, heat rising to my cheeks like we’d just been caught in some illicit act. Damen sank back into his chair, folding his arms. He didn’t look nearly as flustered as I must have—which was to say he didn’t look flustered at all. “Yep—sampled her, don’t want her,” he smirked, a eating grin at his grandfather before waving at the door.
“Off you go, then,” he told me in a bored tone. “Thank you, but no thank you. ” I was too stunned to feel the humiliation. It would come to me later.
“Oh, Damen—I don’t think I’ve made myself clear earlier,” Cromwell said, sounding only vaguely apologetic. “You seem to be under the misconception that Chloe is here as a potential bride. ” At the words, Damen frowned slightly. “Isn’t she?
” “Of course not. You’ve made it very clear to us on multiple occasions that you didn’t want a bride—and you made it very clear on every single one of these occasions—you didn’t give a—about what I wanted or not,” Damen replied, raising an eyebrow. “I’m on your side,” Cromwell said, more sincerely. “I told your mother—if you didn’t want to take a bride, then we shouldn’t push the issue.
She’ll come around. But you know how she is. ” “Evil? ” Damen deadpanned, making Cromwell smirk.
“Overbearing,” he rectified, before giving me a glance. “I do hope you haven’t scared Chloe away. I assured her you wouldn’t drink from her—though don’t worry, my dear,” he told me. “I can assure you Damen won’t be doing it again—he definitely doesn’t look like he enjoyed tasting you—right, Damen?
” His grandson didn’t reply immediately. “If she isn’t here for the bridal position, then what is she here for? ” he asked. Cromwell clasped his hands in an almost childish-like excitement.
“Oh, well, I’m glad you asked, son. Chloe here will be acting as your new bodyguard. ” A heavy silence descended upon the room—one that Damen eventually broke with a genuine laugh. “That little thing,” he said, grinning—because I think he sincerely believed it was a joke.
“Oh, well, looks like I’m saved, then—really,” I felt like I could breathe again. Then, seeing his grandfather’s serious expression unchanged, he asked, sounding unsure,“Wait—this is a joke, right? ” “I’m afraid not,” Cromwell replied, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder. “Trust me—Chloe has been well trained.
I have complete trust in her ability to guard you. I’ve already explained to you how important you are to our family, Damen. You are my heir. Your potential is our most precious gift.
When I pick someone to look after you, it’s with utmost care. ” I flushed—though not from Cromwell’s words, although it made me feel better hearing that trust was placed in me for once. It was Damen’s assessing expression which truly held my attention. “Does she pack a magical punch or something?
” “Something like that,” Cromwell smiled confidently. “Though this is all she and I will say on the matter. For your safety, Chloe will be working undercover. This will give her an edge over our enemies.
” “Yeah, sounds like a bulletproof plan,” Damen deadpanned. “Except how are we going to explain why a random human follows me around everywhere—if no one is to know she’s my bodyguard? ” I finally averted my eyes from his near-perfect face to turn to his grandfather. “That’s a rather good question, actually.
” “Chloe will be posing as your bride,” his grandfather exclaimed, clearly very happy with the idea. “Don’t look at me like that—you yourself assumed that’s what she was when she arrived. Everyone—including your own mother—expects you to pick a bride any day now—yet you hate the idea. This is the perfect cover-up—and it will get everyone off your back on the matter.
” I paled. I had no idea this was part of his plan. “Excuse me? ” I asked in a small voice, hoping it didn’t too audibly tremble.
“What does it mean—exactly? Are we going to have to act the part? ” “Absolutely! ” Cromwell grinned.
I threw Damen a nervous look. He seemed very amused. “Act like we’re engaged? ” I squeaked.
“Oh no, darling,” Damen smirked. “You’re going to act like you worship the ground I walk on—and I’ll be treating you like a cheap—it’ll be fun. ” I tensed at his harsh words, sending his grandfather a distressed look. He smiled soothingly.
“Don’t worry, Chloe. I’ll have someone come over first thing tomorrow to begin your education—before you’re taken to court. You’ll see—you’ll be acting like the perfect bride in no time. Though, of course, it’ll only be an act.
Damen will never actually drink your blood—I guarantee it. ”
Seven days later, at the ball, Damen pulled me toward him—as if shielding me from view would make his mother forget about her latest great idea—namely, that he drink my blood in front of an entire crowd of expectant vampires for entertainment. I glanced around the ballroom, hoping Ian Cromwell would appear to get us out of this predicament—but I quickly had to resolve myself to the idea that he simply wasn’t in attendance this evening. “What is it, Damen?
” Alexandra asked. “I thought this girl was your bride-to-be. ” “Exactly—to be,” Damen gave his mother an innocent look. “I haven’t committed to her yet.
If you insist I feed from someone, I’d rather it be Gemma. ” “Gemma? ” His mother barely even flinched at the words, maintaining composure superbly. “Your uncle is thinking of making her his bride.
” “I know,” Damen wiggled his eyebrows. “He’s going to hate it. ” Alexandra sighed—and waved her hand at someone, beckoning them over. “Gemma, darling—come here.
” An exquisite young woman with warm brown curls and a golden complexion quickly made her way to us. “My lady,” she bowed gracefully to Alexandra—and then to Damen. “My prince. ” I was awed by her graceful expertise.
I don’t think I’d be curtsying like that anytime soon. “Damen needs to feed,” Alexandra said, leading Gemma closer to him by the hand. “Will you help him, please, love? ” Gemma inclined her head, reminding me of a delicate dove.
How could a human be so poised? “It would be my honor,my lady. ” Alexandra gave Damen a hardened stare. “Well, what are you waiting for, darling?
You said your bride-to-be wasn’t fully recovered from your previous session just yet. Chloe won’t mind, right, Chloe? ” It took me a second to realize daman’s mother had finally deigned to acknowledge my existence. “Oh—no, of course not,” I replied, attempting not to sag my shoulders in relief.
Damen took Gemma’s hand in his, making a show of kissing it. “Hello there. ” He pulled her after him. It took me a second to remember I should probably follow.
“You want to watch, munchkin? ” Damen asked me before winking at Gemma. “She’s kinky like that,” he explained, making me feel oddly self-conscious. I was sure he knew I was only following to ensure his safety—but he was making it sound like I was some voyeur.
My awkwardness only grew when, after Damen had led us into a small, private living space and closed the door behind us, I realized I was going to have to witness him drink from an innocent girl. I gulped, staring furiously at the fire burning in the chimney, the small couch laid in front of it, the tall glass windows and the creamy rug at my feet—everywhere but at Damen or Gemma. “Where would you like to drink from, my prince? ” Gemma asked, batting her eyelashes.
The girl looked perfectly composed—though her eyes betrayed an excitement I was stunned to witness. I knew vampire brides accepted their positions willingly—but I thought it was the money that attracted them, not the prospect of actually being bitten. “Wherever you like, darling,” he replied, looking positively unmoved. “Shall I remove my dress, then?
” Gemma asked, coily. I gulped loud enough that it reminded Damen of my presence. “That won’t be necessary,” he told the girl, amused. “My bride-to-be is very possessive of me, you see.
” I did my best not to roll my eyes, while Gemma sent me a pitying glance. “Would she like to join in? ” she then asked, smiling invitingly. I kind of wished for the ground to swallow me whole.
Damen, meanwhile, looked like the cat who ate the cream. “Would you care to join us, my darling? ” he asked, voice full of mock concern. It took me far too long to realize he actually expected me to answer the question.
“No, thank you,” I muttered, averting my gaze. Damen shrugged, sending Gemma an apologetic glance. “She doesn’t like to share,” he told her, taking her wrist in his hand. His fingers traced the veins that ran like delicate streams under her skin—a slightly hesitant look in his eyes.
“Please don’t hold yourself back, my prince,” Gemma encouraged gently, raising her wrist to daman’s lips. My breath caught when he lowered his head—his lips parting to reveal the sharp elegance of his fangs. As he was about to bite into the skin, he raised his eyes toward me—holding my gaze like he wanted to make sure I was watching the entire thing. He was probably hoping to make me feel uncomfortable, I reminded myself, feeling my heartbeat pick up furiously.
I wasn’t sure if that was out of fear—or anticipation—or something else. Probably a mix of many feelings I didn’t linger on—as Damen suddenly bit into the girl’s flesh with crushing force, making her gasp. I watched, transfixed, as Gemma’s initial shock gave way to a sigh of contentment. Damen’s eyes closed for the briefest second, savoring the rush of life flowing into him.
