003. "I'm Here To Stay..."

~NORA~

The slightly hot water cascaded down my naked body, sending warmth and steam soaking my skin, magically tending to those muscles that were cramped. I let out a contented sigh at finally being back from training.

But then a soft hiss escaped my lips almost immediately when I recalled the event from a few hours ago.

Who did he think he was to walk into this pack as if he owned it and disrupt its peace and serenity?

I was perfectly content with thinking that he was dead somewhere. That way, those embarrassing years of me pining after him would be successfully burned.

But who was I kidding?

He just had to show up here, a day before my Luna crowning. All for what?

My wolf, Narnia, was already on edge seeing him, and that made me more infuriated.

"Asshole." I fumed as my eyes snapped open.

Without hesitation, I turned off the faucet, done enjoying the liquid strength. On a typical Saturday morning, I would be in my bed right now, after basking in my liquid therapy. But plans for tonight's event were high in the air.

And I had to do my part as the Luna to be.

"Which means blocking off Damon and his negative energy from my mind," I muttered with a sigh as I stepped out of the large bathroom, clad in a white towel that barely reached my thigh.

"I don't think that's possible at this point."

I whirled around as the dreadfully familiar voice hit my ears, sending chills through my spine.

"How the hell did you get in here?!" I yelled, eyes wide as saucers.

Narnia let out a purr that reverberated through me.

"Get it together, girl..." I mentally reprimanded.

He was leaning against the cabinet close to the door, as though he was trying to respect my space— when he unlawfully broke in.

"Did you—"

"The door wasn't locked." He said as he trailed a slow but almost sensual gaze down my body, before bringing his gaze back to my face. "I knocked, but no response."

All through the while, I clenched my fists tightly, my jaw mirroring the same action.

"And you had to disrespectfully walk in like the villain that you are." I bit out, hating the way he was confidently resting against the cabinet with his hands shoved in the pockets of his pants.

"You have no right to be here." I reminded him, my voice almost high-pitched. At this point, I didn't care whether I was talking to an Alpha prince.

I flopped myself on my vanity chair, letting loose the towel that was used to wrap my wet hair in place. My honey blonde hair cascaded down, framing my face as I picked up the hand dryer to get to work.

By now, I had assumed he would be on his merry way, but I hadn't heard any door click, which meant he was still hanging around. Like the annoying asshole he was.

"Please, leave my room, Damon," I said again, shoulders stiffening when he appeared in my line of sight, his gaze locking with mine through the mirror.

"Ora..."

More tension overwhelmed me as he breathed that nickname he had always used for me since high school. It stirred up emotions that I tried to get under control. Mostly anger at myself for how I stupidly fell, thinking we could be mates.

"I'm really sorry for—"

"I don't need your apology, Damon. What's done is done. Just..." I pressed my lips together, taking a deep breath to let out the angry feeling that was already trying to choke me.

"Stop appearing in front of me during the period you'll be here. Or maybe just go away completely." I muttered, my expression laced with disgust.

I made sure he saw it before I wrenched my gaze away from him and turned on my hair dryer.

The hair on my back stood on end from the way he kept looking at me through the mirror, gaze intense, expression unreadable, and lips pursed in that sensuous way that had always made me envision kissing the hell out of them in the mansion's hallways.

Get your head out of the gutter, Nora.

"I'm sorry, Ora. But I can't grant that." He muttered in a soft voice after what seemed like a painfully stretched few seconds.

I let out a scoff. "Leaving or staying out of my sight?" I found myself asking, even though a part of me never wanted to talk to him again.

"Both, actually."

He closed the distance between us in three powerful strides, the abrupt movement making me stare into the mirror in alarm.

What's worse? I was rooted in that seat when I should have been keeping my distance as far as possible.

His scent of cedarwood mixed with his cologne tickled my nose, and it was all I could do not to inhale. He still smelled good just like—

The alarm bells hit my ears squarely, just as my shoulder muscles tensed. He was standing directly behind me, hands resting casually on my shoulders.

Sparks and shivers sizzled through me in equal proportion, my breath hitching as he splayed his palm wider, brushing down my shoulders as his gaze on me became darker by the second.

"I'm sorry, Lily. But I can't stay away from you." His addressing me by my scent sent heat curling down my insides and throwing me into defensive motion.

I sprang up immediately, whirling around with a glare I could barely muster.

"Get out of my room, Damon. Or I'll scream your brother's name."

I muttered, my jaw clenched tightly and my body slightly vibrating. I was desperately trying to get it together, but the way my core felt suddenly wet infuriated me.

Four years and he still had that effect on me?!

He held my gaze for seemingly endless seconds before nodding slowly.

"I get it. I'll give you time to process." He said, turning to leave.

"Damon..." I muttered amid breathless pants. He turned swiftly like he was expecting that to happen.

"Yes, Ora."

"There's nothing to process that hasn't been processed." I started, my voice quivering slightly. But I was past caring. "You left me when I needed you, stepping on my love like I meant nothing. And now you came to apologize?" Tears slid down my cheeks, and I didn't try to stop them.

His jaw tightened, lips twitching as he took a painful swallow. "I didn't mean to—"

"Save it." I held my hand up. "Leave. I need to change. I'm meeting Hillary."

Something flickered in his gaze, but at this point, I didn't want to know.

He nodded again and turned, heading towards the door.

His hand stilled on the doorknob as he turned, gazing at me steadily.

"Just know that not everyone is as they seem. And there's more to a story than the side you're seeing it from."

I rolled my eyes, my hands folding across my chest.

"Yeah. Right."

"And one more thing..." He had already stepped outside, turning fully to face me.

"I suggest you get used to seeing me around because I'm here to stay." With that, he stalked off, his heavy footsteps resounding in my ears, alongside the bomb he just dropped.

Like, what the actual hell?