Chapter 15
Amelia’s POV.
Freya walked, more like stomped, over to us with a deep frown set like stone on her face. She eyed the small space between us like it was the cause of every misfortune that had ever befallen her.
“Oh don’t be ridiculous, darling.” She drawled, sparing me a glance in an effort to mark her territory and I rolled my eyes internally. She grasped Damien’s arm and he looked at her as she spoke, with a mixture of anger and disdain. Safe to say I was pleased.
“Surely that would spark up rumours amongst the pack members. We wouldn’t want them to start whispering and making assumptions, but your idea is a one way ticket to false queries.” She said slowly, like she was talking to a child and Damien stayed silent, seeming to thinking it over.
“I have a better idea. What if I teach her instead? That way there would be no impending consequences. No stain on your image.” Damien stayed silent for a moment, his expression unreadable, while I watched the scene unfold. Damien’s eyes found mine and he shook his head without hesitation.
“No, Freya. I believe it’ll be better for me to ride with her. It’ll be much safer that way.” Damien said and I rolled my eyes at his ridiculous excuse. They went into a semi-banter, throwing reasons across why each of their suggestions was better and suddenly, a plan popped up in my head.
“Please guys, let’s not cause a ruckus over this. I have a better idea, one that would favour everyone. I’ll just learn to ride on my own. That settles the dispute, doesn’t it?” I asked in an innocent voice, blinking my eyes like a lost puppy and Damien rushed to my side, leaving Freya’s hand hanging awkwardly in the air.
“My lady, I’m not sure that’s such a good idea. You could get hurt.” Damien cooed, his eyes filled with worry but I shook my head in response.
“I’m sure I’ll be fine. You guys can give me instructions as we go. It’s much better this way. I don’t want you both to argue again.” I said, sounding like a martyr and I almost cackled at the dissatisfied look Damien threw her way, but I held myself back.
Freya looked between us, not knowing whether to be happy that Damien wouldn’t be riding with me or sad that Damien was upset with her. She watched with conflicted eyes as Damien helped me guide a white horse with large hooves my way.
“Woah, that’s a big horse!” I exclaimed like I’d never seen a horse that big before and Damien smiled proudly, shoulders raised high from my admiration.
“Yes it is. She’s a beauty. Come on, I’ll teach you how to mount a horse properly.” He reached for my hands and I placed them in his palms softly, almost seductively and from the corner of my eyes I could see Freya growing beet red. With my hand in his, he drew me closer to the horse and with slow and deliberate movements, he brought my hands to the horse’s neck.
“See, they’re not so scary.” He said behind me, his voice coming in a soothing whisper and with his guidance I rubbed small circles over the horse’s thick skin.
Together, our hands cradled the nuzzle and the animal seemed to approve of the touch, moving closer to us with a soft nicker. Being in such close proximity with Damien was driving me nuts but I had no choice but to pretend I was actually enjoying the interaction.
The disturbed look on Freya’s face was impeccable encouragement though. I loved how she just stood there, helplessly watching her man crave another woman’s presence over her own.
Slowly, he backed away, letting my hands roam around the horse’s skin of my own accord. I could feel his eyes on me from behind and I glanced at him, blinking my eyes seductively at him.
“He likes you.” He said, his voice sounding breathy as his eyes strayed from my face to my body. It felt like I was being pricked with a thousand pins under his scrutiny and his hooded eyes and rapid breathing showed his thoughts were beginning to stray far off horse riding.
“We don’t have all day.” Freya commented from a few feet away but neither I, nor Damien paid mind.
“First, you need to approach the horse from the left.” He directed, following me a few steps behind.
“Now hold the reins in your left hand and use your right hand to grasp the saddle horn.” He instructed me slowly and with patience until I had successfully mounted the horse. Whilst he instructed me, I deliberately made my limbs shake, looking like I was struggling but he never laid hands on me in an effort to ‘assist’. I had to give it to him, his gentlemanly act was well crafted but I already knew him for the vile and selfish creature he was.
After I’d successfully mounted my horse, Freya and Damien did theirs with expertise beside me and I threw him a look of admiration, while Freya scowled in silence, probably feeling like a third wheel.
I smiled to myself as we began riding. Damien threw instructions my way, doing his best to make sure I was comfortably settled but a devious smile spread across my face as he tried to teach me how to steer my horse but then, I whipped into action instead.
My horse went flying past the other two and I could hear Damien’s worried calls from behind, his own horse’s hooves stamping on the ground in hot pursuit of mine.
He was shouting instructions from behind but I kept screaming, playing the part of the frightened damsel in distress perfectly.
He called for me, drawing closer to my horse now and I sucked in a deep breath, bracing myself for what I was about to do. I intentionally slowed my horse’s pace a bit before turning to look at Damien who was waving his hands in the air in a frenzy.
With widened eyes, I slipped to the side of my horse, dangling so far that I was basically on the verge of falling off. I could feel a stinging cut on my arm from the stunt I just pulled but I didn’t care, it was worth what was to come.
Damien was so close now, the instructions he’d been screaming at me much clearer and I obeyed, bringing my horse to a slow and he expertly dismounted his, running to my side and with a swift grab of my waist I was off the horse and in his arms.
Both our breathings were heavy and beads of sweat were beginning to form on his forehead. We caught our breaths as Freya’s horse approached, stopping just a few feet away from us.
“You’re injured.” He whispered, taking my arms in his hand to inspect the cut which was a little deeper than I’d expected. It stung as he held onto it, leaking blood and I hissed in pain.
“I’m sorry.” He whispered to me, sincerity shining in his eyes but I knew it was all and act. Damien was far from being a good person.
As Freya dismounted her horse he turned to her, leaving me to nurse my bleeding cut.
“This is all because of you!” He exclaimed, his voice echoing through the vast expanse of land. Even I was shocked by the intensity of his anger.
“What? How? I-“She stumbled over her words but he cut her off.
“Oh shut up. You and you your so-called rumours led us to this point. If I’d just rode with her like I originally planned, none of this would’ve happened. Now she’s injured because of your dim-wittedness.” Damien spat at her and her lips parted in shock.
I smiled to myself, watching her lips quiver with barely contained emotions. She looked down at her feet and I couldn’t tell for sure but I was convinced she was crying.
Little did she know, this was just the beginning, I had far greater plans for her. She couldn’t break now. I had to see all my plans through and I won’t stop until I do.