Castiel’s P.O.V Hours had passed since the chaos of the chase, yet here I was, back at the mansion, sitting on the cold floor of my room, lost in my thoughts. The silence around me felt oppressive, like a heavy blanket pressing down on my chest. I leaned back against the wall, trying to steady my breathing, but all I could see were flashes of the day’s events playing over and over in my mind.The moment the van had crashed was etched into my memory. The sickening sound of metal crumpling, the way the explosion had shaken the whole road. I could still see the smoke and the fire, the panic on everyone’s face who had witnessed the accident.And then, just like that, it was over. A life lost, snuffed out in an instant because of everything that had spiraled out of control today.I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to push away the images, but they lingered like a bad dream. The woman, the notorious gambler, had finally paid for her crimes, but at what cost? Two people had died because of our
Castiel’s P.O.V I followed Stephan down the narrow staircase into the basement for training the next day. The air smelled like sweat and sawdust, and faint sounds of grunts and shouts echoed through the walls. My heart thudded in my chest. I knew today was the first real step toward proving I belonged, but part of me wondered if I was ready for it.We entered a massive training room, and I immediately felt a dozen pairs of eyes zero in on me. Conversations stopped mid-sentence. The weight of their stares pressed on me like a boulder, making it hard to breathe.Stephan gave me a sideways glance. "Just keep moving, Castiel. Don’t show any signs of unease."Easier said than done. Their expressions ranged from cold glares to barely concealed scowls. Some looked confused, others outright pissed off. I could practically feel the hostility hanging in the air like a storm cloud ready to burst. I clenched my fists, h
Castiel’s P.O.V The cold water hit my face like a slap, shocking my system as Damien’s hand pressed me hard against the bathroom counter. I gasped, sputtering as droplets ran down my cheeks and into my collar. His grip on the back of my neck was unrelenting, fingers digging in just enough to remind me how much control he had.He leaned close, his voice low and sharp. “You think it’s fun trying to disobey me, Castiel?”I jerked my head away from the stream of water, blinking furiously to clear my eyes. “I wasn’t disobeying you,” I muttered, shivering from both the water and his presence. “I was just trying to state my opinion.”He scoffed, the sound cold and mocking. “Your opinion?” Damien’s fingers tightened, dragging me upright so I had to meet his gaze. His eyes were dark and unwavering, full of the kind of danger that left no room for argument. “You&rs
Damien’s P.O.V “Go ahead,” I said, my voice low but firm.He obeyed without hesitation, dropping to his knees in front of me. Since his hands were bound, I deftly worked to unbutton my shirt, sliding it off my shoulders with reverence. My pants followed, and I leaned back, spreading my legs slightly to invite him closer. Castiel’s touch was soft, deliberate—he knew what I liked, knew how to make me unravel with subtle ease.I exhaled sharply, gripping the counter at the side as his lips brushed over my skin. He worked slow, deliberately, dragging every second out as if savoring it, making me feel every breath, every flicker of heat. Castiel wasn’t just following orders—he took pleasure in this, and I could tell. It wasn’t just my control over him that fueled this moment; he desired to please me, to become lost in that act.But then something changed. I saw it in the tension that ran through
Castiel’s P.O.V The hum of Damien's private jet was oddly soothing, a steady vibration beneath my boots as I sat opposite him. He was sipping his usual scotch, cool and composed, as always. For someone about to negotiate with a rival gang, Damien carried himself with the ease of a man walking into a friendly poker game.I, on the other hand, was anything but relaxed. My shoulders were tense, and I kept my eyes on the window, scanning the clouds as though danger could leap from them. This was my first time playing bodyguard, but with Damien involved, things were always unpredictable.A week had passed since that incident on the training arena, but after a couple days of recovery, when I had headed back to the training room, there had been an odd hush in the area as soon as I had entered, and for some reason, Felix, the guy who had nearly pounded me to the dirt, had taken a sudden sick leave.I didn’t need to know the specifics