He obviously liked drinking that girl’s blood, I thought to myself rather dumbly—because, of course, he did. He was a vampire. The room became silent, save for the sound of the fire and Gemma’s panting breaths. I felt like the intruder I was—especially when she began to sway—and Damen swiftly put an arm around her, holding her upright with effortless strength.
His gaze was focused on her face now—watching her reactions oddly intensely—like he was calculating each sip of blood with care. Yet there was a tension in his jaw—his restraint almost painfully palpable. Meanwhile, tears had begun to form at the corner of Gemma’s eyes. Was she in pain?
It didn’t sound like it—in fact, one would think she was rather enjoying the moment, with the obscene way she was moaning. I was furiously flushed. Damen released her wrist and put an arm under Gemma’s knees, carrying her over to the nearby couch like she weighed nothing. “You barely took anything,” she slurred, voice faint amongst the shuffle of her silk dress.
Damen gently laid her down, avoiding her pleading gaze—though his hand remained hesitantly on her cheek. He looked pained. “More,” the girl begged with a sob—reaching her fingers toward Damen—making me gasp. His darkening eyes snapped toward me—and for the first time since I’d met him, he looked very much like the apex predator I forgot he was—his control waring with the primal part of him that had been aroused by her plea.
He looked ready to pounce as his eyes traveled down the girl’s long neck with calculated precision. I thought of interposing. Gemma seemed to be enjoying herself—but also pretty out of it. Should I say something?
Something held me back. Fear, maybe—of being next. With unprecedented speed, Damen leaned down again and bit the flesh—his eyes rolling back when he tasted his victim’s blood once more. I tried not to think about how much it made him look like an addict getting his fix.
But I was distracted with the way Gemma arched under him. I felt too warm, slightly breathless, disturbed—and yet I gulped, trying—and failing—to avert my eyes when a pleasant burn arose within me. My wolf seemed to enjoy the show—the brutality and primality of it pleasing it immensely. Though that certainly had nothing to do with me, I told myself a little desperately, eyes glued to daman’s pleasured frown.
Gemma’s eyes glazed over, her body relaxing completely as she drifted into unconsciousness. Damen probably felt it, because he abruptly moved away. His eyes met mine across the room—and for a brief moment, a flicker of something closely resembling shame reflected in them. I told myself it was simply my imagination as he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.
Yet I couldn’t help but feel fascinated by the warm pink glow of his cheeks—nor the way he distractedly licked his lips. My own heart was a confusing blend of repulsion—and an undeniable draw. I think there was something seriously wrong with me. The next day, I retreated to my room for the night—or rather, a quick nap in the very early hours of the morning—when I was rudely awakened by the vibrations of my phone.
Half asleep, I didn’t think before answering the call mechanically. “Where are you? ” Nate’s voice boomed across the line, making my eyes snap open in shock. I was such an idiot.
Why had I answered my phone without checking caller ID? My heart began to pound against my rib cage in terror. He was going to want to know where I was. He was going to want me to come back to him.
He was going to—“Are you cheating on me? ” Nate barked—bringing tears to my eyes. He sounded the way he did when he was about to do something awful—something my mind always tried to bury deep within my memories after that moment had passed, because it was too painful to bear. Nate sounded like this when he’d conspired to kill my Alpha and his mate—and he sounded like this in the future I’d seen when I’d made my wish.
“Of course not,” I told him in the most soothing, loving tone I could manage. “How could you even ask me that? ” “I felt your desire through our bond earlier,” Nate sneered. “It was practically dripping with it.
Don’t lie to me. Who are you with? ” A flash of Damen’s blissed expression as he sank his teeth into Gemma’s body flashed before my eyes—and for some reason, the next image that came to my mind was one of him biting me instead. “Baby,” I told Nate in the sultry, soothing tone I knew he loved.
“I was missing you—that’s all. Thinking of you—and what you’d do to me when we’d be together again. ” This seemed to appease Nate—if only slightly. Though the same couldn’t be said about me—who was feeling very eager for a cold shower.
“Then come home,” Nate begged. “Please—I need you. ” “I can’t,” I bit my lip in the hopes that it would shock me out of the disturbing state of arousal I’d condemned myself to ever since picturing Damen’s fangs sinking into my flesh. “I’m on an important mission for the pack.
” “Is that so? ” Nate sounded like he was smirking. He could probably feel my desire—and thankfully was attributing it to me being on the phone with him. “I have to go,” I lied.
There was a knock on my door. “Wait a minute—” “Speak soon,” I told him before hanging up. I tossed the phone across my room and buried my face in my hands. I was going to have to come up with a better excuse.
In fact, I was going to have to come up with a much better plan in general if I was going to escape my mate for good. Hiding amongst the vampires was only delaying my problem. The future didn’t lie—and I’d seen mine—one I could not escape. I couldn’t just reject my bond to Nate—as logic would dictate.
Rejecting our bond was what always ended up dooming me. I couldn’t ask my pack for help. I just didn’t see how I could escape my own future. It was going to take a miracle to change it.
A tumult of emotions swirled within me—stress, confusion, fear—and still, this troubling desire I couldn’t seem to extinguish. My skin felt too tight around me—and I realized I needed to turn. My wolf was clawing its way out, desperate for a bit of respite. I breathed in deeply to buy myself some time.
I couldn’t turn inside the house—it was too risky. Luckily, it was built on large grounds. If I retreated far enough from the main property, I could probably manage a quick turn without being caught. Just like I did at home when wanting to escape to see Nate.
I jumped out of my bedroom window, landing easily three floors down below without making any noise. Then I sprinted behind the trees at the far end of the garden—grateful for the semblance of woods. It wasn’t very big, and I wouldn’t be able to run very far—but it would do. I rid myself of my clothes, hiding them well inside a bush, and dropped to my knees, bracing myself for what was to come.
A turn was never pleasant. My wolf had to literally crawl out from inside me, breaking my flesh and bones slowly as it did. But it was well worth it once it finally took over. The flesh I’d shed quickly decomposed.
Once it had, I let my wolf fully take command, surrendering to it as it began to run around this small haven—though making sure it kept quiet. It wouldn’t do us any good if it were to howl right now. My wolf picked up on varied scents that intrigued it in their novelty—but one in particular quickly called to it—the fresh, alluring scent of crisp dawn—which my wolf was quick to chase after. It only occurred to me too late that I’d sensed it before—in my human form.
Deep inside a clearing, sitting on a fallen trunk with a bottle of liquor in hand, was Damen—whose blue eyes immediately snapped up as I approached—widening slightly as he took in my wolf’s presence. “What the—” he said, surprise quickly giving way to curiosity. “Hello there, gorgeous. ” Personally, I thought we were doomed.
But my wolf, on the other hand, was very pleased to see him. I begged my wolf not to engage nor approach—but my efforts were in vain. It found daman’s scent much too appealing to resist—notably because it remembered the brutality he’d displayed earlier, drinking that girl’s blood. My wolf had enjoyed recognizing another predator at work—one it admired yet didn’t feel threatened by.
I found it particularly idiotic on its part—but I wasn’t the one leading the charge at the moment. Damen was a threat. One would be a fool not to see it—the way his blue eyes remained glued to my wolf—his body still ready to attack—was proof enough of that. I wasn’t expecting him to extend his wrist over to us—in an obvious invitation to scent and mark him.
That was surprising, for someone who didn’t ever interact with wolves. It was like he instinctively knew what to do—the best way to make contact. My wolf leapt at the opportunity, briefly smelling the skin before nuzzling it—taking its time with it, too—though Damen remained perfectly still during the whole process. It probably helped that he didn’t need to breathe.
“Where do you come from? ” he asked eventually, body unmoving. My wolf moved away—not very far,—settling by daman’s side. Apparently he managed to keep it still better than I could.
“It must be nice—being a wolf,” Damen observed after a while. My beast huffed in agreement. I personally wondered if that meant Damen felt trapped—and if so, by what exactly. His very nature and desire for blood?
His obligations to his family? Something else? “Have you ever killed? ” he abruptly asked, eyes lost in space.
My wolf hadn’—not even easy prey like birds or squirrels, like most pups in the pack. It had done much worse, I reminded it—Eve’s face in mind. My wolf sighed in frustration and lowered its head to the ground. “Not sure if that’s a no or a yes,” Damen sighed.
“I’ve died before. It didn’t feel nearly as bad as I thought it would. So maybe it’s all right to kill. Everyone must die one day or another.
” I was glad my wolf was the one in control at the moment. I didn’t know how I’d have reacted if it was me Damen was saying this to. I knew what death felt like—and I’d forgotten, somehow, amongst all the things I had learned about him the last few days, that perhaps the most important one was that Damen did too. “I can’t believe I’m talking to a wolf,” he said, closing his eyes.
