Chapter 3 The Price Of Redemption

• Damien’s POV
• The thick smell of blood in the forest, mixed with her innocent sweetness, intoxicated me.
• She was mine. Finally, I'd made her mine.
• . I held her in my arms and watched her sleep. She was so unbelievably soft; I would have no trouble crushing her beneath my grip, that was how fragile she felt.
• But this fragile woman had taken everything I'd had to give her and more.
• I didn't regret how roughly I has fucked her. I only hated that I hadn't found her sooner.
• My mate.
• Seraphina Wilder.
• Walking into the villa, I laid her gently on the master bed that I had never allowed anyone to step on.
• With a damp cloth, I cleaned her body, taking my time to wipe away the filth. My fingertips grazed her snow-white skin and I felt it again; that electrifying shock that strummed through my body anytime we made contact.
• My wolf soul roared, wanting to possess her completely, demanding I imprint my scent on every inch of her body.
• But I held back, hesitant to disturb her sleep. Besides, she was probably sore from how hard I'dworked her last night and while I might be insatiable when it came to her, she'd probably appreciate if I exercised some self control.
• I dried her hair, covered her with a silk quilt, and then walked out of the room.
• In the living room, Leo Vance was reclining against the wall in a lazy pose that pissed me. I had half a mind to beat the bastard's ass but I resisted the urge.
• Seeing me coming out of the bedroom, he adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses and glanced at the clock on the wall.
• “Finally, the mighty Alpha decides to grace me with his presence." He drawled. "Why is your villa so remote? Hiding something?"
• I couldn’t be bothered to engage his nonsense. Brushing past him, I headed straight to the liquor cabinet. Something told me I would need a stiff drink for this conversation.
• Leo's nostrils flared and he flashed me a knowing smile. As if sensing my agitation, he further pokes at me.
• "Ah, I see. It's different after mating with your mate, no? I take it you won't be needing this antidote I bought?" He teased.
• I scoffed into my glass of whiskey. He was damn right I didn't need an antidote. My Seraphina was so responsive to my touch, I didn't need any help getting her wet.
• “Who's the woman lucky enough to bag our Lycan King? She must be a real beauty."
• I placed the empty glass on the table, spun it with my fingertips, and casually uttered the name I had silently repeated countless times in my heart.
• “Seraphina Wilder.”
• Leo froze. I knew what he was thinking.
• Seraphina Wilder. Also known as Aiden Sterling’s fiancée. A woman who was the laughingstock of the entire wolf clan.
• What a sick joke that she was the one I had fallen for.
• He couldn't help himself.
• “Damien, are you deliberately going after Aiden's woman just to play with him?"
• I paused, my glass half raised to my mouth. Almost immediately, the room thickened with unbearable tension as I tried and quite frankly, failed to keep my fury under wraps.
• Playing?
• He actually used the word playing to describe the bond between my mate and I?
• A wave of murderous intent so strong washed over me until all I could see was red.
• My gaze must have portrayed how badly I wanted to wrap my hands around his neck and squeeze, because he took a hesitant step back, a nervous chuckle escaping him.
• "You think Aiden Sterling’s worthy of her? Hmm?!"
• That pathetic excuse of a man was an Alpha who couldn't shield his fiancé from humiliation, let alone protect her life. I had no respect for him whatsoever. None at all.
• Leo swallowed whatever he had to say. His eyes pinged all around the room with nerves as he refused to look at me.
• Coward.
• I was done entertaining him and his bullshit.
• Draining my glass, I set it down before intoning, "Get the fuck out before I cut your tongue out and feed it to the dogs."
• He couldn't scurry away fast enough. I watched him get into his car and drive away like a demon was on his ass.
• Only then did I stand and saunter back into the bedroom.
• I'd tried hard enough to stay away. I wasn't strong enough, that much was obvious.
• When it came to Seraphina, all sense, all control, went out the window.
• I couldn’t fathom why but one thing I did know was this: she was very, very dangerous.
• And I didn’t give a fuck.
• …
• I don’t know how long I watched her by the bed. Minutes, hours, eternity, time seemed to lose all meaning as the quilt lifted with the steady rise and fall of her chest.
• Soon, her long lashes were fluttering slightly and she squinted sleepily against the light streaming in from the window.
• She was awake. At last.
• When she caught my gaze, fear slowly crept into her eyes even as she sat up forcefully, visibly shook.
