Ch. 11..20

Chapter 11 - Mate

In the guest bedroom…

Damon pushed Marcy away from him and Marcy fell on her butt unceremoniously.

"Who is that girl?", Damon asked while buttoning up his pants.

Marcy was confused. "What girl?"

"The one with towels! She left towels in the bathroom and left!", Damon roared and jabbed his hand into his hair. "Damn it!"

Marcy stared at Damon and blinked rapidly while trying to understand what happened.

Less than a minute ago…

Marcy was going down on him, and she was doing wonderfully, but then Damon inhaled the most seductive sweet citrusy scent that reminded him of delicate freesia flowers and his cock lurched in response.

'Mate!', Damon's wolf said.

'What?', Damon asked in disbelief while staring at Marcy.

If Marcy is his mate, why was his wolf silent during lunch? And why did her scent change? Marcy didn't smell like freesia. Marcy's scent was coconut-like, and there were traces of it everywhere, but this new scent was gentle and seductive.

His wolf growled. 'Not her. The bathroom…'

Damon whipped his head toward that direction, just in time to see Talia disappear behind the door with a handful of towels.

Damon watched Talia as she sneaked out of the room, and he observed her small frame in oversized clothes and her coppery-colored hair that reached just below her shoulders. She was totally unaware that Damon was watching her.

'Stop her!', Damon's wolf demanded. 'She is the one for us! If you let her go, you will regret it!'

"Stop!", Damon shouted, but Talia was gone, and the door was closed, and he couldn't get up and go after her because Marcy was still sucking him off and if he made sudden movements, she might bite him.

The girl was gone and what Marcy did didn't feel good, especially not while his wolf growled at Marcy while urging Damon to go after Talia.

Back to the present…

Marcy's eyes widened when she understood what Damon said. "There was a girl in here?"

Damon nodded. "Who is in charge of towels?"

Damon didn't know anything about this sneaky girl, and he was not pleased that his wolf told him that Talia is his mate, but he had an urge to understand the aching need to get close to the girl with the coppery colored hair, and for that he needed to find her.

Marcy shrugged. "I don't know who handles towels. One of Omegas."

"Find out!", Damon squeezed through his teeth and Marcy lowered her head in submission.

"Yes, Alpha Damon. I will find out and let you know…", Marcy responded robotically and left the room with urgency.

Now that she was outside the reach of Damon's wrath, Marcy had space to think. She hated that he used his Alpha tone on her! But more pressing was that someone saw her going down on Damon. Yes, that's her future husband, but she definitely needed to do damage control and send a warning to all Omegas on how they should behave.

Marcy snorted. No wonder her father looks down on Omegas. They are useless.

Marcy glanced left and right and spotted a group of Omegas lingering at the end of the hallway.

"You!", Marcy called. "I have some questions…"

…

Damon paced through his room and discomfort in his crotch area got his attention.

He remembered that Marcy was sucking him off and just when it got good it stopped, and now he was left halfway, with Marcy's coconutty scent lingering on him.

He didn't think much about Marcy's scent before, but now he found it repulsive. Is it because of the towel girl?

Her sweet citrusy scent was addictive and he craved for more. How can a girl smell so good?

Damon saw many wolves lose themselves once they find their mates. It happened with Caden the moment he met Maya. Caden was always a carefree guy, with an edge and eagerness for adventure and to experience new things, but once Maya entered the picture, Caden's whole world shifted, and she became the center of his everything.

Damon and Caden grew up together, and they shared many hardships. Damon is aware that Caden will never betray him, but Damon is confident that if Caden ever needs to pick between his loyalty to Damon and infatuation with Maya, Damon will be left hanging.

Will Damon allow his world to change because of one girl? That's not going to happen. No way. He will fight this off.

Damon decided to shower.

Just the thought of Marcy touching him made him feel dirty and he needed to wash it off.

As warm water caressed his body, images of the coppery colored hair flashed in front of his eyes, and he remembered the sweet citrusy scent of freesia… and he was aroused again.

"Damn it!", Damon cursed and gripped his shaft.

He is not the one who usually helps himself because there are always girls willing to please him, but this was an emergency, so he started pumping.

Ah, if he knew it will come to this, he wouldn't chase away Marcy. Not until he comes at least.

'Do you think you can orgasm with just any girl?', his wolf spoke.

Damon's hand stopped moving. 'What do you mean?'

'Being with another girl will hurt our mate. Can you hurt our mate?'

A mental image of Talia's petrified expression flashed in front of Damon's eyes, and he cursed under his breath.

'Great! You made me see that, how can I finish?', Damon grumbled.

'Maybe instead of jerking off you should go and find our mate!', his wolf growled.

"Shit!", Damon exclaimed and turned off the hot water while hoping that the cold shower will help him settle down.

Damon changed into fresh clothes and was on his way out of the room when someone knocked on the door. It was Nora.

"Alpha Damon…", she called his name in a singing voice when he opened the door. "Alpha Edward and Beta Raymond returned, and Alpha Edward is in the study. He said that you can join him anytime it works for you. I'm here to show you the way."

Damon frowned. Yes. Alpha Edward. Marcy. That's why he is here.

"I'm ready now. Please, lead the way."

Nora smiled and gestured to her left.

When her father said that he will inform Alpha Damon that Alpha Edward is waiting for him, Nora offered to deliver the message instead of her father.

Nora was hoping that Damon will say how he will see Alpha Edward later, and then she would offer to wait in his room and then… ah, the possibilities.

…

In the study…

"Alpha Damon…", Marcy's father greeted Damon. "I hope your trip went well and that so far things are in order. I apologize for not welcoming you personally when you arrived, but I had urgent matters to take care of. I'm sure you understand."

"Of course…", Damon responded with a straight face.

Yes, he understood that this is how Alpha Edward showed disrespect.

Scouts found something suspicious? There should be a report and someone issuing orders. There was no need for Alpha himself to investigate. It was obvious that was a lame excuse for Alpha Edward to avoid welcoming Alpha Damon personally.

Damon knows very well what Alpha Edward thinks of him.

"How was your trip?", Alpha Edward asked.

Damon was not in the mood for exchanging meaningless pleasantries. "Trip was fine. Your wife showed us to our rooms, and lunch was satisfying. Your daughter is interested in us getting to know each other better, but I wanted to talk to you first."

"Talk to me? About what?"

"About what do you want.", Damon went to the point.

Alpha Edward chuckled awkwardly. "I want for my daughter to have a good husband, and to be taken care of. You are available and fulfill all the criteria. At the same time, Marcy is a beautiful young lady who has all the skills to be a remarkable Luna. Did you expect something else?"

Damon narrowed his eyes. "When you put it that way, it sounds like you are not getting anything out of it."

"What would I be getting? Once you and Marcy are married, she will live with you. I only hope that you will let her visit us occasionally. Of course, I would love to visit as well, but I am busy with managing my pack and training James, and I'm not having much free time so maybe I will visit you when James takes over. I can spend some time with my grandkids."

Damon clenched his teeth in irritation. How can this old fart say that he is too busy to visit, yet he requested that Damon stays with him for a few days? Shameless!

Damon stood up from the chair and stuffed his hands in his jeans pockets.

"Alpha Edward, we will leave tomorrow this time. Until then, think about all the conditions you want to attach with me being close to Marcy. I want to know all parts of the deal before I agree to anything, and I am not a man who changes the conditions on the fly. If you try to reach for anything that's mine, there will be consequences."

Alpha Edward's lips twitched. "Are you threatening me?"

"No. I am giving you a heads up."

 

 

Chapter 12 - Denial

'How do I find her?', Damon asked his wolf as soon as he stepped out of Alpha Edward's study.

'Follow your nose.'

Damon tried sniffing around. He went to the main floor, second floor, and… nothing.

He wondered if the girl is even real, or if he imagined it.

Damon is an Alpha and his senses are sharper than the ones of a regular werewolf, yet he couldn't pick up her scent. He was confused.

Without any clues, he decided to wait for Marcy who said that she will investigate which Omega was on the towel duty.

Damon plopped on the bed and took this opportunity to re-think the situation.

His wolf told him that the girl is his mate, but she escaped. Shouldn't mates be attracted to each other?

'Stupid!', Damon's wolf growled. 'What did you think she should do, when you had Miss Barbie between your legs? Did you expect her to jump into your arms happily?'

'Damn it! I forgot about it!' He really did. The moment his eyes landed on Talia, Marcy became not important.

'What if she hates me? Do I want her to like me?', Damon mused.

'What do you mean?', his wolf responded with disapproval obvious in his voice. 'I know that you don't like women latching onto you, but this one is different.'

'How different?'