I can’t believe it either, to be honest
In the days following my encounter with Damen in the woods, I often caught myself wondering how Damen died. How did he become a vampire? Vampirism is genetic—one either has the gene, the unlocked potential to become one—or he doesn’t. Born human, they’re reborn undead—and need blood to survive—but only if death claims them too soon.
So what was it that killed Damen? Some freak accident? A disease? Murder?
Trailing after him in an endless string of parties and dinners, watching him flirt—and mingle amongst his kind like he’d always been there, I was tempted to assume—but the fact was that, for all that I wished I did, I did not know. He enjoyed getting a rise out of people—irreverence practically his middle name. And he also sat quietly in the woods behind his elegant mansion in the early hours of the morning—waiting for my wolf. The more I got to know him, the less I understood him.
When we were with others, he bombarded me with sarcasm-induced flirting that aimed to mock rather than seduce me—like he’d ever want to seduce me. When we were alone and under no obligation to perform any act of closeness, he tended to avoid me like the plague. In short, Damen didn’t trust me. And while I didn’t think I trusted him either, there was now a kind of inexorable fascination that wasn’t there before.
When I looked at him, I didn’t know what to make of it. I wasn’t one to pry—but I’d been tasked with protecting him. The more I could find out about him, the better. Surely, what if the answer to the question of who was trying to kill him lay in his past?
“Your grandfather said you’d been attacked twice. Could you tell me how and when? ” I asked one evening during dinner. We were being forced to dine together—staring at each other on the opposite ends of the longest dinner table ever made practically every night—so as to avoid stirring up any questions amongst the staff.
Staff tended to gossip, after all. Though our meal had been set up in a beautiful room that resembled more a library than a dining room—endless shelves filled with multicolored books covering walls that seemed to stretch toward the sky itself with how tall the ceiling was. “Tell you about the attacks? Boring,” Damen replied, getting up to glance at a nearby shelf and toying with a book.
“I’d hate for you to become even gloomier, munchkin. ” I scoffed at the nickname he’d given me—plenty—but that one seemed to stick, probably because Damen could tell it was the one which annoyed me the most. It was exhausting how quickly his mood shifted. Even more when I was treated to an entirely new dimension to his personality—at night, when I hung out with him in my wolf form—one that was quiet, melancholic, and considerate.
Right now, though, he was being every bit the petulant playboy he preferred to show the world. “Worrying about your well-being is what I’m here for,” I reminded him patiently, making him snap his eyes toward me—expression so dubious my heart froze. “Is it? ” he asked—challengingly, though not unkindly.
Caught in that impenetrable stare, all my answers fell short, and silence stretched for much too long to be believable. When I finally managed a choked“yes,” Damen continued to stare at me like he was still expecting an answer—or rather, trying to deduce it. His gaze gave me the impression that he could see right into my soul. The impossible notion that he knew erupted in my mind.
He couldn’t know—and yet it felt like he did—like he knew everything—namely, that I wasn’t here to protect him—although I did intend to try—but to hide—to protect myself. As quickly as the thought erupted inside my head, I let it go. How could he know? If anything, he suspected something was up—but it wasn’t like he could deduce my life’s story at a glance—and we’d met not even a week ago.
“You’re a terrible liar—anyone ever tell you that? ” Damen laughed, though it wasn’t a joyful laugh. I winced, panic creeping up my spine. What if he began to suspect me of something much worse than wanting to protect myself?
What if he started seeing me as a possible threat—due to my reservations? This seemed more likely the more my silence stretched. “Tell you what,” Damen crossed his fingers to rest his chin on top of them. “You tell me why you accepted my grandfather’s offer—and I’ll tell you how I almost died—again.
” I opened my mouth on instinct—the truth ready to spill from my lips—but Ian Cromwell’s compulsion twisted around my mind—and my lips closed tight against my will. Something that didn’t escape Damen’s notice. “Stupid compulsion. What was Ian Cromwell thinking—prohibiting me from telling his grandson about my werewolf identity?
Next time I’d see him, I’d ask him to reconsider. If I was going to protect Damen effectively, I needed him to trust me. ” “I need the money—that’s all,” I attempted to explain in a weak voice. “Forget it,” Damen interrupted, looking disinterested once more.
Feeling strangely guilty, I avoided his gaze to stare at the nearest row of books near me. I took one without thinking, eyeing it distractedly. “The Beast Within,” Damen said, amused. “I didn’t know you liked French literature.
” I was confused—and it showed. “Your book,” Damen said, pointing at the one I was holding in my hand. “You’ve read it? ” I asked, surprised.
“Had to. It’s pretty good. It’s about a man who feels the need to kill all the women he desires. ” An involuntary grimace twisted my lips as Nate’s picture came to my mind.
“Maybe not the right pick for you,” Damen said, taking the book from my hands. He briefly glanced at the shelves, shook his head, then moved a little further down the room to pick a more modern-looking book from the shelf, handing it to me. “This one,” he said. “You’ll love it.
” I glanced at the book to read its title—The Time Traveler’s Wife. I’d never read it, though I’d heard of it and always wanted to. I was surprised Damen would pick it for me, though. “You like romance novels?
” I asked with a laugh. Damen smiled—it was a private smile, one that seemed reserved only for me, though not deprived of teasing. “I do with the right novel,” he said—making my breath catch for some reason—maybe because he was looking at me so intently. It wasn’t a searching gaze, exactly—more expecting.
I pulled the book a little closer to my chest. I didn’t know what he expected from me—but I found myself wishing to give it to him nonetheless—though I couldn’t help but be a little saddened by the prospect that it would eventually only disappoint him. I wanted to tell him—someone so beautiful as him shouldn’t waste his time looking and expecting things from someone like me. Damen frowned, as if he’d heard the thought.
“Your phone keeps ringing,” he said. “You might want to get it—seems urgent. ” I realized this was true. I’d been so preoccupied with our conversation I hadn’t realized.
It was probably Nate calling. If it wasn’t, it was someone from the pack, or daman’s grandfather. In any case, it wasn’t a call I could just take in front of Damen. “You can’t think of any reason why anyone would want to kill you?
” I asked, changing the subject. “So we’re on that again, then? Come on, Damen—this is important. You really can’t think of anything?
” “Did I say that? ” he smiled brightly. “I can think of plenty of reasons why someone might want me dead, and plenty of people who do. My mother, for instance.
” “Your mother? ” I asked, trying to gauge whether he was being serious. It was impossible to tell, judging by Damen’s expression. From what I’d seen, his relationship with his mother was indeed tense—but to the point where she’d want to kill him?
Then again, Ian Cromwell hadn’t trusted her with my secret—namely, how I wasn’t a bride but a bodyguard to Damen. Could this be a sign that he didn’t fully trust her? “Amongst others,” Damen replied with a shrug. “Vampires spend most of their time trying to kill each other.
Could be any of them, really. ” Damen’s words from the night before echoed back into my ears: maybe it’s all right to kill—everyone must die one day or another. Could he have meant that he’d have to kill another vampire to save his own life? Or perhaps another type of enemy?
“I hear the werewolves are pretty angry with us. Maybe they’d want revenge. ” I did my best to hide a frown. A werewolf going after Damen?
If that was the case, it certainly wasn’t one from my pack. This discussion was raising more questions than bringing answers. But before I could ask Damen to elaborate on anything, a butler showed a beautiful young woman into the dining room—draped in an elegant black dress. Damen clasped his hands together in a way that reminded me of his grandfather.
“My dessert is here,” he announced with a wink that left me dumbfounded. “If you’ll excuse me—” A silly sense of disappointment made my heart sink as I watched him greet his guest, offering her his hand. She was probably here to feed him. I was shocked to realize the thought sincerely bothered me.
Why did it? Because I was worried about the girl? Disgusted at the prospect of her ending up like Gemma had that night’s pleasured sighs echoing in my ears—and I ground my teeth. No—it wasn’t that.
Though I didn’t even want to consider the alternative—me, a wolf, wanting to give a vampire her blood. That was ridiculous. No—if anything, I was simply disappointed that Damen was ditching me for some random girl. I could admit—I appreciated his company sometimes, when he wasn’t being an ass.
I was still holding the book he gave me earlier. I guess I’d be reading this in bed tonight—while Damen was busy doing God knows what with his—“Unless,” Damen asked suddenly from across the room,“you’d like to watch me again, Chloe? You seem to rather enjoy it—the last time. ” I fumbled for words, cheeks reddening at an alarming rate.
