Chapter 54 54
Damien POV
“Damien, I have a right to know who I’m taking care of.”
“You’re not taking care of her your doctors are. Don’t start that bullshit with me, Maurice.” I snap, stepping closer to the bed. My wolf is already pacing, unhappy with how close he’s standing to her while she’s unconscious and exposed.
“What bullshit?” he challenges. “You’re standing on my pack’s territory. I could’ve killed you both the second you stepped out of that warehouse.”
“Then why didn’t you?” I counter. He’s as arrogant as ever, pretending he’d stand a real chance against me.
He shrugs, gaze sliding back to Aurélie. “Her, I actually like. She’s beautiful far too beautiful to be married to you.”
He smirks. “You? I’m still deciding.”
“As if you’d stand a chance,” I huff, folding my arms over my chest.
“For all I know,” he continues, “this whole thing could be a ploy to get intel on my pack. I’m being very trusting.”
Unfortunately, he isn’t wrong. But trusting him? That was a different matter entirely.
“She’s the Alpha of Darkvale,” I finally say, exhaling sharply. I can already imagine how much she’s going to hate me for revealing this.
“Impossible,” Maurice scoffs. “That position belongs to a male.”
“Well, I don’t see a dick on her.”
“Hold on” he lifts both hands, stopping me mid-sentence. Then it hits him, and his eyes widen. “So the Alpha who built a rebellion against your rule… is not only a female, but your wife?”
He bursts into raucous laughter, absolutely delighted with himself.
“I’m glad you’re enjoying this,” I deadpan.
“Ah man, it’s just”
“A mess,” I finish with a sigh, sinking into the chair at Aurélie’s bedside.
“Fitting,” he says dryly, before dropping his grin. “Who was she meeting?”
“I don’t know. She left my pack in the middle of the night after receiving an address.”
“What for?”
“Maurice, don’t push it.”
“Fine,” he says, hands raised. “But remember you owe me now. I like the Alpha King indebted to me.” There’s that smug smile again.
“As soon as she wakes, we’re leaving. And I need you to keep our visit quiet. No one can know we were here.”
“Why?”
“I have my reasons.” I straighten, reminding him exactly who the hell stands in front of him.
Aurélie’s phone starts ringing in my pocket. I check the screen Fabrice.
“I’ll let you handle that,” Maurice says, slipping out of the room.
Aurélie POV
“I’m not telling you where we are,” Damien growls into the phone. I recognize the low rumble of his voice, though the other person sounds muffled.
“She’s fine. As soon as she wakes, I’ll bring her back. Yes, Fabrice don’t fucking push it. She wanted you with Delphine, so do as your Alpha commands.”
I blink my eyes open just in time to see him end the call. He’s standing near the door, staring into the corridor like he’s expecting trouble.
Where the hell am I?
“Damien?” My voice is rough, raw. My throat aches with every syllable.
“Aurélie?” His head snaps toward me, brows dropping into a frown as he strides over. The way he walks shouldn’t affect me not with everything going on but gods, it does. And his scent… it clings to the room like he’s been here the entire time.
“What’s happening? Did you find him?” My heart kicks hard against my ribs, hope clawing its way upward. But the look on Damien’s face as he sits beside me tells me everything.
No. Dominique is still missing.
“Then why are you here?” My irritation spikes. “Why aren’t you out there searching? He doesn’t need you pretending to care he needs you to find him.”
“Aurélie, you were seriously injured. I had to make sure you were stable. There was a lot of blood.”
“You need to find him. I need to find him.” I push myself upright and swing my legs over the bed.
“Aurélie, you only just woke up,” he warns, voice darkening.
“I need to find him.” My feet hit the floor, and I force myself to stand.
“And we will,” he says, moving quickly to block my path. He tries to guide me back toward the bed.
“Damien!” I shove at his chest. “You’ve known about him for two days. He’s been mine for four years. I’m not taking orders from you. Move.”
He doesn’t budge. He stands there like a wall of muscle and stubbornness.
“Don’t make me hurt you,” I growl.
“You can’t, sweetheart,” he murmurs, smirking. “But I’d love to see you try.”
I swing at him, aiming a punch straight for his jaw, but he catches my fist effortlessly his fingers closing around my knuckles mid-air.