15: FIFTEEN
1349 Words
K I A R A
We had almost kissed.
Me and Damon.
And I wanted it.
I wanted it so bad that I almost grabbed him and pulled him back to me. I didn't understand what was happening between us. We went from enemies to... something else.
Something more.
He was still the arrogant possessive Alpha, but he was also protective, gentle and surprisingly caring.
And he made me feel things I'd never felt before.
He made me feel seen, desired and beautiful. I was so pissed off when he left when we were just about to kiss, but I also knew it was for the best.
He wasn't mine to want.
I was just a trophy wife. A pretty face to stand next to him. His words, not mine.
But as I lay in bed that night, I couldn't stop thinking about him. About the way he looked at me. The way he held me. The way he smelled.
He had fought for me in that meeting room. No one, not even my own family, had ever defended me like that. The thought sent a strange warmth blooming in my chest.
He said he'd kill Nolan for me. A part of me knew he wasn't exaggerating. This was a different kind of feeling. One that should have terrified me but instead, it made me feel safe. Cherished.
And that was when it dawned on me that I was in trouble. I was falling for my husband.
The very man I was supposed to use for my father's revenge. The very man who might be my own death sentence.
I was torn between my loyalty to my father and the growing feelings I had for Damon. Feelings I didn’t know where they came from.
But I wasn't stupid. I knew this could all be an act. A way for him to manipulate me, to make me lower my guards, to make me trust him.
I had to be careful. I had to remember my purpose. I had to remember my father's warning.
'Don't get too attached.'
But it was too late for that. Way too late.
I was already in too deep. And I was afraid that I wouldn't be able to get out.
Not without breaking my own heart.
*******
I woke up the next morning to a note on my bedside table. It was from Damon.
Breakfast is ready. I'm heading out for a patrol. Don't leave the house without my men. D.
The note was short and to the point. It was signed with a simple 'D'. I couldn't help but smile at that.
He may be a bastard, but he was a thoughtful bastard. The thought made me giggle.
I got out of bed and took a quick shower. I decided to wear a simple sundress and a pair of sandals. I left my hair down and put on a little bit of makeup.
I was about to head downstairs when I heard a knock on my door.
"Come in," I said.
The door opened and a beautiful woman with long, blonde hair and piercing blue eyes walked in. She was wearing a red dress that hugged her curves in all the right places, and she had a smile on her face that didn't quite reach her eyes.
"Kiara," she said, her voice dripping with honey. "It's so lovely to finally meet you. I'm Scarlett."
I had heard about her from Roland. Scarlett was the daughter of the pack’s old beta. She was also rumored to be Damon's childhood friend and, according to the pack gossip, his former lover.
"It's nice to meet you too, Scarlett," I said, forcing a smile.
"I hope I'm not interrupting anything," she said, her eyes scanning my room.
"No, not at all. I was just about to go down for breakfast."
"Oh, good. I was hoping we could have a little chat before you did. Alone."
I nodded, gesturing for her to sit on the small sofa near the window.
"I'll be right back," I said, excusing myself to the bathroom.
I didn't need to use the bathroom, I just needed a moment to compose myself. I had a feeling this wasn't a friendly visit.
When I came back, Scarlett was already sitting on the sofa, her legs crossed elegantly.
"So, what did you want to talk about?" I asked, sitting down on the chair opposite her.
"I wanted to talk about Damon," she said, her smile widening. "I've known him my entire life. We grew up together. We were... close."
"I see," I said, my jaw tightening.
"He's a great man, you know. Strong, powerful and respected. But he's also... complicated. He has a lot of baggage. A lot of demons."
"He seems to be doing just fine," I said, my voice clipped.
"Oh, I'm sure he is. He's always been good at hiding his pain. But I know him, Kiara. I know the real him. The vulnerable broken man he keeps locked away. I was there for him when he lost…" She trailed off with a fake sad voice, as if she was intentionally trying to make me ask.
"When he lost what?" I pressed, my curiosity getting the better of me.
She leaned forward, her eyes sparkling with malice. "I guess Damon didn't tell you. He doesn't like to talk about it. But I'm sure you'll find out sooner or later. After all, you're his Luna now. You should know these things."
I was getting impatient. "What are you trying to say, Scarlett?"
She let out a soft laugh. "I'm just trying to say that I know Damon better than anyone. I know what he likes, what he needs and what he fears. And I'm the only one who can truly understand him. He may be your husband, Kiara. But, how much does he truly tell you?"
She was trying to get under my skin, to make me doubt my place in Damon's life. It was working.
"He doesn't need to tell me anything. I'm not trying to understand him. I'm just trying to fulfill my duty as his wife."
"Is that all you want? To just be a duty? A responsibility? Don't you want more than that? Don't you want to be loved by him?"
Her question caught me off guard. I didn't know how to answer.
"I think you should leave," I said, standing up.
She smirked, rising gracefully to her feet. "Of course. But before I go, I have a little advice for you."
She walked up to me, her eyes locking with mine.
"Don't get too comfortable, Kiara. This marriage is not going to last. Damon will never truly be yours. He belongs to me. And I'll make sure he comes back to me where he truly belongs."
She brushed past me, her strong nauseating perfume filling the air. I watched her walk out of my room, my heart pounding in my chest.
I sank back down on the chair, my mind trying to process the conversation I just had.
A part of me wanted to dismiss her words as nothing but jealousy and bitterness. But another part of me couldn't ignore the nagging feeling that there was some truth to what she was saying.
There was a lot more to Damon than he let on. And Scarlett seemed to know all about it. She knew something about his past, something he lost. And I had a feeling it had something to do with my father.
The thought sent a shiver down my spine.
What could my father have possibly done to him to warrant such a reaction? A life for a life, he'd said. Whose life? And for what?
Was this whole marriage some kind of sick twisted revenge? Was I just a pawn in their game?
I couldn't shake the feeling that I was walking into a trap. A trap that I might not be able to escape from.
And I had to be careful. Very careful.
Because if I wasn't, I would end up getting hurt. Or worse, dead.
- Writer