“I didn’t—I protest—not at all! ” But Damen had already turned back around—and I was left staring at his back. “Maybe next time,” he said—and then he exited the room. Inside the pocket of my jeans, my phone began to ring again—twisting my heart.
Could I get away with ignoring my mate again tonight? Probably not. I couldn’t avoid him forever. The reminder made my stomach sink.
I caught myself wishing Damen would return to take my mind off it. I’d much rather tackle his problems than my own
Two months ago, in a modest motel room on the outskirts of town—before I’d made my wish and met the Cromwells—my mate’s lips traveled down my body, leaving a trail of kisses along my bare skin. I’d messed up again, meeting him here today. Though, when was the last time I did anything right?
It would probably be easier if being bad didn’t feel so good. Nate’s hands gripping my hips grounded me in the moment—the type of too-brief moments I was always chasing after. I just wanted to forget—for a while—pretend we were two simple wolf shifters in love—blissfully happy, like any fated pair should be. I wanted to escape this reality in which Nate had done what he did.
But it wasn’t possible, was it? I should never have met with him today. Just like I shouldn’t have the day before, or the one before that. I always told myself—this time will be the last—that I can’t do this anymore—I shouldn’t.
If any member of my pack found out about us—or worse, if my Alpha found out—would I be banished, just like Nate had been? It would be all I deserved. “Just relax, baby,” Nate murmured into my ear. “I got you.
I’ll take care of you. ” I nodded, tears prickling my eyes. Why did I need to hear those words so much? Why was I like this?
“You know I love you, Chloe—don’t you? ” I nodded, keeping my eyes firmly closed. If I kept them closed, I could forget for a while. But when I looked at him, I got these flashes—and suddenly what he’d done—the reason he was banished—was inescapable—and then my breath caught in my throat.
“And tell me you love me,” Nate commanded as our bodies became one once more. “I love you. ” He frowned—and grabbed me by the throat. He didn’t squeeze—but the threat was there—and it sent a shiver down my spine.
“Now tell me you need me. ” “I need you,” I whispered—feeling the truth behind these words—because, of course, I needed him. He was my fated mate—the one wolf I was meant to be with forever. He and I were destined—and lucky enough to have found each other when most wolves never found their soulmate and ended up choosing their partners instead.
I didn’t get to choose. Because one day, there he was, claiming me as his—and despite everything, I loved him. I must. “You’re crying,” he complained through a moan, flipping me over.
“I don’t like seeing you cry, baby—you know that. ” I knew he didn’t. He wouldn’t look at me when I did. I’d rather he didn’t either—it made it worse, somehow
Nate and I met when we were both sixteen.
I’d only just received my wolf—unlike other members of our pack who’d started to turn from as young as five or six. Being a late bloomer—and not a particularly gifted wolf, if not the weakest from our pack—although they all avoided using the word omega around me out of pity—I couldn’t believe my luck. Meeting your fated mate was the stuff of legends—a monumental thing every wolf dreamed of but very rarely ever experienced. I was the first in our pack to find her fated mates for centuries.
And suddenly, I wasn’t the danger-prone Chloe, or the clut—I was one half of a fated pair. Members of my pack were in awe of me. Other wolves from different packs visited us—just to meet Nate and I. I was special.
When I’d never been special before in my life. It was an intoxicating feeling. And I wasn’t the only one thinking so. Nate was so proud—not only had he found his mate, but he’d been allowed to join our pack as a result—the most influential, powerful pack in the country.
He fit in instantly—his bright, charming personality a perfect match for our ranks. Our Alpha—or rather, our late Alpha—though he was still alive at the time—trusted and appreciated him. These days—being finally valued by the other wolves—and loved by my soulmate—were the happiest ones of my life. Then the accident with Eve happened—and it ruined everything.
“Did you tell them yet? ” Nate asked me with a smile. He was still basking in the afterglow. Contentment poured through our bond, clouding my mind with blind love and joy.
But hearing these words, I tensed up immediately. “It isn’t the right time, Nate,” I reminded him. My pack didn’t know I’d rekindled my bond with him. Officially, I’d severed it two months ago—and I was supposed to stay away from him forever.
If anything, they all thought I was being a pillar of strength—keeping away from my mate and surviving the separation. Breaking a mating bond was extremely difficult for us wolves—and even more so for a fated pair. My Alpha himself had almost died trying. So the fact that I was managing it had everyone impressed.
If only they knew the fraud that I was—would they be surprised at my failure? Probably not. “How quickly do you think Harry will welcome me back once you tell him? ” Nate asked, stroking my hair.
I did my best not to let any of my emotions filter through our bond. Nate sounded so hopeful. I knew he’d like nothing more than to rejoin our pack—but I also knew with the utmost certainty that it would never happen. Nate had betrayed us—unfairly challenging Harry for his position as Alpha during his weakest moment.
And maybe Harry could have forgiven him for it—if only for my sake. But Nate had also threatened his mate—their so recently bonded that these days Harry barely allowed anyone to even look at Emma—apart from me, her best friend. So letting Nate back in when he expressly put her life in danger? No—this was an offense even time would never heal.
But I couldn’t tell him that. He wasn’t ready to hear that our life with the most powerful pack of the country was over. I was afraid to make him understand. Would he love me outside this pack—or would I lose everything?
“I have to go,” I told Nate hurriedly, grabbing my clothes which lay in different areas of our motel room. “I’m on patrol duty tonight. ” Nate raised a dubious eyebrow. “Patrol?
You? ” I read him loud and clear. How was an omega wolf like me expected to keep the peace? I wasn’t strong enough.
“Vivien requested my help,” I explained, avoiding Nate’s eyes. I didn’t want to read what I already knew in his gaze—that I was incapable—and that Vivien probably requested my presence out of pity. “I thought you said there’d been a surge of vampire attacks these past few weeks,” Nate said. “Yeah—hence the patrol.
” Disbelief and weariness surged through our bond—mixed with the tinge of incomprehensible jealousy. “Then why are you going? They’re shady as hell—most of them aren’t as strong as us,” I defended, repeating the words Vivien had used to reassure me. “They can mind-control you,” Nate scoffed.
“Not all of them can—and those who can, do it to us wolves—are even rarer. ” I was done putting my clothes back on. I took one last look at my lover, knowing better than to reach for a kiss that would only delay me further. “I’m late,” I said hurriedly, escaping our room.
“I’ll see you later. ” I didn’t know—but I did. I knew he’d call for me,and I wouldn’t be able to resist. I would betray everyone I loved—over and over again—for this bond with him.
For us
The next day, I sat in a downtown diner across from Ian Cromwell. “How are things going, my dear? ” he asked, sitting in front of me at the low-end diner—all retro with its red booths and checkered floors. I could practically taste the leftover grease and coffee in the air.
My wolf’s nose picked up every scent. “Any luck on finding out who’s trying to harm my grandson? ” He handed me a cup of coffee—I could already tell he’d poured my weekly potion into it. My wolf’s sense of smell was too sharp to be deceived by the overlaying smell of coffee.
“None,” I sighed, taking a sip. “Although he believes it could be anybody—which, in retrospect, is not a happy reality to live in—one in which you’re convinced practically everyone you know wants you dead. ” “Anybody? ” Cromwell laughed.
“Oh, he’s always been dramatic—that one—takes after his mother. ” “She’s his prime suspect,” I confessed, a little awkwardly. “I don’t think he trusts anybody in his life—but you, maybe. ” I should have kept this to myself, I realized after speaking.
I didn’t know if this was something that Damen had told me in confidence or not. Also, Ian might take badly to someone badmouthing his daughter. But he laughed again, proving me wrong. “They’ve always butted heads.
Though I doubt Alexandra would do anything to harm Damen. She’s quite protective of him—one might even say controlling. But she wouldn’t hurt him—and besides, I wouldn’t let her. Perhaps—due to my old age—I take the notion of family seriously.
I protect my own. ” I finished my coffee, placing it on the diner table. “Damen wouldn’t tell me how he was attacked in the past. Would you mind sharing information with me about that?
Maybe this will help me find a lead. ” Cromwell nodded. “Yes—I should have led with that. My apologies.
I was certain Damen would fill you in. I hope you won’t mind me saying so, but I find you to have a very soothing aura. I’d assumed he would think so too—but it seems perhaps I was mistaken. ” I think Cromwell was asking me how I was getting along with his grandson—though he had a rather obscure way of phrasing it—maybe because he was British.
