Dahlia's POVWhen I enter the dining room he is already in the most honorable seat. In front of him, the fine silvers line neatly, and he sits there with his elbow on the arm of the chair, two fingers supporting his temple. He is reading a file in his hand.Elegant. That must be the first word that pops into anyone's head when they see this man.I'm in a strapless black dress, his favorite style. On my wrist, I warp a strap cut out of the 2.5 million dollar piece to cover the bruise.He puts down the file when I stop at his side, his eyes land on the red bow on my wrist, waiting."I'm sorry for ruining the dress," I start with the tamest opening I came up with after an hour-long drafting.I have come to accept my fate in the three-hour-long bath this afternoon.He is not the best choice for a mate. In fact, he just might be the worst. But he IS my mate, and there is no way to change that. That, and the fact that I'm left all alone in the world with no one to help me, and no chance to

Dahlia's POVI didn't need a shower, but I stood under the water for an hour.I have never felt this way to anyone.Being a wolfless, I have known since I was a child that I can never feel the magical "mate pull" that every kid is excited about since they can understand the word "love". I have always actively avoided getting close to any opposite sex because the higher chance is, that they belong to someone else, or soon will be.Mom said experiencing a relationship is important, but I never understood why until now--The result of lacking experience is that I can't even distinguish whether I really felt something toward that ruthless devil, or I'm picking up Stockholm syndrome.The longer I stand there, the less real it feels. In the end I started wondering whether he really chuckled. That's how I know I can't postpone anymore.I don't know why but I slip out on tiptoe, knowing he is hearing everything no matter how light I am.He is lying on the bed, almost solemnly with his body st

Dahlia's POV"She hated my father, and therefore me. She thought he kept her around just so he could get an heir from her, his true mate, so she wanted the heir gone. She tortured me with every chance she could get. Once she put a silver needle in my food and I swallowed it. A wolf doesn't die that easily. So I sat there for hours, feeling the silver burn my insides as the needle pierced everywhere it could before it stuck in my stomach. My father punched me in the gut and it pierced out of me, from here. I was six. That's the story of my father killing my mother." Alpha Damon leans back in an elegant move, arms folded in front of him as if telling a joyful bedtime story to a child, when the story was the cruelest I can imagine.Unable to even find my voice, I cover my mouth with shaking hands, tears rolling down beyond my control."The world takes my father as a murderer, a cruel mate, a ruthless Alpha," He lets out a cold sneer, "but they don't know that he killed her to protect me.

Dahlia's POVThings looked up after that night.Still the same cold, fearful, horny Alpha, but somehow his image softened in my eyes. Maybe it's because he is less pissed off by me, or maybe it's because, on top of all those, he has one more label now -- my true mate.Now when he still remains silent but nods at my chatter at the dinner table, when he stays after sex and wakes up with me in the same bed, I can't help but think: this man is my mate. Then all his annoying actions seem less bad as that thought spreads a sweet on the tip of my tongue.You have to admit to the moon goddess's power -- even for me, an Omega without a wolf, the mate bond is totally changing how I look at him.Though he is not claiming me, I feel less like a sex slave now. Who am I to ask for anything more than this? I lost everything before this. But now I got back my home. HE got it back for me. Though I can't visit it at will, he promised he would take me there when he has time. That's more than enough for

Dahlia's POV Everything was perfect until Justin walked into the ballroom. I realized that Damon had got me a bunch of red dresses in different designs, intentional or not, red was clearly his preference. So I picked a strapless red one, giving a little cleavage as it wrapped tight around my waist and ass, not loose until my knee. For the dress I paired a scarlet hair band to make a messy bun, leaving a few curly strands draping freely. Glittering