Chapter 22
Violet's POV:
"Daemon." My father’s booming voice dropped an octave, the hostility evaporating so quickly it was almost comical. He stepped forward, the hand that had been clenched in a fist only seconds ago now extended in a welcoming grip. "We were just... concerned."
Daemon took the hand, his shake firm, his other hand presenting the vintage wine case with practiced reverence. "My apologies, Marcus. A security breach at the northern supply lines required my personal oversight."
He turned his gaze to my mother and offered a slight, charming bow. "Eleanor. You look radiant as always. Forgive my lateness."
My mother’s scowl dissolved instantly into a flushed, flustered smile. She smoothed her skirt, the protective mother wolf replaced by the gracious hostess in a heartbeat. "Oh, stop it. You work too hard, Daemon. We were just saying how much pressure you must be under. Come, sit. The roast is still warm."
Just like that, the accusation of disrespect was buried under the rug of decorum. I stood by the mantle, sipping my drink, marveling at the absurdity.
The lunch passed in a blur of political posturing. They spoke of tariffs and territory lines, of alliances and power. Daemon played his part perfectly—the attentive son-in-law, the formidable Alpha.
By the time coffee was served, Daemon was already checking his watch—the performance was over. He rose smoothly, the charm receding to reveal the impatient Alpha beneath.
"I need to get back," he announced, offering a final nod to my father. Then he turned his cold gaze to me. "I'll have the driver bring the car around. You can follow behind."
"No need for a convoy," I cut in, my voice breezy but sharp enough to slice through the warm haze of the room. I stood up, meeting his gaze with a challenge. "We can load my bike onto your Beast."
The nickname for his custom armored SUV—a behemoth of black steel.
"The rack isn't set up," Daemon said, his tone low, a warning woven into the words.
"The Delta guards are outside. I'm sure they can figure it out," I replied, flashing a sweet, hollow smile at my mother. "Right, Mom? It’s safer if we ride together. Less carbon footprint."
"Of course!" My mother beamed at us. "It’s lovely to see you two so... united. Go on, Daemon, take your mate home."
Daemon stared at me for a beat too long, his silver eyes narrowing. He knew I was cornering him, trapping him in the role of the devoted husband he was pretending to be in front of the gallery.
Finally, he let out a short, controlled breath and gave a stiff nod.
Outside, the air was crisp, cleansing the scent of cigar smoke from my lungs. Daemon stood by the driver’s side, his hand already on the door handle.
"Get in," he commanded, dropping the charming facade the moment the front door clicked shut.
I didn't move toward the passenger side. Instead, I stepped directly into his personal space, my hand covering his on the handle.
"You drank half a bottle of whiskey, Daemon," I said, my tone clipped. "I'm driving."
I didn't wait for his rebuttal. I yanked the door open, forcing him to step back.
He glared at me, his silver-flecked eyes narrowing, but he relented with a scoff of disgust, stalking around to the passenger side. I climbed into the driver's seat, the leather molding to my back. But as soon as I shut the door, the air inside the cabin assaulted me.
Sea breeze and white jasmine.
Celeste had been in this car this morning. Didn't she reconcile with Zane?
I started the engine, the roar of the V8 drowning out the ringing in my ears. I pulled out of the driveway with aggressive speed, the tires biting into the gravel. Daemon leaned his head back against the headrest, closing his eyes.
Then, the silence shattered.
Daemon’s phone buzzed against the center console. He cracked one eye open, saw the screen, and sat up instantly. He didn't even glance at me before stabbing the answer button, routing the call through the car's Bluetooth system.
"Daemon?"
It was Celeste. She sounded small, terrified, and broken.
"I'm here," Daemon said. The transformation in his voice was immediate and visceral. Gone was the cold, dismissive husband; in his place was a man whose voice dripped with low, protective honey. "What’s wrong? Are you hurt?"
