Cold Defiance

Damon knew every emotion there was to know, but when it came to grief, he knew it better than anyone else... It had after all been his companion for so long.

Losing one's mate was as painful as ripping a person's chest out of their heart, and for the past decades, that had been the only thing he'd felt - heart-wrenching grief, that was until moments ago when he'd set his eyes on her, whoever she was.

His wolf had perked up at the sight of her, and so had everything in him when he had come in her presence, it was as though every part of him that had been dead for so long had only just woken up.

Damon could still remember the first time he'd realized Aria was his mate, and that was the same emotions that had overpowered him in this strange woman's presence, even more, because he hadn't felt anything in so long, this one had come crashing into him, giving him a reason to be when he hadn't had any, and it terrified him.

He moved his lips against hers, crushing his mouth against hers in a ferocious hunger - the longing to have her, all of her to himself because hell! It certainly had been long enough.

His hands snaked around her waist pulling her closer as if any more was possible, her scent filling his head in ways he couldn't describe, every contact with her sending waves of pleasure through him.

She didn't kiss him back, limp in his arms from shock until she seemed to gain herself and pushed against him but he remained firm, he broke the kiss and stared back at her with his hands still wrapped around her.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" She screamed at him.

Damon hadn't met any woman this fearless in his presence, and maybe that was what it was about her that made him want to lose himself, he took a step back.

"My apologies," He said with no hint of apology in his tone, like hell he was going to apologize.

She glared at him with hate. "You're going to rue this day!" She said spitefully, and he saw in her eyes that she meant it, every single word she had spoken, and he didn't know why it fascinated him so... Why she did.

She was beautiful, in a glorious way. Her black as midnight luscious hair pooled around her face as she stood in his presence, fiery anger emanating from her in contrast to the angelic form she had.

The woman in front of him was a sight to behold, her skin gleamed, with high cheekbones and a perfect, beautiful round eyes that gave her an innocent look, she was effortlessly the most maddening beautiful woman Damon had ever set his eyes on, and then there was her lips, sexily curved by the goddess herself meant to drive any man who set eyes on them crazy with heedless desire... It took all of him to stop himself from pulling her in and ravishing her with kisses, getting a taste of her again and again and heavens help him, all over again!

"You will make do on your words?" He asked slipping his hand into his pockets and taking a comfortable form.

She glared at him but said nothing. He watched her with sheer interest as she made her way to the window, climbed atop it, and jumped down without a sound.

He stood staring at the space that had been filled by her, her scent lingering in the air, clouding his thoughts, making his wolf excited, and if he was being honest, not just his wolf.

Damon turned away and his eyes caught sight of the drawer she had been trying to open, a reminder that he'd let himself get distracted and had forgotten one thing... That goddamn woman had been an intruder!

He had been away for business for long enough and had only just arrived without informing anyone first, but he certainly hadn't thought in his wildest dream that what would be waiting for him in his room was his mate, a second chance for him.

He felt his heart constrict at the reminder of what had happened with the last one, he shook his head trying not to dwell on it but the pain had settled in, and he saw the scene vivid in his mind again.

They had lost the baby first, his little girl who had held his finger tight in her small fist and had given him the most beautiful, toothless smile ever, and then her, Aria. On her last days, she had lost almost her weight, wittering like a flower, and that was what she had been to him... The most delicate flower.

He had loved her with everything in him and in a way he could never love anyone else and he had watched her die, breathing painfully because that was how bad it had become, every single breath she took seemed to suck even more life from her, she never stopped crying.

Damon had tried all he could to restore her to health, he had gone to the witch's lair stripped of all ego and shame and he had knelt in front of her pleading, promising her his life if she revoked the curse placed on Aria but she had insisted on her innocence, and he had lost her.

The pain had almost killed him, it had ruptured his existence and at that moment he had been consumed with anger in its worst form.

His lips curled up as he recalled the night.

"Let the witch and her daughter burn." He whispered under his breath, and truly, the witch and her daughter had burnt.

•••• ••••• ••••• ••••

"You could have informed us you were returning." One of the elders in the council said to him, and the others nodded in response.

"A befitting welcome party would have been organized for you." The Beta said handing him a glass of old scotch, Damon took a sip.

"There is no need for all of that." He answered in a cold, calculated tone. "What is happening with the vampires David?" He asked looking at his Beta who was way older than him, he had been his father's Beta and since he was good at maintaining the pack, Damon had taken up his Alpha position and maintained him.

"Still being the nuisance they are that is." He replied, anger in his tone.

Damon looked on to the Delta, the leader of the pack's warriors and his oldest friend.

Alex sighed, running a frustrated hand through his hair. "We captured some a week ago but they refused to tell us anything. I fear they're hiding in large numbers and keep sending a few out for a reason we're yet to know."

Murmurs filled the room from the council members at Alex's utterance, and Damon's frown deepened.

It was known that the Vampires had no settlement, they moved around freely and they were the wildest and most dangerous of all other species... They lacked any form of reasoning, all they were capable of was killing, infiltrating, stealing, torturing, and raping.

They never stayed anywhere for too long, or focus on anything for this long in fact. Damon was sure something was behind their prolonged attack on his pack, they were yet to say what they wanted but he knew as well as everyone that if they had their way, his whole pack would be wiped out.

"The ones in the dungeon?" He asked, they had left some captured vampires in the dungeon and killed some, but even the ones that were locked up were stubborn, if there was anything they had, it was the ability to withstand pain no matter the intensity.

"Do you think we should send a call out to their leader?" One of the council members asked. "In exchange for some of their locked up men, we will come to an agreement."

He opened his mouth to speak but Beta David beat him to it. "And increase their army against us? Do you want us all killed?" His thunderous tone asked as he stood up angrily.

"David," Damon called quietly and in a dangerously calm tone.

He bowed his head apologetically. "I apologize," He said and sank back into his seat.

"Go back to your homes, it is late." He said and stood up, he pulled the door and stepped out, the night's breeze pleasing him.

Damon made his way through the thick forest deciding on a walk, it had been long enough since he'd made it through this part and he needed to clear his head. He had to stop thinking about her, his mate.

It felt foreign enough to say it but it was true, he couldn't stop thinking about her and the stealthiness she had displayed. Who the hell was she?

And just as immediately, his thought was cut short as if by summoning and he perceived the change in the air, it was the smell that had filled his head with inexplicable desire.

His head snapped around in search of her when he felt the sharp end of a blade press on his throat drawing blood, the metal glimmered against the moonlight.

"I told you didn't I?" She began, her voice was cold and deadly. "That you will rue the day you met me."