Chapter 9: Condition

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. Now, he was standing in front of me, hand still extended toward me, voice gentle enough that it didn’t even sound like the same man. It didn’t make sense.

Why…? Why did his attitude change so suddenly?

I was both startled and baffled. I couldn’t ignore the hundreds of eyes watching us. Whispers spread across the room, jumping from person to person.

“Did he just—”

“Is this real? Alpha Damon invited her—”

I kept staring at Damon’s hand, but I couldn’t move because Raven was still right there. I could practically feel the rage pouring off him. The disbelief on his face quickly turned into possessiveness.

“No,” he said firmly, looking directly at Damon before shifting his gaze to me. “She’s not dancing with you.”

Raven reached for my arm again. His grip was too strong. I could feel the pressure immediately.

“She is my Luna,” he declared loudly. “If she’s dancing tonight, she dances with me first.”

Of course he would say that. He looked at me with confidence, like the answer was already decided. Like I belonged to him. Like I would never dare refuse.

A knot formed in my chest. I didn’t want to dance with either of them. I just wanted to get out of this situation entirely without making things worse. But then, Raven’s earlier threat echoed in my head.

“If you step one foot further, it won’t just be you who suffers. Your people and your pack will pay the price too.”

I swallowed. He never made empty threats. If agreeing to one dance could buy me time and keep him from hurting anyone… Then, maybe I should just—

My lips parted. “I—”

Before I could finish, Damon leaned down near my ear. I shivered at the feel of his warm breath caressing my skin, and my heart leap unexpectedly.

“I can help you…” he murmured. “I know what you’re looking for. I can get you there.”

My eyes widened in shock. He actually knows? I felt a sudden, electric shock of surprise. But why would he help me? What did he want in return?

I turned my head toward him, searching his face. Up close, his expression was calm, but his eyes were different. There was something else there.

“You don’t have much time. Choose wisely.”

My pulse quickened. This was it. This was the chance I came here for. If Damon really could help me reach the Council… then, this dance wasn’t just a dance. It was an opportunity. Maybe the only one I would get.

Raven’s hand was still tight around my wrist. Damon’s hand was still waiting in front of me. I took a breath then another. A decision was made.

Slowly, I pulled my wrist out of Raven’s grip. I lifted my hand and placed it in Damon’s palm. The moment our skin touched, warmth spread up my arm, surprising me.

“I accept,” I said.

The reaction was instant. Raven’s voice exploded across the ballroom.

“What?!”

I flinched at the volume. Cassandra gasped beside him. The sound echoed off the high ceilings, making several people nearby jump. Raven stared at our joined hands like he couldn’t believe what he was seeing.

His face darkened. “Haliyah,” he snarled, his voice trembling with fury. “Let go of him.”

I faltered uncertainly. Damon’s fingers squeezed mine, leaving me guessing. Was it a silent reassurance, or a subtle warning? I wasn’t sure which.

“No,” I replied. “You heard me, Raven.”

“You’re choosing him? Over me?” He let out a short, humorless laugh. “You’re mine. You’re my Luna. Everybody in this room knows it. You belong at my side!”

The possessiveness in his tone made several nearby guests shift uncomfortably. I forced myself to meet his gaze. Because if I looked away, I might crumble.

“I never agreed to be claimed,” I retorted, trying to keep my voice steady. “You decided that on your own.”

His jaw clenched so hard I thought his teeth might crack. Jealousy blazed openly in his eyes now.

“That bond exists whether you acknowledge it or not!” he thundered.

“That doesn’t mean you own my choices.”

He dragged a hand over his face, then pinched the bridge of his nose like he was trying to control himself.

“Haliyah,” he hissed through his teeth. “Look at me.”

I did. His expression had changed again. The rage was still there, but underneath it was desperation.

“You don’t mean this,” he insisted roughly. “You’re upset with me. Fine. Be angry if you want. But don’t make a scene like this.”

“I’m not making a scene. You are,” I countered. “And I’m doing this because I want to.”

He searched my face like he was trying to find proof that I was joking. When he didn’t find it, something inside him snapped.

“You want to?” he repeated. “You want to dance with another man while I’m standing right here?”

“You don’t get to decide who I dance with.”