'For starters, she is not latching onto you. The Moon Goddess paired you up with her for a reason. Don't do anything stupid until you find out what that reason is. You can't deny yourself this.'

Damon didn't respond.

So far, he saw every woman as a nuisance. Not because he thought he will fall for a woman, but because they are needy, whiny, and they easily assume the role like they are the boss of everything.

And this is mate. If he stays close to her, he WILL fall for her. Completely. She will manipulate him, and he will be happy to do cartwheels every time she feels like watching a circus. Isn't that dangerous?

Damon decided to leave these thoughts for later. Or maybe for never.

The best thing to do is to focus. He came here for a reason. Once he completes his task, he will leave and forget that he ever saw that copper-colored hair, and those big doe eyes.

To keep himself busy, Damon grabbed his laptop and started working.

He is a busy Alpha and there is always something that requires his attention.

…

Later that afternoon, Marcy came to Damon's room again.

He was working and he acknowledged her presence with only a quick glance.

Marcy understood that whatever he did, it was something important, and she didn't want to interrupt.

Marcy sat on the sofa chair opposite Damon and observed him in silence. This gave her ample time to take in his features, and the more she looked at him, the more attracted she was. Damon is very handsome, and his stern expression while focusing on work left her breathless.

She could literally feel the power radiating from him, and she was excited at the thought that she will be his Luna. Marcy will be able to walk with her head held high and no one will dare to look down on her because her possessive Alpha will grind them into a meat paste.

Marcy found her favorite pastime: staring at Damon.

She could do that all day and not get bored of it. Occasionally, the image of George would show up at the back of her mind, but Marcy suppressed it quickly. She is the princess. How can an Omega compare to an Alpha?

Marcy wondered why Damon didn't ask about the girl who interrupted them earlier that day.

She would tell him that she found out it's a lowly girl who hides in the attic and no one likes her. Omegas told Marcy that Talia is sneaky and skims at work, and Marcy went to deal with her only to find that the door of the attic was locked. Marcy used her sweet voice, and after a short persuasion, Talia opened the door, and then Marcy showed Talia her place.

Marcy was confident that Damon would approve how she dealt with the scrawny girl who intruded on their time, but he didn't ask about it, so Marcy assumed that Damon already looked at her as his Luna, someone who would deal with issues within the pack and not disturb him. She liked that.

'KNOCK! KNOCK!'

The light knocks on the door sounded louder than normal in the otherwise silent room.

"Alpha Damon, dinner will be served in ten minutes…", a female voice was heard from the outside.

Marcy stood up and opened the door.

"Thank you for letting us know…", Marcy said to the Omega who was flustered. "Tell mother that will be there on time."

The Omega nodded fervently, like chicken pecking rice, and left with hurried steps.

Damon smirked when he noticed Marcy's prideful posture. By answering the door, Marcy sent a message that she was in his room, and she spoke for both of them, like they are a couple.

This confirmed his suspicion that Marcy is not a simple girl.

'Caden…', Damon called his Beta through their mind link. 'We need to wrap this up quickly. We are leaving tomorrow morning.'

'I thought…'

'Tomorrow morning.', Damon interrupted Caden.

Damon confirmed that both Alpha Edward and Marcy are scheming something, and he didn't want to stay longer than necessary.

If all goes according to plan, by tomorrow morning he will tarnish Marcy's reputation and find out more about Alpha Edward's plans. After that, they will leave.

The additional complication was the copper-haired girl. Her existence made Damon restless. That girl was an unexpected variable and for the first time in a long time, Damon was not sure how to deal with the situation.

Dinner was similar to lunch, with the addition of Alpha Edward, his son James, and Beta Raymond joining them.

The sitting arrangement was different, with Alpha Edward at the head of the table, Damon on his right, and Marcy sitting next to Damon.

'What happened?', Maya asked Damon through the mind link.

'Why do you think that something happened?', Damon responded with a question.

'Because Marcy is talking to you and you are not acknowledging her presence.', Maya responded.

Damon realized that she was right. Marcy was talking something, yet he was spacing out. He was not even sure what he was eating.

Damon forced himself to focus. It's not like him to be absentminded.

'What did you find on Marcy?', Damon asked both Maya and Caden.

Caden responded. 'Nothing we could use. She came back a few days ago from Europe, and since then she is the perfect daughter of an Alpha.'

Damon frowned. 'What does that mean?'

'Marcy obeys her parents and does what she is supposed to do. She is not even bullying the servants.', Maya said. 'Alpha's daughters are usually haughty, but maybe life with humans changed Marcy's personality and she is kind.'

Damon glanced at Marcy and smiled while talking to Maya and Caden. 'Keep digging. Contact our people in Europe and see what they can find out. Marcy is a white lotus, and I don't believe that she has no skeletons in her closet.'

'Aye-aye, boss!', Caden responded jokingly. When he saw Damon frowning at him, Caden cleared his throat and said seriously, 'I'm on it. Don't worry. Our people are already working on it, from the moment Elder Parker sent his first request. I will tell them to prepare reports and by morning we will know exactly what this Miss was doing in Europe in the last ten years…'

Their plan was to find dirt on Marcy and discredit her as Damon's Luna. In this way, they will slap Alpha Edward and Elder Parker as well. This strategy has yielded the best results so far.

Sure, Damon can just reject Marcy and skip these silly games, but that will label him as a rebel, and other than, "Because I felt like it", he won't have any other explanation for his outrageous behavior while Alpha Edward can accuse him of being unreasonable and bullying Marcy.

Alpha Damon is a powerful Alpha, and members of his pack respect him, but there are many who are lurking in the shadows and waiting for Damon to cross the line, to make a mistake, to provoke someone he shouldn't… and Damon is aware of this.

Normally, Damon would be more enthusiastic about this play. After all, Marcy is a fine-looking she-wolf, and pretending for a day or two to indulge Alpha Edward will pay off several folds once Damon bares his teeth. But today, Damon was restless and he couldn't wait to get out of this situation where he doesn't have full control.

---

 

 

Chapter 13 - Resistance

After dinner, they all moved to the living room where desserts and drinks were served.

Caden and Maya had a mission, and after one drink they went to take a stroll in the garden before heading to bed.

Before calling it a night, Caden and Maya will roam through the packhouse of the Red Moon pack, looking for an opportunity to eavesdrop on some conversations from the Omegas, or maybe even join in and ask questions.

Damon's wolf was fidgety, craving to inhale the sweet citrusy scent of freesia and locate its source, despite Damon telling him how that's not going to happen.

After an unknown measure of time, Damon stood up abruptly. "I will retire for the night."

Everyone looked at Damon with confusion obvious on their faces, but Damon pretended like he didn't notice.

He turned to Alpha Edward. "I hope that after breakfast we can continue our discussion from this afternoon."

Without waiting for Alpha Edward to respond, Damon went to his room.

He opened the window of his room and took a deep breath.

'Damn it. What's wrong with me?'

'You know what's wrong, and you know how to fix it.', his wolf responded. 'Why are you resisting? This is a fight you can't win.'

Damon rubbed his face forcibly. He knew that his wolf was telling him to find Talia (aka the girl with the coppery colored hair), but Damon had no intention of succumbing to this temptation.

Damon is a stubborn guy who needs to be in control. He always hated when someone tried to manipulate him, and this time, his own nature was making him feel and do strange things.

He will NOT give in!

"May I come in?"

Damon swiftly turned toward the door to see Marcy peeking in. He wondered if she even knocked, but then… even if she did, he probably wouldn't notice.

He was never this distracted!

What if that was an enemy? Damon would be a sitting duck! That copper-haired girl is already causing him to be weak, and he didn't even acknowledge their mate bond.

For Damon, this only proved that the girl is dangerous, and he should stay away from her. No matter how tedious it is to fight against his urges, it's better than being dead.

"Why are you here?", Damon asked Marcy dryly.

His mood was sour and it showed.

Marcy took his question as an OK to enter. She closed the door behind her and walked toward Damon, stopping when she was one step away from him.

"You look tense…", Marcy said while reluctantly putting her palms on Damon's firm chest. "I can help you relax."

Damon's lips lifted into a half-smirk. "And how would you do that?"

Marcy licked her lips while remembering the velvety texture of him in her mouth. It was hot and firm and big, and she wanted to caress him with her tongue.

"I know that nothing is confirmed, but technically, we are engaged.", Marcy said breathily.

Damon observed her fingers as they moved slightly. She was feeling him out over the thin fabric of his shirt.

He noticed a big ring on her right middle finger, it was an oval-shaped ruby with small diamonds surrounding it. One more luxurious accessory that matches the style of the Redmayne family.

