Chapter 4

Damon's POV

I was born into a pack of strong and proud werewolves. My father had been the previous Alpha. He had ruled with an iron fist and had been feared and revered by many, and my mother had been a well-respected member of the pack, also. According to my father, I had begun to show exceptional leadership skills, intelligence and strength from a young age, and recognizing my potential, he had begun grooming me to take over as Alpha when the time came.

My childhood had been filled with rigorous physical and mental trainings. My father had taught me to control my shifting, hone my senses and track prey. I had also received an education in pack politics, negotiation and strategy, during which time my father instilled in me the importance of protecting and providing for the pack.

As I grew older, I had become aware of the responsibilities that came with being an Alpha. I had witnessed the struggles and sacrifices that my father had to make in order to maintain peace and order within the pack. I had known that I had big shoes to fill.

However, despite my focus and commitment on becoming the best Alpha I could be, I'd always felt like I fell short. Eventually I began to distance myself from my pack, spending more time alone, and brooding over my perceived shortcomings and inadequacies. Until I met Maya.

Maya was beautiful and feisty. She had a fierce spirit and I was quickly drawn to her. She encouraged me to embrace my own strengths and to stop comparing myself to my father. I felt like she was the only one who truly understood me and my struggles. So I reconnected with my pack and embraced the role that was waiting for me as Alpha.

And just when I was ready to take her as my wife, some other she-wolf had been forced upon me to be my wife. It didn't matter that neither my parents nor my Beta, Caleb approved of Maya and I being together. I didn't care, she was the one I wanted to be with.

And the fact that they kept giving glowing recommendations about the she-wolf from the Dark Wood pack that they had arranged to be my wife only served to make me hate her without even knowing her. It didn't matter that I had declared her my mate at my party the other night, before I could've stopped myself.

"Listen, Maya, we're going to figure out a way around this," I assured her, as we strolled together around the compound of our mansion.

"How?" She stopped and turned to face me, giving me a look of indignation. I was slightly distracted by how beautiful she looked, watching her long, flowing red hair swaying in the cool evening breeze and her icy blue eyes flashing. "Your parents and your Beta are trying to get rid of me like I'm some kind of unbearable skin condition. How can you stand by and watch as they try to replace me with someone else?"

I chuckled softly and took both her hands in mine. "Honey, as far as I'm concerned, no one could ever replace you."

Maya withdrew her hands from mine and folded her arms across her chest, pouting. "But I heard that the other she-wolf that has been fixed to be your wife -" Her voice dripped with hurt at the mention of that word 'mate'. "- is already on her way here. You shouldn't have let that happen."

"I'm just humoring them. Do you really think I'd just sit back and do nothing while they try to force me to accept another she-wolf as my wife? Of course not! I'm the Alpha."

I believed that the woman who had been arranged to be my mate must definitely be after my wealth and influence. Most of the other packs around had businesses, of which their Alphas were the CEOs. I was the CEO of Golden Oak and Stones Contractors and I assumed that her pack's business wasn't doing so well and she must've jumped up all excited about being married to me.

She sighed and looked at me. "So what do you plan to do?"

"Make her so unhappy and uncomfortable that she would wish she had never stepped foot in this territory. That should send her running back to her pack."

"I wonder how long that would take," Maya said with pursed lips. "Or how successful that plan would be, especially if she's resilient."

I shrugged nonchalantly. "I'll just double my efforts. Eventually she'll have to realize that we really don't want her around here and if she has any dignity left in her after going through the whole ordeal I've planned for her, she'll leave for good."

Maya sighed. "I hope you're right and I hope it works."

"Don't worry about it," I said, pulling her close. "You're not going anywhere. I'll make sure of that."

I held her against me and claimed her lips with mine. I loved how soft and succulent her lips felt in my mouth. She tasted like heaven and my wolf was absolutely pleased with the scent of her: warm fur, almonds and marshmallows.

All of a sudden my mind became befuddled while I was locked in a warm, sensuous kiss with Maya. My senses instantly became plagued by a scent that was strange and that wasn't Maya's. I drew my head back, staring into her eyes, puzzled, as the strong scent of moist earth, pine and a pleasant floral smell, mixed with a hint of amber and sandalwood wafted on the wind. My mind immediately had a keen recollection of this scent.

"What is it?" Maya asked me, searching my eyes.

And then I heard the gates opening, followed by the sound of a car driving into the compound, but I was unable to answer Maya's question and I didn't want to risk causing suspicion and upsetting her by turning around to see who had driven in, because I knew - in the general sense of the word - who owned that pleasantly curious scent, and she was right here in the compound. The car drove out of the compound almost as soon as it had come in, but the scent still remained.

I blinked and shook my head as if coming out of a reverie.

"Nothing."

"Well, then," she said, holding my head in her hands and bringing my face down to hers to continue with our kiss.

I normally don't have a problem with public displays of affection, even when we were in the company of others. But at the moment, I was deeply unsettled by the other person that was here now; the one whose scent I had perceived before they had even reached the gates.

Behind me, the woman cleared her throat.

"Excuse me?"

I broke off the kiss with Maya and turned to look at her.

For a moment I stared, stunned, at the young woman that stood before me. I remembered her from the night of the party at my mansion. How could I not? My wolf and I thought that she was beautiful, even though I was loath to do so. Her bright green eyes sparkled even though it was already growing dark.

My surprised look soon turned into a scowl as I made a show of sizing her up more thoroughly. Although my mind wasn't completely unbothered by her scent yet, I believed it was clear enough to judge her appearance more critically now. Why would the Moon Goddess decide to pair me with this scrawny-looking, pathetic excuse for a woman? I wondered, unable to believe my misfortune.

Irritated, I asked her in a deep and commanding voice, "Who are you?"