His nostrils flared. “I absolutely do when it’s my mate!”

“I am not an object you can claim in public like property!”

“How dare you—”

His hands shot forward and wrapped around my wrist. Just as he was about to hit me, Damon who was standing behind me intervened.

“That’s enough.”

The Alpha authority in his voice silenced half the room instantly. Raven’s head snapped toward him. He released me so abruptly I stumbled back a step. For a second, I thought he might attack Damon right there in the middle of the ballroom. His wolf was that close.

“If you’re finished interrogating her, she already gave her answer,” Damon continued calmly. “I asked her to dance. She accepted. That seems rather straightforward.”

He stepped closer to me, his free hand moving to my waist in a smooth, natural motion. My breath caught in my throat. I didn’t know how to react.

“If she chose you, we wouldn’t be having this conversation,” he said evenly, meeting Raven’s gaze.

The words landed like a strike. Raven stiffened, looking like someone had slapped him across the face. For the first time since I’d known him, he looked shaken.

I felt Damon guide me gently toward the dance floor. My legs moved automatically, following his lead without resistance. Behind us, I could practically feel Raven’s fury burning into my back.

He must have been furious, being forced to stand down like that. They were both Alphas, but Damon’s status was higher. I had heard so many stories about him in the pack over the years, but never once had I known he was Raven’s uncle. Not in five years of marriage.

Damon pulled me into position, one hand settling at my waist just as the music shifted into a slow, romantic rhythm. I had danced countless times during pack ceremonies before, but this felt different. The world seemed to narrow to the space between us.

His palm rested steadily against my back, firm enough to keep me secure without crossing any boundaries. Through the thin fabric of my dress, I could feel the warmth of his touch. My heartbeat still hadn’t fully calmed from the confrontation with Raven, and now it began to climb again for an entirely different reason.

“Relax,” he murmured, guiding me into the first step.

“I am relaxed,” I said automatically.

One of his brows lifted. “You’re gripping my shoulder like you’re about to throw me over it.”

I twitched, noticing I’d been gripping him too hard. I quickly loosened my hold.

“Sorry,” I muttered, embarrassed.

He didn’t respond, but the faint curve at the corner of his mouth told me he’d noticed.

We turned with the music, our movements smooth enough that anyone watching would think we were perfectly at ease. Inside, I was anything but calm.

After a few seconds of silence, I finally gathered the courage to speak. “Why did you invite me to dance? And why did you say you could help me?” I pressed.

He didn’t answer right away. Instead, he guided me into a gentle spin. My skirt flared before he caught me again, pulling me closer to his chest as the dance pattern changed. My breath hitched when I realized our bodies nearly touched. His gray eyes studied me, a smirk playing on his lips.

“I’ll answer you… after you answer me first.”

I blinked, confused by his response. “What?”

His gaze didn’t waver. “Why did you use me to get into the ballroom tonight?”

The question caught me off guard. “I didn’t—”

“You approached me outside,” he pointed out. “You asked for my escort. You stayed close to me until we entered.” His head tilted slightly. “That looks intentional.”

I shook my head quickly. “That wasn’t planned. You just happened to be there.”

His expression made it obvious he didn’t believe in coincidences. I let out a sigh, shoulders dropping a little.

“I needed to get inside,” I admitted. “And you were someone who had the authority to bring me in without questions. That’s all.”

He released a low chuckle. “So you did use me…”

I looked away for a moment, watching the floor instead of his face. “I didn’t mean it like that. I wasn’t targeting you. I just took the chance when it appeared.”

His eyes narrowed, as if he was weighing the truth of my words. “For what purpose?” he asked.

The music carried us into another turn. His hand slid more firmly against my back to steady me. I could feel the strength in his arm supporting me, the controlled power beneath his calm exterior.

I swallowed. “For the Elder Council.”

His brows drew together. “You were looking for them?”

I nodded once. “Yes.”

We took a few more steps in silence before he asked again, “Why?”

I hesitated. This was the part I hadn’t told anyone except Raven— No. I hadn’t even told him fully. But Damon already knew too much. And for some reason, I felt like lying to him would be pointless.

I took a breath, gathering courage. “I wanted to petition them,” I confessed. “For a divorce.”

