CHAPTER 4

DAMIEN

I did not expect the rogues outside the border to be that many. It took me and my men a whole day to fight them off. By the time we were done I was so exhausted that all I wanted was to lay down and have Maya massage my back.

Maya.

Just thinking about her brought a smile to my face. I knew I had hurt her. I knew she hated me. But what was done was done. I was raised with one goal and that was to destroy her parents and take their pack.

Yes I had used her to get close to them. I got into a relationship with her and gained their trust. But somewhere along the way I fell madly in love with her and now I could not let her go. The thought of her being away from me made my chest ache in a way I could not explain.

My family did not approve of her. They never would. If anyone saw me being soft with her they would turn against me in a heartbeat. I had not come this far just to lose everything over feelings.

So I had to hide how I felt. I had to pretend.

"Damien!"

I turned toward the voice and had to fight the urge to groan. Isabella came running toward me with her arms wide open. She threw herself at me and planted a kiss on my cheek before pulling back with a big smile.

"I missed you so much. You took way too long" she whined and I wanted nothing more than to tape her mouth shut.

She annoyed me beyond belief but I could not get rid of her. Having Isabella by my side kept my family from ever suspecting that I was in love with Maya. As long as they believed Isabella was my chosen mate Maya would be safe from their schemes.

So I had to pretend to love Isabella. I might even have to marry her because that was what my family expected. I knew it was selfish to keep Maya close while all of this was happening. I knew it was tearing her apart from the inside.

But I was a selfish man. I would rather die than give her up.

"Did you feed Maya?" I asked and Isabella's smile dropped into a frown.

"Why are you asking about her? Should you not be asking if I have eaten?" she snapped.

I sighed. This woman.

"Have you eaten?" I asked flatly.

"Yes I ate some..."

"Did you feed Maya?" I cut her off and she scoffed loudly.

"Well if you must know Maya is not here anymore" she said casually.

My heart dropped straight to the floor.

"What exactly do you mean by that?" I asked. My voice was low and dangerous but she did not seem to notice.

"Do not worry about it. She is just..."

I grabbed her shoulders and dug my claws into her skin. She gasped and her eyes went wide with shock before fear took over her entire face.

"Where is Maya?" I asked through clenched teeth.

"I asked for her to be sold. She is probably at the auction house by now. Someone might have already bought her" she stammered out.

I stared at her in disbelief. Then the disbelief turned into a rage so hot I could barely contain it.

I slapped her across the face and she hit the ground with a sharp cry. She looked up at me in complete shock while holding her cheek.

"Damien..."

"You better pray nothing has happened to her or I will make you pay in ways you cannot even imagine. Bryce!" I yelled and my Beta came running over immediately.

He glanced down at Isabella on the ground and guilt flashed through his eyes. So he was in on this too. That bastard.

"Deploy the guards. We are going to find Maya. And if she is not found then both of you better pack your things and get the hell out of my territory" I growled.

Shock crossed Bryce's face but he nodded quickly and walked away without a word.

I knew Bryce had feelings for Isabella and that was why it was always hard for me to act how I truly wanted around her. He would report everything back to my family the moment I stepped out of line. I was like a bird in a cage with eyes watching my every move.

The only person who ever truly cared about me was Maya and I was not about to lose her.

My uncle tried to stop me from leaving. He even threatened me but I did not care. Within minutes we were on the road heading for the auction house.

It took us a while to get there and by the time we arrived the place was already closed for the night. The gates were locked and the lights were off.

"Call the organizer now" I ordered before jumping out of the car and running toward the gates. I slammed my fists against the metal over and over until my knuckles ached.

"Alpha Damien what are you doing here?"

I spun around and saw the announcer walking up from the shadows. I rushed toward him and grabbed him by the collar.

"Have you seen a girl? Medium height. Black hair. Hazel eyes. A body that would stop you in your tracks" I said quickly.

He frowned and scratched his head. "Alpha Damien every girl brought here is beautiful. Hazel eyes though? One did stand out to me. She had Alpha blood..."

"Yes that is her! Where is she?!" I nearly shouted.

His face twisted with annoyance. "The Lycan King showed up out of nowhere. He said he would pay one million dollars for her but then he left without paying. He even smashed a vase over my head. If he was not the Lycan King I would have dealt with him myself."

My blood went cold. The Lycan King? What was he doing in our territory? And why had he taken Maya?

"She really was a beautiful one though. I would have made a fortune off her" the announcer muttered while rubbing the bump on his head.

I stared at him for a long second. Then I pulled out my gun and put a bullet right between his eyes.

People nearby screamed and scattered in every direction as his body crumpled to the ground. I turned to Bryce who looked like he was about to pass out from fear.

"Trace the Lycan King's movements. Now" I said calmly before walking back to the car and climbing in. The driver took off immediately.

Inside the car my mind was spinning. I was the only one who knew this but Maya's wolf was weak. Dangerously weak. She could barely protect herself and now she was in the hands of the most powerful being alive.

What did the Lycan King want with her?

"I found his location. He is heading toward the Blood Moon pack" Ethan reported from the front seat.

I leaned back and clenched my jaw so hard my teeth ached.

"Head to the Blood Moon pack. I need to get my woman back."