Damien’s P.O.V I stared at Castiel, my eyes narrowing, something inside me twisting with an unfamiliar, seething rage.It wasn’t like the anger I felt when one of my men made a mistake—no, this was different. This was something deeper, something raw and volatile that seemed to come from a place I didn’t recognize. It was almost like a burning pressure in my chest, too intense to ignore, and I could feel it rising with every second that Castiel’s earlier words kept reverberating in my mind.‘Does that make it okay... for me to fuck someone else?’I clenched my fists, trying to push the fury back down. I had no idea why I was feeling like this. Why was I so angry? It wasn’t like I’d never been upset with someone before. I had fired men, disciplined them, and crossed lines that I knew shouldn’t be crossed—but I had never felt this before. This wasn’t just frustration; this was something else entirely.“Don’t test my patience, Castiel,” I growled, my voice low but thick with the weight o
Castiel’s P.O.V I stepped out of the room, my heart thundering in my chest from having just escaped Damien’s clutches, but now…I had no idea where I was going.The corridors stretched out in front of me like a labyrinth, and I couldn’t see any sign of the familiar landmarks I had passed earlier. I cursed under my breath, wishing I hadn’t left my cell phone in my bag. It would’ve made things so much easier to just call Stephan and get me.But looking back at Damien’s shut door, I shook my head, backing away quietly. There was no way in hell I was going back into the lion’s den, no matter how desperate I was.I tried retracing my steps, but the marble floors and high, vaulted ceilings made everything look the same. The palace—no, mansion—was far bigger than I had imagined when we first arrived. My footsteps echoed loudly in the stillness, and it was almost unnerving like I was walking in such an eerie silence, with not a single soul in sight.I peered down a side hallway, hoping to spo
Castiel’s P.O.V Stephan was halfway through unpacking when I walked in. His long fingers expertly arranged his things on the table, and despite the calm exterior, I could see the tension in his posture. He looked up as I stepped inside, raising an eyebrow.“You’re done already?” he asked, his voice light, but there was that underlying curiosity in his eyes. “With the boss, I mean. How’d you do it so quickly?”I ran a hand through my hair, the movement almost automatic. The ‘meeting’ with Damien had left a bitter taste in my mouth. I had initially thought the same as Stephan, that he was calling me in for a quick release, or perhaps something to talk about. However, things had gone horribly wrong thanks to me and my stupid mouth.I could still feel it. His fingers wrapped around my neck, thick and choking. He had wanted me to submit, like I already hadn't sacrificed all of my dignity a
Castiel’s P.O.V The water rippled softly around my toes as I let my feet dangle in the pool. The evening air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of jasmine from the garden behind me. Overhead, the stars were beginning to dot the sky, their quiet brilliance a stark contrast to the unease swirling in my mind. Stephan had told me earlier that we were heading to a casino opening this weekend—a party hosted by someone dangerous. The word “dangerous” hung over me like a storm cloud, especially after how the auction involving Reed had went down. I’d asked him why Damien would even consider going to an event hosted by an enemy, but Stephan, true to form, had only offered a vague, “I’ll explain later.”So now, I was here, waiting for him by the pool, trying to enjoy the view and push down the uneasy questions clawing at my thoughts. The mansion looked breathtaking at night, its grand arches illuminated by soft golden lights. The gardens behind me were alive with the gentle hum of crickets an
Damien’s P.O.V I sat on the examination table, the sterile smell of the clinic mixing with the faint scent of Andrea’s lavender hand sanitizer. The room was painfully quiet except for the rhythmic tap of her pen against her clipboard. She’d been running her tests for the last hour and a half, and while I had no doubts about my physical recovery, I knew Andrea well enough to realize she wasn’t only concerned with my body.“How am I doing, doc?” I asked, forcing a smirk. “Can I go save the world, or should I start drafting my will?”Andrea glanced up from her clipboard, her sharp eyes narrowing slightly. “Physically? You’re fine. The bullet wound has healed beautifully. Your reflexes and strength are back to where they should be. But—” She paused, and I could already feel the weight of what was coming. “I’m not so sure about you mentally.”I exhaled slowly, leaning back against the chair. “You think I can’t handle seeing Gabriel again.”Andrea’s brow furrowed, and she crossed her arms.
