Chapter 53: I would Gladly Step Down

Damien's POV

I lay on the bed with Ariana sleeping in my arms. I have never felt this way about a woman before. I felt complete with her. She was truly my mate. I stared at the cane injuries on her back and remembered something my mom told me when I was 13 years old. She told me there are healers in her family line. It comes as a blessing, and one lucky child becomes a healer. It sounded so fascinating. An ability to heal others. It was an ability I yearned for. Not because I wanted to be special, but because of my human best friend, Jayson. We met in school. He was always sick. He spends half a day in school and the rest of the day in the hospital. He was unable to participate in any school activities because he would end up having episodes and end up in the hospital. I wanted to be a healer so that I could heal him. I felt so sad when I saw him sitting all alone during fun games. Sometimes, I stop playing and just sit by him, so he won't feel left out.  My mom had told me I was a special child because I had been gifted with a healing ability. However, my healing ability would only be awakened when I meet my true mate, or when someone with a pure heart is in need. I was very happy because I thought that one day, I would be able to summon this power and heal my friend Jayson. I had pure good intentions for Jayson, but his heart was dark.

Jayson and his friends are the reason, to date, I hate humans.  He was never sick, it was all fake. An act to win my sympathy. I was the only werewolf in a human school. My mum was handling a big project in Green City, and I went with her. For the period of the project, she enrolled me in a school. That was where I met Jayson. I didn't know Jayson had found out that I was a werewolf. He conspired with his friends to have me kidnapped and sold to a man who was looking for werewolf children. He pretended to be sick, just to get close to me, because I was a boy who was very sympathetic to others' pain. Had it not been for the help of another student who was a werewolf, Jayson would have succeeded. He drugged me with a wolfsbane. Enough to make me weak, but not too much that I will lose my life. I lay on the ground watching him walk away with a bag of cash, laughing with his other human friends. I shut my eyes, pushing the rest of the memory away.

I reached out for a pocket knife from the bedside drawer and cut my thumb. I touched Ariana's back with my bleeding thumb, and immediately my eyes began to glow gold. My hands began to glow in a bright white light, and it covered Ariana's back. It only lasted for a couple of seconds. I shut my eyes and opened them again. I checked, and Ariana's back was completely healed. 

You are indeed my true mate. I thought, smiling.

"I would protect you with my life," I vowed, and kissed the top of her head. 

She was human, but in my eyes, she was special. She has my sister's heart. I closed my eyes and allowed sleep to take over.

In the morning, I was the first to wake up. I carefully got out of bed, ensuring I didn't wake her. I left for the bathroom. I returned to the bedroom with a towel wrapped around my waist. My hair was partly dried, so it was still dripping with water. My gaze fell on Ariana, standing in front of the mirror with her back facing the mirror. She met my gaze and kept staring at me, like she had never seen me before. She closed her eyes, and I drew closer to her.

"You are awake," I said, and planted a kiss on her cheek.

I read the raw desire in her eyes, and I wondered where that was coming from. I moved away from her, intending to enter the cupboard room, but I realised she was still staring at me. Well, I did notice her admiration of me from the very first day I set my eyes on her, but now, she is acting like a she-wolf on heat. 

"Are you alright?" I asked, and it was like she was totally confused. 

"What!" she said, sounding like she just snapped out of a moment.

I informed her about breakfast and asked her to take a shower, and went further to let her know Michael would bring her some new clothes. I knew I had to get her moving because from the way she was staring at me, I knew she wouldn't move. 

"Huh!" I heard her say, and I knew she wasn't listening.

I called out to her, and she responded, but she was still in her world. I followed her line of gaze and smiled, seeing what she was staring at.

"You are staring," I said, and she immediately apologised for that, shifting her gaze away, looking embarrassed.

"Do you want me to take the towel off?" I teased, and she became more embarrassed. 

She hurriedly moved towards the bathroom, but I grabbed her before she could go past me. I wanted her to be comfortable around me. I stared into her eyes, and I knew what she wanted, so I kissed her. I wanted to satisfy her desire, but I remembered she was pregnant and still in her early stages. I felt it would be a bad idea to get intimate with her. So, I took her to the bathroom. She would cool off when she takes a shower. I read the disappointment in her eyes when I pulled away from the kiss, and she noticed where she was. I explained why I didn't do anything, and I think she accepted my explanation. 

I returned to the room, and my phone buzzed. I walked to the table and picked it up. It was a message from my father. I unlocked my phone and read it.

I would be expecting you. Do not keep me waiting. 

I read the message and replied with okay. I went to the cupboard room and got into my closet. I picked up a blue-black tuxedo and quickly dressed up. There was a knock on the door, and I came out to answer it. It was Michael.

"Alpha, I got the dress for Ms Brown as instructed, and here is the ring you requested," Michael said.

"Good," I said and took the items from him.

I opened the ring box and checked the ring. It was exactly what I asked Michael to pick for me. It was from my company, even though it had a heart-shaped diamond, it had a unique design, which made it the only one in the entire country. It was worth billions of dollars. I closed the box and shoved it into my back pocket

Ariana returned to the bedroom, and I gave the bag to her. I could see, the shower didn't cool her off. She was still staring at me with the raw desire in her eyes. I am a werewolf after all, I can notice the slightest changes in a human faster than a human. I kept my senses alert since my encounter with Jayson.

I would have to speak with Dr Francis about this. I am sure her pregnancy is a contributing factor. I thought and watched her hurry into the cupboard room, as if running away from me. 

She stepped out looking extraordinarily beautiful. Earlier, I had planned to take her out on a candlelight dinner and propose to her. I had already asked Michael to set that up, but I was going to see my father. I didn't intend to leave her behind. So, I needed to do something to assure her that I will honour my vow to her.

We were already married, and how that happened didn't matter to me any more. But I needed to ask her out officially. So, I did, and she was surprised. She couldn't reply. I smiled and placed the ring on her finger, and she didn't reject.  

"I know this is too fast and probably overwhelming, but I mean every word I said to you last night," I said, my expression looking serious. 

I wanted to kiss her, but with this raw desire I am seeing, I knew it would be a bad idea. I was scared of hurting the baby, so I hugged her instead.

She inhaled my scent and let out a comforting sigh. I wondered what was happening to her.

Our pup recognises us, and is drawing her closer to you. Her behaviour is stirred by our pup growing inside her. Kai said, and everything made sense.

So, I was right. It's the pregnancy, I thought while hugging her. 

"Let's have breakfast. I will have to go see my father. We will go to the office from there," I said, and she nodded. "Keep cool, I will attend to all your needs," I said, and she lowered her head, expressing shyness for the first time. 

We had our breakfast in silence and left the place for my father's. I walked holding her hand in mine, and I made her sit in my car with me.

"Close the divide," I said to the guard, and he did. 

"Feel free," I whispered to her, and she rested her head on my shoulder, with her hand resting across my chest.

I rub her hand gently. She fell asleep again. I planted a kiss on her hand, which had the ring and kissed her forehead. I felt a complete joy within me, but my thoughts shifted to my father, and I frowned. I knew this meeting was not going to be one whose conversation I would like, but no matter what, I had already made my decision. I am not taking Victoria back. I would gladly step down as president and heir of the family if he insists. I was prepared to leave the city for another city with Ariana.