Damon looked at her almond-shaped blue eyes, straight nose, and full lips, and he confirmed that she is objectively an attractive woman.

'Don't do anything you will regret later!', his wolf growled.

'Stay out of this!', Damon spat back.

His wolf snorted. 'You will regret this…' And then he retracted at the back of Damon's mind.

Damon could feel his wolf's anger and dejection, but he decided to ignore it.

Unaware of the conversation Damon had with his wolf, Marcy inched closer to Damon and she smiled seductively. "I can…"

Before Marcy could finish her thought, Damon's hand landed at the back of her head, and he pulled her closer for a kiss.

His tongue plundered her mouth mercilessly, no one ever kissed her like that. Even with a kiss, Damon was exerting his dominance, letting her know what it means to face an Alpha and making her heady in the process.

She had no idea at what point they reached the bed.

They sank in the mattress with Damon on top and Marcy gasped for air for a brief moment before Damon sealed her lips again with his.

His touch was not gentle or caring. Damon was venting his frustration as he searched for a way to release the tension that suffocated him, and the scent of Marcy's arousal hit him hard.

Marcy's mind was in a tizzy. She felt his hand work up her thigh with urgency, all the way to her hip where he found the edge of her panties and she jolted when he ripped them in one swift move.

Damon's hand moved toward the cradle of her thighs, and she moaned into his mouth when his finger glided between her drenched folds, teasing and prodding as he was closing in toward her tight entrance.

Marcy snapped from her stupor and grabbed his hand. There was nothing wrong with touching and petting, but she had a feeling that Damon will not stop at that.

"Not before…"

Damon growled in frustration when he realized that Marcy changed her mind. "What happened with, we are technically engaged? Are you saving yourself for marriage?"

Marcy was flustered and it took her a few long seconds to collect herself and respond, "Not necessarily marriage, but I at least need to know that we are going in that direction. We can do other stuff. I'm OK with anal or giving you a blow job."

Damon shook his head in disapproval. He pushed himself off the bed and ran his hand through his hair.

Damon would never force himself on a woman. A no is a no, and he respects that. But Marcy pissed him off. She came onto him and then she stopped him, and now she listed conditions? Who does she think she is? What kind of a game is she playing?

"Get out."

Marcy didn't get it. She clarified things she was willing to do, and he told her to get out? "What?"

"I said… GET OUT!"

Marcy looked at Damon's eyes which stirred with endless violence, and she swallowed hard.

Other than being scared shitless by Damon's overwhelming Alpha's command, she was convinced that Damon will kill her if she doesn't obey right that instant.

Marcy scrambled off the bed and dashed out.

Damon returned to the window and leaned over the windowsill. He looked at the crescent moon and exhaled in frustration.

"Is this what you planned for me?", Damon asked under his breath, even though he knew that the Moon Goddess will not respond. She never responds.

They say that the Moon Goddess has a plan for everyone, that everything has a purpose, but Damon doubts it.

What's the purpose of his parents dying unexpectedly? What's the purpose of him doing his best for the Dark Howlers pack only to be labeled as cruel? What's the purpose of him being the Alpha of the largest pack, when so many others want to manipulate him? What's the purpose of his power if he has to play by the rules others set? And finally… what's the purpose of him finding his mate?

Damon didn't want any of it.

If he had one wish, he would want to become a nobody, invisible, someone who could move without being noticed or coveted. He would live a modest life and do whatever he wants to do, when he wants to do it, and this… No matter how Damon looks at this, it seems that the Moon Goddess is set on torturing him.

Damon often wishes to escape from everything, but those are only fleeting thoughts he knows will never come true.

The responsibility for the Dark Howlers pack is ingrained into Damon and he will never be able to leave. Tens of thousands of people are looking up to him, their Alpha. They are relying on him that he will keep them safe and lead them to a better future and that's what Damon swore to do.

'Hey… Can we talk?', Damon spoke to his wolf, only to be met with silence in response.

Damon could feel that his wolf was sulking in disapproval of what just happened. Well, nothing happened, but if Marcy didn't stop him, it would happen.

Damon threw his arms in the air angrily. 'Fine! Stay quiet!'

---

 

 

Chapter 14 - Dirt That Can’t Be Washed

Damon stared at the moon in silence for an unknown measure of time, when a knock on the door got his attention.

'Did Marcy come to pick up what's left of her panties, or did she change her mind?', Damon mused.

No one else would come at this hour. Caden and Maya use mind link to communicate, like always, so that others don't overhear them.

Damon went to open the door and to his surprise, Nora's smiling face entered his vision.

She took a deep breath of his masculine scent and her arousal swelled. She knew that he can smell her and she was not bashful about what she wanted.

"Good evening, Alpha Damon…", she greeted him. "I noticed the light in your room, and since you left early wishing to rest, I wondered if you have trouble sleeping and if I can help you somehow."

Even without the scent of her arousal, Nora's sultry look told Damon what's on her mind, but he still asked, "How can you help me, Miss Nora?"

Nora smiled when Damon stepped into the room, silently giving her permission to enter. She closed the door behind her before answering, "I can make you calming tea, sing you a song, give you a massage, or offer myself. Not necessarily in that order."

Damon nodded in approval. He likes when women are direct. No games.

"What makes you think that your friend, Marcy, didn't help me relax already?", Damon asked with a smirk and his eyes darted to the side.

Nora followed where he looked, and her eyes widened when she saw torn panties on the floor.

After a moment of surprise, Nora was back to her smiling face. "It doesn't matter what Marcy did. You are still awake and I'm willing. The only question is, are you going to accept my offer?"

"Won't your friend, Marcy, be upset to know what you are offering?"

Nora cocked an eyebrow. "I won't tell if you don't."

Damon's eyes flashed in agreement. "Undress."

With haste, Nora removed her skirt and blazer. She was fumbling with the buckles of her bra because her fingers were shaking.

Internally, Nora was screaming from excitement. She couldn't believe this was happening!

Just yesterday she was still thinking that Alpha Damon will come and how it will be good if she can take a photo or two, but it seems she will get much more than just a photo.

Nora wondered if she should undress him also. Domineering guys like Damon usually love when a woman serves them. She will remove his pants and suck him off and they will take it from there.

Nora was still fumbling with her bra when Damon pushed her on the bed, face first.

Damon tapped the insides of her legs, indicating for Nora to spread them.

In one swift move, he tore her panties and Nora bit her lower lip while trembling in anticipation of what's coming.

Nora was dripping wet and she thought of taking the initiative to touch and kiss him, but this was fine also.

It was just a small nudge at her entrance and then Damon entered her in one swift move and Nora screamed into the mattress. No matter how wet she was, it didn't prepare her for his size.

Damon wrapped her hair around his hand, pulling Nora's head toward him and her back arched.

"Stay down.", he growled.

With his free hand, he gripped her hip, holding her in place.

Nora fisted the silky bed cover as Damon pounded himself inside her until she saw stars. He was like a beast, ravishing her from behind and she loved it.

It was her first time with an Alpha and Damon blew her mind.

Nora had no idea how long it lasted. She was sweaty and struggling to breathe when he released her after a groan.

"Leave before I come back", Damon ordered breathily, and Nora nodded weakly as he went to the bathroom.

A few seconds later, she heard the shower running, and she pushed herself to sit on the bed.

Her insides throbbed in the aftermath of the wild ride she experienced. Nora touched herself, wondering if he came inside her because her back was dry, but there was no semen, which confirmed that he wore a condom.

'Pity…', Nora thought while getting her clothes back on.

Yes, she came with the hope for a steamy session, but now that she got this much, she couldn't help but wish for more.

Damon was not gentle or caring. He was fierce and domineering, just how Nora imagined an Alpha would be.

It was obviously just a hookup, but she still orgasmed twice. By any standards, it was amazing.

Nora would love to brag about this to everyone. She knows that Alpha Damon would never make her his Luna, but having him inside her was still a big feat. However, if Alpha Edward or Luna Layla find out about this, she will be in big trouble, so she needs to keep it for herself.

Nora doesn't care much about Marcy. How Nora sees it, Marcy is playing hard to get in the stupid role of an ice queen and even if Alpha Damon shagged Marcy earlier that evening, it was obvious that he was not satisfied and that's why he gave Nora this wild ride.

Nora wondered if Damon enjoyed it as well. Well, he came, so it was good.

A brilliant idea popped into Nora's mind. Maybe when Marcy marries Damon, Nora can move to the Dark Howlers pack also with an excuse of giving Marcy company as her best friend.

Nora smiled at the possibilities. If Marcy didn't satisfy him tonight, there will be more chances when Nora can serve Alpha Damon. Guys like him always have women on the side.

