Chapter One
The rain pounded against the windows, a relentless rhythm that matched the storm raging inside me. I stood at the top of the grand staircase, my fingers gripping the railing so tightly that my knuckles ached.
Damian Reed. My stepbrother. My nightmare. My mate.
I had spent years pretending he didn’t exist, convincing myself that his sharp glares and cruel smirks didn’t matter. But tonight, everything changed. Because tonight, I turned eighteen.
And my wolf woke up.
The bond hit me like a force of nature, wrapping around my chest, tightening until I could barely breathe. I felt him before I even saw him—his presence thick in the air, dark and inescapable.
Then he stepped into the room.
Damian was every bit the Alpha he was born to be—tall, broad-shouldered, exuding a quiet dominance that sent a shiver down my spine. His dark hair was tousled from the wind, his golden eyes glowing like fire in the dim light. He smelled of pine, smoke, and something dangerously addictive.
My wolf whimpered. Mate.
No. No, this couldn’t be happening.
I took a step back, but it was pointless. Damian was already in front of me, his towering frame blocking any hope of escape. He studied me, his expression unreadable, then reached out and brushed a damp strand of hair from my face.
“You’re shaking,” he murmured, his voice deep and smooth, like velvet lined with steel.
I clenched my fists, hating the way my body betrayed me, the way my pulse raced under his touch. “Stay away from me, Damian.”
His lips twitched, but there was no humor in it. “That’s going to be a problem, little omega.”
His words sent a chill through me. Not a threat. A promise.
I swallowed hard, my heart hammering against my ribs. “You’ve always hated me. Why should this be any different?”
Damian exhaled sharply, his golden eyes flickering with something I couldn’t name. “You think I hate you?”
“Yes.” The word came out sharper than I intended, laced with years of bitterness. “You never wanted me here. You made that clear.”
He didn’t deny it. He just stepped closer, his heat seeping into my skin, making it impossible to think.
“You don’t understand anything, do you?” he murmured, his voice lower now, almost dangerous.
My breath hitched. “Then make me understand.”
For a moment, the air between us felt heavy, charged with something I wasn’t ready to name. Then, faster than I could react, Damian’s hand curled around the back of my neck, pulling me flush against him.
A gasp left my lips. His grip was firm, possessive—but not cruel. His golden eyes burned into mine, filled with something dark and raw.
“You’re mine,” he whispered, his breath hot against my skin.
Everything inside me locked up.
No.
No, no, no.
Not him. Not like this.
I shoved against his chest, but he didn’t move. He was solid, unshakable. “Let me go, Damian.”
His fingers tightened for just a second—like he didn’t want to let go—before he suddenly released me, stepping back as if I burned him. He ran a hand through his hair, frustration tightening his jaw.
“This isn’t over,” he said, his voice rough.
A lump formed in my throat. “It has to be.”
But even as I said it, I knew the truth.
This was only the beginning.
