Anastasia

"…I promise to give my all to this Pack and make it the best in the country, the goddess be my witness. Good evening ladies and gentlemen. Thank you for coming and do have a lovely night." Damon, my mate and the Alpha of our pack ends his heartfelt speech and bows to the audience.

The revving claps and cheers go on for minutes after he gets off the podium and returns to my side. He has the warmest smile while he waves and shakes the people around our table. But when he takes his seat next to me, I feel that terrifying, chilly aura around him. It makes my blood curdle.

He leans in casually, placing a kiss on my lips. Then he rubs a finger over the spot that supposedly smudged. His eyes go from warm to vicious, and then he discreetly stomps on my toe under the table.

I swallow my gasp, as his cold eyes still have me in chains. "Try not to look so sickly pale, honey. This isn’t a goddamn funeral." His voice is icy, and then he coats it with a facetious smile.

A huge lump cloaks my throat and I struggle to get it out of the way with my repeated gulping. I’m trying so hard not to cry either. It’ll ruin my makeup and also cause quite a scandal.

In a hall filled with thousands of people, I'm still being physically and emotionally abused. It’s hard to think that the man who was on stage minutes ago, looking the complete gentleman and radiating a thick aura of a leader is the same man who's boring horror into my heart right now.

He runs a finger around my cheek, and I muffle a wince. "How’s it? Does it still hurt?"

"No." I lie, lowering my head as I fail to keep a tear from falling. My whole face is hurting like it's being pricked by lots of needles. 

Our fight last night ended like every other fight we’ve had. He left another series of bruises on my face and body. Hiding the bruises with concealer has become my expertise. And I also had to order a long-sleeved dress to hide the bruises on my arms. The remaining part of my body has no physical bruise but it’s aching. I fear I may have sustained internal injuries.

"I’d say I’m sorry, but you know I’d be lying. You should learn to mind your business and keep your dirty claws off my phone."

I feel paralyzed from his words, so I’m yet to move an inch. 

My hell of a life seems to be getting even more hellish. I got myself a mate who has pretty, horrible attributes. A cheating mate. An abusive mate. A sadist. - A misogynist asshole- And it gets worse every day.

I've tried not to feel affected by his chronic sexual escapades but what else should I have done when his phone beeped and I curiously grabbed it? I wasn’t prying, I swear it. But then the message was there, right in my face. A photo. A nude photo of some girl, with sleazy texts promising that they will have a nicer time when next he comes over. I was yet to overcome the shock of her gutsy raw message to my mate when he walked in, saw his phone in my grip, and went berserk.

The first punch had been so brutal, that I thought I was literally gonna go unconscious from it. But I didn’t, and he went on and on lashing out his grievances on me. Right until he’s appeased his devilish rage.

I spent all night crying, but he was already out and excited about the fun he was promised. And it’s crazy how everyone thought being the Luna of the Pack would guarantee me the best life. It breaks my heart to admit how fatally wrong they were.

Today, at this party, we celebrate his first anniversary as the Alpha of the Pack. But I mourn over the two years I’ve spent in his hellish shackles. 

Subtly, I sniff back my tears but a strange whiff permeates my nostrils. Strong. Intoxicating. Delicious. And dare I say, rebellious. It dries the tears from my eyes instantly.

Only one person parades with such a unique and dangerous scent. Only one man proudly owns it and flaunts it.

"Father," Damon says in a boyish excitement, getting to his feet.

Just like I thought. He’s here, and he’s super close to me.

I try for a smile as I stand too, next to Damon. For a second, I feel so claustrophobic. The 6’5 man standing in front of us has dominated the space, stealing every bit of air, and leaving us with just his scent. It’s either I inhale that or I suffocate, and the latter isn’t an option.

So yeah, I inhale, and it causes that crazy throbbing in my panties and makes my heart flutter wickedly. The same erotic reaction every time! It’s frustrating to still feel this way in any slightest proximity I have with him. 