• "You're awake," I stated the obviously in a blasé tone. My eyes flitted over her face before dipping down to cast her very naked breasts an appreciative glance.
• When she realized the point of my focus, she let out an embarrased moan, her back hitting the mattress as she tried to hide by wrapping herself like a large burrito in the quilt.
• Cute.
• Did she think that thin blanket could impede my sight?
• I could clearly feel every inch of her skin, could smell the way my scent lingered on her. There was no greater turn-on.
• “I spent last night worshipping every single inch of your body. It's a little too late to be shy, hmm?,”
• My voice was not loud, but it was firm enough to coax her out her 'coccon.'
• She cautiously peeked out from underneath the blanket, her beautiful eyes glowing with remorse.
• “Lycan King…" She stuttered. "I… I didn’t mean to. I was drugged, that’s why I… offended you… I'll do anything you want to compensate you."
• I'd thought what we'd shared last night was special and here she was, apologizing.
• Aplogizing for what, exactly?
• An indescribable anger suddenly took ahold of me and I scowled at her.
• “How do you want to compensate me?” She wanted to play it like this? Well I wasn't gonna take it easy on her.
• “I… I can treat you to a meal?” She floundered for an answer, tone hopeful.
• “Do I look like I lack a meal?" I know I sounded like an arrogant asshole through and through but I couldn't stop myself.
• She seemed stumped by my question, a hint of confusion flashing in her clear eyes.
• "Um... no?"
• Bending slightly, I grasped her delicate chin and forced her to look at me.
• “Seraphina, last night I satisfied your instincts. As compensation, now it’s your turn to satisfy me.”
• I wanted her to know there was no going back now. She'd been mine the moment she had wound up in my territory. If she thought this was a mistake, she had another thing coming.
• Leaning in, I kissed her as hungrilyas I could.
• Her lips were the sweetest temptation; soft, yieding, wet. I could feel my control slipping.
• Her body trembled beneath mine, her heart beating faster as excited whimpers fell past those lovely lips.
• Good.
• At least her body was much more honest than her mouth.
• I kissed down to that sensitive spot behind her ear before taking her earlobe in my mouth and lavishing it with attention.
• I loved hearing her delicate, slightly shy moans beneath me. It gave me a immense pleasure to completely destroy and possess her.
• Before I could throw her and fuck her into the mattress, A strange emotion burrowed its way into my chest.
• Although our psychic connection was weak, I could clearly sense that she was thinking of someone else!
• Aiden Sterling.
• “Fuck!”
• An uncontrollable, beast-like growl burst from deep within my throat, filled with insurmountable rage and something else. Something far worse.
• Pain.
• My wolf was in a frenzy. It felt like my heart was being ripped open by the sharpest blade made of silver. I had never felt pain like this. Neither have I ever wished death on a person like I did Aiden Sterling in that moment.
• How dare she think of another man while I marked her, while I kissed her! The same man who didn't give a rat's ass about her?!
• My hands tightened uncontrollably, almost crushing her delicate waist.
• Abruptly, my body stiffened as I pulled away.
• I propped myself above her, staring deeply into her hazy and slightly confused eyes.
• “Lost in thought?” My voice was cold, devoid of all emotion.
• She seemed startled, her gaze widening with panic, like a child who had been cut with her hand in the cookie jar.
• “I… I didn’t mean to.” Her weak explanation did nothing to placate me.
• “It seems my charm is not enough to captivate my mate.” I mused, doing a good job of masking the jealousy burning its way down my spine.
• She actually thought of another man while being intimate with me!
• Unforgivable.
• "I'm sorry, I didn't know... What I mean to say is it'll not happen again. He's in the past and that's where he'll stay." Her nervous apology had the coldness thawing.
• I couldn't even stay mad at her. If that wasn't a huge problem, I didn't know what was.
• “I forgive you.” I smirked, a hint of mischief in my smile.
• Seraphina audibly heaved a sigh of relief, her eyes briefly closing.
• Naive.
• I rolled over, taking her with me. Her soft body landed against my much harder one, her mouth hanging open in shock
• Her gazze had a surge of power coursing through me. I wanted her to look at me and only me.
• My warm lips brushed against her ear, my voice carrying a dangerous, seductive whisper.
• "You wanna compensate me so bad, Darling?"
• She shivered even as she shook her head yes.
• "I want you to take the this time, Sweetheart." I commanded.
• “I want you to give me your body, your soul. I want you to welcome me into your warm, wet heat. But most of all, I want you to completely erase Aiden Sterling!"