Castiel’s P.O.V As we made our way back to my room, the adrenaline from the confrontation with Dominic started to wear off, leaving me feeling like I had just run a marathon. My legs were still a little shaky, but the worst part was the nagging feeling of unease that wouldn't leave me.Stephan walked beside me, his usual calm demeanor in place, but there was a small smirk tugging at his lips. I could tell he was impressed by how I’d handled Dominic, even though I knew deep down that I wasn’t as confident as I’d let on.“That was impressive,” Stephan said, breaking the silence as we reached the door. “I didn’t think you had it in you to stand up to him like that.”I gave a small chuckle, shaking my head as I opened the door to my room. “Don’t be fooled, Stephan. I was scared as hell. Dominic’s a damn Special Alpha, and he can control water. The guy’s dangerous,
Castiel’s P.O.V I could feel the tension in the air before Dominic even moved, but when he slid into the pool with that damn smirk still plastered on his face and still fully clothed, I knew things were about to get complicated. He was the kind of person who thrived on making everything a game. And right now? I wasn’t in the mood to play.I exchanged a glance with Stephan, his face tightening as he noticed the same thing I did.“We should get out of here now,” I muttered, my voice low but urgent. I began to push myself up out of the water, my muscles stiff from the training earlier.But as I moved to pull my leg out of the pool, something strange happened. It felt like the water was… resisting me. Not in a natural way, like the usual drag of the water, but like something was *holding* me down. I froze, trying again, but no matter how hard I pulled, my leg wouldn’t budge.“Stephan,”
Castiel’s P.O.V The sun beat down relentlessly as I made my way to the pool with Stephan by my side. My muscles were aching from the morning’s brutal training session. Damien had been particularly relentless, barking orders like he had something to prove. Not that it was unusual for him, but today it felt like he was carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.I didn’t know what kind of conversation Damien had had with Stephan last night, but it had definitely put him in a bad mood.I glanced at Stephan, who looked just as worn out, though he carried it with his usual nonchalance. He stretched his arms over his head, his tank top damp with sweat. “Pool’s gonna feel amazing right about now,” he muttered, tugging at the strap of his bag.“Yeah,” I agreed, wiping the back of my neck. My mind, however, was elsewhere. Specifically, it was stuck on the conversation I’d walked out of
Damien’s P.O.VFor a moment, the world around me felt muted. The invitation in my hand seemed heavier than it had any right to be, the weight pressing into my palm as if it carried all the ghosts I’d tried to bury. Elijah. Gabriel. Their names might as well have been written in blood.I stared at the card, my vision tunneling on the elegant, mocking script. *The Black Mirage. Grand Opening.* The words were etched in gold, but all I could see was red.“Damien?” Stephan’s voice cut through the fog, tentative, cautious.The sound jolted me, and I threw the card onto my desk as though it had burned me. The motion was sharp, almost violent, and the card fluttered for a moment before landing flat against the polished wood. I turned my back to Stephan, needing to hide the storm I knew was written all over my face.I felt his hesitation behind me before he spoke. “Should I decline the invitation?”
Damien’s P.O.V The warmth of Castiel’s body left mine as he stepped away, and I immediately felt its absence like a cold draft seeping into the room. My arms hung awkwardly at my sides, and disappointment flickered through me. Castiel avoided my eyes, his posture tense.I forced myself to focus on Stephan, who stood frozen in the doorway, a nervous energy radiating off him like heat from a flame. His gaze darted to Castiel and back to me, clearly realizing he’d walked in at the worst possible time.“There better be a good reason for this interruption,” I said, my voice cold and steady, though irritation laced every word.Stephan shifted uncomfortably, his usual confidence noticeably absent. “I… uh… it’s important,” he stammered, glancing at Castiel again like he was debating whether to speak in front of him.I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose. “Castiel,&rdqu
Damien’s P.O.V I’ve seen Castiel put on a brave face for as long as I’ve known him. Always composed, always in control, like he carried the world on his shoulders but never let it crush him. But tonight, as I stood there holding him, I realized just how much weight he’d been carrying.“Hey,” I whispered, tightening my arms around him. His body was warm but trembling against mine. “What’s wrong? Castiel, talk to me.”At first, he didn’t say anything. His head was pressed against my chest, and I could feel the uneven rhythm of his breathing. His fingers curled into the fabric of my shirt like he was anchoring himself, like if he let go, he might drift away.“It’s nothing,” he muttered, his voice barely audible. “I’m fine.”I didn’t buy that for a second. “You’re not fine.” I pulled back just enough to tilt his chin
Castiel’s P.O.V The emerald on the ring caught the faint light of the room as I turned my hand again, watching how the gem gleamed like it was alive. I couldn’t stop staring. My finger felt strange, heavy with the weight of something so valuable. My throat tightened every time I remembered the price the auctioneer had mentioned to me. Two million dollars.Two. Million.“You’re going to bore a hole through that thing with how hard you’re staring at it.” Damien’s voice was calm and teasing as he stepped out of the closet, already dressed in a casual attire. “It’s just a ring, Cas.”“Just a ring?” I blurted, finally tearing my gaze away to glare at him. “This is two million dollars sitting on my finger, Damien. Do you have any idea how ridiculous that is? Who spends that kind of money on a ring?”“You’re acting like I handed you a Faberg&e