**********Chapter 7I yawned, covering my lips with my hand, when Damon stared daggers in my direction. I had learned the hard way that Damon’s words were absolute.Why he had me awake by 6:30 was still a mystery to me as I stood there before a few maidservants, each having their head high, hands behind their back, and clothes neat.“Meet Ari,” Damon’s voice rang with authority as he waved his hand toward me, his eyes narrowing slightly. “She’ll be joining us for breakfast. After that, I’ll be taking her shopping.”Shopping? I blinked, almost certain I hadn’t heard him right. But before I could question it, Damon was already on the move, gesturing for me to follow him to the dining room.Left with little to no choice, I did and soon found myself seated before the best delicious meal I had ever seen in my life. My stomach churned in response, clearly happy with the appetizers staring at me.Breakfast was a quiet affair, mostly because Damon seemed entirely uninterested in making conve
***************CHAPTER 8I entered the elevator heading to the penthouse and immediately the sound signalled a stop, I stepped out while Arianna walked just a step behind me. She kept quiet, but I felt her gaze burning into my back, simmering with that familiar defiance she didn’t bother to hide. We’d barely crossed the door when a passing servant stopped, head bowed as he said, “Sir, you have a call waiting on line six.”I gave a slight nod, then turned to Arianna. “Go to your room and stay there. I won’t be long.” My voice was low, leaving no room for argument.She narrowed her eyes at me, still clearly displeased. But, for once, she didn’t argue, which was good. I didn’t have the energy for that right now. With one last pointed look, she turned on her heel and disappeared down the corridor. I watched her go, appreciating the way she held her head high even when she was fuming. Once she was out of sight, I turned and headed for my study.Once inside, I settled into the leather ch
***************CHAPTER 9I laid the last piece of clothing down on the bed and took a step back, surveying the ridiculous amount of clothes Damon had bought for me. From daring dresses to lacy undergarments, each item seemed to scream a challenge, pushing boundaries I wasn’t even sure I had. I hadn’t ever worn clothes like this in my life but when Damon picked each, he seemed to have me as a target in his mind. I reached down, picking up a dark red dress that looked like it belonged to someone bolder, someone who didn’t mind being seen. My fingers brushed over the soft, luxurious fabric, and I couldn’t stop the small thrill that raced up my spine.Shaking my head, I tossed the dress aside, eyeing the black lingerie set sitting neatly on top of its box. The delicate lace seemed to mock me, and I felt a mix of dread and, embarrassingly, curiosity. I could practically hear Damon’s voice in my head, his cold command from the boutique still fresh in my mind. ‘You’ll wear these for
***************CHAPTER 10~Trisha’s POV~I sat back in the plush leather chair, eyes closed as the stylist worked on my hair. The faint hum of the dryer and the scent of perfume mixed with hairspray filled the salon, a soothing routine I usually enjoyed. But my calm was short-lived as my phone buzzed on the counter beside me. I reached for it, answering without checking the caller ID, expecting it to be my P.A. with updates for the day.“Miss Trisha,” came a hesitant voice—a familiar one from Damon’s house staff. “I thought you’d want to know... Mr. Dark brought in a new guest.”My grip tightened around the phone. “A guest?” I repeated, feigning indifference. “What kind of guest?”“A woman,” the staff member replied, her voice lowering as if to keep the conversation discreet. “He brought her in from Arthdal Strike. She’s… an exclusive, apparently.”My jaw clenched, but I forced my tone to remain neutral. “Did he now?” I murmured, a slight tremor betraying my restraint. “This exclus
***************CHAPTER 11~Arianna’s POV~As much as I didn’t want to eavesdrop, I did. His tone changed with every sentence that left his lips, his irritation becoming more evident than before. Damon’s cold dismissal replayed in my mind as I lay in bed that night. After sending me to my room without so much as an explanation, he’d locked himself away, leaving me alone with nothing but my thoughts and the unsettling memories of the day. Until now, I had no phone, nothing connecting me to the world outside his estate. And it was becoming boring.I had a boyfriend and a close friend and I know by now they'd be wondering where I was and if I was okay. Just thinking about it made my heart ache. I am sure they'll have tried reaching me through my uncle but…I shook my head. All this was just because of Damon and my Uncle.There was no escaping the way his presence invaded every part of my mind. Everything about him demanded control, even in his silence.The next morning came with an ea
***************CHAPTER 12~Damon’s POV~The moment I heard the gasp, Mars stirred in my mind, his low growl vibrating with urgency. “Our mate is here,” he alerted me, his voice sharp and clear.I spun, my eyes catching sight of Arianna at the cracked door before she disappeared, her shadow slipping back up the stairs. I barely heard the guards behind me—Mars was seething, pushing forward with a fury that made my skin tingle. After a cold nod to my men, instructing them to continue, I left the room, taking slow, steady steps towards the entrance of the underground house.When I reached Arianna’s room, I saw Xander standing far too close to her, his hand tilted under her chin, his smirk too easy, too familiar. Mars growled in my mind, ready to devour our friend for daring to touch what was ours. A flash of possessiveness surged through me, and before I knew it, I’d crossed the space between us.“What the hell are you doing with my m—” I caught myself, clenching my jaw before the wo
***************CHAPTER 13~Arianna’s POV~I stood in front of the mirror, reluctantly smoothing down the shimmering navy-blue gown Damon had picked. The fabric hugged my curves, clinging to my skin with a snugness that felt both foreign and oddly electric. The gown stopped daringly above my mid-thigh, its sleeveless neckline dipping just low enough to leave me uneasy. With a final tug, I took a steadying breath, prepared to walk out and face him.But just as I reached for the door, my gaze landed on the open window, and an idea took root—a reckless, dangerous idea.During the earlier stroll with Damon, I’d noticed there were fewer guards than usual around the estate. Now, with him waiting in my room and assuming I’d obey his every whim, this could be my only chance to slip away. And after he’d claimed I belonged to him, the urge to break free pulsed through me, stronger than anything else.Suddenly I heard his displeased voice and froze when I got to the window. “Arianna, are you
***************CHAPTER 14~Trisha’s POV~The plane touched down with a gentle bump, and as it taxied to the gate, I checked my reflection in the small mirror inside my compact. Fresh, composed, and more than ready for what lay ahead. It had been two years since I last visited Thania, and as much as I hated the chaos of this city, today was different. Today, I was here with a purpose.Stepping out of the gate and into the arrivals lounge, I spotted my brother, Matteo, standing near the escalators, his tall frame cutting a formidable figure among the crowd. He met my gaze with a grin that held both amusement and a touch of exasperation. Even as he waved me over, I could tell he wasn’t thrilled to see me here—not under these circumstances.“Well, look who’s decided to grace us with her presence,” he said, his tone teasing as he pulled me into a quick hug.“Don’t start,” I replied, rolling my eyes. “This isn’t exactly a pleasure trip.”Matteo chuckled as he grabbed my bag, guiding me t
***************~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