Chapter 26: Power Moves
Ariel POV:
I walked into Blackthorne Holdings like I owned the place, and in a way, I did now. Ever since Damian had announced me as his wife and forced me to sign that ridiculous wedding contract, everything had changed. The whispers had stopped. The stares, the envy—they were still there, but no one dared challenge me.
I moved through the glass doors, heels clicking on the polished marble. My gown hugged my curves perfectly, the black fabric shimmering under the office lights. I could feel eyes on me. Always eyes on me. Some were admiring, others wary, some envious. I didn’t care. I didn’t need their approval. I had Damian, and that was enough… for now.
I reached my office, placed my clutch on the desk, and sat. I closed my eyes for a brief moment, letting the calm wash over me. I could feel it, though—a change in myself. My senses were sharper, almost painfully so. I could sense emotions before people even spoke, detect lies, see intentions. It was subtle, just a flicker, but it was there. And I couldn’t deny it. Something in me was waking.
A soft knock on the door made me open my eyes. “Come in,” I said.
Marcus, Damian’s secretary, stepped in, bowing slightly. “Good morning, Mrs. Blackthorne.” His eyes flicked to my gown. “Mr. Blackthorne said to drop this by.” He held a silver tray with my morning coffee and a small note.
I took it, curiosity piqued. Damian never wasted words, yet somehow, he always made sure I knew I was seen. I opened the note. “Sit. Drink. And wait for me.” Simple, cold, commanding. I smiled to myself. Typical Damian.
I sipped the coffee, letting the warmth sink in. My mind wandered to last night, to him, to us. Everything had been so raw, so violent, so… possessive. My body still hummed with the memory, and I felt a strange pull in my chest. The pull wasn’t just desire. It was… connection.
I shook my head. Focus. Work. I had to act normal.
Damian POV:
I watched her from my office across the floor, hidden behind the tinted glass. Ariel. My wife. My claim. She walked through the office with that air of calm authority, and yet… I could see the flicker of something beneath it. Power. Potential. Something dangerous.
Marcus had briefed me earlier. She was adjusting to the office, to her new title, and the staff were beginning to accept it. But I knew better. They respected her now because I allowed it, because I claimed her, and because she was mine. Anyone who forgot that learned the hard way.
I stood, my gaze fixed on her. I didn’t need to be in the same room to feel her presence, to sense her heartbeat, her tension. My wolf stirred at her scent, at the small, dangerous pulse of power emanating from her. She was changing. Slowly, but she was.
I could not allow anyone to hurt her, to underestimate her, or worse… to awaken what I feared she might not yet control.
Ariel POV:
By late morning, I felt restless. Sitting in the office wasn’t enough. I needed air, a break from the eyes and the whispers, even if they were just cautious now. I stepped outside onto the balcony, letting the warm sun wash over my face. The city below seemed small, almost inconsequential.
“Good morning, Madam,” the butler greeted. He was always calm, steady, a father I never had but somehow always wanted.
“Good morning,” I replied, smiling. “I needed a break.”
He nodded, understanding. “Would you like me to call Mr. Blackthorne?”
“No,” I said firmly. “I need a moment for myself.”
We talked quietly, about trivial things at first—the weather, the city, the morning air. But I could feel his eyes watching me, aware, protective. I liked that. Needed that.
Damian POV:
I arrived at the office without announcement, slipping past security with ease. My eyes immediately found her on the balcony. Ariel. My claim. My possession. I could feel the tension in her body, the slight flare of power beneath the surface. She had learned to mask it, but I could smell it, taste it, feel it.
I stepped closer, moving silently. “You know you can’t hide from me,” I said, my voice low, dangerous. She didn’t turn, didn’t acknowledge me, but I knew she heard. My wolf stirred, coiling inside me, ready to pounce, ready to claim.
When she finally glanced at me, a flicker of defiance in her eyes, I smirked. Perfect. Just perfect. She would test me, and I would enjoy breaking her in the best way possible.
Ariel POV:
“Damian…” I started, trying to sound casual, but my voice wavered.
He stepped closer, closing the distance until the balcony felt small, confined, ours.
“You shouldn’t be out here alone,” he said, his eyes flashing gold for a split second, almost wolf-like. My pulse quickened.
“I’m fine,” I said, though I wasn’t. But I refused to show fear, refused to let him see weakness.
“Fine?” His hand found my waist, resting there possessively.
“You look anything but fine.” His gaze traveled over me, every curve, every line of my body. My breath caught. I wanted to pull away, but I couldn’t.
He leaned closer, so close I could feel his warmth, his danger, his dominance. “You are mine,” he whispered. “Do you understand?”
“Yes,” I breathed. “I”
“I said,” he cut me off sharply, “Do. You. Understand?”
“Yes, Damian.” My voice was steady, though my body betrayed me.
He smirked, satisfied. He ran his hand down my arm, gripping my wrist, and tugged me closer.
“Good. Because I will make sure everyone knows, everyone feels it. You are mine. No one touches what belongs to me.”
I swallowed hard, my chest tight. The pull between us was magnetic, irresistible. I could feel the change in myself, the stirrings of power I barely understood. And he knew it. I was raw, exposed, and he was already claiming it.
Lily POV:
I watched them from across the office, seething. Ariel. That shameless little girl. Married to Damian Blackthorne. My Damian. My obsession. And yet… he ignored me. She was his wife now, his claim, his prize. I would have her. One way or another.
But for now… I would wait, I would plan. And when the moment came, I would strike.
Ariel POV:
The rest of the day passed in a blur. Whispers followed me, eyes lingered longer than they should, and I could feel the tension in the room. But I didn’t care. I had survived worse. I had Damian. And as terrifying as he was, as raw and unrelenting as he could be, he was mine.
And slowly, I felt something shift inside me. A flicker, a pulse, a strength I hadn’t known before. I was changing. Becoming something more. Something… powerful.
I didn’t understand it fully yet. But I would.