Bound By The Wrong Alpha

Chapter 3 :The Safe Touch

My hands would not stop shaking as I forced a big smile and stepped outside. Guilt sat heavy in my stomach like a rock. Damien walked toward me from the car, and I felt like the worst person alive.

"Hey honey," Damien said warmly. He pulled me into his arms and kissed my forehead. "I missed you so much. Sorry about that airport mess."

"I missed you too," I said softly, hugging him back. My voice sounded normal, but inside I was screaming. Ryker’s scent still clung to my skin no matter how much perfume I sprayed. "The wait must have been awful."

Damien kept one arm around my waist as we went inside. His touch felt gentle and safe. Nothing like the rough fire from last night. "It was. But I am home now. Viktor and the Shadowfang pack are causing trouble at the borders again. We need to stay sharp."

We sat on the couch. Damien pulled me close and stroked my hair. "So tell me. How was your first night? Did Ryker help with the luggage like I asked?"

My heart skipped. I nodded fast. "Yes. He brought everything in. It was fine."

"Good," Damien said. He kissed my cheek. "Ryker can be useful sometimes. With the Blackwood family running Eclipse Ridge, we cannot show any cracks. Father demands perfection from both of us. The whole pack watches every move we make."

I leaned against him and tried to act normal. Growing up as a neglected beta’s daughter taught me one thing duty comes first. My father’s mistakes left our pack weak. This marriage to Damien was supposed to fix everything. It gave my family and my old pack real protection and strength. I did it for them. But now, sitting here with Damien, all I could think about was how different his brother felt.

Damien’s hand rested on my knee. His touch stayed light and caring. I closed my eyes for a second. Memories crashed in. Ryker’s strong hands pinning me. His teeth on my neck. The way he growled "mine" while driving deep inside me. Heat rushed between my legs. My wolf stirred, restless and confused. She wanted the wild one. Not this calm safety.

"You okay?" Damien asked. He tilted my chin up. "You look a little flushed."

"Just tired from yesterday," I said quickly. I leaned in and kissed him. His lips felt soft. Nice. But nothing like Ryker’s hungry claim.

Damien kissed me back and pulled me onto his lap. "I hate that I missed our wedding night. I wanted to hold you properly." His hands slid under my robe, stroking my back gently.

A moan slipped out before I could stop it. Not from his touch. From the memory of Ryker flipping me over, gripping my hips hard, taking me from behind. My body reacted on its own. I pressed against Damien, but my mind stayed somewhere else.

"Easy," Damien whispered with a small laugh. "You seem eager today."

I froze. My face burned. "I just... really missed you."

He smiled and kissed my neck. His touch stayed careful and loving. But my wolf whined inside. She remembered Ryker’s rough commands, the way he made me beg. The contrast hit me hard. Safe felt boring. Fire felt dangerous. And I hated myself for thinking it.

Then a quick flash hit me. In my mind I saw a future version of Ryker this same bad boy on his knees in our kitchen, making me breakfast with a soft smile, calling me his queen, completely whipped and gentle for me. The image felt so real it scared me.

Damien’s hand moved higher on my thigh. "I love you, Serena. This marriage will make both packs stronger. You will see."

"I know," I whispered. My voice cracked a little. Guilt ate at me. I was lying to my husband while my body craved his brother.

He kissed me deeper. His fingers brushed a sensitive spot Ryker had gripped hard last night. Another unwanted moan escaped me. My thighs clenched tight. For one terrifying second, the wrong name sat right on my tongue.

"Ry" I caught myself and forced out, "Damien."

But my mind screamed Ryker.

Damien did not seem to notice. He held me tighter, completely unaware. "That’s my girl. I am so lucky to have you."

My heart pounded so loud I worried he could hear it. One slip. One wrong word. Everything the alliance, the pack security, my future could crumble.

Damien’s hand slid even higher on my thigh. His fingers were getting dangerously close. My body trembled. The guilt and fear mixed with the heat from the memories until I felt like I would explode.

Just as his fingers brushed higher, a loud knock sounded at the front door.

Damien sighed and gently moved me off his lap. "Who could that be right now?"

I sat there, face hot, legs trembling, terrified at how close I had come to saying the wrong name and destroying everything. My wolf howled inside me, torn between the safe man holding me and the dangerous one who had already claimed a piece of my soul.