"I... I don't know what to do," she sobbed, the sound wet and jagged. "They were so aggressive... I was just walking by the training grounds and... please, I’m scared."
"Stay exactly where you are," Daemon commanded, leaning forward, his body tense with the urge to move. "Don't speak to anyone. I’m five minutes away."
He hung up and turned to me, his face a mask of stone. "Pull over."
"You've been drinking, remember?" I let out a sharp, incredulous laugh. I pressed the accelerator harder. "I'm driving you. My reaction times are better than yours right now, and frankly, I want to see this."
He stared at me, his expression shifting from anger to a cruel, twisted amusement. He settled back into the seat, looking at me with cold calculation.
"You want to see?" he asked softly, his voice laced with venom. "Fine. Drive."
We tore down the highway. When we reached the edge of the forest where the auxiliary training grounds were located, I slammed on the brakes. Before the car had even fully stopped, Daemon was out.
Through the windshield, I watched him sprint toward a cluster of trees. Celeste was sitting on a fallen log, her face buried in her hands. As Daemon approached, she looked up, her tear-stained face crumpling. He didn't hesitate. He dropped to his knees in the dirt and pulled her into his arms.
I sat in the driver’s seat, feeling a strange detachment. The pain was there, dull and throbbing, but the shock was gone.
I leaned against the hood of the Beast, crossing my arms as a group of young trainees came stumbling out of the treeline. They looked terrified, heads hung low, practically fleeing from the wrath of their Alpha.
"Halt," I commanded, my voice sharp enough to snap their heads up.
They froze, eyes widening when they recognized me.
"Report," I said coldly.
The lead boy swallowed hard, exchanging a nervous glance with his friends. "We... we didn't touch her, Luna. Honest."
"That’s not what I asked."
"She was walking the perimeter," another boy mumbled, looking at his boots. "She smelled... sweet. We just wanted to have a little fun. We circled her. Used our speed to box her in, growled a bit when she tried to run."
I stared at them, disgust curling in my gut.
I looked past them, through the gaps in the trees. Daemon was still on his knees, shielding Celeste’s trembling body with his own, whispering into her hair while she clung to him, utterly traumatized.
I aimed my phone through the trees, snapping a clear shot of Daemon kneeling in the dirt, clutching her tight. I sent the photo to Evan.
I walked back to the SUV, opened the passenger door, and unclipped one of my diamond earrings. I tossed it onto the seat where Celeste had sat earlier that morning. Then, I climbed up, released the clamps holding my motorcycle, and rolled the heavy bike down the ramp.
The ride back to Blackwood Manor was lonely. When I entered the house, the silence was oppressive. I threw my keys onto the console table and walked into the living room, collapsing onto the plush velvet sofa.
My phone buzzed with a question mark from Evan, followed by a text from Lily about wedding dress fittings. I let the phone drop to the floor, too exhausted to reply.
"Would you like tea, Luna?"
I looked up. Ruby was dusting the bookshelves.
"Ruby," I said, my voice raspy. "I have a question. A hypothetical one."
She paused, holding a feather duster. "Yes, Ma’am?"
"I have a friend. She's seeing a good boy her age. But there is a man pursuing her. A very wealthy, very powerful man. But he has a mate." I paused, watching her. "What should she do?"
"That is no dilemma, Luna," she said firmly, scrubbing a spot on the shelf with vigor. "A man with a mate has no business chasing a young girl. It is disrespectful to his wife, and it is cruel to the girl. If he hasn't even broken the bond before pursuing her... then he doesn't value the girl enough to give her a clean start."
He does intend to break the bond. In the end, he destroyed me just to give her that clean start.
"You're right," I whispered, the irony tasting like ash.
Ruby went back to her cleaning. I pulled a throw blanket over my legs, curling into the corner of the sofa, and drifted into a restless sleep.
"Violet. Get up."
The icy command jerked me awake. I gasped, looking up to find Daemon towering over me, radiating pure rage.