CHAPTER THREE:

~ Damon’s POV ~

"Yes, I will marry him," Rae announced in a shrill voice, her eyes shut tightly.

Her parents dashed to her side, wide-eyed. A smile crept onto my lips, and I still found it hard to believe she would choose me. The bounty hunters didn't hate us, but they weren't fond of us either.

They kept bombarding her with questions, her father firing up at her. Our eyes locked, and for a moment, I saw her eyelashes flutter shut.

Why did she choose me?

"Can I pick you up tomorrow to validate the marriage in court? Your parents can come too," I stated, breaking the chaos that had erupted.

"I would never go with that unfilial daughter anywhere. I disown you henceforth. I don't want to ever set my eyes on you," Blackthorne declared, raising his hand at her, which I caught mid-air. He cast a long glance at Rae and dragged her mother along, who was wiping tears from her face.

I didn't know why they were so skeptical that I would hurt her. I would never hurt my mate. Hushed voices reached my ears from the trainees, wondering if I had cast a spell on Rae.

"Let's go today," Rae said, looking up. I arched a brow at her. Why was she doing this? Was this a conspiracy I was walking into? Different questions lingered in my mind.

But who fucking cares? I have to claim what's mine.

I leaned against the SUV, arms crossed, watching the crowd slowly disperse after the chaos I’d caused.

"You okay?" I asked with furrowed brows as she entered the SUV with me.

She hummed in a low voice, staring blankly into space.

"Why’d you choose me?" I asked out of the blue.

She blinked, like she just realized I was there.

"I don’t know," she said quietly. "You showed up and ruined everything." We locked eyes, and she averted her gaze. Not the answer I had expected. Not even close.

"You could've said no," I said, narrowing my eyes.

"I thought about it," she snapped.

But she hadn’t. That single step toward me said more than words ever could.

"You know I wouldn’t have forced you, Rae," I stated firmly. "I don’t need to force what already belongs to me."

"I don't fucking belong to you," she spat, her eyelashes fluttering.

"She's feisty. I love that," my wolf, Maddox, purred.

"Why the hell did you choose me if you don't fucking belong to me, Hun?" I growled, leaning close to her, trapping her with my hands.

"We were taught the mate bond is sacred. I knew you would fight for it even if I had refused," Rae said, looking anywhere but at me. Her heartbeat thumped loudly in her chest—I could pick it up easily with my heightened hearing.

"Are you sure that was the reason and not something else?" I whispered into her ear, my hot breath fanning her neck. It was too suspicious for me not to ask. Rae Blackthorne isn't just a trainee.

She was highly skilled. I'd heard she was being trained to take over the academy.

"Ye—ah, and I was kinda attracted to you too," she blurted out, heaving a sigh. I widened my eyes at her outburst. I knew she said that to divert my attention. I still didn't buy her reasons, but there was one way to find out.

"Oh really? When did it start? The night you screamed out my name?" I nibbled on her neck, my fingertips tracing her thighs, which earned a moan from her.

I smirked. "You really want me to believe you have no ulterior motives?" I whispered.

Her lips parted slightly. She arched toward me, biting her soft pink lips.

My gaze traveled down to the turtleneck she had on. Her hardened nipples were visible through the outline of the body-con shirt, making it obvious she had no bra on.

"Mine," Maddox purred in my head, and all I could think of was my mate right in front of me.

"Get out," I growled at the driver.

I grabbed her hips and pulled her onto my lap, smacking my lips on hers, giving her a hot, searing kiss. My hands found their way to her tits, and I groaned, pulling off her clothes.

My hands cupped both of her tits, and I massaged them hard, caressing them intimately. My fingers teasing the firmness and my thumbs flicked over her hard nipples.

I'd been dreaming about fucking her again ever since that night.

She had such a petite rib cage with such a busty chest. She arched her back and pressed her tits farther into my hands.

My fingers brushed against her thigh—slow, deliberate. Her breath hitched, but she didn’t stop me.

"You’re trembling," I whispered against her ear, biting her earlobe. She jerked her head back, screaming out in ecstasy, her hands fisting in my hair.

I bit her earlobe again, nibbling behind the skin of her ear, and she pulled me closer, rubbing against me. I was hard in my pants, so thick and ready it strained the zipper.

I leaned down, lips skimming the curve of her neck. Her scent was even sweeter up close—like spiced vanilla. I kissed her jaw, then trailed lower.

When my fingers slipped beneath her waistband, she gasped.

"Damon—"

"Tell me to stop," I murmured.

She didn’t.

I teased her slowly. Slowly at first. Her legs shifted, one foot pressing against the floorboard as her hips rocked forward.

"Gods," she whispered, breathing shaky moans. "What are you doing to me?"

My mouth found hers—hungry and possessive. The kiss turned harder, deeper, as her fingers clutched my shirt and I inserted another finger inside her. She jerked her head back, her hands fisting in my hair, screaming out my name. Maddox purred in excitement, seeing our mate riled up in pleasure.

Her body arched when I pushed deeper. Her back hit the seat. She cried out, one hand flying to cover her mouth.

I didn’t stop. I wanted her to fall apart. Right here. Right now.

She clung to me as her body gave in, her legs trembling, her pulse pounding under my lips.

When she broke, shaking, breathless, lips parted, her eyes shut tightly. Heavy sighs escaped her lips, I held her tighter.

But I wasn’t done.

I kissed down her stomach, lifting her gently and laying her across the seat.

Her eyes met mine, wide, uncertain. Still, she didn’t say no.

I dropped my mouth between her thighs, tasting her slowly, savoring every reaction she tried to hide. Her toes curled. Her moans were muffled by her arm. My name slipped out more than once.

By the time I pulled my belt loose, she was begging—without words, without pride. Her fingers reached for me, desperate.

But just as I hovered over her—

A sharp voice cut into my mind.

“Alpha”, my Beta's voice came through the mindlink. “We have a problem”, his voice filled my head instant as I let him in.

I froze.

“The council knows. They're summoning you. You're to answer for your mate's claim—immediately”,

I pulled back, growling low in my chest.

"Damon?" Rae whispered, blinking up at me.

My body ached for her. My wolf howled inside me, furious at the interruption.

But my mind was already shifting.

I sat back in the seat, rage simmering just under my skin.

"The council," I said, gritting my teeth. "They want me. Now."

Her eyes widened. "Because of me?"

I didn’t answer.

I didn’t have to.

My aura thickened, colder now. My blood burned with rage. My instincts fought between keeping her and protecting the position I’d built for years.

I turned to her slowly.

She looked small again. Fragile. Human.

My mate.

And the reason I might lose everything.