Chapter 3

TRIGGER WARNING : BLOOD, BLOOD AND DEATH.

The stench of sweat, blood and smoke grew thick in the air.

Damien looked at the victim suspended from the ceiling screaming in agony, her body a testament to the torture she had endured. 

“Your partner is dead, Anna,” Damien took a long drag from the cigarette. “There's no one alive anymore but you.”

And he was right. Six bodies laid limp on the bloody floor. Anna shook her head, tears welling up in her eyes. 

“It was Mike!”

“But Mike said it was you.” Damien corked his head to the right. 

Anna fought exhaustion as her body swayed. Her eyes dropped and she nearly closed them.

The sound of a gunshot echoed in the room and Maya's blood ran cold. Her mouth went round in shock as she realized Damien had missed. 

“It wasn't me,” She screamed through tears. “I didn't mess up the shipment. Please, I'm innocent.” 

“Aren't we all?” Damien threw a kick at her stomach, sending her crashing to the floor. She fell with a loud thud and groaned in pain. When she noticed him approaching her, she began to crawl, her finger scraping the bare ground leaving behind a bloody trail. 

Damien laughed a cold, mirthless laugh as he stomped his boot on her back. 

“Someone got a hold of my shipment before me, Sweet Ann. Who leaked that info? And don't say no ‘coz it's gotta be you.” 

Anna rolled over on her back, glaring right at him. 

“I'll never tell you!”

“Oh well,” Damien withdrew his boot. “At least I tried.”

Immediately, the sound of a gunshot echoed around the room. 

Damien turned on his heels, pocketing his gun.

Asher came up behind him. 

“Marcus Draven got a hold of the shipment before we did. The Vixen pack now has a stock of weapons we don't.”

Damien clicked his tongue in annoyance. 

“Find out the rest of the traitors and get rid of them.”

“Yes, sir.” Asher replied with a nod.

Damien made an angry huff as he walked to the black BMV waiting for him. It was time to meet this new bride. 

The BMV arrived at the castle shortly.

The driver stepped out of the car to hold the backdoor open for his boss. 

A polished black shoe emerged from the sleek, black car, followed by a tailored trouser leg, and finally, the commanding figure of Damien, the Mafia Lycan King. He made way to the entrance of the house, the sound of his shoe echoing through the chilly night air. 

“Welcome home, Your Majesty.” The guards flanking the front door bowed their heads as he arrived.

“Hmm.” Damien muttered as he entered the house.

He was greeted by a porcelain skinned woman donning a white laced gown. Her chiseled features and piercing emerald-gray eyes meet him. 

Her full red lips curled into a smile and she opened her arms. 

“Welcome home, son.” Damien walked into her embrace, hugging her back. 

“Thank you, mother.” 

They both pulled away from the hug.  

"I believe you all are famished and tired from the trip. How about a nice warm bath and then a meal with your new wife?” Luna Rosella patted her son's arm and he gave a careless shoulder shrug.

“Oh, come on, Damien.” Rosella patted his arm loudly this time. “You left her alone on the altar. Meeting her is the least you could do right now.” 

“Fine.” Damien muttered, taking the silver staircase on the left. “Where is she?”

“Why, your bedroom of course,” his mother called back. “You're a couple now.”

Damien clicked his tongue in annoyance and made his way to his bedroom.

He arrived at the door and pushed it open, expecting a strange woman probably asleep or waiting patiently on the couch but the room was empty. 

“There’s no one here.” he entered the room and shut the door behind him.   

A sweet scent filled the air and he sniffed it. 

“Lavender and strawberries…” his voice trailed off. “Someone was here.”

His footsteps echoed in the polished hardwood floor as he walked further rinto the master suite of a room. 

His eyes lingered on a white sleeping gown lying on one of the leather armchairs.

“She's here after all.” he smiled, taking off his shoes.

Meanwhile, Maya occupied the en suite, singing her favorite lullaby as she showered. 

She had waited patiently for her so-called husband to show up for dinner but he hadn't. Tired and really stressed, she decided to hit the sack but agreed to shower first. 

Warm water sprang from the showerhead and she closed her eyes as she massaged her scalp. 

As she washed, she felt eyes on her but completely ignored it. 

‘There’s no one here but you, Maya. Get a grip.’ She told herself.

When she was done showering, she pushed the glass shower door backwards and her jaws dropped to the floor. 

Before Damien would say a word, Maya screamed as loud as she could, drawing the shower door again.

“Get out of my room!” She crossed her hand over her naked chest.

“You do know that the doors are transparent, right?” Damien's lips curved in a smile. Maya froze. 

“They're what?”

Damien snorted a laugh, almost doubling over. 

“I'll call security! Get away from here!” Panic rose in Maya's chest as she saw the man's silhouette approach the door.

“Security?” His hand caught the sliding door but it wouldn't move. He smiled again when he realized she was holding it back.

“Go away!” Maya screamed again. 

“No.” He finally slid the door open and Maya stumbled back in shock. Not only because she was terrified but also, enthralled. 

The half naked man standing before her was a six foot Greek god. His emerald-gray eyes were the most fascinating thing she'd ever seen. His hair as dark as midnight cascaded down his shoulders in wavy masses. Even though his eyes were cold and almost soulless, he was devilishly handsome. 

Maya felt her cheeks turn red and she looked down. 

“W - who are you?”

He lifted her chin with a finger and smirked. 

“You seem delighted to see, wife.”

Maya's eyes almost bulged out of their sockets. 

“What?”