Damien’s POV The room was damp, cold and thick with the smell of blood. Caleb sat tied to a chair in the middle of the room, his head hanging forward with his breathing labored. Blood dripped from his split lips onto the floor, joining the dark pool already forming beneath him. His right eye was swollen shut, his ribs caved in from the relentless blows my men had delivered, and his left knee was bent at an angle it shouldn’t be. I cracked my knuckles, flexing my fingers as I watched him struggle to stay conscious. He should be grateful I hadn't killed him yet. Silvo, my hammer, was still stained with his blood, resting beside me like a loyal pet waiting to be used again. The fucker had the audacity to put his hands on my mate. To touch what was mine. He lifted his head slowly, his one good eye barely open, and he gave me a weak, bloodstained smirk. “You think this changes anything, Damien?” His voice was rough and strained but there was something in his tone that irritated m
Serena's Pov The night was colder than I had expected as Damien’s words echoed in my head like a curse. Slut, Bitch, Gold digger. The venom in his voice and the sheer disgust in his eyes cut deeper than I wanted to admit. He wanted nothing to do with me and I should have been relieved or grateful but I wasn’t. Instead, my heart ached and my wolf howled in protest, my entire body burned with something I couldn’t name. It wasn’t love, but it was something just as dangerous as that word.. I ran faster as the trees blurred past me. I didn’t care where I was going and I just needed to get away. Away from the humiliation, the judgmental stares, Ivy’s betrayal, and my own step-sisters' cruel words. I was nothing to them. Nothing but a mistake. The wind carried a strange scent and I slowed down at the strong pungent of blood. A shiver ran down my spine as my ears twitched, picking up the faintest rustling. The trees around me were too still and the silence became unnatural which was
Damien's Pov The room was dimly lit, the air thick with cigar smoke and the scent of expensive whiskey. I sat at the head of the long, mahogany table, my fingers gripping the edge so hard my knuckles turned white. My friends—Tyler, Ash, Diego, and Zayn, who's my Beta— sat around me, their eyes were sharp, waiting for me to speak. But I couldn’t. Not yet because my chest felt tight, my body drained of energy. It made me feel so weak. That damn word rang in my head like a curse. I was never weak. Never. But tonight, I could barely keep my hands from trembling. I knew why and I fucking hated it. Diego leaned back in his chair, swirling his glass of whiskey lazily. "So, let me get this straight. Your father is captured, your mate is missing. And you—" He pointed at me with an arrogant smirk. "—look like you’re about to pass out." Tyler chuckled, dragging out a cigar and lighting it slowly. "Never thought I’d see the great Damien looking like he’s been drained dry. What’s the matter
Damien's Pov The air outside was sharp with the scent of rain, thick clouds were begining to gather like a storm. It almost seemed like a war was coming and I was ready to burn everything in my path to get her back. The boys were already moving. Tyler loaded magazines into his rifle, the familiar sound of metal clicking against metal filling the space, Ash adjusted the blades strapped to his belt, grinning like he was about to walk into a game instead of a bloodbath. Diego, ever the strategist, studied the map of Rune’s estate, his brows furrowed as he traced possible entry points. Zayn stood beside me, arms crossed. "This is fucking stupid," he muttered, shaking his head. "And we’re all probably going to die." I took another slow drag from my cigar, letting the smoke curl around my lips before flicking the ashes onto the ground. "Then why are you still here?" Zayn scoffed. "Because someone has to make sure you don’t get yourself killed before you can even get to her. I know
Damien's Pov The air in Rune’s territory was thick with death. I could smell the blood soaked into the earth, the lingering stench of decay that clung to the abandoned ruins of what once was a kingdom. My men moved like shadows beside me even though their wolves went restless beneath their skin. But I was the weakest one here and I fucking hated it. It's funny how my life flipped in seconds. If Runs finds out I'm getting weak, he'll tell the whole world to kill me in a blink, not that I'll allow that. Every step felt heavier than the last, every breath became more and more strained. My fingers trembled slightly when I clenched my fists, and my wolf, which usually snarled inside me, was quiet. Way too quiet. Something was wrong. Zayn noticed. "You good?" I glared at him. "Fine." "Liar," Tyler muttered. Ash smirked. "He looks like he’s about to pass out." "Shut up," I growled, but even that came out weaker than I wanted. Diego stepped in, his tone serious. "It’s Seren
Damien's Pov The air in Rune’s territory was thick with death. I could smell the blood soaked into the earth, the lingering stench of decay that clung to the abandoned ruins of what once was a kingdom. My men moved like shadows beside me even though their wolves went restless beneath their skin. But I was the weakest one here and I fucking hated it. It's funny how my life flipped in seconds. If Runs finds out I'm getting weak, he'll tell the whole world to kill me in a blink, not that I'll allow that. Every step felt heavier than the last, every breath became more and more strained. My fingers trembled slightly when I clenched my fists, and my wolf, which usually snarled inside me, was quiet. Way too quiet. Something was wrong. Zayn noticed. "You good?" I glared at him. "Fine." "Liar," Tyler muttered. Ash smirked. "He looks like he’s about to pass out." "Shut up," I growled, but even that came out weaker than I wanted. Diego stepped in, his tone serious. "
