CHAPTER 7: The Video Leaks
1110 Words
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*CLAIMED BY THE ALPHA*
*CHAPTER 7: The Video Leaks*
_∼
*Day 17*
It was 6:03am when my phone started vibrating off the nightstand.
*Unknown: Turn on the news. Now.*
Damon.
I grabbed the remote.
Channel 7. Breaking news.
_EXCLUSIVE: BLACKWOOD ALPHA ATTACK CAUGHT ON TAPE_
And there it was.
Security footage.
From the night of the rogues.
Me. On the floor. Bleeding.
Damon. Walking in.
Golden eyes. Claws out.
Him shifting halfway. Teeth. Growling.
Then the bite.
Him sinking his teeth into my neck.
Me screaming.
The anchor’s voice: _“Is this protection... or assault?”_
I threw up.
Knock. Door flying open.
Damon.
He looked like he hadn’t slept.
“Did you see it?”
“Yes.”
“It was Elena. She had access to the archives.”
He was pacing. Phone to his ear.
“Take it down. I don’t care how. Take. It. Down.”
He hung up. Looked at me.
“Abi, I’m sorry. You shouldn’t have seen that.”
“I’m fine.”
“You’re not fine. You’re white.”
He came to me. Kneeled.
“Look at me. That wasn’t me. Not really. That was Alpha instinct. To protect. To claim. It’s not—”
“I know.” I whispered. “I remember. It didn’t hurt. Not like that.”
He exhaled. Like he’d been holding his breath.
“Okay.”
But we both knew it was bad.
The pack had seen it.
The world had seen it.
---
*9:00am. Pack Group Chat.*
Messages were flying.
_‘Did you see??’_
_‘That’s illegal’_
_‘He shifted in front of an omega’_
_‘She looks 16’_
_‘Elena was right’_
Damon threw his phone.
“Shut it off.”
“I can’t. They need to see me respond.”
“Respond how? ‘Sorry I saved her life’?”
He laughed. Bitter.
“Basically.”
His assistant burst in.
“Mr. Blackwood, the board is calling an emergency vote. They want you to step down. Temporarily.”
“No.”
“Sir—”
“I SAID NO.”
He turned to me.
“They’re going to come for you next. Reporters. Protesters. I’m putting 6 guards on the house.”
“Damon, I can’t live like—”
“You can. For one year.”
---
*Day 18. Outside the gates.*
They were there.
News vans.
Protesters with signs: _‘PROTECT OMEGAS’_ _‘BLACKWOOD PREDATOR’_
I watched from the window.
Damon behind me.
“We’re not going out today.”
“I have training.”
“It’s canceled.”
“You can’t cancel—”
“I just did.”
He was trying.
Trying to keep me safe.
But he was fraying at the edges.
That night, I heard him.
In the east wing.
Breaking things.
Growling.
The bond was full of rage.
Not at me.
At himself.
---
*Day 19. 2am. My door.*
Knock.
Damon.
Bottle in hand. Not whiskey. Water.
But he looked drunk anyway.
Tired.
“Can I come in?”
“Yeah.”
He sat on the floor. Back against my bed.
Me on the bed. Feet dangling.
3 feet between us.
“I watched it 20 times today,” he said.
“The video?”
“Yeah.”
“Why?”
“Because I needed to see if I hurt you. If I looked like a monster.”
“Did you?”
“Yes.”
Silence.
Outside, a camera flash.
They were still there.
“I’m going to lose the company, aren’t I?” he asked.
“Maybe.”
“I don’t care.”
“Liar.”
“Okay. I do. But I care about this more.” He gestured between us.
“This?”
“This. You. Safe.”
He looked up at me.
Golden eyes. Exhausted.
“Abi, if you want to leave, I’ll let you. I’ll sign papers. I’ll say it was all me. You can walk away clean.”
My chest hurt.
“Is that what you want?”
“It’s what’s best for you.”
“Don’t decide what’s best for me.”
“Someone has to.”
“Then let it be me.”
I slid off the bed.
Sat on the floor next to him.
1 foot between us now.
“I’m not leaving,” I said.
“Abi—”
“I’m not. You saved me. Twice. I’m not letting Elena win.”
He closed his eyes.
“You’re 19. You shouldn’t have to fight this.”
“Then fight it with me.”
He turned.
Looked at me.
Really looked.
His hand moved.
Like he was going to touch me.
Then stopped.
Fisted on the floor instead.
“One year,” he said.
“One year,” I agreed.
We sat there until sunrise.
Not touching.
But not alone.
---
*Day 20. The Response.*
Damon called a press conference.
I wasn’t supposed to go.
I went anyway.
He stood at the podium.
No notes.
Black suit.
And me behind him.
“I marked Abi Carter to save her life,” he said. “The video you saw is exactly what happened. I do not regret it. I would do it again. She is under my protection per pack law. She is 19. She is not a child. She is not a victim. And anyone who says otherwise will answer to me.”
Flash. Flash. Flash.
Then he turned.
Looked at me.
Put his hand on my shoulder.
In front of everyone.
“This is my omega. For one year. And I will burn this city down before anyone hurts her.”
The room went silent.
We walked out.
---
*That night.*
The board didn’t fire him.
Elena didn’t say anything.
The protesters got smaller.
In my room, there was a knock.
Damon.
With tea.
Actual tea.
“Thought you might want it. After today.”
We drank it in silence.
“Thank you,” I said. “For what you said.”
“I meant it.”
“I know.”
He stood to leave.
“Damon.”
“What?”
“The mark. It doesn’t burn anymore.”
“I know.”
“Why?”
“Because it’s settling. Because you’re mine now. Really.”
He left before I could answer.
---
*11:47pm. Text.*
*Unknown: Did I do okay?*
*Me: You did perfect.*
*Unknown: Good. Sleep, Abi.*
Bound by his name.
For 50+ chapters.
And for the first time, the world knew it too.
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*END CHAPTER 7*
I AM DEAD 😭 “This is my omega” IN FRONT OF EVERYONE??? The floor sitting scene???
*
- Writer