“It doesn’t help that he can tell I’m hiding something—that something being that I’m a werewolf,” I told Cromwell with a frown. “I think it would help build some trust between us if I could tell him about that. ” Cromwell nodded slowly. For a moment, it looked like he was considering changing his mind—but then he pursed his lips, shaking his head.
“Damen’s no fool, despite appearances. He’s one—wondering why I chose you to protect him of all people. The fact that we haven’t told him is making him suspicious. ” “Exactly!
” I exclaimed, relieved he was seeing things my way. “Perhaps if I could just tell him—” “No,” Cromwell decided, resolved. “Damen’s too brash—unpredictable. I’m worried he’d give your secret away—even unintentionally—and we can’t have that.
But perhaps—an excuse—a cover story. ” To my disappointment, he looked like he was trying to come up with one. “We could say you’re a witch—or perhaps a demon—” All of these things seemed foreign and unlikely to me—and my grimace gave me away. Cromwell smiled indulgently.
“How about we focus on making Damen trust you instead? Have you tried being more fun? ” My mind went blank. “More fun?
” I asked, dubiously. That was his big plan? That I tell Damen knock-knock jokes until he learned to rely on me? “Yes—he’s quite the party animal.
Usually, when no one’s out to get him. ” I sighed. “I’m not a big party girl myself—the last time I went clubbing—Nate had thrown a fit and attacked my friend Emma for trying to defend me. ” My woe didn’t escape Cromwell’s notice.
“Well, perhaps just wear shorter skirts. He’s not a complicated man, my grandson,” he said with a laugh. “You could try seducing him. I’m sure he’s attempted to flirt already.
” I flushed furiously—confused as to how a grandfather could ask me things like that about his own grandson. I supposed a century-old vampire who’d seen it all didn’t have the same reservations as a mortal one. But nevertheless—“He has,” the vampire smiled at me. “Obviously, I’m not telling you to do anything you don’t want to, my dear—but playing along will get you a long way.
Damen may not look it—but he’s terribly insecure. Flatter his ego—and you’ll have one foot through the door, so to speak. ” “You still haven’t told me about the killing attempts,” I redirected—feeling embarrassed—that this man would suggest I seduce his grandson—and even more, because I was seriously considering taking his advice. “The first one took place six months ago.
It was so surprising we labeled it as a freak accident at the time. Damen was out at one of these nightclubs he enjoys—like I said, party animal. Anyway—a vampire used his compulsion power on him to try and drag him away. Damen resisted—and when he confronted the vampire—the latter attacked someone from my security team was quickly able to extract dat from there safely.
And if that had been it, we’d have thought nothing more of it. But this is where it gets strange. When the culprit was apprehended, he convulsed—and died almost immediately. We’re still unsure what killed him.
But at the time we assumed the vampire who’d attacked Damen had perhaps consumed a drug—that would have explained his strange behavior and death. We let it go. But then—about one month ago—Damen was poisoned. ” “Poisoned?
” I asked, furrowing my brows. “Yes—he complained of having a migraine—then began to convulse—similar to how his previous aggressor had—before meeting his demise. Luckily, we were quick to feed him some fresh blood—and he recovered quickly. But we don’t know how he ingested the poison—nor what it was—only that it seemed to have similar effects to the one which killed daman’s past aggressor.
” I bit my lip. “So our best lead would be to find traces of this poison,” I resumed. “Indeed. Though I doubt whoever’s behind these attacks will try the same method again.
Damen knows to drink blood from the nearest source to get better—if someone attacks him—and seems to convulse—once apprehended. This is where your wolf power will come in handy. Try to see if you can identify the poison—smell it. ” “Smell it?
” I asked, surprised. “Why—it could help us figure out what it’s made of—and thus trace its origins. It’s one of the reasons I thought having a werewolf around would help—and precisely why I don’t want anyone giving it away—hence the secrecy with Damen. As you may have noticed, he’s not the most discreet individual.
” I nodded pensively, thinking about the many loud illusions Damen had made in public about me being his bodyguard rather than his bride. Maybe his grandfather had a point there. “How did he become a vampire? ” I asked before I could stop myself.
I regretted the words instantly. This wasn’t a very happy topic—and was probably private. I was expecting Cromwell to admonish me for asking—but to my surprise, he burst into laughter. “A silly incident—though no one was surprised,” he said fondly, like this was a warm memory.
“He drove his car off a cliff. ” My jaw dropped. “What? ” I gasped, mind reeling from the revelation.
“You mean—purposely? ” Cromwell blinked—before realization dawned on his features. “Oh, good God—no! ” he exclaimed, affronted.
“Nothing of the sort. He was just drunk—and probably on too many drugs. He’d used to consume quite a ridiculous amount when he was still a human. ” This sounded rather worrying—and I was sure my expression gave me away—but Cromwell didn’t seem to agree.
“Oh, don’t pout. He’s not doing any now—wouldn’t have any effect anymore. ” Cromwell left me soon after that—one of his assistants pressing him with time into another meeting—though he assured me we would speak more next week. I remained at the diner—considering his words.
I was so lost in thought that it took me much too long to realize someone else had joined me at my table. A scratch of the throat enlightened me—before I even noticed. Jake was sitting in front of me, arms crossed,and looking very, very annoyed. “I don’t know what the hell it is you think you’re doing,” he told me,“but you’re coming home—right now.
”
Two weeks ago—an hour or so after we’d rescued the witch—after making me promise not to get in touch with her—Vivien was fully focused on the vampire situation again. She wanted to tell Harry and let him decide what to do—which would be the best course of action. But we were worried about the toll it would take on his health if we were to steal his attention away from his mate—at a time when he needed to focus on their bond. However, as we headed inside Harry’s large, isolated home—which essentially served as our pack headquarters—our debate over the matter was interrupted.
“What were you thinking? ” Jake exclaimed upon seeing Vivien enter the living room. “Patrolling alone—when the vampire attacks are getting more and more frequent—you should have told me—you’d know when Chloe and I went on patrols—if you’d bothered reading the schedule! ” “Jake, you don’t send me the schedule—how am I supposed to read it?
” It kind of hurt to hear that—in Jake’s mind, going on patrol with me kind of equated to going alone. I knew he didn’t have the highest opinion of me—and I couldn’t blame him. I considered myself lucky he didn’t straight-out hate me after what I’d done to him and his father. But it still hurt—especially because, even though I was never as close to him as I was to Harry—growing up—like everyone in the pack—I’d always admired him.
“We’re wasting time arguing. ” Jake took a long breath, like he was trying to regain his cool. “Every other pack I’ve gotten in touch with reports an increase of vampire attacks in the area—and I’m talking nationwide. We need a plan.
” My phone buzzed inside the pocket of my jacket. Nate was calling—probably wondering why I wasn’t back in his motel room yet. “We have a plan,” Vivien replied, crossing her arms. “Oh, right—silly me,” Jake sneered.
“I forget—he magically makes problems go away—with the snap of his fingers. ” “Guys? ” I interrupted in a small voice. “What if we ask the witch?
” Vivien’s eyes snapped to my face. “No. We do not ask the witch for anything. We can’t trust her.
” I sighed and headed upstairs, leaving them to make the important decisions. No one ever listened to my ideas anyway. It probably didn’t help that they were never really good. I wished I could be more helpful.
“Get some rest, Chloe,” Vivien told me as I was climbing up the stairs. “You seem really anxious. ” I tried to look appreciative—to hide the fresh wave of guilt I felt at that comment. I was only anxious because Nate was anxiously tugging at our bond.
But it wasn’t like I could tell her I was still bonded and subjected to my mate’s emotions as a result. Once hidden within the confines of my room, I jumped through the window and quickly crossed the garden surrounding our house to call Nate. I couldn’t risk doing it inside—somebody would hear. “Get your butt back here,” he snapped after one ring.
I winced. Apparently, this conversation wasn’t going to be pleasant. I already felt my throat tightening in response. We’d had such a pleasant time together earlier at the motel.
I would have loved going to bed with the memory of it untouched by another one of Nate’s outbursts. “I can’t make it tonight,” I whispered. “Things are difficult here—the vampires are attacking more and more humans. ” “Who cares?
It doesn’t concern us—Nate—we can’t just let them harm innocent humans. ” “Why not? We’re not the ones harming them. Why should we be responsible for the fangs?
” I ground my teeth at this lack of empathy. Because—not only could the humans become suspicious of supernatural activity—which wasn’t good for us—but if the vampires were becoming increasingly aggressive—who’s to say they’re not going to attack us next? Nate was silent at that for a moment. “I don’t like this, baby,” he told me, switching tone.
