Chapter 5

Georgia’s POV

My first night in my new apartment was a quiet one. I stood in the middle of the small, sparsely furnished living room, staring at the stack of unopened boxes that lined the walls that I needed to unpack. It was nothing like the sprawling, luxurious house I’d shared with Damien, but it was mine. My sanctuary. Or so I’d thought.

The apartment was modest—a small one-bedroom tucked into the corner of an aging brick building. The creaking floorboards and slightly peeling paint made it feel lived-in, cozy even. I liked it. For the first time in years, I felt like I could breathe. But that feeling evaporated the second the sharp, insistent knock rattled my front door. 

My heart froze. I wasn’t expecting anyone.

“Open the door, Georgia,” Damien’s voice barked from the other side. Cold and commanding, just like I remembered.

I stayed rooted in place, my fingers trembling at my sides. The lock was flimsy at best, and I didn’t trust it to hold.

“Georgia!” His tone rose, fury spilling out like a storm. “I know you’re in there. Open the goddamn door before I break it down.”

I didn’t have a choice. I reached for the doorknob, my hand shaking uncontrollably as I turned it. The door swung open, and there he was.

Damien stood tall, his piercing eyes locking onto mine with a predatory gleam. His tailored black suit was immaculate. For the first time, I felt scared being around him.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” he hissed, stepping inside without waiting for an invitation.

I stumbled back, my voice faltering. “Damien… I—”

“Shut up,” he snapped, his tone razor-sharp. “Running away like a coward? Filing for divorce without my consent? Are you out of your mind?”

My stomach churned. “I told you it was over,” I managed, though my voice barely rose above a whisper. “I can’t do this anymore, Damien.”

His eyes darkened, and he took a menacing step toward me. “Do you have any idea what you’re throwing away? What you’re risking?”

I swallowed hard, my heart pounding in my chest. “I don’t care about the money or the status. I just want to be free.”

He let out a bitter laugh, shaking his head. “Free? You’re delusional if you think you can just walk away from me. You’re my wife, Georgia. Mine.”

I flinched as he raised his voice, his words dripping with possessiveness. “You’re coming back with me,” he continued. “The Lycan King’s meeting is tomorrow, and you will stand by my side like you’re supposed to.”

“No,” I said, the word escaping before I could stop it.

Damien’s face twisted with rage, his hand shooting out to grab my wrist. His grip was like iron, and I winced in pain.

“You don’t get to say no to me,” he growled, his voice low and dangerous. “If you defy me, I’ll make sure you regret it. Do you hear me? I will kill you before I let you humiliate me like this.”

Panic surged through me, and I yanked my arm, trying to free myself. “Let go of me!” I cried, but his grip only tightened.

“Don’t make this harder than it has to be, Georgia,” he sneered, his face inches from mine. How come i am just getting to know the man I married is a beast.

My mind raced, desperate for a way out. The hallway outside the apartment door felt a mile away, and I doubted I could outrun him even if I managed to break free.

And then, out of nowhere, a voice cut through the tension like a blade.

“Let her go.”

Both Damien and I turned toward the doorway, and my breath caught in my throat.

The man who stood there was unlike anyone I’d ever seen. He was tall, his broad shoulders filling the frame of the door with an effortless confidence. His dark hair was tousled in a way that made it look both natural and impossibly perfect. Sharp, chiseled features gave him an air of raw masculinity, while his piercing blue eyes burned with intensity. He wore a leather jacket over a plain black t-shirt, and the way it clung to his toned physique left little to the imagination.

“Who the hell are you?” Damien snarled, still holding onto me.

The stranger stepped into the room, his movements calm but deliberate, like a predator closing in on its prey. “I said, let her go.” His voice was deep, steady, and laced with a quiet menace that sent a shiver down my spine.

Damien released me, but only to square up to the man. “This is none of your business. Walk away before you regret it.”

The stranger smirked, his eyes never leaving Damien. “Funny. I was about to say the same thing to you.”

Before Damien could react, the stranger moved. It happened so fast I could barely follow it—a blur of motion, a flash of muscle. In an instant, Damien was pinned against the wall, the stranger’s hand gripping his throat.

“Listen carefully,” the man said, his voice dangerously low. “You’re going to leave. Now. And if you ever come near her again, I’ll make sure you regret it.”

Damien’s face flushed with rage and humiliation, but he was clearly no match for the stranger’s strength. After a tense moment, he gave me a deadly glare.

The stranger released him, and Damien stumbled toward the door, shooting me a venomous glare again before storming out.

As the door slammed shut, silence filled the room. I stood frozen, my heart still racing as I stared at the man who’d just saved me.

“Are you okay?” he asked, his voice softer now.

I nodded, though my legs felt like they might give out at any moment. “Who… who are you?”

He smiled, and for the first time, I noticed the warmth in his eyes. “Just someone who couldn’t stand by and do nothing.”