Castiel’s P.O.V
I follow Damien down the long, polished hallway, the air thick with the scent of power—sharp, heavy, impossible to ignore. I keep my gaze low, watching the way the guards stationed along the walls shift when Damien passes. Each one lowers his head in submission, the kind of respect reserved only for someone at the very top of the chain.
The place is a masterpiece of luxury. Marble floors gleam under the soft light of chandeliers, and the walls are lined with ornate gold-framed mirrors and abstract art that probably costs more than I’ve ever make in my entire life. The air smells faintly of cedarwood and leather, a scent so rich it feels like it’s meant to remind you that you don’t belong here.
But what catches my attention is the presence of the men around me—Alphas and Betas, all of them strong, radiating authority and command. Their scents are unmistakable, and I can feel the intensity hummi
Castiel’s P.O.V The moment Damien leaves, the door clicking shut behind him, I feel my knees buckle. I can’t hold it in anymore. Celia is still in my arms when we hit the floor, and I clutch her tight, as if letting go would mean losing everything. My heart pounds against my ribcage, a mess of fear, anger, and relief tangled together.I pull back just enough to check her, running my hands over her arms, her legs, anywhere I can see. “Celia, did anyone hurt you?” My voice is low and shaky, betraying every ounce of the terror I’ve tried to keep buried.She shakes her head, her soft sea-green eyes meeting mine. “No, Cas, I’m okay. No one hurt me, I promise.”I examine her hands, turning them over to check for bruises or cuts, but her skin is smooth. I move to her legs, then her tiny wrists—looking for anything, any sign that these men did what men like them usually do.
Castiel’s P.O.V The next morning, I barely manage to sit up when there’s a knock at the door. Before I can answer, it swings open, and a tall man with blond hair and piercing blue eyes steps inside. He’s dressed casually, but there’s an ease in the way he carries himself that tells me he’s not someone to mess with."Castiel, right?" he asks, giving me a once-over. His voice is smooth, but there’s a sharpness beneath it that puts me on edge."Yeah," I reply, forcing myself to sit straighter.He steps further into the room and leans casually against the doorframe. "I’m Stephan. Damien’s right hand. From now on, I’ll be in charge of you until you’re properly trained. You’ll call me 'sir' if you know what’s good for you."The way he says it sends a chill down my spine. My mouth goes dry, and a sinking feeling settles in my stomach. Another one to obey,
Castiel’s P.O.V “What is it that you needed to ask?”I watch as Dr. Andrea finishes jotting down notes, a frown creasing her brow as she goes over the results once again.“You believe you don’t have any powers?” she finally asks, her voice laced with confusion.“Yeah,” I reply, trying to keep my tone steady, though uncertainty creeps in. “I mean, I’ve never had any powers. I’ve never felt special in any way or form. I’m already twenty-four. If I had any powers, wouldn’t they have manifested by now?”She shakes her head slowly, her expression thoughtful. “Castiel, it doesn’t matter if you have powers or not. As long as you’re an Alpha, you possess strength that surpasses normal humans, omegas, and betas. The rest is just something you can learn through training and practice.”I take a moment to absorb her wor
Castiel’s P.O.V I pause at the doorway with unease, just as I realize that my room is adjacent to Damien’s. And from the looks of it…he had been waiting for me.Is this what Stephan meant when he told me that I had gotten an opportunity that many would die for? That all I needed to do was ‘keep the boss happy’?Damien turns to face me then, a smirk playing on his lips, and I can’t help but feel a flutter of anxiety in my stomach.“Took you long enough, Castiel,” he says, his voice smooth like silk but laced with an undertone that sends a chill down my spine. “I thought you’d bore me to death with all that silence.”I shift my weight from one foot to the other, suddenly acutely aware of my presence in this stunningly decorated space. The reason for my room’s luxury hits me like a punch to the gut. I swallow hard, my nerves fraying. “Um, why…um…do you need me again today?” I ask, my voice faltering slightly. “We already… did it twice yesterday.”Damien’s laughter rings out, rich and mo
Castiel’s P.O.V The room was stifling. No matter how much I breathe, it feels like there’s never enough air. Damien’s hand presses down hard on the back of my neck, and I can feel the heat of his breath right behind my ear. His grip was firm—possessive—and yet it carried that same carelessness I’ve come to hate. Like I belong to him, like I’m just something to be used.And the worst part? I was starting to crave it; I was starting to want his calloused hands on me, taking me in ways I had never imagined before. Damien’s fingers twist through my hair, yanking me down before I even think of resisting. My knees hit the floor with a dull thud, and I wince at the pain that spreads through my legs. His smirk curls in satisfaction above me. The weight of humiliation crushes me before he even says a word. “Open up,” he orders casually, his tone laced with impatience. My eyes went there, to his cock straining through his pants, my mouth going dry.“Can you not do anything properly?” Damien