“I don’t like being away from you. If the situation is as dangerous as you make it out to be—” “I’m not an immediate danger,” I protested, trying to reassure him. I didn’t want to make him worry—I should have weighed my words more carefully. “You just said the vampires were a menace.
Get over here—I want to see you—keep you safe. ” My heart twitched with guilt. I was worrying him over nothing—and I couldn’t even go to him to make him feel better. “The pack might need me,” I protested weakly.
“With Harry not being fully recovered yet. ” “Is he not recovered? ” Nate asked in a casual tone that I didn’t like one bit. I shouldn’t have said that.
What if he tried to attack Harry again? He promised me he wouldn’t——“Stay away from him! ” I snapped without thinking—the memory of Nate threatening to harm my Alpha was still fresh in my mind—and I was suddenly filled with shame—being on the phone with him—I was betraying my pack—all the people I loved. “I wasn’t going to do anything,” Nate grumbled.
“You don’t trust me? ” “I have to go—” “I told you to come here. ” “I can’t,” I declared, heart pounding against my rib cage. I felt nauseous—torn between too many conflicting emotions.
Overwhelming guilt for disappointing Nate—fear at the prospect of my pack finding out about my betrayal—disgust at myself for being so weak. I’d been torn ever since I’d caved and rekindled my bond with Nate. The decision—and its implications—slowly unravelling my mind. I’d been so hopeful about the future—blinded by my desire for things to go back to the way they’d been—for the pain of being separated from my mate to stop.
And for a while, I’d been appeased at being one with him once more. But now—I felt like I was going insane. I just wished I knew what to do. I wished there was a way for me to know if I’d made the right decision.
“Hello,” a voice greeted me from behind. I jumped up in shock and turned around to recognize the long strawberry-blonde hair and clear blue eyes of the witch we’d rescued earlier. “You? ” I exclaimed, shocked.
“Don’t look so surprised,” she smirked, playing with the hem of her dress. “You’re the one that summoned me. ” “No—I didn’t,” I protested. “I did no such thing.
” “You wished for something with all your heart. Your earnestness is what called me,” the witch said, giving me a cold smile. “I live to serve, after all. ” She didn’t look particularly happy over the fact.
“You don’t have to grant me a wish if you don’t want to,” I told her. “You don’t decide what I can or cannot do, child,” she replied, sending me a piercing gaze. “I told you—I take my orders from a higher power. ” I wondered who she meant by that—but she didn’t give me much time to think about it.
“So what will it be? What do you wish for? ” I closed my eyes. There were so many things I could wish for—and so many reasons why I shouldn’t.
But the witch was right. I earnestly yearned for something only she could give me. “Can you tell me my future? ” I asked in a small voice.
The witch smiled. “Better yet—I can show you. But the future is broad and full of possibilities. I doubt you care about where you’ll be dining next week—so if there’s something specific you’d like to find out, I suggest you phrase it—while making your wish.
” I considered her words carefully. “I would like to know if I made the right decision—rekindling my bond with my mate,” I told her. “I want to know if we’re going to be happy—and I—do—at the very idea of finding out—I feel my heart in my throat—excited and frightful all at once. ” “All right, then,” the witch said.
“Repeat after me—Iris. ” “Iris? ” I asked, confused. “That’s my name.
” Oh—I suddenly felt terrible for not asking before. “It’s all right—people generally don’t—they’re too busy focusing on what they desire. ” She smiled curtly. “Now repeat after me—Iris—I wish to see my future with Nate—from now until the day we part.
” I closed my eyes and took a breath. This was it. No turning back. I was probably going to regret not wishing for something better later—but I didn’t care.
I had to know. “Iris—I wish to see my future with Nate—from now until the day we part. ” I realized too late that it was strange she knew his name—when I’d never said it. Her eyes began to glow.
She moved her fingers into strange, intricate patterns, making glowing symbols form in the air. “As you wish,” she said—and then everything went black. The forest dissolved around me, and I found myself in a long hallway full of closed doors. Behind each one was a part of your future, Iris’s voice echoed into my ear.
I felt disoriented—but without a thought, I opened the first door within reach—and I found myself back into Nate’s motel room. He was there, holding me in his arms—except it wasn’t me—it was another Chloe—a Chloe from the future. I was looking at the scene unfold from the outside. Neither my double nor Nate seemed to register my presence.
“It’s going to be all right, baby,” he sang soothingly. “No—it isn’t,” my double sobbed into his neck. “Harry says—I have to choose—you or the pack. ” My heart sank upon hearing this.
This meant, in the future, my Alpha found out about Nate—and—just as I’d suspected—he refused to let my mate back into the pack. “You can make him change his mind. He adores you,” Nate said with a strange expression on his face. My double didn’t notice.
“He adores Emma more,” she protested. “He won’t let you near her. ” “Then it’s simple—we get rid of Emma. ” Both me and my double recoiled at the words.
“How could you say that? ” I heard my voice protest. “Harming Emma—never—you hear me—Nate—never! ” “You said—because of her—we can’t be part of the pack.
Do you want to lose your family? ” I couldn’t listen to this. It felt like I’d been stabbed in the stomach. I stumbled out of the room, panting with labored breaths.
Dumbly, I opened another door. “We can make our own pack,” my double was telling Nate—looking sad, yet somewhat hopeful. “Our own pack? ” “Don’t be ridiculous.
We deserve better than that. ” “I’d be content being only with you. ” “Well, I wouldn’t. ” I fled out of the room, tears forming at the corner of my eyes.
It hurt too much, hearing this. The worst part was that—I thought I always knew deep down—that while he was far more than enough for me—I wasn’t enough for Nate. I wasn’t good enough. Not for him.
Not for my pack. Not for anyone. For some reason, I opened another door—and another. It was only heartbreak after heartbreak—sadness and despair paving the way to the bleakest future I could have hoped for.
But just as I was convinced it could not get any worse—I passed through a new door—“Stay away from Chloe! ” Emma’s voice erupted into the room. Light blinded me before I could see her. “You leave us alone—she wants nothing to do with you!
” “Yes, she does! She wants to go home—and you won’t let her—you’re ruining her life! ” I blinked through the tears. Emma was standing before Nate, clenching her fists.
For some reason, she was in the motel room with us. My double was crouched in a corner, holding her bleeding nose. “Get out! ” Nate yelled, raising his hands—he slapped Emma so hard she fell to the ground.
Only when her hands grasped at her stomach did I realize she was pregnant. I screamed in horror. So did my double. “I—Chloe—reject you as my mate!
” I heard her cry out through the tears as she crawled hurriedly towards Emma—who seemed to be unconscious. Nate screamed in rage and surged toward my double—encircling her neck with his hands. I watched helplessly as he choked the life out of her—out of me—a crazed expression on his face. I ran out of the room with a scream.
In the next one, Nate stabbed me—after I rejected him. And in the next, he crashed our car—after yet another rejection. I watched myself reject my mate—and die in the process—over twenty times. Each one more horrifying than the next.
“This isn’t real—it’s not happening,” I told myself, crouched on the hallway floor—hugging my knees. “It’s very real,” The Witch’s voice echoed into my ears. “There’s an infinite number of futures—but in each one—Nate will drive you to reject your bond—and when you do—he kills you. It doesn’t matter if it’s next week or next month—it is unavoidable.
You’ll die—at the hands of this man you love—within a year—at most. ” I gasped in horror—feeling her words surge through my very soul like a wound splitting open. I knew she wasn’t lying. I could feel the truth lacing her words.
I had seen the truth for myself. I had one year left—at most—and then I would be dead
Back at the diner, I sat across from Jake, my heart pounding. He was the last pack member I wanted to see—but it was a close call. Jake and I had a rather difficult relationship—it hadn’t used to be that way.
He was ten years my senior, and when I grew up, I saw him as my previous Alpha’s son—and thought of him as the future of our pack. I thought he looked like one of those heroes from the movies—with his golden-blonde hair and light-blue eyes. He was witty—and always managed to charm every single person in the room with the kind of easy charisma that couldn’t be taught. So, naturally, I’d shut down—and go all red—whenever he was in the near vicinity—a phenomenon which amused Harry to no end at the time.
He, Jake and Vivien had formed a tight little trio—I’d secretly referred to as the holy trinity—for I couldn’t help but feel slightly envious of their superior aptitudes and good looks. Vivien was by far the most unapproachable of the three—and I never dared utter a word to her. Jake always had a kind word or joke to say—but didn’t have much time for young wolves in training—and certainly not one who never showed signs of having any abilities by the time she was fourteen. Harry was different.
