로그인Damon’s POV. The subtle expression of disappointment on her face didn’t escape the corner of my eyes. Even if she tried to mask it with a poker face, her real reaction still slipped through when she heard my answer. I could still see the edge of whatever she was trying to suppress. I wasn’t sure if she was really disappointed or if I was just thinking too much, but based on what I was seeing now, I was probably right. And because of that, I felt a sense of guilt I had no reason to feel. Maybe she expected something else. If that was the case, then that was her problem, not mine. I never promised her sincerity. The contract didn’t require kindness. It didn’t require me to care. So why did it feel like I’d said something wrong? She was overcomplicating what I said. I only saved and helped her because of our contract. If we didn’t have that agreement, I wouldn’t have cared about her at all. It was only because of the contract that my sense of responsibility toward her was ingra
Haliyah’s POV. My vision was blurry, light and shadow forming the shape of a man carrying me. It took me a moment to register the scent of wood and musk. My eyelids fluttered as I forced my eyes open. Damon’s face came into partial view from my angle. I caught the outline of his neck and the firm line of his jaw as he moved forward. When he finally walked away from Cassandra and Raven, I felt the tension dissipate, though not entirely. They didn’t follow. They stayed behind, and I could still feel their presence lingering like unresolved pressure in the air. Only when we turned into a quieter corridor did I finally breathe properly. I watched him from where I lay in his arms, trying to piece together what little I had heard earlier, but the fragments refused to form anything clear. I questioned it because it didn’t match what I expected. Damon wasn’t someone who involved himself unnecessarily. He wasn’t supposed to stand between me and least of all accusations directed at me. A
Damon’s POV. Still carrying Haliyah in my arms as I walked out of the restroom, my mind wandered far away, replaying what had just happened inside. I still couldn’t forget how I had suddenly kissed her on the forehead while staring at her face. I shook my head, hoping that with the motion, the memory would somehow be shaken loose and erased as I walked down the empty hallway. I still couldn’t understand why I did that— whether it was because of the way my wolf had been howling inside me. It wasn’t as if I was unaware of how my wolf kept insisting, over and over again, that Haliyah was my mate. Maybe I had simply been carried away by that bond and not because I actually wanted it. “It was the mate pull. Nothing more.” The words came out low and flat, spoken more to silence the noise in my own head and convince myself. The mate pull was a deep, natural force that bound two destined wolves together. It wasn’t something chosen or learned— it just existed, beyond logic or reason. Wh
Damon’s POV. I carried the unconscious Haliyah out of the bathroom. She remained limp in my arms, still under the effects of the substance. Whoever did this knew how to control the dosage and avoid killing her while still making her weak enough to collapse. She needed to be moved somewhere safe. I paused for a moment in front of the bathroom door, thinking about what if anyone saw us like this— me carrying her while we were alone together— they might misunderstand and assume something improper. But then, I reminded myself that the situation was normal. Carrying an unconscious person wasn’t unusual in emergencies. There was nothing to question. I didn’t need to explain anything. My gaze dropped to her face. Her expression still looked peaceful in unconsciousness, but I knew it wasn’t real rest. Her body was still fighting something internally. Even in stillness, there was tension in her system. I could sense it in the irregular rhythm of her breathing. My mind started analyz
Damon’s POV. “I won’t touch you…” I meant it. I would not. But even as the words left my mouth, I could already see how fragile Haliyah was in front of me. Her body wasn’t just weakening; it was slowly taking her away piece by piece. I watched her closely as she slowly lost consciousness while sitting on the floor after hearing my words. The resistance that always defined her whenever I was near slipped away in real time. Not slowly like rest, but abruptly like something inside her system had been forcibly shut down. Her guard dropped completely. Her shoulders slackened. The tension that used to hold her upright disappeared. Her hands, which had been pushing me away moments ago, fell down as if she had forgotten how to hold them up. “Haliyah,” I called softly. I moved closer and reached out, but stopped just before touching her. My hand hovered in the air, suspended between action and restraint. There was a line. I had always known there was a line with her and she had made it
Raven’s POV. My ears perked up instantly when I heard Cassandra say she had seen Haliyah and Damon together in the restroom. My mind immediately started to spiral, forming all kinds of disturbing images and possibilities I didn’t want to entertain. Why were they together? What were they doing in there? Was there a secret affair between my wife and my uncle? My fists clenched tightly at my sides as I walked faster. My vision darkened, anger and disbelief mixing. I didn’t even fully register Cassandra following behind me anymore. Her presence was just noise in the background. What if something was really happening behind my back? It refused to leave my head. It kept repeating until it drowned out everything else. My steps turned quicker, almost breaking into a run. The possessive instinct I always contained suddenly rose to the surface. I tried to think logically, but my mind kept painting scenes I didn’t ask for. The thought of Haliyah being with another man, especially Damon, ma
Haliyah’s POV. “Raven!” Cassandra called once more, her voice was filled with distress. Raven’s head turned sharply toward the door. His whole expression changed. Then, he stepped away from me completely and moved toward the door. He strode across the room and pulled the door open. The moment it
Haliyah’s POV.The moment the words left Damon’s mouth, it felt like the entire ballroom held its breath.“May I have this dance?”Me? Dance with him?My thoughts scrambled, struggling to catch up with what was happening. Just moments ago, he had been distant and cold, barely tolerating my presence
Raven’s POV.I did not expect to see her. Out of all the possibilities I had prepared for tonight, Haliyah was the one variable I never considered. Yet there she was, standing at the entrance of the ballroom. And worse… she wasn’t alone.Her hand was resting on Damon’s arm, her body angled toward h
Haliyah’s POV. “Alpha Damon… is this lady with you?” Damon glanced down at me. His gaze stayed on my face. I quietly crossed my fingers behind my back, hoping he would help me. Then, I felt his hand move. He casually covered my hand with his. “Yes,” he said simply. “She’s my date.” My heart nea







