War for Aria

Damon POV

I watched Arya fall to the ground and our last words whispered as a threat to the Blood Moon Alpha. I couldn't help but smile before finally placing a distraction. I rushed towards her.

Victor got up from the ground and without waiting or hesitating, I raced out of the compound, running straight back to the Reaper's compound with her still unconscious in my hands. I suddenly felt so frightened, hoping she would wake. I tapped on her cheek with each step I took, but she was still blanked out. She seemed so pale, and her skin felt so weak.

I just hoped nothing goes wrong. She is just new to this world and she's already fighting different atrocities coming her way. I hoped she would be strong, feeling the bond between us. I knew she was someone I needed to keep by my side at every moment, and I planned on doing that for as long as possible.

I made my way straight into the compound and noticed the Council members and reapers still walking around as if they were not done with their discussion. They noticed I had brought her back. I slowly dropped her on the nearest sofa as they all glared at me angrily.

“What do you want me to do? I have to protect her. Don’t you know that she knows our secrets? She is clearly linked to something since I just found out her parents are her adopted family. So clearly, there’s something funny here. Are we going to just throw her away?”

I asked as they laughed.

“Clearly we will. She’s too dangerous; we have to kill her,” one of the council members said.

I gritted my teeth angrily and walked towards him, holding him in a chokehold.

“Don’t you ever open your mouth and say such atrocity to me ever again. I am not going to do anything to her. Touch her and I will burn your back to ashes,” I said to him before pushing him away, feeling even more angry.

I couldn’t believe I was trying to make them understand, but they kept acting so dumb to my words. I was not going to let them win this time around.

“Then what are you going to do? Keep her here. Keep her here for what? We wouldn’t be able to keep her safe. She doesn’t react to anything. She is not a human.”

“Then what is she? Huh?” he asked me.

At that moment, I remembered what I heard earlier.

“She was a prophecy,” I muttered as the council members all laughed.

“Really? A prophecy is really happening right now? You really think she is important? She is just going to be a delay, something that is going to shift you from what you are meant to concentrate on,” they continued.

“It’s enough, all of you. I called you guys here because I had a situation I could not deal with, and now I have found a way. Aria is my mate,” I said.

Most of them gasped in shock.

“What did you just say? Aria your mate. It makes no sense. Stop saying bizarre things because you don’t have a choice.”

I looked at him angrily.

“No, I don’t say bizarre because I don’t have a choice. I have a choice, and clearly, it still stays the same: Aria is my mate, not because I decided it or because it was my choice, but because it’s by bond,” I added.

Then one of the council members stood up from his chair and walked towards me.

“Am I the only one being confused here or don’t I understand? If she is your mate by bond, what is she? You can only be mated to a wolf. Does that mean that she’s a wolf and she has not realized it yet?” he asked.

“I don’t know and I don’t care about any of that.”

I then turned to one of the maids.

“Take her to my chambers,” I instructed.

They wasted no time in carrying her straight into the main building as I looked back at them.

“This should end here. I don’t want this matter spreading until I find the solution. My words continue to be my word. Please let it stick that way,” I warned them.

And then I realized something. The Reapers were not happy at all. Just when I took a step into the main building, the Blood Moon sent assassins. I didn’t bother to join in the fight and instead just stood there, shaking my head.

“I wasn’t even away from that place for one second and they already came back for revenge. We told you she’s dangerous, that she has to be killed. She can’t keep staying with us.”

They continued while trying to fight back the assassins.

“I want them all dead. None of them should leave this place alive. Understood?” I warned and then left, going straight back to my chambers where Aria had clearly been locked.

I slowly dragged a seat and sat beside her on the bed, watching her breathe so gently. She was back to life, I could tell. Now, finally at ease.

I guessed she needed this rest so badly. But just when I thought I could be at peace, she opened her eyes and suddenly began to struggle. Thankfully, the midwives were not dumb enough to have laid her there without chaining her down.

“You are mine now, whether you like it or not,” I said to her as she laughed.

“I am not yours. I don’t belong to anybody,” she shouted.

“Oh no. You belong to me now, and you have to understand that you have to stick with my rules if you want to survive. Do you understand?” I warned her as she laughed.

“No, I don’t,” she repeated.

“I am not yours. I am not anyone's. I don’t want you to save me, just to claim me as yours. I don’t want to be entitled to anybody,” she said, her voice filled with rage.

I couldn’t stop myself and I slowly kissed her hard, but then she did something I did not expect. She bit my lips so hard I tried to push her away, but she didn’t until blood dripped from my lips.

I couldn’t help but smile as I stood up.

“Good. That is the fire I need.”