*CHAPTER 6: Elena’s Counterattack*_∼
1199 Words
*CLAIMED BY THE ALPHA*
*CHAPTER 6: Elena’s Counterattack*
_∼
*Day 14*
Legal papers showed up at 8am.
Not to Damon.
To ME.
_Petition for Emergency Guardianship Transfer_
_Filed by: Elena Blackwood_
My hands were shaking.
“Custody of minor omega Abi Carter to be transferred from Damon Blackwood to Elena Blackwood, citing inappropriate conduct and risk to minor.”
Minor.
I’m 19.
Damon was in my room in 30 seconds.
Suit. No tie. Hair a mess.
He’d been up all night.
“Who gave you this?”
“It was on the door.”
“Fuck.” He ran a hand through his hair. “She’s doing this. She’s actually doing this.”
“What does it mean?”
“It means she’s trying to take you out of this house. Out of my protection.”
He paced.
“She can’t. You’re 19. You’re not a minor. Pack law says I’m your guardian until 21 OR until you’re claimed. I already claimed you.”
“Then why—”
“Because she’s going to argue the claim is invalid. That I coerced you. That I’m unfit.”
He stopped. Looked at me.
“She’s going to drag your mom into this. Drag her marriage into this. Drag YOU into this.”
I sat down. Hard.
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t.”
“This is all my fault.”
“It’s not.” He knelt in front of me. “Look at me. This is not your fault. This is war. And she started it.”
His hands were on my knees.
Professional. Distance.
But his thumbs moved. Once.
Like he forgot.
“Abi, I need you to tell the truth. To the court. To the pack. That I saved you. That you asked me to. That you’re safe here.”
“I will.”
“Good.”
He stood.
“Hearing is in 48 hours. We have work to do.”
---
*Day 15. Damon’s Office. 2am.*
We hadn’t slept.
Either of us.
Papers everywhere.
Witness statements.
Pack law books.
Photos of the rogues.
Medical records from the bite.
Damon hadn’t changed clothes.
Whiskey on his breath. But he wasn’t drinking.
Just... wired.
“Here,” he said. Sliding a paper to me. “Your statement. Read it.”
I did.
_‘Damon Blackwood marked me to save my life. I consented. I am safe. I wish to remain under his protection.’_
“It’s good,” I said.
“It’s the truth.”
“Yeah.”
Silence.
The bond was pulling.
Tired. Stressed. Scared.
Both of us.
“Abi.”
“What?”
“Why did you kiss me?”
In the car. Yesterday.
I froze.
“I... I don’t know.”
“Liar.”
“Okay! Because I was scared! Because everyone thinks we’re together and I thought if I just... if I made it real for 3 seconds it would stop hurting!”
He closed his eyes.
“That’s the worst reason I’ve ever heard.”
“I know.”
“But it’s honest.”
He leaned back in his chair.
“I’m not good for you, Abi.”
“I know.”
“I’m broken. I’m 39 and I drink too much and I push everyone away and the only thing I’m good at is being an Alpha.”
“Then be my Alpha,” I whispered.
His eyes snapped open.
“Don’t say that.”
“Why not? It’s true. For one year, you are.”
He stood. Walked to the window.
“Elena wins if we give her anything. Any crack. Any doubt.”
“So we don’t.”
“So we don’t.”
He turned.
“48 hours. Then we go to court. And I’m going to make sure she never touches you.”
---
*Day 16. The Hearing.*
Pack court.
Stone room. 100 people watching.
Elena at one table. Pearl suit. Smiling.
Damon at the other. Black suit. No smile.
Me in the middle.
Elena’s lawyer went first.
“Your honor, Mr. Blackwood has a clear conflict of interest. He is the stepfather of Miss Carter. He is 20 years her senior. He marked her without consent—”
“I DID CONSENT!” I stood up.
“Miss Carter, you’ll have your turn.”
They brought up my mom.
Called her marriage “convenient.”
Called me “vulnerable.”
Called Damon “predatory.”
I wanted to throw up.
Then Damon’s lawyer stood.
“Your honor, we have witness testimony from the night of the attack. 4 rogues. Medical records. And Miss Carter’s own statement.”
I was called up.
Elena stared at me.
Damon wouldn’t look at me.
Like if he did, he’d break.
“Miss Carter,” the judge said. “Tell us what happened.”
So I did.
All of it.
The rogues. The fear. The bite.
“I asked him to,” I lied. Well, half-lied. “I begged him. Because I was scared. And he saved me. He’s kept me safe. He’s never touched me inappropriately. He’s never—” My voice broke. “He’s the only family I have left.”
Silence.
Elena stood.
“Your honor, may I speak?”
“No,” Damon said. First time he spoke. “You don’t get to.”
The judge looked at both of them.
Then at me.
Then at the mark on my neck.
“Pack law is clear,” the judge said. “A claim made in defense of an omega stands. Miss Carter is of age. She has stated her wishes. Petition denied. Miss Carter remains under Mr. Blackwood’s protection.”
Gavel.
Elena’s face.
I’ve never seen someone so angry and so calm at the same time.
---
*After. Parking lot.*
Damon and I walked to the car.
Silent.
We won.
Until Elena stepped in front of us.
“Congratulations, son.”
“Don’t.”
“You think this is over? It’s not. The board. The press. The pack. They all know now. And they’ll never forget.”
“Then I’ll make them.”
“You can’t protect her forever.”
“Watch me.”
He put his arm around me.
Not for show.
For real.
We drove home.
---
*11pm. Kitchen.*
Damon poured two glasses of water.
Handed me one.
“Good job today.”
“Thanks.”
“You didn’t have to lie.”
“I didn’t.”
He looked at me.
“You begged me to mark you?”
“...I was scared. It felt like begging.”
He nodded.
“Abi.”
“What?”
“You were incredible.”
It was the first compliment he’d ever given me.
It hit different.
We stood there.
Just... standing.
No rules. No Elena. No cameras.
“Go to bed,” he said finally.
“Okay.”
At the stairs, I turned.
“Damon?”
“Yeah?”
“Thank you. For fighting for me.”
He didn’t answer.
Just raised his glass to me.
---
*1:30am. Text.*
*Unknown: She’s not done. Be careful.*
*Me: I will. Are you okay?*
*Unknown: I’m better now.*
Bound by his name.
For 50+ chapters.
And Elena just declared war.
---
*END CHAPTER 6*
- Writer