He enjoyed teaching—and so was quickly given the task of helping the younger wolves train—which included me—despite me still not displaying any ability. As time went by, I was ashamed and awkward and started retreating from everybody. But Harry was always patient and encouraging—pretty much my only friend growing up. I worshiped Jake and Vivien.
But I adored Harry. “Did he send you? ” I asked Jake, lowering my eyes. Jake scoffed.
“Who—the big boss? Of course not. ” I frowned. “Is Harry so angry he doesn’t even care about what happens to me—and to think—he doesn’t even know about Nate yet—” “Kid—he didn’t send me—because we didn’t tell him about you,” Jake explained, brows furrowed.
“Oh. ” I breathed a sigh of relief. “Which is why you need to come home—before he figures out you’re doing God knows what with the vamps. Can you imagine his reaction?
” Jake mimicked an exaggerated shudder before sending me a charming grin. “To be honest—I don’t really care if he finds out. But the mere idea of our almighty Alpha learning she somehow lost his precious little protégé to the vamps—as Vivien crapping her pants—” Jake interrupted himself when he noticed my decomposing expression. “Hey—what’s with the face, kid?
I’m kidding, all right? Look—Harry’s not going to like that we’ve let you play vampire bodyguard for a few days—but he’ll get over it. And Vivien will go back to being his perfect beta in no time. ” “You really think Harry will forgive me?
” I asked in a small voice. “Of course he will. He can’t stay mad at this face,” he said, pointing to me with a wink. And when he noticed my disbelief expression, he added,“Look—worst-case scenario—your bestie with his mate—I’m sure she’ll put in a good word.
” The mention of Emma made me feel uncomfortable all over again. For a minute there, I’d been picturing myself going home with my pack—and suddenly there was nothing I’d like more. But the last image of Emma—the one I’d seen upon making my wish—“I can’t. I can’t go home—not yet.
It’s too dangerous—not just for me—but for my pack. Emma especially. I won’t have her be hurt because of me—again. ” “I can’t come with you, Jake,” I told him.
He looked perplexed—like my words hadn’t reached his brain yet. “But—don’t do this to me, Chloe. If I don’t bring you home—Harry will get mad. Forget Harry—Viv will get mad—Chloe—she’s terrifying,” Jake complained, grabbing my arm.
“I—I have to do this,” I replied. “Everyone’s always looking down on me. You should have seen Vivien when Cromwell offered me to work for him—she didn’t believe in me at all. No one does—after what I did.
” Jake’s confident expression crumbled into an uncomfortable one. “What you did, Chloe—it wasn’t—” “I don’t regret protecting you,” I told him. “I’d do it again. I only regret harming Eve in the process.
” Jake properly deflated at the word. It was like all his charm and bravado had left his body. “You should have never been in that position,” he said. He was right.
If I’d been better, and stronger, and trained more—if only my wolf had come to me earlier—but it hadn’t. I was put into a difficult position because I was a failure. I’d been faced with an impossible choice—because I was a failure. “I know I shouldn’t have,” I told Jake.
“But I was—and since then—no one trusts me. I have to do this—improve our relationship with the vamps—and get Cromwell to get them to respect the Accords again. This is my chance, Jake. My chance to prove myself to everyone again—and not be seen as some weak failure.
” It was also my chance at staying away from Nate—but I wasn’t telling Jake that. Ever. “That’s not—no one sees you like this,” Jake protested—though I could tell my words were getting to him—because deep down, he knew I was right. “I have to do it,” I told him—and then—because I could see a last drop of hesitation in his gaze—I added,“You were there—that day.
I did what I did for you. Now let me do this for me. ” Jake’s shoulders sagged in defeat—his expression a mixture of frustration and something else I couldn’t quite pinpoint. “Look, Chloe—about what happened that day—” Chloe?
I was so stunned at hearing daman’s voice booming in my ears that—despite its familiarity—I didn’t immediately acknowledge his presence. Though it was very much him—who had just arrived and was strolling toward us with an overstretched grin—dressed much too fashionably for the shabby establishment we were in. It was a casual-chic kind of look, but one that screamed money nonetheless. “What are the chances!
” Damen exclaimed as he slid into our booth to sit next to me—or rather, to glue himself to my side like he belonged there—making me blush a hundred times more than I’d ever done in Jake’s presence—which was saying something, to say the least. “Were you following her? ” Jake asked, surprised and a little wary. Damen flashed him a dazzling smile—though there was an undercurrent of tension underneath it.
“What makes you say that? ” he asked, taking a sip of my iced coffee—before spitting it back out dramatically. “That’s gross, Chloe. ” Jake stared at his left arm, which had been resting on our table.
“Did you just spit on me? ” he asked Damen in disbelief. “Did I? ” Damen replied, the picture of innocence.
I sighed, pushing his shoulders to get him to leave the booth before things got more out of hand. “Let’s go home,” I told him, sending Jake an apologetic glance while handing him some money to pay for my drink. “He’s completely harmless, I promise. ” “Excuse me—but I happen to be threateningly charming,” Damen protested, batting his eyelashes at me exaggeratedly.
“A real menace,” I teased back without thinking—then realizing what I just said—when a pleased smile grazed daman’s lips. I scratched my throat awkwardly. If I let him see his flirting was getting to me, it was only going to encourage him—and then I didn’t know what would become of my poor heart. So I hurried us out, giving Jake a little wave as we passed the front door.
“See you soon,” I told him—hoping he’d take this as the indication it was—to not follow after us. “Bye, Drake! ” “I literally just said his name was Jake,” I snapped at Damen. “Yeah—I wasn’t listening.
” He wrapped his arm around my shoulder as he guided me toward his car. I was about to climb inside the vehicle when I spotted him—across the street—watching me from behind a newsstand. Nate was here. And he looked absolutely furious.
The sun had set behind the city landscape—the air still warm, concrete still radiating some of the heat it had accumulated from being in the sun all day. It probably wasn’t, but my surroundings suddenly felt scorching and stiffening—under my terror and shame. Terror at seeing Nate so close—looking like he was inches away from walking over to us, to drag me away from daman’s side. But shame at being pulled by his presence despite it all—beckoned by the familiarity of his gaze.
Contradictory impulses pulled at me from different sides. I felt torn—and unable to make a decision. Looking at Nate was like watching death straight in the eyes. Oh God.
And Jake was still inside the diner. He would see Nate—should he come closer. How long would it take for him to figure out we were still bonded? How long till I was kicked out of my pack—a terrible prospect—though still better than its alternative—Emma coming to my rescue—and getting killed in the process.
What was I going to do? How was I going to get rid of him? Maybe—if we hurried inside his car—Damen could drive us out of there fast enough. Oh no.
Damen suddenly sighed—making me jump as he spotted Nate. I felt silly for thinking this almost immediately. He didn’t know Nate. Even if he did see him, Damen wouldn’t think anything of it.
“What is it? ” I asked. “I forgot my wallet inside the diner,” Damen said, making a show out of searching his empty pockets. My gaze traveled back to Nate—who looked seconds away from heading over.
The stress was going to eat me alive. “I adore this wallet,” Damen groaned dramatically. “It’s one of a kind. ” My gaze snapped back to him.
“I can’t believe I just left it there—probably right next to your friend, JN—who really doesn’t like me. How will I ever get it back? ” “Shall I go and get it for you? ” I asked, slightly disbelieving.
“Would you? ” Damen gave me a bright smile. “That would be great. ” I nodded, feeling dazed and incapable of phrasing a coherent protest.
Nate was right there. He could come over at any given moment. Was this how I died? Was he going to kill me here?
I thought I’d get to laugh with Emma one last time—maybe receive one of those paternal talks from Harry—and also—at least get one kiss from—what was I thinking? I headed inside the diner—hoping with all my heart that he didn’t follow me inside—where Jake could see him. I found him still in our booth—looking at his phone. He handed me daman’s wallet—which he must have found after we’d gone.
“I considered fitting it inside it,” Jake declared. “Fair,” I replied. I went back outside—feeling like I was heading to my execution. It was the most uncomfortable walk of my life.
I felt like death was breathing down my shoulder. “My wallet! ” Damen exclaimed, grabbing onto his leather good with childlike glee. I barely acknowledged him—frozen in shock.
Across the street, by the lamp post—Nate was—I licked my lips nervously, glancing around—Nate was gone. “Did you see—a—” “See what? ” Damen asked, getting into his car. I looked back inside the diner—and scanned the area one last time—but there was no sign of Nate.