Marcy is not Damon's mate, so their bond won't be foolproof even after they mark each other.

If Alpha Damon wants Nora's company, Marcy will need to suck it up.

Nora giggled while making her way out of Damon's room.

…

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…

Damon got out of the shower, and he was pleased to confirm that Nora left. He likes when they don't linger.

He sat on the edge of the bed and rubbed his forehead forcibly.

'I told you, but you don't listen.', his wolf said. 'Why do you always need to learn the hard way?'

'Shut up!', Damon spat back.

Banging a woman should help him relax, but now he was tenser.

He was pissed and aroused after fondling with Marcy, and there was nothing wrong with Nora, but only after he imagined that the hair he is holding is copper-colored, he found his release. And after it was done, he saw that the hair in his hand was brown, and he felt dirty and no amount of scrubbing under the shower helped him feel better.

'You can't wash a guilty conscience.', his wolf said.

'Guilty conscience? It's not like I cheated!', Damon shouted mentally. 'I don't even know her name or if she is real! I'm a free man. Why would I feel guilt for touching a woman who came onto me willingly when I needed a release?'

'Keep saying that, if it will make you feel better.'

Damon was not willing to acknowledge that his wolf was right. For the first time in his life, Damon felt bad after bedding a woman. Well, maybe not bad, but not good either.

It was like eating tofu. He got what he wanted, but his stomach was still empty and there was no satisfaction that a meal should provide.

'How long will this last?', Damon asked dejectedly.

There must be some expiration date on whatever craziness he was going through, and after that, he can return to normal.

'It will last until you accept the reality.'

Damon was frustrated. Is his wolf telling him that sex won't feel good anymore, or to accept the copper-haired girl as his mate? Or maybe those two are the same. 'What reality?'

'Why are you playing stupid? You know I can feel everything you do. The bond is proof that the pleasure of flesh is not enough. To experience more, you need our mate.' His wolf snorted. 'There is no point in talking to you. Do whatever you want, but if you go against the order and mess up, don't ask for my help…'

Damon shoved a hand in his hair irritably.

His wolf always told him to follow his instincts. That's what werewolves do, and it helped him in many tricky situations. But this was not facing rogues or dealing with scheming enemies. This was an unknown scrawny girl with copper-colored hair that made him feel all kinds of uncertainties he didn't want to acknowledge.

 

 

Chapter 15 - Encounter In The Kitchen

It was past two o'clock in the morning, and Damon was unable to sleep.

His room was facing the garden and there was a forest in the distance. Damon decided to go for a run. That should help him clear his mind.

Ideally, Damon would shift into his wolf form. Feeling the soil and grass under his paws as the wind runs through his fur always feels good. However, he is in the territory of the Red Moon pack and if his wolf is seen, it will be perceived as a challenge, a threat.

He came here to see what Alpha Edward is plotting, and not to start a war.

Damon descended the stairs and reached the main floor. He took a turn toward the door that leads to the garden when the sweet citrusy scent of freesia got his attention.

Without thinking, Damon's legs moved, and he found himself in the part of the packhouse he didn't visit before. The kitchen.

The main light was off, but he could see the surroundings among heavy shadows because the fridge was open.

And there he saw a small figure sticking out of the refrigerator.

Looking from behind, based on her size he estimated that she can't be more than fifteen, maybe sixteen years old.

Damon stalked toward her, and he stopped when he was only half a step behind her.

He took a deep breath and her sweet scent made him dizzy, urging him to get closer and maybe lick or bite her. He wondered if her taste will be so addictive as well.

"Mhm…", Damon cleared his throat, and she jumped in fright.

"Aw!", Talia stifled a cry when her head bumped into the shelf of the refrigerator.

She turned swiftly toward the source of the noise and her eyes widened in horror when her eyes met Damon's.

She recognized him. It's the important guest. The same one whose private time with Marcy she interrupted.

Talia cursed her luck.

After Marcy visited her in the attic, Talia didn't dare to move until all the sounds in the packhouse died down. She thought that she should just stay there until Marcy and others forget about her, but she was hungry, and she searched for something cold to relieve her pain.

If Talia knew that she will bump into this scary guy, she would stay upstairs hungry and endure the pain. It wouldn't be the first time; the only difference is that the previous injuries were from other Omegas, and this time princess Marcy acted.

Before this afternoon, Talia thought that Marcy was a kind person, but she is not.

Between Marcy and Anna, Talia prefers Anna who doesn't pretend to be nice only to bully Talia when she doesn't expect it. At least she knew to be wary of Anna, while Marcy smiled and said sweet words only to get close.

Talia looked at Damon fearfully.

Will he punish her also? Why is he narrowing his eyes at her? She felt the urgency to leave.

Talia didn't know that Damon was squinting in an effort to identify her features clearly. The light was behind her, and heavy shadows veiled her face.

"I'm sorry…", Talia said in a shaky voice and lowered her head before stepping to the side, trying to find her exit.

Damon extended his arm, blocking her path. "What are you sorry for?"

He was irked. Is she avoiding him?

Every girl would do community service for some one-on-one time with Damon, and this girl wants to flee.

Talia bit her lower lip. How is she supposed to answer his question? She reminded herself not to mention what she saw this afternoon in the guest bedroom. With any luck, he won't know that was her.

"I'm sorry for getting in your way", Talia responded. "If you excuse me…"

"Wait!" Damon called, preventing her from leaving. Wasn't she looking for something in the fridge?

A side of Talia's face was illuminated, and Damon frowned.

He grabbed her chin roughly and delightful sparks prickled his fingers and spread up his arm, confirming what his wolf said. Mate.

He never felt anything like it.

Damon could sense his wolf wagging its tail in delight, and Damon would enjoy this sensation if not for Talia's ragged appearance.

Damon forced Talia to lift her head so that he can see her face against the light the open refrigerator provided.

Talia's beautiful doe-like eyes blinked at him, but Damon's daze lasted only for a moment before his sight moved over her injuries.

Her upper lip was busted, and she had a bruise under her left eye and even her right cheek had dark purple marks.

"What happened to your face?"

Talia's breath hitched. "I fell."

Damon didn't buy it. He saw consequences of many falls, and this was nothing like it. "That must be some nasty fall."

He took another look at her and noticed bruises on her neck that were in the shape of fingers. Did someone choke her?

Rage rippled through Damon. The thought that someone hurt Talia infuriated him beyond belief.

His urge was to protect her, to see her smiling and happy and this… just what is this?

"Who did this!?", Damon squeezed through his teeth angrily and Talia's whole body shook in fear.

There was no way that she would say anything. It will only bring more trouble.

How can she say that it was princess Marcy? Aren't this scary Alpha and Marcy on good terms? If she speaks up, at best he won't believe her and there is a high chance she gets another beating. He was already angry, and she didn't want to be in the vicinity when he blows up.

"No one. Please. Can I leave?"

Damon released Talia's chin and held her shoulder. Even through the coarse fabric of her sweatshirt, Damon felt faint prickles on his palm that made him crave for more. Mate.

Damon focused mightily on inspecting her face, especially the purple mark on her right cheek. It was oval with small dots around it and somehow it reminded Damon of the ring he saw earlier that evening… a ring on Marcy's hand.

'Stop scaring the girl…', the wolf spoke in Damon's head.

Damon looked at Talia and he pressed his lips into a line when he saw the horror in her eyes.

Damon's attention moved to her shoulder under his palm, and he realized how small and fragile she was. He guessed that if he exerts a bit of pressure, he can probably crush her.

Reluctantly, Damon released her shoulder, trying not to make any sudden movements in order not to scare her more.

"I will not hurt you.", he said as calmly as he could, but her unchanged expression told him that she didn't believe him.

Why would she believe him? So far, people either ignored her or bullied her. And those are people who live in this pack. Why would a stranger treat her better? And the stranger in front of her was intimidating.

'She is probably abused.', his wolf said, and Damon's closed his eyes in an attempt to contain another rush of rage that swelled inside him.

Abused. Someone abused his mate!

Damon took a deep breath, the sweet citrusy scent of freesia made him lightheaded, like a drug that helped him relax. It was addictive. He greedily inhaled again and again, and it took him a few breaths to detect that the scent was getting fainter.

Damon opened his eyes and realized that he was alone in the kitchen. She left, and he didn't notice. Was she even real or did he imagine her?

'Imagine my foot!', his wolf grumbled. 'Use that nose of yours and track her down!'

Damon snapped to his senses and followed his nose outside, toward the garden.

---

 

Chapter 16 - Understanding The Bond

Damon stopped in the middle of the garden and took a deep breath in search of Talia.

