Chapter 3

**Chapter Three **  

*Damien’s POV*

The sound of my boots echoed off the marble floors as I stormed out of my office and into the sprawling halls of the mansion. My wolf, Orion, snarled incessantly in my head, demanding answers I didn’t have. How could the Moon Goddess curse me with someone so... beneath me? A stripper? The humiliation was enough to make my blood boil.  

“Damien, where are you going?” Zayn’s voice trailed behind me, calm but firm.  

I didn’t stop. “Out.”  

“Out? To where? You’ve been pacing like a caged beast for hours. Talk to me, man. What’s going on?”  

I halted abruptly, spinning on my heel to face him. If there's one thing about my Beta was his stubborn nature, he was always persistent until he got what he wanted. but not this time. My glowing amber eyes locked onto his, and I saw him stiffen. “If I wanted to talk, I would have called you. Back off, Zayn.”  

He didn’t flinch, the stubborn bastard. “This is about her, isn’t it? Your mate.”  

His words hit like a bullet, and for a second, I froze. My fist slammed against his chest, shoving him back hard enough to make him stumble.  

“Who the hell told you that?” I growled, my voice dipping into dangerous territory.  

Zayn straightened, brushing off the attack like it was nothing. “You think I can’t see it? The anger. The restlessness. The way you’ve been snapping at everyone like a rabid dog since you came back with your friends from that …that club? It’s obvious, Damien.”  

Before I could rip into him further, a sharp voice interrupted.  

“So, the rumors are true.”  

My father’s presence filled the room like a storm cloud. His sharp gray eyes bore into me as he stepped forward, his posture commanding even in his age.  

I clenched my jaw. “What rumors?”  

“That you’ve found your mate.”  

I scoffed and turned away from him. “It’s none of your damn business.”  

“It is my business Damien,” he said sharply, his tone cutting through the tension like a blade. “You’re the Alpha of this pack. Everything you do reflects on us. So, tell me, who is she?”  

I stayed silent, my hands curling into fists.  

When I didn’t answer, he turned to Zayn. “Well?”  

Zayn hesitated, glancing at me for permission. I shot him a glare, but my father’s Alpha authority was stronger, even now. There was no way he would lie to my father especially when his eyes were blazing like that and imposing the Alpha aura on him. Why was this old man still alive in the first place? I cursed at my thoughts and Zayn opened his big mouth.

“She works at the Lunar Lust Club,” Zayn admitted reluctantly. “She’s a stripper.”  

The silence that followed was deafening. My father’s expression darkened, his disappointment palpable.  

“A stripper?” he repeated, his voice low and dangerous. “The Moon Goddess paired you with a stripper?”  

I snapped, “Don't ever call my mate a stripper, she works there doesn't mean that she's a stripper!” I told my father, hating how that defence came smoothly from my tongue, Fuck Orion! That damn wolf controlled me.

“You don’t get to reject her, Damien,” he said firmly. “ I know you're obviously irritated that she's working in some place like that but do you have any idea what will happen if you do? Half your power will transfer to her, leaving you weaker than a rogue. The Pack will lose faith in you. And don’t forget the political ramifications—”  

“I don’t need a lecture,” I interrupted, my voice sharp as I avoided his gaze.

“You do if you’re stupid enough to reject her,” he shot back. “You have five days to bring her here and introduce her to the Pack . If you don’t, I’ll strip you of your title and give it to Zayn’s son.”  

My head snapped up, rage flaring in my chest as I imagined the young boy being crowned Alpha in my place “You wouldn’t dare do that to your son! You’d really throw away your own son for a woman?”  

“No, Damien,” he said coldly. “I’d throw away a fool who thinks he’s above the laws of nature.”  

The weight of his words settled in my chest, but I didn’t let it show. He turned to leave but paused at the door.  

“And don’t forget,” he added, “your mother and sisters still live in Lupine City. If you lose your position, you lose the ability to protect them. Think about that before you make any reckless decisions.”  

I kept my expression unreadable as he walked out, but the reminder stung like a fresh wound.  

As much as I resented them, they were still my blood. And I would never allow anyone to use them against me.    

He turned and left, leaving a suffocating silence in his wake.  

Zayn sighed, running a hand through his hair. “You know he means it, right? He doesn’t bluff.”  

“Shut up,” I snarled, storming past him.  

“Where are you going now?”  

“To handle this,” I growled. “Don’t follow me.”  

 **Lunar Lust Club**  

The neon sign of the club glared at me like an accusation as I pulled up in front of it. The place reeked of cheap alcohol and desperation, and I hated every second of being here.  

I shoved the door open, the bass of the music pounding in my ears. The bartender froze mid-pour when he saw me, his eyes wide with recognition.  

“Where’s your boss?” I demanded, my voice cutting through the noise.  

“H-he’s in the back,” the bartender stammered, pointing toward a door.  

I didn’t bother knocking. I kicked the door open, the wood splintering under the force. The club owner, a greasy middle aged man named Vince, jumped to his feet, his face pale.  

“Alpha Damien,” he stammered. “What an honor—”  

“Shut up,” I snapped. “Where’s Ivory?”  

He blinked, confused. “Who?”  

“The stripper who danced for me two nights ago. Where is she?”  

Realization dawned on his face, and he quickly shook his head. “She left the city, Alpha. She said she wouldn’t be coming back—”  

I was across the room in a heartbeat, my hand wrapping around his throat. I slammed him against the wall, the cheap drywall cracking under the force.  

“You expect me to believe that?” I growled, my voice deadly. “Tell me where she is, or I’ll rip your throat out.”  

“I-I swear, I don’t know!” he choked out. “She was saving up to leave—she didn’t tell anyone where she was going!”  

My grip tightened. “You’re lying. Repeat that again and your head would kiss the ground while I cut off your silly dick!”  

“I swear on my life!” he gasped. “Her real name is Serena Vales—that’s all I know, I swear!”  

I dropped him unceremoniously, and he crumpled to the floor, gasping for air.  

“You’re fucking useless,” I muttered.  

“Wait! Please, Alpha! I’ll do anything—”  

I spun around, my eyes glowing with fury. “You want to do something? Fine. I’m buying this dump. Fifty million dollars. Sign the papers, and get out of my sight. If I ever see your face again, I’ll feed you to my wolves.”  

His jaw dropped. “F-fifty million?”  

“Did I stutter?”  

He scrambled to his feet, nodding frantically. “I’ll sign right now!”  

Within minutes, the deal was done. The club was mine, and Vince was gone. I can't have news flying around that my mate works for Vince as a damn stripper. Spending so Much already for a little slut.

Owning this place gave me control. Control over her past, her movements, and every damn thing connected to her.  

If she ever stepped foot in this city again, I would know. If she came here to this Psycho, I'll know as well and kill him for existing in the first place for her to even think of meeting him.

As I drove back to the mansion, the anger simmering in my chest didn’t fade. I hated her. Hated that she had this hold over me, this strong fucking urge and protection just bloomed from nowhere, Hated that she was turning my life upside down.  

“She’s not worth it,” I muttered to myself.  

But even as I said the words, I couldn’t stop thinking about her. Serena Vales. My mate. Her damn perfect body under the neon lights.

‘You’ll regret it if you reject her.’ Orion growled in my head and I hissed.

I clenched the steering wheel, my mind racing. Five days. That’s all I had to figure this out.  

Five days to decide if I would keep her—or destroy her