AlinaThe second the words left his lips—“Start staying in my room, with me”—everything in me just… melted.All that anger, all the spiraling thoughts, all the worry that had wrapped around my chest like a vice, the storm that had dragged me through the halls like a lunatic, fizzled into silence. It was just me, him, and the sound of my pulse pounding in my ears like a war drum.I wanted to lean into him. To let his warmth fold around me like it belonged there. Like I belonged there. I wanted to rest my forehead against his chest and close my eyes, just for a second. Just to breathe. I wanted to hear him growl again—goddess, why did that sound make my thighs clench like that?—and act all possessive and alpha and manly, like I wasn’t the only one whose insides were a mess.But then… something in my brain clicked.His words. What he actually said.Start staying in my room.Not I need you here, not I want you close because I miss you. Just… practical. Just logistics.Like I was something
AlinaI stared at myself in the mirror, the cup of steaming tea warm against my fingers, but not doing a damn thing to calm the storm building in my chest.Why was I even hesitating?I was this close to going to Damian’s room. I even walked down the damn hallway earlier, then turned around like some coward. Because the truth was—I didn’t want to run into any of his precious family members. Not his mother with her silent judgment. Not his father with his loaded stares. And definitely not Lucas, who I still wasn’t sure I could resist slapping across the face if I saw him.And the worst part?I didn’t even know what would set Damian off anymore.One minute he was calm, guarded, careful with me like I might break if he breathed too hard. The next, he was glaring at the world like it had personally insulted his entire bloodline. It was exhausting. He was exhausting. And somehow, I couldn’t stop thinking about him.I took another sip of the tea, sighing through my nose.“Stupid mate bond,”
DamienTwo days.That’s how long it had been since Alina asked me that question—the one I hadn’t been able to answer. “Why would you want me to be estranged from my family?” The way her voice cracked, the disbelief in her tone, the sheer hurt behind her words—I hadn’t been able to get any of it out of my head. It followed me, haunted me, clung to me like the stench of blood.And the worst part? She was right to be angry. She deserved answers. Answers I didn’t know how to give her without shattering the already fragile thing we had built between us.She hadn’t spoken to me since.She didn’t need to. Her silence said enough.I shoved my hands into my coat pockets and kept walking. The walls of the pack behind me faded with each step. I needed to be away from all of it—the politics, the constant pressure, the weight of leadership, of family, of betrayal. I needed air. I needed space. I needed something that didn’t make me want to claw out of my own skin.The rogue containment area stretc
AlinaI gasped as he threw me onto the bed.My back hit the mattress with a dull thud that knocked the breath from my lungs, and for a split second, all I could do was stare at the ceiling in shock. I had fought him the entire way here—slapping his chest, clawing at his arms, twisting like a wild thing in his grip—but it was useless. Damian was a wall of unyielding muscle and rage, and I might as well have been fighting the wind. My heart raced, my body trembled with the remains of adrenaline, but I forced myself to sit up, fury pouring into every breath I dragged in.“What the hell is wrong with you?” I spat, my voice laced with equal parts fear and anger.He didn’t answer. Of course he didn’t.Instead, he stepped forward, slow and deliberate. His shadow fell over me like a second skin, and my instincts screamed at me to move back, to put some space between us. But I didn’t. I stayed there, glaring up at him, daring him to say something that would justify the insanity of dragging me
Alina"Aren’t you going to thank me for rescuing you?"I blinked and looked over at Lucas, who wore the kind of smug expression that made you want to slap it right off his face. His grin was wide, cheeky, irritating. Classic Lucas.I gave him a slow shrug. “Thanks,” I said, flatly. “For the kidnapping. Really sweet of you.”He laughed, clearly unbothered. “There we go,” he said with a mock bow. “Spoken like a proper Luna. All grace and charm.”I narrowed my eyes. “Have you started your bad habits again?”He held up both hands in an exaggerated peace sign. “Innocent this time. Scout’s honor.”I arched a brow. “You were never a scout.”“I was, briefly. Got kicked out for charming too many troop leaders’ daughters.”That actually made me snort, despite myself. I rolled my eyes and looked ahead, hoping my face didn’t show the flicker of amusement.“Come on,” he said, nodding his head toward a winding path. “Let’s walk. It’s a nice morning for a stroll with a grumpy Luna.”I muttered somet
AlinaI sighed as I pulled away from Damian, my chest tight with the weight of everything left unsaid. His hand lingered on my waist for a moment before dropping to his side. I noticed the muscle ticking in his jaw—barely there, but enough to tell me he was holding something back. His eyes were hazy, clouded over like a storm had taken root behind them, and even though he said nothing, it was clear—he was upset.Heavily upset.And I couldn’t blame him, not entirely.But that didn’t mean I would back down.“If you respected my wishes,” I said quietly, “you wouldn’t have done that.”His expression hardened, but I could see the flicker of pain beneath it. Still, he didn’t argue. He just sighed—low, frustrated—and looked away.“Get some rest, Alina,” he murmured. “It’s too late now.”He turned without another word. I watched the broad lines of his back retreat down the hallway until he disappeared around the corner.I shut the door behind me and leaned against it, my fingers curling into