Damien's Pov My chest felt like it was being carved open with a blunt knife. My wolf was fading in and out and I couldn't stand straight. My knees were buckling under me like I’d aged a hundred years in an hour. Every time I tried to hold myself upright, another wave of weakness slammed into me like a train. I was bleeding strength, and I knew exactly why.She was using my powers.Serena.I should’ve been proud, right? She was out there holding her own against monsters. But the truth? I was not scared, Not for her but what she was becoming and what she was doing with the power I gave her by bond. I hadn’t claimed her fully and had not accepted her as mine in every way, and now... it was punishing me.Zayn looked just as bad as I did, but he tried to hide it like I didn’t notice his hand trembling at his side.“She’s fighting someone,” Zayn muttered as we stood outside Rune’s castle gates. “She Has to be. That’s the only time this drain happens. You’re losing strength because she’s u
She wasn’t just fighting, she was slaughtering them Rogues, five of them, were lying broken on the ground. Some still breathing. Some twitching. One trying to crawl away and sobbing for mercy.And Serena? Her hands were glowing. Her claws were dripping blood. Her eyes… goddess help me… they weren’t her eyes anymore. They were mine. Green and burning. A wolf that wasn’t supposed to be that strong.She slashed another rogue’s throat before anyone could react.“Stop!” Zayn roared as we rushed down.Serena spun and her eyes locked onto us like prey. Her chest heaved with her lips curled and I don’t think she even recognized us or anything again.She raised her claws—toward me but.y wolf didn’t move neither could I .She took a step closer, her breath was ragged and her teeth bared, blood stained her neck and I braced myself. If she attacked, I wouldn’t fight her. I just couldn’t when I actually caused all this.But all do a sudden she stopped and Right there, she froze mid-step at my sig
Damien's Pov I sat there in the meeting room, tapping my foot against the polished floor with my jaw clenched so tight that it hurt. The conference room was too bright, loud and filled with voices that meant nothing to me. My mind was a thousand miles away and it was only about Serena. Where the hell was she? She should’ve checked in by now since she left or she should’ve sent something, a signal or anything at all to be sure she's fine.The longer I sat there, the deeper the unease gnawed at my gut. "Damien, you're unusually quiet," one of the Pakhans said, trying to pull my attention back and I glanced up, offering him a stare cold enough to freeze fire. My father who was now stable cleared his throat at the head of the table. His presence was stronger now as he no longer looked like death crawled into his stomach but his eyes still burned with bitterness at my decision and at my mate which I didn't give a damn about. He leaned forward with his voice cutting through t
Serena's Pov I stared at him in an unbelievable shock without saying a word that he swung his fingers at me till I blinked. "Where were we?" he asked with his smooth silk voice but I said nothing.My heart pounded against my ribs like it wanted to claw itself free as I tried pulling at my tied hands again, but the rope bit deeper into my wrists. "You’ll be safe, Serena," Vincent continued casually, brushing an invisible speck off his jacket. "I’m serious about my proposal because I’d do well to protect my bride and keep her first before the demands of any Pack or... the legacy of a father."My breath hitched because this bastard knew everything about Damien. He knew about Magnus' nagging and unnecessary need to protect the Pack's legacy."You," I growled lowly, "are out of your fucking mind."He only chuckled, unaffected. "Think about it first, If you say yes, Serena, the Pack would be stronger. Our union would be respected by vampires, wolves, rogues alike. You wouldn’t just be th
I didn’t know who the hell these men were or what they wanted from me but I did what any scared wolf would do—I ran.Not far though.Because by the time I took the other route through the side alley, they were already there.Standing and waiting like they knew every move I was going to make before I even made it.Panic overwhelmed my entire body that I trembled with my breath caught up, my feet moved some steps backwards as I stared at them and tried to surpress the fear crawling like a sickness under my skin.“Who the hell are you?” I demanded, backing up slowly. “What do you want?”They didn’t say a word but remained silent and expressionless under those dark masks and the next thing, they moved fast like a flash.One grabbed me from behind and another snatched at the camera in my hand. It slipped from my fingers and hit the ground with a loud crack, my scream echoing through the quiet street.“NO! The camera!” I shouted, twisting in their grip. “Take the damn camera, not me!”But