“Never mind,” I replied, feeling a mix of relief and unease I couldn’t explain. It wasn’t like Nate to give up on a confrontation—so why had he just now? Could it mean he was planning something? The morning after I met Damen, I opened my eyes blearily to a lavish cream-colored bedroom I didn’t recognize immediately.
The sun was filtering softly through the curtains—and the ceiling I was looking at was adorned with intricate golden moldings. My gaze traveled, confused—then a pleasant, fresh scent filled my nose—making me smile softly. “Morning, wifey. ” A startled yelp escaped my lips—and I jumped into a seated position—staring in shock as I realized Damen was lying beside me on my bed—fully dressed—and propped up by a couple of pillows.
He was staring at me with a sarcastic smirk—arms crossed. “What are you doing here? ” I exclaimed—briefly worrying something may have happened—before I took in that we were both dressed—and that—being unlikely he’d ever be interested—of course nothing happened. “Testing your reflexes—which suck, by the way,” Damen wiggled his eyebrows.
“I’ve been here a good hour—and you haven’t even stirred. ” “I was tired,” I explained lamely, trying to cover my upper body with a pillow—making Damen roll his eyes. “Well—I don’t know how you’re planning to keep me alive in your condition,” he said, staring at his nails. “Looks to me like you need a vacation—or am I the vacation?
” He said this lightly—but I could tell he was gathering information. “I’m sure I don’t look it—but I can protect you,” I assured him—surprised at how resolute I felt on the matter. I didn’t really come here because I wanted to look after him, after all. My goal was to escape Nate.
But it occurred to me that—since meeting him—I had been growing more determined to take my job seriously. His grandfather had entrusted me with daman’s security—and no one had entrusted me with anything in years—if ever. I didn’t want to disappoint Ian Cromwell. “Look, Damen said lightly,“you don’t have to do this, all right?
” And before I could protest, he added,“Whatever made you desperate enough to accept my grandfather’s offer—I’ll help you deal with—and then you can be on your merry way. ” His gaze was surprisingly kind—and he sounded sincere. I was speechless. Was this guy—I just met—really offering to help me?
He was a vampire—and pretty much royalty amongst his kind. Didn’t he have anything better to do? What was his game here? “Come on,” Damen joked, opening his arms to me.
“Tell Uncle Damen what’s wrong. ” My lips twitched involuntarily. “Was that an almost-smile? ” Damen asked, pointing to my lips.
“Wow—didn’t think you had it in you. You seem to live in a perpetual state of anguish. ” “I—no—I’m not,” I protested—embarrassed at being so obvious—to someone who didn’t seem the type to incline to read people. This meant I must be an open book—if Damen Cromwell could read me with so much ease.
“You’re like a rabbit caught in the headlights. What are you going to do—when the car comes crashing down on me—huh—stare? ” I pursed my lips. He wasn’t trying to be kind—he was just hoping to get rid of me—because he didn’t think I could help—and I couldn’t blame him for having a sense of self-preservation.
Someone was out to kill him—he probably didn’t feel safe—despite all the carefree bravado. I had to assure him. “I swear on my life—that I will keep you safe,” I told him, taking his hand in mine—and giving it a reassuring squeeze. He froze—eyes wide.
Damen? I think I just broke him. Why was he looking at me like that? Was something wrong with my face?
He looked—shocked isn’t the right word—touched, maybe. But by what? Certainly not by what I’d said. He should be used to people serving him—shouldn’t he?
I was about to say something else—but then Damen moved away so abruptly you’d think he’d just been burnt—getting up from the bed in one swift movement. “It’s your funeral, I guess,” he sighed—sending me a brief glance over his shoulder. “But remember—my offer still stands. You don’t have to be here.
I can make your problems go away, Chloe—you only have to ask. ” “I don’t have any problems,” I told him—suddenly finding the lie to come much more difficult for me. In fact, I didn’t think it had ever been this hard to lie. Why was that?
I didn’t know this man. There was no reason I should trust him—no matter how attractive he was. In fact—him being so attractive should probably make me wary. Vampires lure in their prey with their looks.
I knew that. Could Damen Cromwell be trying to make me his prey? He left the room—and the next time I saw him—he acted like this entire conversation never happened
The next day, I was expecting Damen to drive us straight back home to the Cromwell residence after we left the diner. But instead, he left the city—driving us through the nearby woods, onto a coastal road toward the north.
I wasn’t sure where we were going—but it looked like we’d be late for dinner with his grandfather—an event during which we’d also be treated to the pleasure of daman’s mother. Cromwell wanted to ensure she didn’t try to sabotage my fake engagement somehow—so the idea was to use the opportunity for her to get to know me—or, to be more specific, to approve of me. “Forget it—she’ll never approve of you,” Damen said. “She hates everything I like.
” “Ah—so you do like me? ” I smiled, oddly pleased. I was sure he liked me like one does an old, familiar pair of slippers. But still—it felt rather nice to hear.
Damen gave me a sideways glance—it was a rather warm glance—and it left me blushing. I was expecting a sarcastic comment or a flirtatious joke to follow—but surprisingly, Damen remained silent for a while. “Have you started reading the book I recommended? ” he asked after a while.
“I have,” I replied enthusiastically. “I don’t know if I like it, though. I have a feeling the hero is going to die in the end. ” Damen grinned—though it wasn’t a very happy grin.
“Well, then—hopefully it won’t stick,” he replied. His car stopped in front of a closed iron gate that seemed to guard a large property—literally lost in the middle of nowhere. Damen rang a doorbell—announced his presence through the intercom—and then drove his car up a long uphill alley toward a large house I could discern through the darkness—and the trees. This looked like a mansion from a horror movie, I commented—though without any unease.
My wolf liked how large the grounds were here—away from the city—surrounded by woods—and the sea nearby. “Wait for me in the car,” Damen requested. “I won’t be long. ” I frowned.
“No. I’m coming with you—I can’t leave you alone. ” “Chloe—this house belongs to me. Everyone inside of it works for me.
I’ll be fine. I’ll be back in ten minutes. ” I nodded begrudgingly—watching him turn and be greeted out the door by two men in uniform, who inclined their heads upon seeing him—and then disappear inside the mansion. I wiggled nervously in my seat.
I didn’t like this. I was supposed to be looking after him. It was weird that he wanted to go in there alone. He must be up to something.
The question was—would this something put him in danger? I exited the car and began walking around the house, trying to get a glimpse of Damen inside. There were quite a few empty, grandiosely decorated—though poorly lit—rooms. Sometimes a staff member or two—but no sign of him.
I concentrated on trying to hear the sound of his voice from where I was. “We’ll get out tonight,” his voice said from somewhere upstairs. I looked up to the upper floor of the house. There was a balcony I could jump onto.
Then I’d climb up the walls. I reached the second level of the house with surprising ease—I may be a wolf, but I wasn’t usually very agile—and crouched by the windowpane to peek inside. Damen was standing in a sumptuous bedroom—with a young woman whose face I couldn’t see—her back facing me. However, I noticed she was wearing an elegant—albeit particularly short—red silk robe.
“I’m so tired of staying here,” she was complaining. “When are we going to be able to leave? ” “Damen—soon. ” Damen gave her a tight smile before pulling her into his arms—holding on to her with surprising tenderness.
“I’m working on it—I promise. ” My foot slipped—making daman’s gaze snap up toward the window—and I was forced to jump away—feeling embarrassed for having witnessed what was probably a private moment—not meant for me to intrude on. I hurried back to the car—as discreetly and hurriedly as I could—heart pounding. Who was this girl—Damen was with?
A girlfriend? But then—why hadn’t he mentioned her? Was he hiding her in this house? She said she wanted to leave.
He said he’d make it happen. When would that be? And most importantly—why did my throat feel so tight? Damen and I weren’t really together.
I knew that. This was so stupid. I was such an idiot. My mind reeling, I waited until Damen returned—having completely given up on the idea of tailing him more closely—assuming he’d been right when he’d said he’d be safe inside the house.
My wolf felt tense—but I ignored it stubbornly. This turned out to be a big mistake. After another good ten minutes, Damen finally emerged from the house—looking distractedly at his phone. I watched him—trying to read his face for information on who the girl he’d been seeing was to him—exactly.
This was ridiculous—because it wasn’t like his features were going to give me an answer. I was so distracted that—I didn’t notice the two men abruptly coming out of the trees. When they saw daman’s arms, one of them injecting him with a syringe—I was sure couldn’t contain anything good. It took me much too long to jump out of the car and sprint toward them.
They had already thrown Damen into a vehicle that had been hidden amongst the trees—and I watched, helpless, as they drove away—right before my eyes
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