Still in control
1417 Words
DAMON’S POV
Nyra didn’t speak until the door to my chambers closed behind us, I knew that she was upset about the last minute decision that I had made without consulting her but I didn’t think I had to consult with her for anything. Her silence followed us down the corridor like a storm gathering strength. I could feel it building beside me—her anger, sharp and impatient, pressing against the controlled calm I maintained. Guards stepped aside as we passed, lowering their heads.
No one looked directly at us, that gave me relief because most of these wolves knew that Elodie had been with me in my chambers. But that was all I wanted them to know, I wanted them to assume everything else was just as it should have been. The last thing I wanted was to find myself explaining anything to these wolves
We reached my office. I pushed the door open and stepped inside without waiting for her. Nyra followed immediately, the door shutting with a decisive click behind her. I walked to my desk and poured another drink. Nyra didn’t sit. She stood in the center of the room, arms crossed, eyes burning into my back.
“You promised me,” she said.
Her voice was tight, controlled. But only barely. I took a slow sip before responding.
“I promised you the problem would be handled.”
“You promised you would kill her.”
I turned then, leaning back against the edge of my desk.
“I said I would take care of it.”
Nyra’s laugh was short and sharp.
“Don’t play with words, Damon. We both know what you meant...what I wanted”
Do we? I set the glass down deliberately.
“What I meant,” I said calmly, “was that Elodie would stop being a complication.”
Nyra took a step closer.
“You humiliated me in that room.”
“No,” I corrected mildly. “You humiliated yourself.”
Her eyes flashed.
“You let her stand there while you reversed your decision.”
“I made a better one.”
Her hands clenched at her sides.
“You embarrassed me in front of her.”
“She’s an Omega now,” I said simply. “Her opinion is irrelevant…if shouldn’t matter what she thinks or feels about you”
Nyra stared at me for a long moment.
“You’re protecting her.”
The accusation hung in the air. I sighed faintly, as if the conversation bored me.
“You continue to misunderstand the situation.”
“Oh, do I?”
“Yes.”
I straightened from the desk and moved around it slowly.
“Elodie was a distraction.”
Nyra scoffed.
“A distraction you kept in your chambers for a couple of nights… who knows what else you gusy did in there”
“A mistake I’ve corrected.”
“And yet you moved her somewhere comfortable instead of eliminating her.”
I walked to the door and opened it. An Omega servant immediately straightened outside.
“Send someone to the Omega wing,” I said. “Tell them Elodie Ardent is to be settled properly. I want no issues with the transition.”
The Omega bowed quickly. “Yes, Alpha.”
“And make sure she has understands what is expected of her”
“Yes, Alpha.”
The door closed again. Nyra stared at me like she might actually strike me.
“You want her to be comfortable.”
I poured another drink.
“I want efficiency.”
“She’s an Omega.”
“Yes.”
“A nobody.”
“Yes.”
“Then why do you care if she has what she needs?”
I took another sip before answering.
“Because chaos among the lower ranks becomes my problem, because if she doesn’t understand her new duties she will always be a problem to me and to you”
Nyra didn’t buy it. Her eyes narrowed.
“You’re showing concern and all this wouldn’t be needed if you had just done as I asked you to.”
“I’m maintaining order.”
She stepped closer again, voice lowering.
“You promised me you’d get rid of her.”
“I did.”
“No,” she snapped. “You moved her.”
“To the lowest possible rank in the pack.”
Her frustration grew visibly.
“That’s not the same thing.”
“No,” I agreed calmly. “It’s better.”
Nyra blinked.
“Better?”
“Yes.”
I set the glass down again.
“Dead servants create questions.”
“She’s a liar.”
“She’s also been working in the pack for years. People notice when someone disappears.”
Nyra looked unconvinced, I continued anyway.
“This way she fades into the background.”
Her jaw tightened.
“And you think that satisfies me?”
I studied her calmly.
“You wanted punishment.”
“I wanted her gone.”
“And now she is.”
“She’s still alive.”
“Yes.”
“And still breathing.”
“Yes.”
“And still your mate.”
That word again.
I smiled faintly.
“My rejected mate.”
Nyra’s eyes sharpened.
“You keep emphasizing that.”
“Because it matters.”
I stepped closer until we stood only a few feet apart.
“I chose you.”
Her expression didn’t soften.
“You also chose her.”
“No.”
I shook my head slowly.
“I was given her.”
Nyra frowned.
“The bond.”
Her lips pressed thin.
“I didn’t ask for it.”
“You didn’t reject it either.”
“I’m rejecting it now.”
The words were deliberate, Nyra watched me carefully.
“And yet you’re still worried about her comfort.”
“I’m worried about my packhouse running smoothly.”
“You expect me to believe that?”
“I expect you to appreciate the situation.”
Her brows pulled together.
“What situation?”
I tilted my head slightly.
“The fact that I chose you.”
Nyra blinked.
“What?”
“Elodie is my mate by bond,” I said plainly. “And yet she’s sleeping in the Omega wing.”
Nyra’s anger faltered slightly.
“You should be pleased.”
“Pleased?”
“Yes.”
I stepped closer again.
“You’re standing exactly where you wanted to be.”
She hesitated.
“As my Luna.”
Her expression flickered.
“I rejected my own mate for you,” I continued smoothly.
Nyra went still, the words landed exactly where I intended them to.
“You think that’s insignificant?”
Her voice was quieter now.
“You’re exaggerating.”
“Am I?”
I spread my hands slightly.
“Most Alphas would claim the bond without hesitation.”
Nyra didn’t answer.
“But I didn’t.”
I leaned closer.
“I chose power.”
Her eyes searched mine.
“I chose stability.”
Her breathing slowed.
“I chose you.”
The silence stretched.
Then she said quietly, “And yet you still refuse to kill her.”
“Because I don’t need to.”
Nyra exhaled slowly.
“You expect me to just accept that.”
“I expect you to recognize the position you’re in.”
She crossed her arms again.
“You’re very confident.”
“I have every reason to be.”
Nyra studied me for a long moment.
“You think I should be grateful.”
“I think,” I said calmly, “that most women would be.”
Her lips curved slightly, though the tension hadn’t left her completely.
“You’re very good at turning things around.”
“I’m good at maintaining order.”
Nyra’s gaze lingered on me.
“And Elodie?”
“What about her?”
“What happens to her now?”
I shrugged slightly.
“She fades into obscurity.”
Nyra nodded slowly.
“As she should.”
But the way she said it made one thing very clear that she accepted the arrangement. But she didn’t trust it. Not yet. And that meant this situation was far from over. I knew that having Elodie with the omegas only made it easier for me to get to her when I wanted to and if I wanted to. I wasn’t sure of I wanted to continue that gamble but my wolf wanted what he wanted.
- Writer
