chapter 2

prologue- Damien

I didn’t expect her to feel this good.

From the second my hand brushed against Jade’s skin, something in me shifted. Her skin was soft, warm, and it sent this electric shock through my body, waking up every nerve like I’d never felt anything before.

I didn’t expect towantto hold her, to kiss her. I didn’t expect to actually enjoy it. This was supposed to be a quick thing—get in, get out, and be done with the stupid bet. But now? Now I feel like the world’s biggest asshole.

I glance over at her as she stirs beside me in the tall grass, and I’m hit with a wave of guilt so strong, it almost knocks the air out of my lungs. What the hell have I done? This wasn’t supposed to happen like this. I wasn’t supposed to feel anything for her.

But I do. And that’s a problem.

This whole thing started as a joke. A drunken, careless joke. The guys were laughing, throwing out bets and challenges, and I was too stupid and proud to back down. They dared me to take the pack outcast’s virginity—to take Jade’s virginity. For fun. And because I’m Damien Lucas—future alpha, king of pride and arrogance—I didn’t say no. Instead, I laughed alongwith them and agreed. Because backing out? That would’ve been weak. And I’m anything but weak.

At least, that’s what I keep telling myself. But right now, I feel like the weakest piece of shit on earth.

I drag my hand through my hair, staring down at the floor as the memories of that night flood back. We were all at the bar, a few too many shots deep, and the conversation turned to girls. One of the guys—Jeremy, I think—brought up Jade, saying how she was always hanging around, still the awkward outcast she’d been in school. And someone else, probably Trevor, made the bet: take her to bed. Prove you can do it.

The worst part? I didn’t even hesitate. I agreed, thinking it would be easy, like everything else in my life. Because for me, things are easy. I get what I want, when I want it, and I don’t stop to think about the consequences.

But right now? Lying here beside her, the weight of what I’ve done is crushing me.

Jade’s chestnut hair falls over her face, covering one of her brown eyes, and for a moment, I just stare at her. Her curvy body presses into the soil beneath her, soft and pliant. She looks like an angel, peaceful and serene. I have no idea how she got to twenty-six without someone having claimed her. She’s so unbelievably gorgeous, even in the muted light of the rising sun. If she wasn’t my best friend’s sister, I’d have done this ages ago.

Oh, shit. Alec isn’t going to be happy about this. Not at all. He’s been protective of Jade ever since we were kids, and there’s no way he’s going to let me get away with hurting her.

I guess in the grand scheme of things, there’s not much he can do about it. I am the alpha-in-training. Being alpha-in-training has always meant keeping this mask of invulnerability—always being the hardest, always the one who didn’t let thingsget to him. It’s not just expected; it’s required. I had to be tough. Had to make the hard decisions. Had to be cold, ruthless, the kind of leader that nothing could break. And the longer I’ve worn that mask, the more it’s felt like it’s not a mask at all. Like maybe I really am that hard-hearted bastard the pack needs me to be.

But that doesn’t mean I’m looking forward to him finding out.

I shouldn’t have done this. I should’ve backed out. But I didn’t, and now there’s no undoing it.

I stare at the blue sky above me as the guilt chews at my conscience. I thought I could just get it over with, prove myself to the guys and move on. But the moment I touched her, it all changed. And now I’m stuck here, wondering how the hell I let things get this far.

It’s not just about the bet anymore. It’s about the fact that I’ve spent so long pretending to be someone who doesn’t care—pretending to be the guy who could do something like this and feel nothing. And now I’m starting to wonder if the act has actually turned me into that guy. The one who’s heartless, who sees people as pawns or conquests, who doesn’t let himself feel anything real.

My wolf stirs inside me, restless and agitated. He knows something’s wrong, too. This isn’t how it’s supposed to be. I thought it was just the usual lust, the typical alpha instinct to claim what’s mine. But this is different. This is something more, something I don’t fully understand. And it’s pissing me off.

I glance at my phone, where a string of texts from the guys are waiting for me. They’re probably wondering if I’ve sealed the deal yet, eager to hear the details of how I bagged the pack’s outcast. My stomach turns, and I shove the phoneaway. I can’t deal with them right now. Not when I’m lying here, drowning in guilt.

Jade turns toward me with a soft, sleepy smile on her face. Dammit, she looks so happy. Like she doesn’t have a clue what’s really going on. Like she has no idea that the whole reason I’m here is because of a stupid bet.

“You okay?” she asks as she rubs my arm.

No. I’m not okay. None of this is okay.

“Yeah,” I lie, forcing the word out. “I’m fine.”

But I’m not fine. I’m a mess. I’m lying here next to the girl I’ve spent years tormenting, the girl I never gave a second thought to until last night, and I can’t stop thinking about how wrong this is. How wrong I am. Because the truth is, Jade’s not the girl who deserves to be treated this way. She’s better. Stronger. More than I deserve.

