***************CHAPTER 30~Damon’s POV~Once I ensured Arianna was inside and locked away, I descended the penthouse via the elevator swiftly. My senses were razor-sharp, heightened by the adrenaline pumping through me.Mars growled in the back of my mind in a low rumble. “They shouldn’t have come this close. They’ve overstepped.”“Trust me, they’ll regret it,” I muttered aloud, my voice laced with cold fury.As I stepped into the open, the ir carried the faint scent of intruders. My eyes scanned the shadows cast by the towering estate walls. There—movement. Two figures, quickly slipping through the dense tree line bordering the property.“Xander,” I mindlinked. “Two intruders, north perimeter. Cut them off. I’ll flush them toward you.”“On it,” Xander replied.With Xander, I did not have problem with ensuring things were okay as the latter was always around me and knowing everything I wanted like a sixth sense.Without hesitation, I followed the faint trail the intruders had left—br
***************CHAPTER 31~Damon’s POV~The next day, I refused to keep Arianna cooked up at home and took her with me to work. As we drove to work, Arianna sat quietly beside me as the engine hummed. She stared out the window, her arms crossed. Her silence was a shield, but I could feel her unease, the residual tension from the events of the previous day.Mars stirred in the back of my mind. “She knows more than she lets on. It’s time, Damon.”I gripped the steering wheel tighter. “Not now.”“If not now, then when? She’s our mate, and the longer you wait, the more you risk losing her.”Mars wasn’t wrong. The glimpses of suspicion and confusion in Arianna’s eyes last night haunted me. But telling her the truth about what I was—what we were—felt like crossing a line I couldn’t uncross.For now, I focused on the day ahead. Bringing her to work as my assistant was a move aimed at keeping her close, ensuring her safety, and keeping Luca's men at bay.We arrived at the office and immedi
***************CHAPTER 32~Arianna’s POV~I had immersed myself in the tasks he gave me for the next few hours. Surprisingly, I managed to keep up with his demanding pace, my stubbornness fueling me. If he thought I’d crumble under pressure, he was sorely mistaken. Despite everything, I couldn't escape the sensation of constant observation. Every time I glanced up, Damon’s sharp eyes were on me, studying me as if I were a puzzle he couldn’t quite solve.Ever since the previous day, I couldn't shake the possibility that there was so much more with him. And just that thought made me self-conscious. With everything going on, my thoughts immediately turned to my boyfriend, whom I hadn't seen in a long time.For some reason, with every second I spent with Damon, the more distant my feelings became for my boyfriend. I shook my head. It was just Damon’s overwhelming presence and arrogant attitude. Still, why was only his thought circling my mind?And to make matters worse, each time he
***************CHAPTER 33~Arianna’s POV~The guttural growl that tore from my throat was so foreign, so primal, that for a moment, I thought it couldn’t possibly have come from me. But it had.I gasped, staring wide-eyed at the men surrounding me. Their faces twisted in shock and fear, their weapons faltering in their hands.“What the hell—” one of them stammered.Before he could finish, a sharp, searing pain tore through my body. I screamed as my bones cracked and shifted, my muscles burning like fire coursing through them.“What’s happening to me?” I managed to choke out, clutching my head as I easily broke the rope binding my hands."I’ll protect you."The voice slithered into my mind, dangerous and feminine, yet oddly comforting. It wasn’t mine, but it felt like it belonged—a part of me I hadn’t known existed until now.My vision blurred, the edges darkening as my body began to change. Sharp fangs pushed past my gums. I could feel how lethal they were. My fingers elongated into
***************CHAPTER 34~Arianna’s POV~Everything still felt new and strange.The moonlight streamed through the window, bathing my room in a pale, eerie glow. I sat on the edge of the bed, my knees drawn to my chest, staring blankly at the wall. My mind swirled with everything that had happened, the weight of it all pressing down on me like a suffocating blanket.A wolf. I’m a werewolf.Even thinking the words felt impossible like I was trying to convince myself of some absurd fairytale. But the memory of my claws tearing through the skin, of the raw power surging through me, made denial impossible.I thought I had Damon figured out—that his secret was the end of the story. But it wasn’t. It was just the beginning, and now I was tangled in a web I didn’t understand.A sudden knock at the door startled me, and my heart raced.Before I could answer, the door swung open, revealing Damon. His presence filled the room, his broad shoulders and piercing gaze commanding attention."You
***************CHAPTER 35~Arianna’s POV~The next morning, the sun poured through the tall windows of Damon’s office, casting long shadows over the polished surfaces. I sat stiffly at my desk, forcing myself to focus on the reports Damon had left for me.After last night, I wasn’t sure how I felt about him—or myself. The dark room, his possessive words, the way he growled—it was all too much. However, a flicker of defiance much stronger than before consumed me instead of fear.If Damon thought he could scare me into submission, he had another thing coming.The sound of sharp heels clicking against the marble floor drew my attention. I looked up just as the door