CHAPTER 6 Strong is Good

　　Damien's POV

　　How had this gorgeous creature managed to invade my every waking and apparently slumbering thought?

　　When I saw her looking so defeated in the middle of town, sulking on a bench, I thought she might amuse me for an hour or two; women never usually held my interest any longer than that.. Yet here we are 48 hours later, and I am still as intoxicated and curious as I was on that bench! Even flustered and exhausted, no one could deny her breathtaking beauty! I don't know what I expected when I was charged with finding her, but certainly not this!

　　She's strong-willed, stubborn, and incredibly sassy. All traits I seemingly like!

　　Even as I settled Alice into her seat, I refused to let this beautiful enchantress out of my sight; I could feel the beast I kept hidden, yearning to be back by her side. An unsettling thought considering I had not heard a peep out of him in years; his judgement usually wasn't to be trusted. He made me weak, or so I was led to believe, but I could feel through our bond that he desperately wanted to be at her side.

　　Standing by her side, I questioned everything I had been taught about my best because being close to her made me feel stronger.

　　"Strong is good." I heard his raspy voice echo around my head faintly. Ignoring his comment, pretending not to hear him, I suck in a slow breath and push him back down to the darkest realms of my mind. A smile creeps across my lips; seeing Red looking at me quizzically, she doesn't know what to make of me. Good, I like to keep people on their toes. These days, people are too quick to share their life stories and spill their darkest desires... and fears! Did they not get how weak that made them? Why tell people more than they absolutely had to know?

　　Running my fingers over her cheekbones, the soft milky flesh sending sparks up my fingers, with a smirk my hand grasped her chin firmly, turning her head towards the front of the building where the Alpha of the blue moon pack was addressing us, looking around the room, casually spotting his Beta to the left- at the emergency exit. His son to the right of the building looks as arrogant as always. He needed taking down a peg or two; and I am sure he will be put in his place one day! Smirking to myself, thinking how satisfying it would be, to be that someone. But he wasn't worthy of the dry-cleaning bill that would be needed to get his blood out of my shirt.

　　Pulled from my thoughts by her laughter, which I noted was the most enchanting sound I had ever heard, I shook my head, raising a brow hearing her sweet voice float up to my ears, rolling my eyes playfully, turning her to face the front again, this time feeling her tense against me looking at her and following her line of sight I realised what had her so nervous. The pup had his eyes locked on her; I could sense his wolf spying through the greens of his eyes. Scoffing, I draped my arm around her, wanting to reassure her that she was safe!

　　I wouldn't let anything happen to her. But if he carried on making her uncomfortable, I would be stuffing that dry cleaning bill down his throat once I was finished, after all! And I wouldn't need my daddy here to back me up! Hell, if big balls Alpha here doesn't get his son under control, I might be seeing if the rumours are true! I was confident enough to take the two of them on; we had all heard that this pack was being run by a washed-up Alpha refusing to step down because he knew his son wasn't ready to lead.

　　"The beta, though, could be a problem… for you at least!" My beast laughed bitterly, making me growl inwardly, reminding me why I kept the bastard locked up! Focusing on Red feeling her shrug my arm off. Frowning angrily smelling the fear seeping out of her pours- 'Son of a bitch!' I growled inwardly, angry that he was upsetting her. Wrapping my arm around her back, I pulled her to my side, my fingers travelling up and down the curve of her hip. Wanting her to calm down and focus on me, not the piss-poor excuse for a wolf. Running my fingers over her cheek, lifting her face to look at me and only me, I smiled, hearing her tell me to be careful.

　　"I thought you took no shit, Red?" I teased with a wink seeing her face screw up angrily, snapping back at me stubbornly. There we go; I felt the fight return to her; she didn't need me to protect her. I knew she could do it for herself. She simply needed that little reminder and encouragement. I was here if she needed me, but I wanted her to know I had faith in her. Wanting to see just how much fire this angel had in her belly. Running my thumb over her bottom lip, leaning into her ear, whispering seductively.

　　"Then prove it." Pulling back to look at her, my lips a whisper away from hers, I grinned, hearing the mutt growl out one word from behind me.

　　"MINE,"

　　"NO!" My beast roared in my mind, desperately trying to push through the carefully crafted magical barriers I used to keep him hidden.

　　"Interesting turn of events." I snorted at him, refusing to let up and let him out to play. Even if it would be entertaining to watch him remove this pup's head from his body. Lifting my head with a wink to a flushed Abigail, I smirked at the filthy mongrel. Listening to him trying to justify his outburst, clearly worried about what Daddy dearest might think. Pathetic! Laughing, I held up my hands before returning one to Red's hip, hugging her tightly to me, giving it a gentle squeeze to let her know all was ok.

　　"Sorry, Kido, my bad." I laughed, my eyes glimmering with the threat of a challenge, a challenge he didn't seem brave enough to accept, as I expected. Wanting to see how far I could push the little pipsqueak, I grinned at him mischievously, feeling Red nuzzle into my side; pressing my lips to the top of her, I winked at him playfully.

　　"We will behave… for now." Seeing those in the hall either chuckle to themselves or smile before turning back to focus on Alpha big bollocks, I grinned, keeping my eyes on the baby wolf; as confident as I am, he won't react, I won't take a risk with Red's safety! Ever!