It’s not just that I lied to her. It’s that I’ve been lying to myself for so long—telling myself I’m not capable of this kind of betrayal, of using someone like her for a cheap thrill. But here I am, acting like the monster I never wanted to become.

She sits up a little, feeling around for her shirt to get dressed. My throat tightens, and I force myself to look away. I need to get this over with. I need to end this before it goes any further.

“Damien,” she whispers, her voice full of uncertainty. “Was this… was this a mistake?”

I should say yes. I should tell her the truth—that this was all a stupid bet, that I never meant for it to go this far, that I don’t deserve her trust. But instead, I reach out and cup her cheek.

“No. It wasn’t a mistake.”

And it’s not. At least, not the way she thinks it is. Because somewhere along the line, this stopped being about the bet. It stopped being about proving myself to the guys. Now, it’s about her. It’s about Jade, and the way she makes me feel like maybe I’m not the monster I’ve always thought I was.

She smiles at me, and it’s the kind of smile that makes my chest ache. I’m not supposed to feel this way about her. I’m not supposed to feel anything.

I lean in, kissing her softly, and for a moment, I let myself get lost in it. I let myself believe that this could be something real. But before I can even process what’s happening, the air around us shifts.

It’s subtle at first—just a faint hum, like static electricity building in the air. But then it gets stronger, and suddenly, it feels like the whole room is vibrating.

I pull back, frowning as I look around. What the hell is going on?

“Something’s wrong,” Jade comments, glancing at her hands.

Before I can respond, the clearing explodes with light. Not literally, but that’s what it feels like—like this surge of energy is bursting out of her, filling the space with a blinding, pulsing glow. I stumble back, and my heart races as I try to figure out what the hell is happening.

And then I see her.

Jade is glowing. Her entire body is lit up with this strange, pale light, and her eyes… Her eyes are glowing, too. Not the warm russet I’ve always known, but something else. Something powerful.

“What the fuck?” I mutter, backing away. “What’s happening?”

Jade shakes her head, tears welling up in her eyes. “I don’t know. I don’t understand.”

But I do. Or at least, I think I do.

There’s only one thing that could cause this kind of reaction. Magic. Real, dangerous magic. And if that’s the case… if Jade has magic in her, then she’s not just a shifter. She’s something else. Something more.

“You’re…” I say. “You’re a witch.”

She flinches like I’ve slapped her, but I can’t help it. Witches aren’t allowed in our pack. They never have been. They’re dangerous. Unpredictable. And if Jade’s one of them… if she’s been hiding this all along…

“I didn’t know,” she whispers, her voice shaking. “I swear, Damien, I didn’t know.”

But I barely hear her. All I can think about is the trouble this is going to cause. The neighboring pack’s territory was burned last week, and there were rumors that it was caused by magic. If the pack finds out Jade’s a witch… if they think she’s responsible for what happened…

I’m screwed. We’re both screwed.

I jump to my feet and start climbing into my clothes. This wasn’t supposed to be anything more than a bet. But now I’m tied to her in a way I never expected, and there’s no going back.

“I… I have to go. I need to figure this out.”

Jade stares at me, and those brown eyes are full of confusion and fear. “Damien, please…”

But I can’t stay. I can’t deal with this right now. I need to get out of here before she loses control entirely.

Without another word, I break into a sprint, leaving her behind.

I thought I could play a game with her, but I didn’t realize how dangerous that game was. I didn’t realize that by getting close to her, I was opening up something far bigger than I could handle.

But the real problem? The pack will never accept her. Not now. Not after this. And if they find out about the magic—if they find out I’m tied to her—it won’t just be her life on the line. It’ll be mine, too.

If I don’t tell them what I know.

I head straight to my father’s house. He’s the current alpha, and he needs to know what’s going on. As much as I hate the idea of turning Jade in, I have no choice. If I don’t act fast, this could spiral out of control.

My father listens in silence as I tell him everything—about Jade, the magic, the glowing light. His expression doesn’t change, but I know what he’s thinking. He’s been around long enough to know that witches bring trouble. And Jade… she’s no exception.

“We have no choice,” he says finally. “She has to go. The pack will never accept her now.”

My stomach twists. I knew this was coming, but hearing it out loud makes it real. Jade is being banished.

“Is that really necessary?” I ask, even though I know it is. “Can’t we just… help her?”

“Banishing her will keep the peace,” my father says, his tone final. “It’s the only way.”

I nod, even though every part of me wants to scream. This is how it has to be. Jade has to go, or the pack will never be safe.

But as I walk out of my father’s office, I can’t shake the feeling that I’ve just made the biggest mistake of my life.