Castiel’s P.O.V The door clicked shut behind me, and I slumped against it, my body heavy with exhaustion and disgust. My legs ached, and as I shifted my weight, I felt it—sticky, wet, dripping down the inside of my thighs. My stomach churned.I forced myself forward, dragging my feet toward the small bathroom attached to the room they’d given me. I felt disconnected like I was moving underwater, every step weighed down by shame. I didn’t even look in the mirror. I couldn’t bear to see myself like this.Turning on the shower, I stepped under it, since all my clothing was still in Damien’s room, discarded on the floor. The water sputtered to life, and I climbed under the spray without waiting for it to warm. Ice-cold water crashed down over me, but I didn’t care. I needed to wash him off—‘all’ of him.I scrubbed my skin until it burned, dragging the soap across my arms, my chest,
Castiel’s P.O.V I raised both hands, palms out, trying to appear as non-threatening as possible. "I wasn’t sneaking around. I swear. I just—" I paused, scrambling to find the right words. "I just came out for some air. I haven’t been here long, and I couldn’t sleep."The man in the pool didn’t move, floating lazily in the water, his sharp gaze locked on me like a predator sizing up its prey. His silence pressed down on me like a weight, making my throat tighten."I... I work here now," I added quickly, trying to fill the uncomfortable gap. "It’s been a rough day, and I needed a break…so I came out for some air."For a moment, I thought he wasn’t going to respond. Then, with a sudden, smooth motion, he swam to the edge and pulled himself out of the water in one effortless move.That’s when I saw it—the resemblance.Even before he
Castiel’s P.O.V As I followed Stephan away from the pool, the sound of the water splashing behind me faded into the distance. I could still feel the unsettling energy from my encounter with Dominic lingering like an unwelcome ghost. I needed to clear my head, and I hoped talking to Stephan would help."What did he want?" Stephan asked, glancing sideways at me as we walked. His tone was casual, but I could sense the concern underlying his words.I shrugged, trying to sound nonchalant. "He just caught me off guard. I was out here looking for some fresh air, and I guess he decided to come and say hello."“Say hello? More like give you a midnight shower.” Stephan raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying my half-hearted explanation. "You were stalking him, weren’t you?" he teased, a hint of a smile playing at the corners of his mouth.I shook my head, a nervous laugh escaping my lips. "No! I swear. I just stumbled
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
Castiel’s P.O.V Celia clutched her carnival goodies tightly, almost drowning in a sea of toys, looking up at me with her usual wide-eyed excitement. We were standing in front of her school gate, and it was time to say goodbye again, until next time. The Principal stood a few feet away, waiting to escort her inside.“You sure you don’t want to come in with me, Castiel?” she asked, her voice a little hesitant but more excited than anything. “I could show you my classroom! My friends would love to meet you.”I chuckled softly, crouching down to her level. “You go ahead, sweetheart, it’s getting close to bedtime. Go show your friends all those souvenirs you got them.”Her eyes sparkled. “I’m going to tell them all about the big bear I won! I’ll share some of the candy too!” She held up a small bag of candy she’d pocketed from the carnival, smiling proudly at
Castiel’s P.O.V “Hey, I…I’ll be right back,” I told Damien, my voice a little more distant than I meant it to be. He didn’t seem to notice, too wrapped up in Celia’s excitement as she clutched the giant teddy bear to her chest, pointing out more toys for Damien to win. “I’ll just…find the washroom.”Damien gave me a brief nod, his attention already drifting back to the booth where he’d been trying his luck again. “Sure, take your time. I’ll look after Celia.”I forced a smile and nodded, then turned on my heel, walking away from them as quickly as I could without looking suspicious. I didn’t know why I needed to follow that shadowy figure in the crowd, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that something wasn’t right…that I knew that person.I told myself it was probably nothing. A random person in the crowd. Maybe it was just the chaotic atmosphere of the carnival, with its flashing lights and buzzing noise, that was getting to me. But as I pushed through the crowd, scanning every face I