swung open, revealing the young lady I saw in Damon’s arms just yesterday.My mood dropped a big notch. I did not know why the sight of them together unnerved me. Was it because he always claimed I was his and would even let me speak to my boyfriend while he was busy flirting with his whores in my face? Tsk. I shook my head
***************CHAPTER 36~Damon’s POV~As investors argued over projections, the conference room was filled with heated discussions. I could hardly hear their voices over the din. I was physically present but mentally adrift. My thoughts replayed last night’s events, each moment sharper than the last.The image of Arianna crying in the cold room was seared into my mind.Mars had been relentless, his growls of disapproval echoing in my head. “You’re a monster, Damon. She’s your mate! She was breaking, and you let her!”“It wasn’t about anger,” I’d muttered under my breath in the solitude of my study. “I thought her wolf would emerge to protect her. I thought…”Mars had snarled at my feeble justification. “You thought wrong. That wasn’t her wolf saving her—that was her breaking, Damon. You did that.”In frustration, I’d turned to the surveillance feed, needing to see her, to convince myself she wasn’t as fragile as Mars claimed. I’d watched as she sat huddled in the corner, her arms
***************CHAPTER 37~Arianna’s POV~The ride back home was tense. Silent. Every passing moment felt heavier with silence and unresolved emotions.Damon tried to speak once, his deep voice cutting through the quiet. “Arianna…”I didn’t respond. I kept my gaze fixed out the window, watching the world blur by.Since I mentioned my boyfriend—Henry—yesterday. The very mention had sent Damon into a fit of rage, one I’d grown accustomed to since stepping into his life. But his control over the narrative and his belief in his ability to dictate my choices infuriated me with defiance.This time, though, it was different.I had a plan.When we pulled into the estate, I slipped out of the car before Damon could say anything more, ignoring the feeling of his gaze burning into my back.The moment I reached my room, I locked the door, heading straight for the shower. The hot water cascaded over me, washing away the grime of the day but not the tangled mess of my thoughts.Since last night, I
***************~Damon’s POV~Damon didn’t move, didn’t flinch, as I closed the distance between us. My heart pounded, each beat a whisper of hesitation, of something I didn’t fully understand.“C-Can I?” I asked softly, barely above a whisper. My hand hovered in the space between us, close but not touching.He didn’t respond right away. His dark eyes locked onto mine, searching—maybe for my intent, maybe for something else. Then, after what felt like forever, he gave a small nod.I exhaled shakily and reached out. My fingertips grazed his skin, featherlight as they brushed over the bruise on his ribs. Damon tensed under my touch but didn’t pull away.Gently, I traced the edges of each mark, my fingers gliding over the discolored patches of skin on his abdomen, the faint scars on his chest. My touch was careful, reverent, as if I could erase the pain they carried by simply being soft with him."Do they still hurt?" I murmured.Damon shook his head. “Physically, no,” he admitted. His v
*****************CHAPTER 68~Damon’s POV~I swallowed past the lump in my throat, my fingers twitching at my sides. My anger had burned out like a candle in the wind, leaving only this—raw, aching silence between us.Slowly, almost hesitantly, I took a step forward. Then another.Damon didn’t move, didn’t flinch, as I closed the distance between us. My heart pounded, each beat a whisper of hesitation, of something I didn’t fully understand.“C-Can I?” I asked softly, barely above a whisper. My hand hovered in the space between us, close but not touching.He didn’t respond right away. His dark eyes locked onto mine, searching—maybe for my intent, maybe for something else. Then, after what felt like forever, he gave a small nod.I exhaled shakily and reached out. My fingertips grazed his skin, featherlight as they brushed over the bruise on his ribs. Damon tensed under my touch but didn’t pull away.Gently, I traced the edges of each mark, my fingers gliding over the discolored patches
*****************CHAPTER 67~Arianna’s POV~I followed Damon through the dense trees, my legs aching with every step. My body was still weak from the brutal training, but curiosity kept me moving.“Where’s this place?” I asked, scanning the area as we emerged into a clearing.The air here was heavier, filled with something unspoken. The ground was packed dirt, uneven and scarred, as if countless battles had taken place here. Wooden dummies, worn and splintered, stood in a jagged row. Rusted chains dangled from a thick iron post, the metal stained a dark crimson. Against the farthest wall, an array of weapons hung—knives, whips, staffs, and even crude spiked bats.“This was where I used to train when I was young…” Damon’s voice was quiet, almost distant. “With my father.”I froze. Damon barely talked about his father. Hearing him mention the man so casually made my stomach twist. I turned to look at him, but he wasn’t looking at me. His gaze was fixed on something only he could see—s
*****************CHAPTER 67~Arianna’s POV~I followed Damon through the dense trees, my legs aching with every step. My body was still weak from the brutal training, but curiosity kept me moving.