SERENAThe moment Zayn’s voice filled the room, I felt the air drain from my lungs.“He’s awake... and he’s asking for Serena.”I didn’t breathe and my body froze so completely that even the heartbeat in my chest seemed unsure if it should keep going. My voice came out as nothing but a whisper.“Alpha Magnus… wants to see me?”Why? Why me?My hands started shaking, with deep fear crawling through my skin like something old and buried had just been disturbed. My wolf whimpered inside me, unsure whether to be alert or terrified. What if he wanted to see me just to order my death in person? What if he woke up and his first words were, “Kill her”?Damien turned sharply to Zayn. “He’s asking for her? Are you sure?”Zayn nodded. “He looked me straight in the eye and said her name by repeating it twice.”Damien’s jaw clenched, hard enough that I saw a vein in his neck bulge. His gaze snapped to me, and I didn’t like the storm I saw in them. “You’re not going.”I blinked, swallowing the panic
Damien's Pov I didn’t say a word as I carried Serena in my arms as her weight barely registered against the thudding war in my chest. I didn’t care about the stares, the whispers, or the accusations they threw at every corner about her. I didn’t even look back at the guards who’d just asked if they should execute my mate. Execute her. For what? Serving a plate she didn’t prepare?I was tired of everything. There's a lot to do but I'm Bone deep in this because this concerns my mate, a mate I contracted and got so deep into that rejecting her was a cursed word I never Intended to use.The last time I felt this helpless, I was eight years old, standing outside a bakery during the Full moon season and waiting for a woman who promised she'd return. She was my mother, my birth mother who had left me near a bin once when I was a baby as my dad had told me, she came back like a ghost when I was eight, and then left again. I’d run after her that day, barefoot on gravel, crying out in a voice
SERENA’S POV My knees scraped the floor as I was dragged in like a criminal. The cold tiles bruised against my skin, but that pain was nothing compared to the ache drilling into my chest. My heart pounded wildly, wondering what on earth made Damien's Father collapse. Damien sat in the room without saying a word or looking at me and it made the room deathly quiet as everyone's eyes were on me. He sat at the end of the long dinner table, his face carved from stone as there was no expression and no flicker of emotion. He stared straight ahead like I wasn’t there looking bloodied, and accused but still trying to hold whatever remained of my dignity together. “I didn’t poison him,” I murmured, just loud enough for him to hear but my voice cracked. “I only served the food… Damien, you know that.” “Don't mention the Alpha's name!” One of the guards twisted my arm and I writhed in pain. “Sorry, Alpha.” But Damien didn't say anything. Zayn’s gaze flicked between the two of us as the
Damien’s Point of ViewThe clatter of forks against porcelain plates was the only sound echoing through the long, marbled dining hall. It reminded me that even in a room full of powerful men, I was still fucking powerless.I didn’t touch my food because I couldn’t. I was cranky in thoughts of what to do when Serena stood behind me a few minutes ago, her head bowed like a criminal and serving meals to wolves who didn’t deserve to breathe the same air she did.My fists clenched beneath the table and they all saw it. The humiliation I was facing, I can't believe my own father was turning her into a personal servant, my supposed “mate” turned into a fucking server in front of the very investors who once feared my name.And what did I do?Nothing.I sat there like a coward vecause I had to.Because the Pack laws were designed to keep even Alphas like me under leash when it came to family politics.I could smell the smugness from my stepsisters as they elegantly chewed and sipped their wine
Serena's Pov Cont…..,“Serve the food and stand aside, Do not leave. You will remain here and wait for further orders.”I froze as I was caught off-guard by the raw command in his voice. The guests and Pack elders in expensive suits pretending to be friends glanced at each other and they were amused, others were too bored to care aside from their meal. I could feel their gazes on me like knives dragging down my spine.“Father,” Damien’s voice came sharp, warning. “She’s not a maid but my mate!”“And I’m still your Alpha and your father. Sit down and keep your voice down. You already shamed this family enough by bringing a stripper into our pack,” Alpha Magnus spat, pointing a thick finger at me like I was some stain he couldn’t bleach out of his legacy.I didn’t flinch or even blink. I simply bowed my head and rolled the tray forward, One by one and placed the covered dishes in front of the Alpha, Damien, and the rest of the table. Not once did I lift my head again. I didn’t trust mys
SERENA'S POVIvy’s outburst stunned me more than I could admit. It wasn’t the first time she scolded me or talked down at me like I was some stray dog let loose into their purebred kingdom, but this time… it was different. There was venom in her voice, Like she wanted to watch me squirm and bleed all because I carried half of the Mafia Alpha’s power, all because Damien and I were mated, because I was a stripper-turned-mate, an Omega with too much fire in her blood.To them, I was a stain.A filthy human who dared to touch something sacred. Damien.My legs refused to move when I saw him again—Damien. Standing like a dark god among suits and power, his jaw clenched like he’d just walked out of a war. My wolf nearly tore through my skin the second our eyes locked. Her howl roared inside me, echoing in the cage of my ribs and my fingers twitched, aching to touch him. My lips trembled, craving his taste. I missed him so much it felt like I was suffocating.I didn’t even know you could m