Chapter 4: Mate Pull

Damien's pov

I drove my fists harder into the punching bag, concentrating on letting out all my pent-up frustration.

Two days–it had been two whole days since I had met my mate and carried her back to my pack.

Everything within me screamed to go to her, to take her and claim her as mine, but I bit down the urge, drawing a breath as I didn't derive the sensation I sought from attacking the punching bag.

"We've already changed two punching bags in the last day, some of my men are in the infirmary because they were brave enough to spar against you at your command, and the others are unwilling to risk their lives by stepping into the gym even though they need to train." Callan, my beta, stared at me as he leaned against a wall at the far corner of the gym. 

"Your point is?" I quirked a brow at him.

"You have to get it together, Damien." He pushed off the wall and approached me.

"I am well put together," I informed him, and he scoffed, ignoring the daggers my eyes shot his way.

Callan was the only one who could call me out and go scot-free.

"Then why are you attempting to kill all your men?" He quirked a brow.

"I am not attempting to kill my men, I simply wish to train their bodies. They are weak." I growled.

"Or maybe you are being a coward who is scared to face his mate outside these gym walls and doesn't know how to express the emotions raging within him." He retorted.

"Know your place, Callan." My voice boomed, but the man didn't even bat an eyelash.

"I know you, Damien." He sighed.

"Avoidance won't help you." He advised and I raked my hands through my hair in frustration.

"What do you expect me to do? I was sure the moon goddess hadn't given me a mate. I was sure I was going to rule alone, considering the curse, and that was fine by me, but now the moon goddess thrusts a little frail woman my way.”

“If I dare mark her, she is going to die, and if I reject her, it will weaken me. So tell me, what do you expect me to do?" I placed both hands on my waist as I tried to control my ragged breathing.

"Why can't you be with her?" Callan asked, and my expression immediately darkened.

"You know about the curse-" I gritted out. Callan was the only one who knew about the curse.

"There could be a way around the curse. If the moon goddess gave you a mate, then there must be a way." He interrupted me.

"You knew how long I searched for a cure, a remedy, a way around the curse, and anything that would break it. I won't give myself any more false hopes only to end up at a dead end." My words rang with finality, and he knew better than to say anything more on the subject.

"Just find another outlet for your pent-up emotions and leave my men alone." He sighed before walking out of the gym and leaving me with my thoughts.

Callan was right about one thing, though: I couldn't hide away in the gym forever. I had to face my problems head-on.

After taking a shower, I made my way to my mate's room, stopping short as her melodic laughter rings through the door and something stirred within me.

"Come in." Her soft voice called out to me when I knocked on the door.

I pushed open the door, and immediately my nostrils flared as the sweet scent of strawberries wafted around me.

My eyes landed on my mate who was in the middle of her bed and staring at me with blue doe eyes, and her little lips parted.

Everything within me begged to pounce on her and claim her as mine.

I knew my eyes flashed, and I closed them for a second, trying to gain better control of my urges before I opened them and kept a blank expression.

Sophie, Callan's daughter, and Emma are perched on the bed beside my mate.

"I would like to speak with my mate." I announced and Emma immediately spring from the bed.

"Let's go, Sophie." Emma bundled the little girl in her arms and left the room, shutting the door with a click behind me.

Awkward silence stretched in the room for several seconds, and my mate rose from the bed.

The sparks were undeniable when our eyes met, and I couldn't second-guess this.

This woman was my mate, there was no mistaking it.

She looked fresher now that the dirty and bloodied gown was gone and her blond hair was tied up in a bun.

She was perf,ect.

"You wanted to talk to me?" She asked, breaking the silence as a blush stained her cheeks at the intensity of my stare.

I cleared my throat and looked away from her. 

"How are you feeling?" I asked her lamely.

"Much better. I'm practically healed." She replied slowly.

I was at a loss for what to do.

"What is your name?" I asked, keeping my voice steady, and her eyes widened in shock.

I had made it a point not to talk about her whenever Callan or his mate tried to bring her up in the last two days. It was safe to say I knew absolutely nothing about my mate.

"Scarlet." She replied.

"Scarlet." I tested her name on my lips, and I noticed her sharp intake of breath.

Good, I wasn't the only one who could feel the mate pull.

"And you are the feared Lycan king." She muttered after a moment, and I quirked a brow at the title.

Somewhere within me, I didn't want my mate to see me as the Lycan in that title, I wanted her to see me for who I was behind the crown.

"I hope-" I began, but my mate cut me off.

"I want to leave." She announced, and my heart dropped.