Chapter 6

CATHERINE.

"We need to talk."

I am startled out of my thoughts by the man's voice. I didn't even know when he entered.

I watch him stalk towards the foot of the bed and drop on it.

"First stings first, what is your name?" he asks with a grump.

"Catherine," I mumble.

"Sorry, can you speak up? I didn't hear you."

"My name is Catherine," I say louder.

"Hello, Catherine. I am Damon. It is nice to finally meet you."

I just stare at him, waiting for him to get to business.

"I am sorry for my past behavior," he begins in my silence. "I promise, I am not usually like this. I was just...

Offended?

Hurt?

I don't know. You saying you have a mate already puts me in a mood."

"It is okay, I think?" I don't understand what is going on anyway.

"So, I talked to my mother."

Huh?

"She explained a few things. Would you be willing to hear them?" he asks

"Sure."

Do I even have a choice?

He then proceeds to tell me some out-of-the-world legend that just doesn't make sense.

Wolf king? Queen? Me?

What the hell is going on?

"So, what do you think"?

What do I think?

"It is... a lot," I answer.

All this is weird. It's been barely two days since my birthday and since then, I have found my mate, been rejected, passed over for another, beaten to almost death, and been thrown into a river to drown.

Only to be saved by a strange woman and then be kissed within my life by who might be the most handsome man I have ever seen.

"It is. I know it is," he concurs. "How do you feel about it all?"

"I am sorry, who are you? I mean in this pack?"

"Oh, my apologies, I am Damon. The Alpha of the Blackwater pack."

Oh shit.

"What?!"

"Are you okay?"

"Oh my god. I am so sorry. I didn't mean to get into your territory," I rush out as I begin to scramble off the bed, bowing my head repeatedly in apology.

"Catherine, stop. Are you okay?" he says as he reaches for me only for me to flinch back and fall on my butt.

He looks over the edge of the bed to stare at me in shock. I, on the other hand, am mortified.

"Catherine, what happened to you?" he asks slowly.

"Nothing. Nothing Alpha," I say quietly as I pull myself to and stand at attention, waiting for him to hit me.

As usual.

Instead, all I hear is silence.

For minutes that feel like hours, I hear nothing. Almost like I was the only one in the room.

Finally, I pluck up the tiny courage to look up and I see him watching me. Intensely.

I immediately drop my head down in fear.

"I am sorry Alpha. I didn't mean to look."

My voice is wobbly and faint from the tears that I am trying to find back.

I lost.

The tears fell anyway. Silently.

I hear him sigh before he moves off the bed.

By now I am already a shaking mess. I can't stop the trembling that tracks through my body as it prepares for whatever abuse might fall on me.

Alpha Damon is renowned for his ruthlessness.

No one has ever stood against him and survived. He killed them all.

He doesn't suffer his enemies to live.

He hates rogues and anyone who trespasses into his pack.

He abhors weakness.

And I am weak.

The weakest of all.

I see his feet walk closer to me and I close my eyes in trepidation, only to feel the weight of a cloth drop on me.

Startled, I look at my shoulders and see his jacket laid across them. I look up at him in question and he just smiles.

"You were shivering," he says. "I figured you were cold."

What?

"Here, come sit," he says as he gently pulls me to the bed and I mutely follow.

He didn't hit me.

Why not?

He places me on the bed while he walks over to the dresser, picking something out.

He walks back to me and drops to his knees before me.

He then gently takes my feet and puts on a pair of the softest socks I have ever felt.

"You are not... angry at me?" I whisper.

"Why would I be?"

"I- I don't know. I trespassed across your land."

"From what I gathered, my sister was the one who brought you unto the land. You were unconscious.

Why were you unconscious?" he looks up at me to ask.

I don't answer. What can I say? Oh, my mate rejected me for another woman and that woman had me unbeaten and tossed into the river.

That would just make me look pathetic.

"Okay then. Why were you in the river?"

Still no response.

He sighs as he stands up and stares down at me.

"You are a quiet one aren't you?"

Well yeah. I grew up abused and I have no friends to talk to except my wolf.

"You have had a long day," he starts. "We both have. A lot of revelations. So, why don't we both take a break and resume this tomorrow."

"Um, okay," I answered.

"Ah, she speaks," he teases and I flush red in response.

"Sorry. You can stay here for the night. It's my room so no one will come in to disturb you. I just need to grab some things and I will be out of your hair."

I watch him as he goes through the wardrobes and drawers and bathroom, picking up things here and there before his hands are filled with clothes and other necessities.

"As for our conversation, we can continue it tomorrow," he informs as he walks to the door only for him to stop and turn to me.

"And Catherine, you have to know, I would never, ever hit you. I will die before I do that."

He walks out.

So, that happened.