Dahlia's POV Continued Everything seemed to shift as I was released from the hospital and finally able to go back to the pack house. My brother didn't leave despite his worry over needing to go back. He feared that our father was going to banish him from the pack if he didn't return but also the worry of going back after he stabbed him with silver then ended our mother's life weren't exactly selling points to make him go back.Damien put me in the back of Alexi's car before sliding in next to me while Alexi went around to the drivers side with my brother saddled up in the passenger seat. I could feel everyone's auras waving around their tense bodies as we began to drive back to the house. I didn't want to say anything about it but it was starting to become rather suffocating to sit in."I think we should make him come to us."Damien snapped his head in my direction just as Levi turned to look back at me. I could see Alexi's eyes on me in the rear view mirror as the car shifted off
Alpha Damien's POV I watched the way Dahlia led her brother into our home, the way his grip tightened in her hand as they took their first steps over the threshold showing his nervousness lightly as he attempted to try to hide it at the same time.The stories I have come to learn about what Dahlia went through where she grew up makes me wonder what all Alpha Levi has gone through within those same walls as well.I know it wasn't to the extent that Dahlia had to live through, but I can't imagine that it was much better for him.Not only did he care for her, unable to protect her the way I can see he wished he could have. But how their father may have treated him as well couldn't have been in a positive light.How their mother managed it all, unable to protect her children, she didn't ever truly live either. I know how devastating it can be to lose what you live but she had to live through that hell on a daily basis. She wasn't able to stand up, to protect them, forced into submission
Alpha Damien's POV Continued The moment our lips touched sparks danced through me. I felt my body heat up instantly. Her hands were flying up over my shoulders as they tangled themselves into my hair.I swallowed her soft moans as I lifted her legs to wrap around my waist. The heat from her core pressing into my shirt. The way the scent of her arousal consumed my every thought.Dropping her onto the bed, she bounced lightly causing her breasts to bounce along with her. The shirt riding up her creamy thighs showing off her hip enough to show me that she was fully naked beneath it."Are you naked for me baby?"Biting her lip she nodded while her fingers touched the hem of the shirt. Intently I watched the way they curled around the fabric before she slid it up to reveal herself to me.A low growl left my chest at the sight of her on display for me. The way she already glistened with her arousal before her fingers trailed down to touch herself. My control was waning as her finger circl
Dahlia's POV After that impromptu moment, or hour, in our bedroom I was showering with Damien. He washed me sweetly, his finger running gently through my hair as he massaged my scalp with my shampoo, then again with the conditioner. I returned the act by doing the same with him, even if I had to force him to duck down to make it happen because of our height difference. He laughed as I ran the loofah down his side hitting a spot that was actually ticklish on him. I couldn't help but smile as I did it again, making him straighten out instantly before he began tickling me back.My laughs were uncontrollable to the point that I snorted, making him laugh harder. I squirmed from his grip before bolting out of the shower only for him to chase after me.His wet arms wrapped around me as I slipped almost falling hard onto the floor naked. I knew that this was a fleeting moment because of everything we had just gone through, along with everything that was still yet to come. But here, right n
Dahlia's POV Continued Inside Damien's office I sat on the couch at the far wall while Damien stood behind his desk as he spoke to his Uncle.The concern laced in their voices kept me listening intently to them. They spoke about the extra precautions they needed to put in place around the pack as well as how to keep everyone safe yet calm.I worried for everyone here. I hated that anyone here had to deal with my father in any way. It was easy to feel the blame of our predicament sitting on my own shoulders considering the fact that it is MY father that is the root of all our problems.Logically I understand that my father started this war with Damien seven long years ago when he came here holding up a white flag with the pretense of wanting to have peace between our pack.Instead he attempted to take Damiens life but in turn killed his father, the Alpha at the time, along with many others that sat within that room. Including that of Rose's parents.He never wanted to have peace, just
Dahlia's POV Continued Even as I said the words out loud to Allister I knew that it was typically the only true way for this pack to survive an attack from my father.I wanted everyone here to live. I prayed that they would thrive. Yet even as I spoke I knew that it may not be enough to truly stop him.There wasn't a way to know that he would actually come himself. He could send a hundred of his best men to take out these men here even if they couldn't defeat Damien, Allister, or Alexi due to their status. As high ranking wolves they would be stronger than warriors, but it doesn't mean that my father would risk coming here the first time.He could send his men to fight, to kill, then leave us weak to an attack where he would come here to finish off the job.He could very well send Christopher during the first attack. In hopes that, even if he was killed, he could take out Allister or Alexi leaving Damien torn, weak, unhinged from all the loss he would inevitably feel.To lose a pack