The wind mixed in the scent of freesia with hydrangea and roses and scattered them in random directions, and… "Shit!", Damon cursed under his breath. "I lost her."

'Why did she leave?', Damon asked his wolf.

'Maybe because you scared the soul out of her.'

Damon was confused. 'I scared her?'

'The girl is abused and jumpy, yet you sneaked behind her. You prevented her from leaving, held her while demanding that she answers your questions, so yes. You scared her. And that was only the last five minutes. The first time you met, there was another she-wolf sucking you off and you shouted at this precious one to stop. It's not the best first impression, if I may say.'

Damon cussed internally. He didn't want to think about the unpleasant things.

He was unable to get Talia's image out of his mind. Damned mate bond!

An idea hit him… 'Isn't she my mate? Why did she run away from me? If we are mates, she should have a need to get close to me, to touch me, yet I could see her desire to escape.'

'I don't think she knows we are her mate.'

'Is it because she is too young?', Damon guessed.

'That's not the problem. She is small and skinny, but I'm confident that she is over eighteen years old.', his wolf paused, unsure how Damon will take this information. 'The thing is that… I can't sense her wolf.'

'She is a human?', Damon asked with a frown.

He never thought of having a mate, and he definitely didn't think that the Moon Goddess will arrange a human for him. They are weak and fragile, just like Talia.

How can a powerful Alpha have a human for a mate?

She would be like a crystal figurine in the middle of the room full of angry elephants.

Damon's wolf was pleased to confirm how among all the emotions, Damon wished to keep Talia safe. It was a step in the right direction.

'No, the girl is definitely a she-wolf. There are cases when someone was harmed or neglected, the wolf would sacrifice himself in order to protect the human part. Considering the injuries on her body, I could see that happening. And she was skinny and looking hungry.'

Damon shoved his hand in his hair. 'I scared her away and she didn't get food…' He felt like crap. 'How do I fix this?'

'What do you want to fix, your majesty?', his wolf asked sarcastically. 'Your plan is to shag Marcy and leave. Did that change? Do you want to find the girl, say sorry for being a jackass, and take her out for dinner?'

Damon groaned in frustration and stared at the dark forest in the distance.

He had no intention of dining and entertaining Talia or any other woman. He didn't want to get involved further. His mind was telling him to stay away from the girl with the copper-colored hair because with every second passing she was changing him in ways he didn't like.

Damon craves control. He needs to be in charge, and Talia's existence is doing the opposite.

He told himself to stop thinking about her and to move on. Can he stay away after getting a taste of her addictive scent? And the sparks upon touching her were phenomenal.

Damon came out for a run, and now he didn't feel like running. He wanted to find Talia, but he had no idea where she disappeared. And even if he found her, Damon wouldn't know what to say.

All this was super-confusing.

…

In the morning…

'Are you guys up?', Damon spoke to Caden and Maya through the mind link.

'We are now.', Caden grumbled.

They have an understanding that nights are reserved for privacy between Caden and Maya, and unless it's something important, Damon will not disturb them.

Technically, it was morning, but it was way too early.

'The reports from Europe are still not ready. It's just past 5 in the morning.', Caden said, assuming that Damon was impatient to find out dirt on Marcy. 'We should receive them soon. I will call our men to confirm the status.'

'That's not it.'

'Did something happen?', Maya asked.

'Caden, you come to my room?'

'Coming…', Caden responded after a brief pause.

…

"What's going on?", Caden asked when he closed the door behind him. It took him a moment to realize that Damon doesn't look good. "Are you OK? Were you attacked?"

Caden's eyes darted through the room and it took him a second to spot two pieces of torn fabric on the floor. Panties.

Caden shook his head in disapproval. "I know you have good stamina. But don't get drained this much. You look like dog vomit."

Damon was not in the mood to explain. He had other things on his mind. Things that kept him up the whole night.

He tossed and turned in bed, and nightmares kept him awake.

Damon dreamed about the copper-haired girl crying as dark shadows choked her. Damon wanted to help her but no matter how much he slammed into the invisible barrier between them, he couldn't get through. His shouts didn't do anything, yet he heard her every whimper clearly and he jolted out of his sleep every time the dark shadow hit her hard, drawing blood.

Eventually, he gave up on sleeping and went to shower, trying to clear his mind but he was still restless so he decided to call Caden and try to get some answers.

"How did you feel when you met Maya?"

Caden's smile froze. What kind of a question was that? Damon always mocked the mate bond. Something was fishy.

"Is Marcy your mate?", Caden guessed.

Damon waved his hand impatiently. "Just answer my question."

Caden puffed his checks while thinking. "Attraction, sparks, happiness. I needed Maya to be happy so that I can be happy. I mean… I thought I was happy before, but after I met Maya I realized that I was clueless."

Damon shoved his hand into his messy hair. All this happiness talk didn't make sense.

His wolf said that the girl is his mate, but the only thing Damon got was a fit of rage when he saw her hurt, inability to find her, and a sleepless night. None of them are happy.

"Did you ever think about resisting it?"

"Resisting Maya?", Caden asked in surprise. "Why would I do that? She was the best thing that ever happened to me. I waited for her, exactly her, for more than two decades. I would be an idiot to reject her."

"Reject her…", Damon mumbled.

"Yes. You can't resist the mate bond.", Caden explained when he saw Damon's perplexed expression. "The more time you spend with your mate, the bond is getting stronger. The only way to stop it is if you cut it at the root by rejecting your mate, and she accepts. But only idiots do that."

"What if Maya is in danger because of you? What would you pick? Her safety or your happiness? What if the only way to keep her safe is to reject her?"

Caden frowned. What's up with Damon? It looked like he lost his marbles.

"What kind of nonsense is that? I can't be happy if Maya is harmed in any way. Her safety comes first. However, if we are apart we won't be happy. Rejection will harm us both so we might as well face that danger together." Caden scrutinized Damon. "I answered your questions, and now you answer mine. What's going on? Did you spend the night so deep in two pussies that they made you stupid?"

"I don't know what's going on.", Damon responded irritably. "When I figure it out, I will let you know."

"Alright.", Caden agreed. He knew that if Damon doesn't feel like talking, he won't say more. "We are leaving after breakfast, right?"

Damon hesitated. Can he really leave without seeing the copper-haired girl again? Just one more time, to make sure her bruises healed, and maybe to touch her again and confirm that those sparks are real and he didn't imagine it.

"Let me think about it. We might stay longer. I will talk to Alpha Edward after breakfast, and it will depend on that conversation."

Caden exited the room, leaving behind Damon who was lost in thoughts.

 

 

Chapter 17 - Protecting Mate

'Are you thinking about rejecting the girl?', Damon's wolf asked.

Damon let out a long breath. 'I need to protect her.'

'If you want to protect her, you need to keep her close. Not reject her.', his wolf said sternly.

They already talked about keeping Talia safe, but he was not close to finding a solution that will work.

His wolf explained that without her wolf, Talia doesn't feel the bond, so she is not impacted by Damon's presence (or absence).

At most, Talia will be attracted to him and if Damon wants to win her over, he will need to do it the human way: to romance her until she falls in love with him. Assuming that he succeeds, and she accepts him, it will not be a done deal. Without the mate bond, she can fall out of love at any time.

Of course, if they go through the mating ceremony and he leaves his mark on her, the bond will be formed, but he would need to reach the point of the girl accepting him. What a mess.

Damon has no idea how to court a girl, but he is confident that no one should know that Talia is his mate.

Damon is aware that Alpha Edward is set on using Marcy in order to manipulate him, and Alpha Edward will have no qualms in using a lowly Omega against Damon.

He can imagine that they will imprison Talia and blackmail Damon, and probably harm her as well. He won't allow it.

It all went in circles, with every next scenario getting grimmer, and Damon was sick of it.

Rejecting the girl or not, he had to ensure that Talia is treated better.

Is she the only Omega to get a beating in the Red Moon pack? Probably not.

…

-- This work is published on NovelFire (w e b n o v e l . c o m). Don't support illegal copies! Read from the original site to support the author --

...

After breakfast, Damon met with Alpha Edward in his office.

Damon thought that his provocations from yesterday will be enough for Alpha Edward to lose his temper and reveal some information, but Damon realized that he underestimated Alpha Edward's patience.

Other than, "I hope that if you need assistance of any kind, you will turn to me and you won't mind if I do the same", Alpha Edward didn't mention reaching out to Damon or to the Dark Howlers pack which left Damon wondering what's Alpha Edward's plan.

Damon gave up on getting something directly from Alpha Edward. The old guy was too crafty, and Damon hoped that Maya and Caden found something useful because he was never good at this scheming business.

Scheming aside, Damon had a serious topic to discuss.

