Semua Bab Desired Mate: Bab 81 - Bab 90

DAMONThe moment I turned to leave the throne room, Zelda’s voice cut through the air, sharp and commanding.“Damon.”I froze, forcing my face into a mask of indifference before turning to face her. She stood at the entrance, her sharp eyes scanning the room as if she could will Kane to appear. Her presence was as oppressive as ever and her posture rigid.“Do you smell it?” she asked, gawking around her with predator eyes.I hesitated, feigning ignorance. “Smell what, Your Grace?”Her lip curled in annoyance as she stepped closer, her piercing gaze boring into mine. “Don’t play coy with me, Damon. Kane. I smell him.”The accusation was obvious, and I forced myself to remain calm, even as my wolf stirred uneasily.“I don’t smell anything unusual,” I lied through my teeth. “Perhaps the scent you’re picking up is from someone else.”Her eyes narrowed. She was suspicious.“You’re either blind or a fool,” she snapped. “Kane was here, Damon. I know it. And if you can’t confirm it, then you’

CATHERINE The road stretched ahead of us, quiet except for the occasional hum of passing vehicles in the distance. The one big problem that gave us another tough time was where we would stay. I glanced at Kane. His face was stoic, but I could see how stressed and frustrated he was."So," I broke the silence. "What’s the plan for tonight? Where exactly are we supposed to sleep?"Kane looked at me, his brow furrowing. "I was thinking we could take a hotel room. I managed to gather a bit of money when I was at the castle—just enough for something modest."I stopped in my tracks and crossed my arms, my eyes narrowing. "A hotel? Are you serious? That’s the first place Damon or any of his lackeys will check."Kane sighed, raking a hand through his hair. "We can’t just wander the streets all night, Catherine. We need somewhere safe to rest and regroup.""And I agree," I said. "But a hotel? That’s practically handing ourselves over on a silver platter. Damon’s no fool, and he won’t rest ea

CATHERINE The sound of footsteps approached from behind me, heavy and deliberate. I didn’t have to turn around to know who it was."Catherine," Kane’s deep voice called out, calm but also tinged with concern.I didn’t answer. I maintained my stance as I stared out into the darkness beyond the camp, my emotions too raw to form words.He came to stand beside me. For a moment, he said nothing, just stood there as if waiting for me to speak first."If you’re here to defend her, don’t," I said finally.Kane sighed, his gaze fixed on me. "I’m not here to defend anyone," he replied. "I’m here for you."I turned to him sharply, my anger spilling over. "For me? Really? Then why do I feel like the people that were meant to be with me were never there? Why does it feel like no one—" I stopped, biting my lip to keep my voice from breaking.He frowned. "You’re not alone, Catherine. I’m right here. I’ve been here.""Then why didn’t you stop her?" I snapped, the words tumbling out before I could st

CATHERINE While Camille shared her story, I couldn’t help but notice how her eyes were filled with the memories. There was pain there, guilt too, and perhaps the faintest trace of longing for something lost.I leaned forward slightly, my curiosity piqued. “Did Benita have any family you could have reached out to? Someone who might have known where she went?”Camille shook her head slowly, her lips pressing into a thin line. “No,” she said. “At least, not that I was aware of. During my time with her, she never mentioned anyone. It was like she was alone in the world, just like I was. That made waiting for her even harder because there was no one I could turn to for answers. No one who might’ve known what happened to her.”Her voice wavered at the end, and I could see how deeply it had affected her. I couldn’t imagine the loneliness she must’ve felt, the helplessness of waiting for someone who might never return. First, it was her mate, then Benita.“What happened to the house you st

KANECatherine and I sat in a quieter corner of the camp. The refugees had settled into their tents, though the occasional cough or muffled cry punctuated the stillness. Catherine who had been assisting Camille all day handed me a bowl of stew they had prepared earlier, her fingers brushing against mine for a brief second before she settled beside me.Her presence was kind of the most helpful thing at that moment. I glanced at her, watching her face as she surveyed the camp. She was different here as her usual edge was tempered by a quiet resilience which made me want to tell her everything.“I’ve put some things in place,” I began. She turned to me, her blue eyes locking onto mine, giving me her full attention. “I spoke to two people in the city earlier today. Marcus will supply us with whatever we need here at the camp, and Evelyn has given me information—names, locations, movements. It’s not much, but it’s a start.”Catherine tilted her head, her lips curving into a small smile. “T