Alpha Damien's POV I sat there, listening to my Uncle go on and on about what path would be best for our pack to take for a battle like the one we were about to be up against.The entire time I could feel the way Dahlia was battling with herself. The turmoil she was feeling, the self doubt. She is taking the blame for what is happening despite the fact that our pack has been preparing to go up against her previous one for years now.This entire thing between our packs started the day her father came here and stole my father, our Alpha, from us. Yet even though I know that she knows this, I can feel it in her emotions that she is shouldering this all on herself.I watched the way she drifted off inside her own mind as she sat across the room on that couch. The same couch I sat on with her as she succumbed to my force against her to sleep as she discovered we were mates.Even now, as I observe her, I can see the way her eyes shift. Her blinks are longer than usual because she is speak
Alpha Damien's POV Continued When she asks for her brother, I know that something is definitely wrong but I reach out to Alexi despite what I am feeling. I then ask for him to bring Levi back to the house but not before telling him that we need to talk.Once I told her that her brother will be back shortly she gave me a curt nod. A. Fucking. Curt. Nod!What the shit is that?I narrow my eyes at her but she has already shifted her gaze downward before shuffling towards the door of my office.Stepping around my desk I watch as my Uncle's head tilts to the side as he looks at her then back to me. Knowing in his eyes before he takes a step to the side out of my way as I step into her path."Where are you going Dahlia?"Her eyes find mine as she lifts her chin to bring up her beautiful face. Her eyes seem to be lacking their normal vibrancy."I was going to go meet Levi. I have a few things I want to speak with him about.""Things you can't speak about with me there?"She shakes her head
Dahlia's POV Continued Once I left my brother alone with Rose I walked through the hall leading to the stairs before stopping. Everything has changed so much for me in what feels like a blink of an eye. I looked up the next set of stairs to where my room sat before turning to look down the other set of stairs where the front doors sat leading outside and into the woods where Damien found me. Little pieces of memories flashed through my mind of that day. The way I felt lost and scared honestly. How I managed to escape my wedding just to venture too far out of my own territory and into that, if what I believed at the time to be enemy territory. I'll never forget the way his eyes darkened when he looked down at me. Or how I swore I should fear him yet instead was intrigued by the man looming so dangerously over me. It's crazy to me to think about the fact that he knew I was meant to be his yet I didn't. How it could have felt to stand in front of your second chance mate only for
Dahlia's POV Continued "Oh my sweet Rose, he had to. He didn't leave you. He needed to bring back the warriors from his pack. He's Alpha now and has no choice." I held her out from me so she would hopefully look at me, which she shakily did. "He was absolutely torn apart having to leave here. He didn't want to until you had time and chose to see or speak with him. He is broken right now." She sniffed then wiped her face with the sleeve of her shirt. Her eyes swirled making it so I could finally see a bit of her wolf sitting there. "Broken?" I sighed, my head tilting to the side as I nodded with a small tip of my lips. I actually felt a bit relieved by the way she was acting. She was scared about this entire situation, but I can see she wants him still. She's curious about him and now I can see that her wolf is as well. They haven't shut put the idea of him. I don't want her to live in fear, but my brother would never hurt her. The thought of him getting rejected b
Dahlia's POV "So you have decided to take Nico as what then Levi?" "As my new Delta. Honestly, I have no idea who to choose for my Beta. You are the only person I have ever trusted to that level before. Everything was planned out for such a long time that I have no idea where to truly go from here now." I wrapped my arms around my brother, hugging him tightly before we pulled away again. "Have you tried to.." "I spoke with her, Levi." The previous day I went in search of Rose. Of course I could have just mindlinked her that I wanted to see her, but I chose not to. I needed to walk around a bit after Damien kept me within the confines of our room for 48 hours. I was feeling a bit stir crazy and so was Alanah. She had been pacing continuously for hours on end feeling trapped. Instead we ventured out, walking around the pack house in search of my best friend. When I did find her, which wasn't exactly hard for me to do, she was out in the small garden she had shown