"Alpha Edward", Damon called seriously. "I wonder if you are aware of the treatment your Omegas get."

Alpha Edward was visibly confused. "Can you elaborate on that?"

"Are they getting paid? Fed? Treated well?"

The old man frowned while turning defensive. He didn't like that Damon asked about the internal workings in his pack, it's no one's business, but he still responded.

"I prefer strong warriors, but that doesn't mean I'm mistreating others. All Omegas have accommodation, three meals a day… actually, they have access to the kitchen and storage in common buildings, and they can make their own food whenever they are hungry. We don't bother with those, but I can assure you that no one is hungry. If you want to know about the compensation for their work, you can ask my Beta. I'm not clear what you mean about treating them well, but when they mess up related to their duties, we make them run laps or do pushups. It's good for their bodies. Is that what you would classify as a bad treatment?"

"No.", Damon responded. "But when I see an Omega looking well, and a few hours later that same girl is all bruised up with a purple handprint on her neck, I get worried."

More than worried. Enraged.

Alpha Edward paused. "Maybe they had some dispute among themselves."

Damon scrutinized the old man while wondering if he is really ignorant or just a good actor. Whichever it is, Damon wanted to make sure Alpha Edward knows Damon was not talking randomly.

"Let's say I believe you and you have no idea about the mistreatment that happens under your roof. As an outsider, I don't want to meddle, so I suggest you talk to your daughter."

"Marcy?"

Damon narrowed his eyes at Alpha Edward. "Luna should watch over pack members and use soft skills to deal with challenges. Beating up my people will NOT be tolerated."

Alpha Edward was visibly displeased. His main chip in pushing Marcy as Damon's Luna was that Marcy is flawless and if Damon found dirt on Marcy in one day that he was here, who knows what else he can find?

Alpha Edward didn't know that Marcy harmed Talia, but he knew that Damon wouldn't make up stuff like this. Damon's words were too specific to be random.

The old guy is collecting intel on Damon for some time, and he knows this tactic. Damon would find a trait that is clashing with a definition of a good Luna and blow it out of proportion. This is how Damon discredited many other women, and Alpha Edward had a bad premonition.

"I will talk to Marcy about this.", Alpha Edward said solemnly.

Damon smirked. "I'm counting on it."

…

Alpha Edward summoned Marcy to his study after Damon left.

"How is your relationship with Damon?"

Marcy had an idea that her father will ask about Damon, and she was ready for this. "We are getting along well." She had no intention to say that Damon chased her out of his room last night.

"Do you think he has a good opinion of you? Did he invite you on a date? When will you move to the Dark Howlers pack? Did you discuss anything about your relationship and how things will work out once he leaves from here? Or will you go with him?", Alpha Edward was raining questions without giving Marcy chance to respond.

"Alpha Damon had doubts if I can be his Luna, and I assured him how I'm perfect for the task. He was happy to hear that I'm proficient in handling the household, pack members, and finances."

Alpha Edward was not happy with this response and he could see that Marcy was either avoiding something, or she and Damon didn't reach far. He decided to probe into the matter that was bothering him.

"And how do you handle pack members?"

Marcy didn't get it. "I talk to them and I'm approachable. I listen and…"

"And then you beat them up?", Alpha Edward interrupted Marcy.

Marcy frowned. "No. I don't beat them up."

"Really? Alpha Damon thinks otherwise." His voice was rising. "He thinks that you beat them up black and blue and even choke them to the point of leaving handprints on their necks."

Marcy paled. Why was her father angry? He is the one who says Omegas are a useless burden.

Marcy is not a violent person, but what's wrong with teaching offenders a lesson? And who cares if one Omega gets hurt?

She wanted to deny it, but the fury in her father's eyes told her that he already knows what she did in the attic on the previous day. Lying will only make things worse.

"It's not as bad as it sounds, daddy.", Marcy said weakly.

"And how is it?"

"She barged into the room, and I had to teach her a lesson."

Alpha Edward closed his eyes and took a few deep breaths to calm his nerves. "You taught an Omega a lesson by beating her because she forgot to knock?"

Marcy wanted to say that it's not about knocking, but about the Omega seeing Marcy going down on Damon… but there was no way she will say that in front of her father.

"What were you thinking?", Alpha Edward said in a strained voice as he struggled to contain his desire to give her a good beating. "Even if you want to play a sadistic game of hurting others, you don't do that when we have guests. And you DEFINITELY don't do that when the guest in question is an Alpha you are trying to impress as his future Luna!"

 

 

Chapter 18 - Whatever It Takes

Alpha Edward rubbed his temples and continued scolding Marcy, "Didn't you read the information on the Dark Howlers pack I gave you? Unless it's a serious crime, they don't resort to physical punishments. As a Luna, you need to be caring and gentle, not only toward your Alpha but toward every pack member. How will he take you in as his Luna if you are beating people for small mishaps? Only after you establish yourself you can do what you want, and until then you need to follow his rules."

He looked at her grimly.

"I hope, for your good, that you can fix this. If your stupid stunt ruins all plans I made, you will pay for it, Marcy."

"Yes, father.", Marcy said submissively.

'BAM!'

Marcy jolted when her father smacked the desk.

"Don't you, yes father, me! I want you to find Damon and make sure he accepts you as his Luna. Do whatever it takes. Do you understand?"

Marcy nodded fervently and she was relieved when her father waved at her to leave.

She rushed into her room, closed the door behind her, and released the breath she was holding. That was scary.

Marcy washed her face, reapplied her makeup, and picked a fine dress that had just the right amount of cleavage before finding Damon.

"Are you going out?", Marcy asked when she saw that Damon was in front of his room with Caden and Maya.

"Your brother offered us a tour that includes observing warrior's training.", Caden responded.

Marcy pursed her lips. She wanted to be with Damon and talk, but she doesn't want to get close to smelly soldiers. She hates all that dirt and sweat, and she stays away from the training grounds.

"Can I help you, Marcy?", Damon asked dryly, and Marcy noticed that he was much colder to her than yesterday.

Damon didn't pay attention to her during breakfast, and she assumed he was sulking because she told him to stop the previous night, but now she knew that it was also about the wretched girl who hides in the attic (aka Talia).

Marcy was anxious. Was Damon thinking that she is violent in nature while wearing a smiling mask in public? Does he see her as a two-faced woman? That was a possibility.

No wonder her father was angry. Who would marry a woman like that? She cursed internally. Instead of showing him her best and dazzle him, she ended up rejecting him last night and he found out about her little mishap.

"I was hoping that we can have a word and clarify a few things.", Marcy said to Damon sweetly.

Damon glanced at Caden who nodded in understanding.

Maya and Caden left, and Damon and Marcy entered Damon's room.

Marcy threw herself at Damon and hugged him tightly.

After an awkward second, Damon pried her arms open and held her by the elbows one step away from him.

"What are you doing?", he asked stiffly.

"I'm sorry."

"What are you sorry for?"

"My behavior yesterday was not acceptable."

Damon had a good guess that Marcy was scolded by her father, but he didn't know if she was talking about beating up Talia or about leaving his room. And there was also a possibility that Marcy did something else, and he didn't know about it.

"You came here to apologize.", Damon summarized and released her arms. "Do it without physical contact."

Marcy nodded. "I also want to fix it."

Damon was confused. What was she talking about? How can she fix anything that already happened?

The best thing was to ask questions and not jump to conclusions.

Damon leisurely walked to the sofa chair and sat on it before asking, "How will you fix it?"

Marcy took in a shaky breath. His domineering posture turned her on a little.

"Last night… I was not thinking straight. I said some things and I didn't mean it."

Damon smirked as he guessed which way this is going. "You didn't mean that you will give me a blow job, or you didn't mean that anal was fine?"

Marcy swallowed down her embarrassment. "I mean… I said that we should at least know that we are on the path of marriage, and we are, so… I'm fine with whatever you want."

"And what if I want to fuck your pussy?"

Marcy's eyes widened. His choice of words caught her by surprise. It was direct.

"I'm fine with that.", she responded.

Damon felt a mix of rage and excitement.

Marcy left him hanging and if she thought that offending an Alpha comes without a price to pay, she was up to a nasty surprise.

"Good. Undress."

Two front buttons of her dress came undone, and the dress slid down her body, bunching around her ankles.

Marcy stood in front of Damon, wearing blue lacy underwear that didn't leave anything to the imagination.

Damon's expression was unreadable as he observed Marcy's flawless body for a few seconds and then he pointed at her bra and panties. "All of it."

She didn't hesitate, fearing that even one second will make one of them change their mind.

