Chapter 101 101
Aurélie POV
I spin sharply on my heel and storm toward the door only to be yanked back before I can reach it. Damien’s grip clamps around me, dragging me into his space.
“Get off me,” I snarl, the words vibrating low and dangerous in my throat. He has no right to put his hands on me like this.
I am the Alpha here.
He is a guest.
This is my pack one I bled for, fought for, sacrificed for.
“And what exactly are you planning to do?” he growls back, his voice just as feral. “Run after her?”
“Absolutely,” I sneer, not even hesitating.
“You’re not thinking clearly,” he snaps. “You’re letting your anger take the reins ”
“Do not tell me how to be angry, Damien!” I roar, twisting against him with every ounce of strength I have. But he’s stronger than he should be stronger than I want to admit. He wrenches my arms upward and pins them above my head, pressing me back against the wall.
“Calm the fuck down,” he orders harshly. “That’s why we’re here. That’s why I’m here to help.”
His face is inches from mine now, his nose brushing against mine as the space between us vanishes. My breath stutters at the contact, my body betraying me instantly. His closeness sparks something volatile, something I do not want to acknowledge.
I squeeze my eyes shut, fighting it fighting him. Fighting his scent, his warmth, the way my instincts respond despite my rage.
“I let her into your life,” he says, his voice dropping, rough with something raw. “And for that, I am sorry. More sorry than you’ll ever know.”
The words hit harder than I expect.
“The anger you feel?” he continues. “It’s justified. Fuck you’re holding yourself together better than I would. But for them… for me… you can’t do something reckless.”
He inhales deeply, deliberately, as if breathing me in. When I open my eyes, I see the shift the bright sea-blue fading, replaced by the darker, predatory gleam of his wolf.
“I’ll never be able to make up for the shit I did,” he says quietly. “But I won’t rest until she’s no longer a threat to you, to the pack, to our children.”
There is no hesitation in his eyes. No doubt. This is not a promise made lightly it is a vow, etched into bone and blood.
My head begins to spin. My breathing accelerates, chest rising and falling too fast as my lungs struggle to keep pace.
His nose traces along my jaw, slow and deliberate, sending shivers across my skin. I clamp my mouth shut to keep the gasp from escaping.
His hands still pin my wrists above my head but the grip has loosened. I could break free if I wanted to.
I don’t.
He knows it. I see it in the arrogant curl of his mouth as he inhales again, scenting the air around us. He can tell. Of course he can.
Heat coils low in my core, pulsing traitorously.
I shift my legs, crossing them slightly in a futile attempt to regain control.
Then I freeze.
His nose slides into the hollow of my neck.
His lips press a single kiss to my skin.
The moan slips out of me before I can stop it, and my knees buckle instantly.
A hand is there at once strong, sure curling around my lower back and settling firmly on my hip, keeping me upright.
“Show me around,” he murmurs against my skin. “Show me your training grounds. I need to know you’re ready.”
He pulls back just enough for his words to land.
“Because when she comes back… she’ll bring hell with her.”
Damien POV
I could take her right now.
Claim her. Mark her as mine like she was always meant to be.
The old me would have done it without hesitation, consequences be damned.
But the old me is the reason I’m standing here with regret burning in my chest. I trusted the wrong person. I let the past poison my future.
And now I’m paying for it.
She speaks against my neck, her voice husky, vibrating straight through me. “How long?”
I pull back, forcing myself to meet her eyes.
“How long will you be here?”
“Until it’s done,” I answer without wavering.
“I can handle it”
“I know you can,” I cut in firmly. “I just want to see the setup. No tricks. No hidden agendas.”
This isn’t about control. It’s about certainty.
“It’s for my peace of mind,” I add. “To make sure they’re safe. That you’re safe.”
Her expression tightens.
“Then you’ll leave?” she asks.
The words sting more than I let show. But this—this is my doing. Her distance. Her guarded tone. These are the consequences I live with now.
“If that’s what you want,” I reply quietly.
Is it what she wants?
Is it what I want?
“Very well,” she says at last, pushing herself off the wall.
I step back, giving her space.
“Let’s join the others,” she continues, her Alpha composure sliding back into place. “I’ll give you the full pack tour.”