Levi's POV By the time I made it back home I was a complete wreck. My wolf wasn't speaking to me despite the fact that it wasn't my fault our mate ran away from us and locked herself in her room. Honestly he was upset that I had the audacity to leave pack grounds without trying to see her again. I understood. I felt the pang through my chest within every single heartbeat I managed to pump. My heart shattered when she looked at me with those big beautiful wide eyes. That recognition wasn't what I had wanted. However, knowing more about who she is thanks to Alexi, I understood why she ran off, even if I didn't want to accept it. The bitter feeling of rejection lingered throughout my body, but she needed time. She hadn't outright rejected me so I held on to a bit of hope. Being back in this house feels surreal though. My mother's body had been burned and now sat on the mantel inside the office that used to hold my father. It was a blatant disrespect for him to do su
Dahlia's POV Continued I am unsure when I fell back to sleep but waking alone on a tattered bed was a bit depressing. I felt for Damien but even his scent was a bit weak meaning he had been gone for a bit by now. As I forced my eyes to open I was blinded by the sunlight seeping through the window. Squinting away I rolled to my side only to wince slightly from where the stitches were still woven through my tattered skin. Forcing myself into a sitting position I brought my legs over the side of the bed before my feet touched the ground. Unlike my dream of the past, the floor held a warmth to it. Stretching out my toes I slowly stood myself up. Sore from whatever position I managed to sleep in I stretched out my back only to hear a loud popping sound that made me sigh out in relief. Trudging myself into the bathroom, not bothering to turn the light on just yet, I relieved my aching bladder before standing in front of the sink to look up into the mirror. My hair was atro
Dahlia's POV The moment his lips touched mine a fire ignited deep within my soul. Like everything made sense again in my life. The feel of his rough calloused fingers lightly trailing down my naked back sent a shiver run along my spine. His hands gripped my ass as he hauled me up into his arms, my legs wrapping around his large body. I felt small in his arms. Like he could shield me from the world if he chose to do so. I was safe, protected, wanted, loved. All the things I have truly ever wanted to have or feel my entire existence. He didn't kiss me hard, nor did he hold me tightly. I could feel the worry slipping through the connection we shared at the weakened state I was still in. He was gentle as he carried me across the room to the shredded bed. The bed I managed to destroy all because of stupid dreams of a past I will never have to go back to again. I was truly and unequivocally free for the first time ever. He was gone. The man that did everything in his power
Alpha Damien's POV Continued She sat there, her eyes filled with unshed tears as she stared at me. My body went to shift, I wanted to pull her into me and hug her tightly when her eyes fell from mine to the bed below her. The way her eyes widened as she took in the state of our bed when Levi spoke from behind me. "Could be worse considering how gigantic Alanah is. The bed can be replaced, okay Dahl's, get out of your head." I was about to yell at him for the way he spoke so casually, almost mean, to her until a small huff of a laugh left her pink full lips. Tilting my head I watched as the corner of her mouth tipped up before she looked back up. Her eyes went to mine before shifting back over my shoulder where Levi stood. "Guess it could have been the whole room, or one of you." Her voice was a whisper. When she attempted to clear her throat she winced so I stood, going to the side table to grab her some water. Holding it out to her, her eyes locked onto mine and I cou
Alpha Damien's POV I watched as her body contorted on the bed. The way she twisted then turned looked painful as she whimpered.Everything in me wanted to grab her, pull her body into mine and tell her she was okay, that whatever was happening was only a dream but I couldn't. Levi stood next to me, his arm outstretched in front me.“You can't go to her right now. If she was to wake and see she hurt you it would only break her.”His eyes watched her as I looked over at him. The pain in his gaze told me that this was hurting him as it was her.“Please Alpha Damien, trust me right now. This nightmare can't be undone. Her and Alanah need to finish this.”“FINISH IT?! Look at her Levi! She is writhing in pain!”“I know. This used to happen all the time between the beatings.”His tone was now a whisper so low that without Mikko I may not have heard him properly.This was a nightmare from her past, one that I cannot change for her. Maybe I can't take away what happened to her back then, b
Dahlia's POV Continued Levi leapt to his feet just as our father gripped him with his small arm, making him whimper as he shoved him from the room, slamming it in his face, but not before I saw the fear in Levi's eyes. When he turned I instinctually tried to pull myself further away from him, but with the wall already at my back I had nowhere to go. "You are eating these desserts!? What have you done to earn such a treat?" His tone was sharp and filled with anger that made me recoil as he slapped them off the bed making them crash and break against the wall and floor. My body shook as he grabbed my hair, ripping me from the bed. A sharp pain pierced through my head making me scream out in pain. Blood rushing through my ears muffled out his yells as the pain in my head also numbed the sharp slap that slammed across my face. My body began to ache in a way I didn't know was possible. I couldn't help but wonder what he was doing to me to cause this amount of pain. How was