Chapter 15

Damian’s POV  

I really didn’t have time for explanations. Arielle was still glaring at me, her chest kept  rising and falling with every furious breath she took as she struggled not to argue with me or even look at me. They weren’t supposed to come this soon.  

Her entire body was rigid, but I didn’t have time to deal with her anger—not now.  Not when I wasn't sure how many of them were coming.  I grabbed her arm before she could react.  I didn’t care if she hated me for this.  

I didn’t care if she cursed my name for the rest of her life.  

I just needed her safe.  

“Damian—what the hell? Let go of me!” she shouted, struggling against my grip.  I ignored her, I couldn’t afford to let her go not when she had no idea how much danger she was in the first place. I flung her over my shoulder, ignoring her kicking and screams as I took off running back toward the pack house. 

Arielle thrashed harder. 

“Damian, I swear to the goddess—”  

“Shut up!” I snapped, tightening my grip around her waist as I dodged through the trees.

“You don’t get a choice in this!”  She sucked in a sharp breath. I knew I had struck a nerve, but I didn’t have time to regret it. I had already done so much worse to her already anyway. Her fists pounded against my back, but I didn’t stop and didn't slow.

There was no time to explain.  

The rogues were already too close,not home I'd they were able to attack her and if I lost her now—if they got their hands on her—it would be over.  

For both of us.  

By the time I reached the pack house, my heart was pounding—from exhaustion, my shoulder kept twinging with pain and  the scent of blood in the air likely mine and hers mixed filled my nostrils. I reached the back entrance and stormed inside ignoring the guards flanking the hallways, eyes widening at the sight of their furious Alpha dragging a kicking and screaming woman toward his rooms. 

“Alpha—” One of them stepped forward, looking uncertain.  

“Nobody follows me. Nobody disturbs us.” I ordered growling, the guard hesitated for only a second before bowing his head.I knew my beta would hear about this soon enough anyway but I would deal with that later. 

“Yes, Alpha.”  I kicked open the door to my bedroom moving faster than I ever had before. Arielle screamed, 

“Let me go, Damian!”  still thrashing wildly in my arms once I was comfortable that the room felt empty, I threw her onto the bed. She gasped, her hair a wild mess around her face, but before she could scramble up, I pinned her down, gripping her wrists above her head.  

“Arielle,” I ground out, my voice low, warning. 

“Listen to me.”  She bared her teeth at me, her wolf barely beneath the surface.  

"No, you bastard" she screamed and I almost smiled. Oh, she was furious.  

“Are you insane?” she hissed. “What the hell is wrong with you?!” she screamed.  I ran a hand through my hair, trying to breathe.  

“You can’t just—”  

“I can. And I will.”  I hissed at her,with finality and her breath hitched. I let go of her wrists, pulling back from the bed. She sat up instantly, shoving me away, her eyes blazing with rage and something else—something deeper.  

“Why are you doing this?” she whispered, gripping the sheets like they were the only thing keeping her grounded. She took a shaky step back, clutching her injured shoulder. 

“Tell me what’s going on. Right now.”  I stared at her for a long moment and then unable to look at him  I turned away.  She didn’t need to know. Not yet at least. 

Because if she knew the truth—the real reason I had I’d rejected her, the reason I’d marked her anyway—she would never forgive me. So I just said, 

"You’re staying here.”  Her eyes widened. 

"What?”  

“You’re not leaving this room, Arielle.”  She shot to her feet. 

“Like hell I’m not.” I growled grabbing her chin, forcing her to look at me.  She shuddered but held her ground.  

“You’re staying here,” I repeated.  

“You'll have to make me.” she hissed, her challenge sent fire through my veins. I  stepped closer, my voice low.

“Don’t tempt me, Arielle.” I growled and her breath hitched. For a split second, I saw something in her eyes— maybe it was fear or need and my wolf growl in satisfaction.  I expected her to scream, to lash out at me but instead, she laughed.  A dry, broken laugh filled with so much rage and pain that it twisted in my chest.  

“I hate you,” she whispered.  

Right now, I had to protect her even if she hated me for it. So I turned away, locking the door behind me. She was completely unaware of just how much danger she was in but I would ignore that. I had no idea how the rogues had found out so soon but I knew one thing for certain.  

I would kill every last one of them before they ever laid a hand on her again.