Marcy kicked her panties to the side and lifted her gaze. She frowned at the sight of Damon pointing his phone at her. Is he taking photos or a video?

"What are you doing?"

Damon smiled wickedly. "Memories of our first time, baby. Turn around. Let me see you."

Marcy didn't like that he was holding onto a phone, but she obeyed and slowly turned around, showing him her luscious curves from every angle.

"Come here…", Damon instructed while pointing at the low coffee table. "Put your palms on it."

Marcy realized that he wants her to bend. She hesitated.

"Are we doing this or not? If not, there is a training ground for me to check."

Marcy gritted her teeth in annoyance and walked to the coffee table before placing her palms on the cold surface.

Damon stood up and circled around her until he got a good view of her from behind.

"Spread your legs. More… more… good. Perk up that ass…", Damon instructed, and Marcy obeyed.

She felt the coldness at the cradle of her thighs, and she couldn't believe that she got aroused by Damon bossing her around. There was even some wetness dripping down her leg.

Marcy always thought that she is the domineering one, but Damon proved her otherwise.

Marcy jolted when she felt his finger gliding between her drenched folds.

"You are flooding, Marcy. You like this, don't you?"

"Yes.", she responded breathily.

"Yes, what?", Damon asked.

"Yes, I like it."

She started rocking her hips against his hand, and he pulled his hand away.

"Don't move.", he ordered and when she nodded in understanding, he put his hand back there and continued teasing her.

"What do you like, Marcy? Say it."

Marcy moaned. It was difficult to talk while he was expertly toying with her clit. "I like when you touch my pussy."

Damon hummed in approval. "Whose pussy is this?"

She couldn't believe how good it felt. She was sprawled for him to see and touch and do whatever he wanted, and his domineering attitude with skillful ministrations set her body ablaze.

"Yours."

"What do you want me to do, Marcy?"

"I want you to…", Marcy moaned. "Fuck me."

"How do you want me to fuck you, Marcy? I need details. The more the better."

"I want you to put your big cock in my pussy and fuck me hard. Make me scream, Alpha Damon."

Damon removed his hand, and she missed his touch immediately.

Without any warning, Damon slapped her buttcheek harshly and she jolted in surprise. The pink palm-print appeared immediately on her perfectly white skin.

Marcy moaned wantonly as the sharp pain radiated through her body while morphing into pleasure.

Marcy tilted her hips, exposing herself further in anticipation of what he will do next.

She really wanted him to touch her down there. This mind-numbing level of arousal was new to her. But Damon's hand was not back there where she wanted it the most.

Marcy thought that maybe he is removing his pants and she looked at the back only to see Damon with his clothes intact, keeping his phone away.

"You are a slut, Marcy. Get dressed."

His words were like someone poured a bucket of ice on her. "What?"

"Me fucking you is a privilege you need to earn, Marcy. Get dressed and leave."

Marcy stared in disbelief at Damon as he went to the bathroom, washed his hands with soap, and then left the room without looking at her.

He. Just. Left.

What the hell?

 

 

Chapter 19 - Hide And Seek

Damon used mind link to confirm where Caden and Maya were.

The two of them were standing on the side and watching warriors train in a vigorous exercise of holding big logs above their heads and running an obstacle course.

Whoever tripped or dropped the log, was punished into doing pushups before being allowed to continue.

Damon was wondering where their guide (aka James) was, but then he saw him among the warriors.

"That was fast…", Caden said teasingly when Damon joined them.

"Shut up!", Damon growled. "What's the status here?"

Caden gestured toward few warriors who were monitoring others. "Those are generals. They will finish this session in about ten minutes, and then we can meet with them before the next session starts."

Damon hummed in approval and pushed his phone into Caden's hand. "Here. Don't let others hear the sound."

Caden tapped his Bluetooth device, connecting it with Damon's phone. Maya huddled closer to Caden, her good werewolf hearing allowed her to hear the sounds that were flowing into Caden's ear.

It took them a minute to hear Marcy saying how she wants Damon to fuck her hard while exposing all her private bits to the camera.

Maya pinched Caden's arm.

"Hey!", Caden protested. "I was only looking at the material Alpha gave me!"

Maya snorted and responded through the mind link, 'And getting aroused!'

Caden smirked. 'I was aroused because you are sticking to me, hotcake. You know that only you can get me hard.'

Damon fake-gagged. 'Please make your mind link private. Do I need to listen to this?'

Caden grimaced. 'You made me watch a video of a naked woman begging you to fuck her. What's wrong in hearing how my woman makes me hard?'

Maya's face exploded in a bright smile. She likes whenever Caden claims her as his. And the talk about her making him hard was a bonus.

"When did you take this?", Maya asked Damon.

"Just now.", Damon responded coolly.

Caden's eyebrows shoot up. "That was quick. Normally you take at least an hour."

Damon made a sour face and continued through the mind link, 'I didn't go beyond what you saw.'

Caden's eyebrows were so high that they nearly reached his hairline. 'You didn't go beyond this? She was willing. What happened?'

Damon was not in the mood to explain. Actually, even he was not sure how to explain it. Yes, Marcy was hot and naked and willing, and he had a perfect opportunity to take advantage of her, but something seemed off, and that 'something' was more than just his hurt ego and desire to punish her.

'Let's focus on what's important.', Damon reminded Caden and Maya. 'With this, we got Marcy as a slut, but I want proof that she fooled around with another guy, or she can spin it how this was only for me.'

Caden and Maya nodded in understanding.

'What do we have so far?', Damon asked and after two seconds of silence, he spoke again. 'Please, tell me we have something.'

Ever since he inhaled that sweet scent of freesia, Damon was restless in the Red Moon pack and he wanted to end this farce quickly.

'Marcy is careful…', Caden said. 'As much as there is a word that she was getting handsy with a number of guys, there are no photos or videos.'

Damon exhaled in frustration. 'Find those guys. Someone kept a souvenir.'

'I'm on it.', Caden assured him before adding, 'But it will take longer.'

It was Maya's turn. 'The staff is talking about how their Alpha and Luna are strict, but there is nothing we can use to smear them publicly. It's all minor offenses.'

Damon thought how this was odd. 'What about punishments? Anything on Marcy?'

Maya shook her head. 'They make them come to the training ground and at most they end up with sore muscles.'

'It doesn't make sense…', Damon said. 'Last night I saw a girl in the kitchen, looking for food. She was bruised up with a purple handprint on her neck. I'm confident that Marcy did that.'

'We should talk to that girl.', Maya suggested.

Caden didn't think that will work. 'That girl will probably be kept out of sight, at least when the guests are visiting. And even if we find her, there is a chance she will not talk against Marcy out of fear of getting punished again.'

'We can offer her a refuge.', Maya said. 'So many werewolves come to our pack. One more or less won't make a difference.' She looked at Damon who had an unreadable expression. 'Let me talk to her. What's her name? Where can I find her?'

Damon shook his head. 'I don't know. We didn't reach that far. I just saw that she was scared and beaten and then she ran away.'

He didn't want to mention that he lost her scent. That's a big shame for any werewolf.

'Considering your mood lately, you are the one who scared her away.', Caden said matter-of-factly.

Maya giggled. 'Is this version of Damon grumpier than normal grumpy Damon?' She spoke to Damon, 'Don't tell me that Marcy is getting to you. I can name right now at least five women that were more excessive in coming onto you.'

Damon rubbed his face forcibly. 'I'm sick of this shit and I want to be done with it. Let's wrap this up and head home.'

Damon stood up and Caden said, "We are supposed to meet generals in ten minutes."

"I will be back by then...", Damon said and walked away, leaving puzzled Caden and Maya behind.

'What's got into him?', Maya asked Caden through mind link after ensuring that she blocked Damon from eavesdropping.

Caden shrugged. 'I have no idea. Will you try to find that girl?'

Maya made a face. 'I don't have much to go with. Omegas here are extremely submissive toward Alpha Edward and it won't be easy to make any of them talk against him. I can't go and ask around if anyone saw a girl with bruises, it will only attract attention to us.'

Caden agreed with Maya. Asking random questions might bring trouble their way.

They are here on a friendly visit that should end with two packs creating an alliance through marriage, and if they are caught snooping around, it might backfire big time.

Just as promised, Damon was back in time to meet the generals, and after that, he went to roam the place with the hope to pick up the sweet citrusy scent of freesia.

Damon knew that as a guest he can't go anywhere he wants, so he asked Alpha Edward to assign him an escort.

"Can Marcy accompany you?", Alpha Edward asked. He obviously wanted to increase the time that Damon and Marcy spent together. He immediately contacted Marcy through the mind link and after a brief pause, he said, "Oh, sorry. She is busy right now. Can you wait a little bit?"

