Mixed Feelings

“Are you okay?” Son Luna, Anita asked, worry etched on her face as she stared at Damon, who seemed lost in thought.

“Yes, Mother, I’m fine,” he lied.

But Luna Anita didn’t seem convinced. “Tell me what’s wrong,” she asked again, but Damon only sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “It’s nothing, Mother. Believe me. It’s nothing,” he assured her.

Suddenly a strong, intoxicating scent hit his nose, sending a chilling wave of emotion through him. Damon’s wolf howled loudly in his mind as he suddenly spotted Amara walking towards him. As Amara approached, Damon’s eyes never left her. She looked strong and confident, but there was something beneath the surface — a subtle tension in the way she held herself. Her steps were steady, her gaze unwavering, but Damon noticed the slight tremble in her hands, the way her fingers curled into her palms as if she were trying to anchor herself. Amara was acting strong, but he knew better: she was trying to shield herself from the hurt he had inflicted, trying to appear unbothered, unbroken.

Damon scrutinised her, noticing how her dress accentuated her curves, hugging her figure in all the right places. His breath caught in his throat as his wolf howled louder in his mind, urging him to claim her then and there. Her intoxicating scent that filled his senses was overwhelming, stirring something deep within him. He couldn’t help but notice how her skin seemed to glow under the soft light, how her lips, now slightly parted, looked so inviting. For a moment, he forgot everything — his harsh words, his resolve to reject her, the bond he had sworn to sever. All he could think about was how desperately he wanted her. Damon felt his resolve crumbling. His wolf growled possessively, demanding that he take what was rightfully his.

But he fought against it, reminding himself of his promises. Luna Anita cleared her throat, pulling him out of his thoughts. “Damon,” his mother said gently, her eyes flicking between him and Amara, “is everything all right?”

Damon tore his gaze away from Amara, trying to compose himself. “Yes, Mother,” he lied, but his voice lacked the conviction it had before. He could feel his control slipping, the walls he had built around his heart beginning to crumble.

Amara finally reached them, her presence commanding his full attention. His wolf howled possessively, but he ignored it and looked away.

“Good evening, my King. Good evening, my Lady. Good evening, Damon and Darius,” Amara greeted with a bow, causing Luna Anita to frown — she hated it when Amara acted like a lowly maid.

“How are you, Amara?” Alpha Richardson asked, his eyes scanning the girl his wife, Luna Anita, adored like a daughter.

“Very well, my Lord,” Amara responded, her eyes lowered to the ground. Despite knowing the Alpha all her life, she still found it difficult to look him in the eye — perhaps because of the commanding aura around him.

“I heard from Darius that you got your wolf. Congratulations,” he said, and Amara nodded.

“Thank you, Alpha,” she whispered.

“Darius told me you were in your room, and I wondered why you were there when this ceremony was also for you. Tell me, Amara, why did you decide to stay in your room?”

Amara hesitated, her mind racing for an excuse as she felt the weight of the Alpha’s gaze on her. The ceremony had been in full swing, the music and chatter of the pack echoing around them, but all she could feel at that moment was the suffocating tension between her and Damon.

“I—I wasn’t feeling well,” Amara finally replied, her voice barely above a whisper. “I thought it would be best to rest for a while.”

Alpha Richardson’s eyes softened slightly, but his voice remained firm. “Amara, you should know by now that you’re as much a part of this pack as anyone else. You don’t need to hide away. This ceremony is not just for my sons, but for everyone who has come of age. You’ve earned your place here.”

Amara nodded, forcing a small smile as she glanced briefly at Damon, who quickly turned his gaze away, his jaw clenched tightly. Darius, standing beside him, looked equally troubled, though he tried to hide it with a polite smile.

Alpha Richardson continued, his tone carrying a note of importance. “Speaking of which, there’s something you should know, Amara. Damon and Darius will be leaving for the Alpha Academy. It’s where they will undergo the necessary training to prepare them for their roles as future Alphas.”

Amara’s heart skipped a beat at the news. The thought of Damon and Darius leaving stirred a mix of emotions within her: relief, because it meant some distance from the constant tension between her and Damon, but also sadness, because despite everything she couldn’t deny the bond she felt with the two of them.

“And what about you, Amara?” Alpha Richardson’s question pulled her from her thoughts. “What are your plans? Which university would you like to attend?”

Amara blinked, caught off guard by the question. The future was something she had tried not to think too much about, especially with all the changes that had come with getting her wolf. The idea of leaving the pack and stepping into a world where she had no family or friends terrified her.

“I—I don’t have any family or friends outside the Pack, Alpha. I would prefer to stay here and attend the Pack University. It’s where I feel safe... where I belong,” she said, lowering her gaze to the ground, her voice trembling slightly.

Alpha Richardson studied her for a moment, his expression thoughtful. “If that’s what you want, then so be it. The Pack University is an excellent choice, and you’ll have all the support you need right here.”

Luna Anita gently touched Amara’s shoulder, offering a warm smile. “You’re like a daughter to us, Amara. We want what’s best for you. If staying here is what makes you happy, then we support your decision.”

Amara nodded, her heart swelling with gratitude. She had always been treated kindly by the Alpha and Luna, and their words meant more to her than they could ever know.

Damon shifted uncomfortably before her, his grief still howling in his mind, demanding he claim Amara, but he remained silent, battling the turmoil within him as he tried to process the emotions swirling around them.

Darius, sensing the silent tension in the room, stepped forward with a reassuring smile. “We’ll be back before you know it, Amara. And meanwhile, you will have plenty to keep you busy here. We’ll always be connected, regardless of where we are.”

Amara returned his smile, grateful for his kindness. “I’ll be here waiting for you,” she said warmly to Darius, causing Damon to frown deeply — she had never smiled at him in such a way.

“Excuse me, Father,” Damon lied, and before his father could respond, he sprinted away, his heart clenching with discomfort. She is ours. Let everyone know his will— he verged, but Damon groaned; that was something he would never do.

“Hello, Damon, are you looking for me?” Benita asked, smirking as she moved closer to him. Damon frowned, wanting to dismiss her, but on second thought he knew he needed some distraction, and Benita was the perfect person.

“Follow me,” he ordered, his voice clipped.

Anita’s smile widened in satisfaction as she trailed behind him to his room.

Once inside, Damon sat heavily on the edge of the bed, his hands clenched in frustration while Benita stood before him, her eyes dancing with mischief.

“Undress,” he commanded, his tone cold but edged with need. Benita obeyed without hesitation, her lips curling into a seductive smile as she began to remove her clothing piece by piece, knowing exactly what he wanted.