CHAPTER 13
CHAPTER 13
MELISSA.
"Oh my goddess, are you okay?"
Both Faye and I rush over to Damon to help him pick up the broken plates only for my hands to be seized by both of them.
"What are you doing? Let go, let me help." © 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.
"No, you might hurry yourself," Damon says.
"I know how to pick up shards. It is not that hard," I responded.
He stares at me in silence, refusing to let go of my hand.
"I can handle this, you know, " Faye says as she picks up the debris. "Why don't you two just go on downstairs, * she says.
"Great idea," Damon responds before picking me up bridal style and walking out.
"Hey! Let me go. I can walk by myself," I tell him.
"I know. I just needed an excuse to hold you."
I don't respond to that. I am still trying to get used to the fact that Damon Blackwater is my mate.
Him being cute doesn't help matters.
"I thought you were avoiding me," I remark.
"I wasn't. I was just giving you space to get used to the environment.
Oh, I see.
We get to the landing of the stairs and I manage to wiggle enough for him to finally give in and set me down.
I immediately take several steps away from him, asking it under the guise of looking around the house.
In truth, his scent is overwhelming.
It makes me want to eat him.
"Come on, I will show you the kitchen," he says as he leads the way with me following, eyes glued to his backside.
I manage to shake myself from the daze before I get caught.
What is wrong with me?
"It is the mate bond," my wolf supplies eagerly.
"Mate bond? But I didn't feel this crazy and out of control with Vance," I tell her.
She snorts in response to that.
"Please. Vance was a substitute. Damon is the real deal. A King. Your true mate. You can't compare the two."
Oh. I see.
I tune back into what Damon is saying, as he pints and gesticulates at doors.
"....the game slash relaxation room. You can go anywhere in the mansion, nowhere is closed to you," he says as he looks at me with a side glance and with a smile.
I give him one in return.
It is probably going to take me a while before I can get comfortable enough to do that.
Soon, we turn a corner that leads to a double-paneled door made out of solid oak. He pushes it open and reveals an up-to-date, stylish, mega-sized kitchen.
One word.
Wow.
And… It is also crowded.
The loud din of banter and conversations all grind to a halt the moment we enter. I immediately step back from Damon's side, hiding behind him.
The last time I was in a crowd like this, I was rejected, humiliated, and trampled on.
The quiet is deafening, that is until the room is filled with noise again.
This time, it is of scraping chairs, rushed chewing, and running feet. Eventually, it is quiet again and I raise my head to see only Diana and a man I have never seen.
He is fairly good-looking. Sandy blonde hair, brown eyes, fit build.
Handsome.
As usual.
"Hello, my name is Ryder Pierce, Beta of the Blackwater pack," he says as he walks up to me and gives me a bow.
"Um, hi. Nice to meet you," I reply.
He lifts his head to give me a warm smile before winking at Damon.
"I have to go now. I have training to supervise. It is wonderful having you hear, Lu-, Catherine," he says before leaving.
Did he almost call me Luna?
"Good morning Cat, how was your night?" Diana asks as both Damon and I walk in.
"It was lovely, thank you."
"And how did you like your breakfast?"
"Oh, it uhm-"
"it fell," Damon says.
"It fell?"
"More like slipped. Anyway, do you think you can whip us something?" he asks with a cheeky smile.
"Sure, I can do that," she says as she turns back to the gas.
"Oh no," I say as I hurry to join her. "I can make my breakfast. It is no biggie. I used to make everyone's breakfast back in…" I trail off as I realize what I was about to expose and also about the look on their faces.
"What do you mean you used to make everyone's meals?" Damon asks, his voice cool.
"Uhm, I…"
"Let's not talk about that," Diana interrupts. "Why don't you two have a seat and I will get you something. And don't worry Cat, I love cooking and I always have help unless I say otherwise."
I obey and we both take a seat across from each other. Damon is staring at me like he is trying to figure me out.
It makes me uncomfortable, that is until his face changes into a dramatic pout.
"Wait, why does mom get to call you Cat and I get Catherine?" he whines.
"What?!" I ask, surprised by the whiplash.
"I want to call you Cat too."
Ladies and gentlemen, Damon Blackwater.
Is this the most dreaded and feared wolf in our world? The one who supposedly hangs the heads of his enemies on pikes to serve as a warning to others.
This adorable puppy?
Really, what is happening with my life?
BORDER OF SKYLIGHT PACK.
MELISSA.
I and the rest of my wolves stand in the shadows of the outlying forest, watching as a group of men carry out a total number of seven corpses to bury.
I wonder, did they kill them?
Again?
"I don't know why you are so bothered with them, it is not like it is your pack," my wolf mutters, completely uninterested in the disgrace taking place in front of us.
"It is disgusting. They are killing each other."
"They are weakening themselves, that is a win for us," she deadpans.
Still.
It is wrong.
I watch as another man comes out and stops them from burying the corpses.
Vance Sky.
Their Alpha.
He gesticulates around for a while and watches as some of the men leave.
A few moments later, they return with a cylinder and lighter.
No.
"What the hell are they doing?" my wolf asks in shock.
"Burning them. They are burning wolves."
That is a taboo.