Chapter Five: The Alpha, The Chaos, and The Mate Who Won’t Listen

Damon — POV

I’ve faced rogues.

I’ve faced rival Alphas.

I’ve faced a damn bear once.

None of them stressed me the way Aria did.

The girl had been in my life for less than an hour, and I was already questioning every decision I’d ever made.

She ran from me.

Twice.

Told me she hated drama.

Told me I was a drama.

Told me she wanted breakfast before dealing with me.

And now?

Now I was carrying her into my pack house over my shoulder like she weighed nothing.

She kicked.

She screamed.

She insulted me.

She insulted my Beta.

She insulted the entire crowd.

And somehow, I still wanted her.

The mate bond was a curse.

A beautiful, infuriating curse.

“PUT ME DOWN!” she yelled, pounding her fists against my back.

“No,” I said, stepping through the pack house doors.

“Damon!”

“No.”

“This is kidnapping!”

“It’s mate retrieval.”

“RYLAN!” she screamed. “HELP ME!”

My Beta snorted. “Sorry, Luna. I like my job.”

“I’M NOT LUNA!”

“Not yet,” I said.

She kicked harder.

I tightened my grip.

The pack house doors closed behind us, muffling the gasps and whispers from outside. The silence inside felt heavier — like the walls themselves were waiting to see what I’d do with her.

Finally, I set her down.

She spun around, hair wild, eyes blazing, chest rising and falling like she’d run a marathon.

She was beautiful.

Chaotic.

Unpredictable.

A walking disaster.

But beautiful.

She jabbed a finger at me. “Don’t ever do that again.”

“You ran,” I said.

“I walked emotionally fast.”

“You ran.”

She huffed. “Fine. I ran. But only because I don’t want drama.”

“You ARE drama,” I said.

Her jaw dropped. “How dare you.”

Rylan coughed to hide a laugh.

I glared at him. “Out.”

He saluted. “Yes, Alpha.”

He left, still laughing.

Aria crossed her arms. “Your Beta is rude.”

“You insulted him first.”

“He deserved it.”

I pinched the bridge of my nose. “Aria…”

“No,” she said. “Don’t ‘Aria’ me. I didn’t ask for this. I didn’t ask for a mate. I didn’t ask for a pack. I didn’t ask for people to stare at me like I crawled out of a grave.”

“You did crawl out of a grave,” Rylan called from the hallway.

“RYLAN!”

“Sorry!”

Aria rolled her eyes. “See? Drama.”

I stepped closer. “You’re not an abomination.”

“Tell your pack that.”

“I will.”

“They hate me.”

“They fear what they don’t understand.”

She snorted. “They fear everything. One woman fainted when I said hello.”

“That was Elder Miriam,” I said. “She faints when the wind blows.”

Aria laughed.

It was the first time I’d heard it.

Light.

Sharp.

Real.

It hit me harder than the bond.

She shook her head. “Look, Damon… I’m not Luna material. I’m not graceful. I’m not elegant. I’m not—”

“Lilith,” I finished.

She blinked. “Exactly.”

“Good,” I said. “I don’t want Lilith.”

She stared at me like she didn’t understand how that was possible.

I stepped closer.

Close enough to smell her.

Close enough to feel her.

Close enough that my wolf pushed against my skin, desperate to claim her.

“You’re not what they expected,” I said. “You’re not what I expected.”

She swallowed. “Is that supposed to be a compliment?”

“Yes.”

“It sounds like an insult.”

“It’s not.”

She looked away. “I don’t want to be here.”

“I know.”

“I don’t want to be Luna.”

“I know.”

“I don’t want a mate.”

My jaw tightened. “I know.”

She looked back at me, eyes softer now. “Then why are you forcing this?”

“Because the bond doesn’t care what we want.”

She flinched.

I hated that.

I lowered my voice. “Aria… I’m not asking you to accept me today. I’m not asking you to stay forever. I’m asking you to give me a chance.”

She stared at me.

Silent.

Thinking.

Guarded.

Then she said:

“…Do you have food?”

I blinked. “What?”

“Food,” she repeated. “I’m hungry. I died last night. I deserve a snack.”

I stared at her.

Then I laughed.

Actually laughed.

My wolf perked up, startled.

Rylan peeked around the corner. “Did the Alpha just laugh?”

“RYLAN!”

He disappeared again.

Aria crossed her arms. “Well? Do you have food or not?”

I nodded. “Yes. Come with me.”

She hesitated.

Her eyes flicked to the hallway.

To the stairs.

To the shadows.

To the doors.

To every possible escape route.

She was planning ten exits at once.

My wolf purred.

Chaos.

Pure chaos.

“Fine,” she said. “But if anyone looks at me wrong, I’m throwing a biscuit at them.”

I smirked. “I’ll allow it.”

She walked beside me, chin high, shoulders back, ready to fight the entire pack if necessary.

My wolf pressed against my skin.

My mate.

My chaos.

My problem.

And I wouldn’t have it any other way.

---