He stilled for half a beat. The pause was so subtle no one else would notice, but I felt it.

His gaze sharpened. “A divorce?” he echoed.

I nodded again. “Yes.”

“From Raven.”

It wasn’t a question. Silence fell between us, while the music and the soft swish of other couples dancing around us filled the space.

He was thinking. I could see the calculations moving behind his eyes. Then, the choreography changed abruptly. Before I could prepare, he pulled me in closer. My chest brushed his, and the sudden proximity made my stomach flutter in a strange way. His arm tightened around my waist to support the dip that followed, my body arching back slightly.

When he brought me upright again, his face hovered near my neck. A shiver ran down my spine. I felt his warm breath against the sensitive curve beneath my ear, and my entire body went stiff. For a split second, I forgot how to breathe.

My heartbeat stumbled, then sped up. And somehow… it matched his. His chest rose and fell against mine, our bodies following the same rhythm, and the pounding in my ears synchronized with his pulse under his skin.

“What…?” I whispered.

Damon went completely still. His fingers pressed tighter at my waist. I could feel something inside him had just awakened. His control was still there, but underneath it, tension coiled like a wolf straining against chains. He drew a slower breath near my neck again, almost cautiously this time, like he was confirming something unbelievable.

He lifted his head, his eyes darkening. “You wanted the Elder Council,” he spoke, his voice lower.

“Yes.”

“They already left.”

“What?” I pulled back a little to look at him. “Left? When?”

“Before you arrived.”

My chest dropped with disappointment. I couldn’t even focus on the dance anymore. All the hope I’d been holding onto drained away in an instant. The determination that carried me through the night suddenly felt useless.

“Oh…” I breathed.

Of course I was too late. I should have expected it. Nothing ever worked when I needed it most.

Damon watched my face closely, like he was measuring every reaction. “My reason for inviting you to dance, and my reason for helping you… are the same,” he explained.

I frowned, trying to understand. “What do you mean?”

He gave a shrug. “I mean, this isn’t charity,” he clarified.

“Then, what is it?” I demanded.

“A choice,” he answered with a smirk.

“Well, that doesn’t explain anything,” I argued.

“It will,” he assured. “In time.”

I exhaled slowly. My irritation spiked despite everything. He wasn’t feeding my curiosity and it was making it hard for me to comprehend.

“You’re being mysterious on purpose.”

A trace of amusement crossed his face. “Yes. Because I haven’t decided how much you need to know.”

I stared at him, half annoyed, half unsettled by how composed he remained.

“You’re unbelievable.”

He smirked, clearly pleased with himself. “So I’ve been told,” he drawled.

After a moment, he went quiet again. I could almost feel his thoughts, like he had just made up his mind about something important.

“You want a divorce,” he continued. “That aligns with certain information I’ve heard.”

I let out a scoff and rolled my eyes. Of course there were rumors. There were always rumors when it came to me and Raven.

“There are always rumors,” I muttered under my breath.

“Yes,” he agreed. “But not all of them are wrong.”

I searched his face, trying to see if he was serious or just playing with me. I hesitated, then gathered my courage.

“Can you really help me?” I asked.

His eyes met mine directly. “Yes,” he answered.

“How?”

“I have influence that the Elder Council respects.”

My heart started racing. “You could arrange a hearing?”

He studied me for a second, then gave a nod. “I mean, I could.”

Emotion rushed through me so fast I almost lost my composure. I had been fighting alone for so long that the idea of someone actually helping felt unreal.

“Why?” I asked again, softer this time. “Why would you do that for me?”

Damon held my gaze. The music swelled toward its peak, and the ballroom lights reflected in his silver-gray eyes. Then, he lifted his hand, brushing a loose strand of hair away from my face with surprising gentleness.

“I told you. My reason is the same as why I asked you to dance.”

Confusion creased my forehead. That explanation made no sense.

“That still doesn’t—”

“I will help you obtain your divorce,” he promised.

The word echoed inside my head like a bell ringing across a valley. My mouth parted, shock freezing me in place. Around us, other couples turned and moved, but I barely noticed them. All I could see was him. His expression remained unreadable. He bent closer, his lips near my ear, and lowered his voice so only I could hear.

“As long as…”