“Where’s this place?” I asked, scanning the area as we emerged into a clearing.The air here was heavier, filled with something unspoken. The ground was packed dirt, uneven and scarred, as if countless battles had taken place here. Wooden dummies, worn and splintered, stood in a jagged row. Rusted chains dangled from a thick iron post, the metal stained a dark crimson. Against the farthest wall, an array of weapons hung—knives, whips, staffs, and even crude spiked bats.“This was where I used to train when I was young…” Damon’s voice was quiet, almost distant. “With my father.”I froze. Damon barely talked about his father. Hearing him mention the man so casually made my stomach twist. I turned to look at him, but he wasn’t looking at me. His gaze was fixed on something only he could see—s
*****************CHAPTER 66~Sterling’s POV~The dimly lit room reeked of aged wood and power—a private lounge reserved only for the elites of the werewolf world. I leaned back in the leather armchair, swirling a glass of blood-red wine in my hand, my lips curving into a slow smile.“Your little stunt worked perfectly,” I said, glancing at the woman across from me.Trisha Don Mars.She sat on the edge of the couch, her legs crossed, looking every bit the picture of confidence and poise. Her lips curled into that signature smirk of hers, one that dripped with malice and self-satisfaction.She was beautiful in her own selfish way, and I loved her for it. Most ladies hid under his naive look while masking their true colours but Trisha showed them. She was not afraid to be seen as selfish, wicked, and all that. I mean, it was all in us and the greed of men was insatiable. At least with this kind of ally, you know what drives them and makes them who they are, and if you can work with t
*****************The dimly lit room reeked of aged wood and power—a private lounge reserved only for the elites of the werewolf world. I leaned back in the leather armchair, swirling a glass of blood-red wine in my hand, my lips curving into a slow smile.“Your little stunt worked perfectly,” I said, glancing at the woman across from me.Trisha Don Mars.She sat on the edge of the couch, her legs crossed, looking every bit the picture of confidence and poise. Her lips curled into that signature smirk of hers, one that dripped with malice and self-satisfaction.“Of course it worked,” she replied, taking a sip of her own drink. “Arianna’s cracking, isn’t she?”I chuckled. “She’s human—what did you expect? Damon’s pushing her to the edge, and even he knows she won’t survive the Luna Trials. It’s just a matter of time before she breaks.”“And when she does,” Trisha said, her voice soft but venomous, “Damon will finally realize what a mistake it was to choose her.”Her fingers traced the
**************CHAPTER 73~Kaia’s POV~The house was quiet, eerily so. Blaze had left for work early in the morning, telling me to stay behind since his grandmother was still here. I had spent most of the morning in the living room, flipping through magazines and trying to keep my thoughts from drifting to the events of the past few days, especially this morning in the bathroom with him. Just that already brought thoughts of our intense fucking. Umm, well, lovemaking and even though Blaze could act like it was nothing or it didn’t happen. It did for me and might I say, it was the best I ever had.I sighed, my shoulders slouching. No matter how hard I tried, my curiosity kept tugging at me, leading me to one place: the room, Blaze’s secret room.I stood up and walked away. First to the kitchen and then to the swimming pool and then… I was so deep in my thoughts that I didn’t even realise where I was walking to.It wasn’t intentional, or so I told myself. My feet moved on their own,
*****************CHAPTER 63~Arianna’s POV~I did not bother arguing when Damon said we should train. All I wanted was a way to survive two weeks from now. If whatever he had planned for me could do it. Then, so be it. Damon led me down a long hallway, past some offices and through a heavy steel door at the back of the penthouse.The moment we stepped inside, my breath hitched.The room was massive—a full-blown training facility. Dim overhead lights cast long shadows over the walls, filled with rows of weapons. Silver daggers. Guns with silver bullets. Chains, cuffs, throwing stars, and even an entire wall of swords.I swallowed hard. This wasn’t just a training room.This felt like a war zone.Damon strode toward the center without a second glance at the weapons. “Your gear,” he said, tossing something at me.I caught it clumsily, looking down to find a pair of black leather trousers, a bralette, a tank top, and a simple hair tie.I arched a brow. “Seriously?”Damon smirked. “You’l
*****************CHAPTER 63~Arianna’s POV~I did not bother arguing when Damon said we should train. All I wanted was a way to survive two weeks from now. If whatever he had planned for me could do it. Then, so be it. Damon led me down a long hallway, past some offices and through a heavy steel door at the back of the penthouse.The moment we stepped inside, my breath hitched.The room was massive—a full-blown training facility. Dim overhead lights cast long shadows over the walls, filled with rows of weapons. Silver daggers. Guns with silver bullets. Chains, cuffs, throwing stars, and even an entire wall of swords.I swallowed hard. This wasn’t just a training room.This felt like a war zone.Damon strode toward the center without a second glance at the weapons. “Your gear,” he said, tossing something at me.I caught it clumsily, looking down to find a pair of black leather trousers, a bralette, a tank top, and a simple hair tie.I arched a brow. “Seriously?”Damon smirked. “You’l