Damon guessed that Marcy is sulking after he left her hanging in his room. That was one thing he felt good about.

Damon didn't care who will accompany him. He had no clear goal in mind and as long as that person doesn't get in his way, it's fine. "I would like to start now if it's OK with you. You can tell Marcy to join me whenever she is ready."

Alpha Edward wondered why Damon seems to be in a rush, but he didn't question it. Damon wanted to walk around, and he was even considerate to ask for someone to escort him.

It took Alpha Edward two seconds to find his next candidate. A person who knows what's going on and won't embarrass him.

Nora waited for Damon in front of the study with a big smile on her face. "Alpha Edward asked me to escort you and to answer any questions you might have."

Damon hummed in understanding. "Take me to where Omegas are staying."

"Sure." If Nora was surprised by this demand, she didn't show it.

Damon observed the two-stories high building. The bottom floor had a kitchen, a common area that doubled as a lounge and dining room, and four bedrooms. The upper floor had ten bedrooms.

Based on the information they received about the Red Moon pack, each room had six to eight people, so Damon estimated about one hundred people in each building.

Nora didn't understand why Damon asked to visit this place, but other than walking through the hallways, he didn't stop.

"Do you want to see inside rooms?"

Damon refused. "That's not necessary. Is this the only building for Omegas?"

"No, there are three more.", Nora responded.

"I want to visit them."

Three buildings later, Damon lost hope that he will find Talia.

There was not a single whiff of freesia, no matter how much he searched.

 

 

Chapter 20 - Hide And Seek (cont.)

After four buildings without any hints of Talia, Damon was frustrated.

"Are you looking for anything in particular?", Nora asked when she saw Damon spacing out in the middle of the hallway.

Damon shrugged and shook his head. He was not sure himself.

Nora stepped closer to him and spoke in a sultry voice, "Whatever you want, I can give you…"

Damon frowned. "Keep your distance, Miss Nora, or people might get the wrong idea."

She didn't move and his expression darkened.

"Do you want to start the rumors about us? I wonder, what would Alpha Edward say if he thinks there is something going on between us? I'm sure you are aware of my reputation. One more girl won't make a difference, but for you who tried to ruin Marcy's chances of becoming the Luna of the Dark Howlers pack..." Damon clicked his tongue.

Nora gave him a tight smile and increased the distance between them.

She got the message to stay away. For now.

Damon got immersed in his thoughts, completely ignoring Nora who fidgeted by his side.

He was recollecting everything he knew about Talia and trying to come up with something that makes sense.

Damon assumed that Talia is an Omega because she brought towels into his bathroom, and because of the poor treatment she received.

If she has any standing, Alpha Edward wouldn't be oblivious that she is mistreated. Of course, there was a possibility that Alpha Edward knew about it, and he was pretending to be oblivious. However, if he was concealing the issue, he would deny it and not tell Damon that he will talk to Marcy.

Damon spent the last decade among Alphas, and he learned a thing or two about reading them. He was confident that Alpha Edward didn't know that Marcy (and maybe someone else) is physically punishing Omegas.

Damon wanted to ask Nora if she knows something about beatings or the girl with copper-colored hair, but he quickly decided not to. He didn't want to appear to be snooping into something that is not his business and if anyone suspects that he is specifically interested in one girl with poor standing, that can backfire big time.

The last thing he wanted was to jeopardize Talia in any way.

He had to connect the dots on his own.

Anyone with such injuries will probably stay in bed, either in the pack hospital or in her room, and an Omega would help her out. Hell, even if she is an Omega, someone should take care of her and not let her search for food in the middle of the night.

The fact that she was looking for food in the middle of the night while injured, means that she didn't have dinner, and her skinny appearance told Damon that she skipped many other meals as well. His heart ached.

He thought that maybe she committed some crime and was being punished, but if she was imprisoned or tortured, she wouldn't be able to come to the kitchen, so he crossed off that as a possibility.

If Talia is an Omega, she would live in one of these common buildings, and Damon could pick up her scent.

Another mystery was, why would she look for food in the packhouse when there is a kitchen in each of these buildings?

The more Damon thought about it, the less sense it made. It all felt like he was trapped in a game of hide-and-seek.

He was exasperated and his mind was a mess.

His life was so much simpler before he saw that girl sneaking out of his room while Marcy was sucking him off.

Damon didn't want to think about Talia, and he couldn't believe that he spent so much time searching for her. The girl ran away, and she probably doesn't care about him.

The smartest thing to do is to leave this pack and return to his routine. Eventually, her addictive scent will fade from his mind, and he will be normal again.

Compared to this emotional turmoil, he will take Cassie's erratic screaming anytime.

…

Damon wanted to leave the Red Moon pack and go home. He really did. But as time passed, Damon realized that he couldn't leave without seeing the girl with the copper-colored hair again. Just one more time.

He wanted to ensure that she is fine. At least that's what he told himself.

Damon hoped that if he can inhale her sweet citrusy scent of freesia a few more times, he might get sated, or maybe he finds out that it's not affecting him anymore. And then there are those sparks that felt divine. Yes, he needs to feel those again also.

Just once and then he will leave.

Definitely.

Damon came up with a million reasons to see the girl he couldn't get out of his mind, and he roamed around the packhouse and community buildings, but with no luck.

It was like the girl simply disappeared.

Damon was desperate. Was she a ghost who came to torture him?

He was never this anxious.

Caden and Maya realized that Damon is acting strangely, but he didn't explain anything, no matter how many times they asked.

Damon was irritable and he said more than once how they are leaving, yet then he told them that they are staying longer.

To say that Maya and Caden were confused, was an understatement.

When Damon announced that they will stay another night, Caden and Maya started suspecting that Marcy or Alpha Edward drugged Damon or cast some mind-muddling spell on him because this was not Damon they knew.

Damon was never indecisive, and he never refused a naked woman (like Marcy they saw on the video), and this was enough proof for Caden and Maya that Damon is losing it.

Caden and Maya agreed that if Damon's behavior escalates, they will take him away by force. The plan was that Maya distracts Damon, and Caden whacks Damon in the head, and then they drag him into the car and drive away.

Oblivious to Caden's and Maya's plans, Damon thought about his situation and realized that there was only one thing for him to do.

He left his room around midnight and headed downstairs.

Damon sat in the kitchen of the packhouse with the lights off and waited. That's where he saw the copper-haired girl, so he hoped that she will show up again.

Damon didn't sleep the previous night, and he was not in his best shape, but his every muscle was tense, and he didn't feel like sleeping.

His mind was going through numerous scenarios of what he will say when the mysterious girl shows up, and how she will respond.

Will he play it cool and ask casually how she is doing?

Or maybe he should show a stern expression and demand an explanation to why she disappeared last night without a goodbye?

Or maybe he should make a pitiful expression and say how she hurt his feelings? Based on the internet, girls like it when a man exposes his vulnerable side.

Damon was still not sure if he should embrace this madness or reject Talia, but he knew that he had to see her.

His wolf would growl in displeasure whenever Damon thought about rejecting Talia as his mate, and whimper sadly when Damon worried why she is not there yet.

What if she is hurt? Did she leave? Is she hungry? Damon shoved his hand into his hair. Maybe the girl is fine and sleeping and he is an idiot for spending the night in the kitchen.

Seconds ticked into minutes that turned to hours, painfully slow, and Damon was exasperated when he saw dawn cracking through the window. She didn't come.

Damon was about to give up and head to his room when footsteps from the hallway got his attention.

He impatiently jumped to his feet, in hope that it's Talia.

Damon's handsome eyebrows came together when he saw a woman with a duster in her hand. A blonde Omega in her late-twenties.

Her eyes widened in surprise, and she stuttered. "Can… can I help you, Alpha Damon?"

Damon rubbed his chin. Can she help him? Maybe. He looked around, making sure they are not overheard.

"Can I ask you something, but you make sure it stays between us?"

The woman nodded fervently in small jerky movements.

"I'm trying to find a girl. I believe she is an Omega. This tall…", he gestured with his hand. "Skinny. Looks no older than a sixteen years old. Copper-colored hair this long…", he pointed below his shoulder.

The woman shook her head, indicating that she doesn't know the person Damon was searching for.

Damon remembered one more detail. "She wore old clothes that were oversized for her."

The woman made a thoughtful expression.

"You know her?", Damon asked in an urgent whisper while inching closer to the Omega who was now blushing profusely.

"I… I…", the words were stuck in her throat. He was too handsome and too close, and all this was too sudden. "She… maybe…"

"Yes? Yes!?", he asked impatiently.

She blinked rapidly. "The attic. There is a girl living in the attic."