I thought I was over this silly attraction that I harbored for him but I guess I’m wrong. His presence still taunts me in the worst way possible. Him. My mate’s father. Victor Pierce.

He’s a reflection of Damon, the only difference has to be the stubbles that line his jawline, and round his mouth. His black-sleek hair too makes him stand out from Damon’s brown, ruffled hair. He’s got thicker muscles too, to commemorate the days when he engaged in boxing as some sick hobby.

Older men have never been my fancy, but Victor makes 41 look so terribly young and sexily charming. The man ages like fine wine. And I’m not the only one who says this, every legal girl in the Pack fawns and pines for his attention. He’s a single father so why not?

Sometimes. I wonder if I would throw myself at him just as shamelessly as the other girls do if I didn’t have a mate. 

"Congratulations, son. I know I wasn’t wrong when I stepped down and let you take over the Alpha seat. You’ve done incredibly well in just a year."

Damon chuckles smugly as they share a hug. "Thanks, Father." He turns to me and whispers harshly into my ears. "Fix your smile. It’s revolting."

"Nice to see you again…" Victor’s deep and edgy voice unnerves me, making it hard for me to fix my smile like I was asked to. "…Anastasia."

I shut my eyes briefly, trying the control the mad fizzling unfolding inside me. It happens whenever he says my name. There’s always an extra to it, like he’s savoring the name on his lips, feeling every inch of it and then he adds an intense huskiness to it.

"Good evening, Sir. I hope you’re having a good time," I mumble, bowing slightly. It’s a bit awkward and Damon is already glaring at me.

"Yes, I am. Thank you very much." He chuckles and it sounds a bit hoarse. A waiter passes with a tray and he snags up a glass.

Damon’s phone beeps. He checks it for a few seconds. "Uh, father. Do excuse me, please. I need to go check something out. Be right back."

"Sure, son. Go ahead."

Damon doesn’t even bother about me and just walks away. It’s just me and Victor, with his dark grey, hooded gaze that mysteriously has a bit of warmth as he’s staring at me.

I quickly return to my seat, in my desperate need to put a bit of distance between us. He lingers for seconds and then his retrieving footsteps put me at ease.

When I finally look up, he’s having a chat with some men a few tables away from mine. For a few seconds, I indulge my need to take in every inch of him. It’s always my guilty pleasure, to stare at him when he’s not looking.

But out of the blue, his eyes catch mine and his brows tilt. A mischievous smile crowns his lips as he sips the wine, and makes it twirl in his mouth, and then he rolls his tongue on his lower lips.

Doing that while staring at me tugged at all the erotic nerves in me, forcing a slight, very inaudible moan from me. Unable to sit still anymore, I stand and flee into the crowd, in search of Damon. I wanna ask him if it’s okay for me to head home. Having his father here is putting me on some kind of edge.

He’s not anywhere in the hall, so I head to the restrooms, maybe I’d see him in the hallways. But there’s no sign of him.

I get closer to the male restroom, contemplating if it’s okay to go in or not. Just a peek, to check if he’s in there. 

Voices waft from inside, making me halt at the door. I can’t go in, not when there are people in there. So where else do I search for him?

I turn to leave but then one of the voices gets louder and familiar. It breaks into grunts, and there’s a bit of feet shuffling.

"Do I fuck you so damn good that you can’t seem to keep your feet steady?" That’s Damon. 

Tears well up in my eyes, but I know better than to stick around. He’ll hit me for it if he finds out. I’ve been warned to mind my business, and this isn’t my business.

I didn’t expect the female voice to sound familiar too. Way more familiar than it should be.

"Oh, yes, baby. You fuck me so good. Oh, shit!"

Seconds pass but my eyes are still twirling from the shock. A rain of tears descends my eyes and I clutch my chest with my quivering hand. 

There’s no way Damon is in there with my best friend, is he?