Mated Against My Will

Chapter Five

Damien's POV

The door swung open, and we walked in like we owned the place. I mean, it was hard not to notice us. Every girl in the room basically stopped whatever they were doing, their eyes locking onto us like we were the main event. They didn’t even try to hide it. I caught a couple of them looking at me with those “notice me” eyes, but I was over it already.

Aiden was grinning like he’d won a gold medal, already scanning the room for anyone to talk to, while Ethan was trailing behind him, practically inviting girls to flock to him. I was just trying to make my way through the crowd without getting a headache. I wasn’t here to make friends. Honestly, I wasn’t even sure why I was here. Aiden had talked me into it, said I needed to "live a little," whatever that means.

The music was blasting like the speakers were about to blow up, and the people? They were grinding on each other like this was the last party of their lives. I could feel the bass vibrating through my body, and the whole thing just felt like too much. The alcohol was cheap, the dance moves were cringey, and the girls were all wearing costumes that made no sense. Seriously, half of them looked like they rolled out of a bad thrift store and just called it "creative." I couldn’t take it.

Aiden and Ethan? They were already surrounded by girls like moths to a flame. It was embarrassing, honestly. But, whatever. They loved the attention. I didn’t.

I was ready to bail. I don’t know how people enjoyed this mess. But then, something hit me. A scent. Raspberries. Sweet, tangy raspberries, cutting through the stench of alcohol and body spray. My head snapped up. What the hell?

I looked around, trying to find where the hell it was coming from. It was weird, like my senses had just zeroed in on it. I couldn’t shake it. It was stronger than the music, stronger than the crowd. I started weaving through the chaos, following the smell like I was on some weird mission. I wasn’t even paying attention to Aiden and Ethan anymore. They could have been surrounded by a thousand girls for all I cared.

I pushed through a couple of rooms, following that raspberry scent like it had me in a trance. I didn’t even know why I was doing it, but I couldn’t stop.

Finally, I ended up in some quieter corner of the house. And there she was.

A girl standing against the wall, all mysterious with her hood up. She was just there, chilling while the rest of the room was a total mess. I couldn’t see her face clearly, but the raspberries... yeah, they were definitely coming from her.

"Little Red Riding Hood," I thought to myself, and I almost smirked. It was kinda funny, but also kinda fitting.

I don’t know why, but I had this weird pull to get closer to her. Maybe I was just curious. Maybe I wanted to know if she had a raspberry stash in her pocket or something. I didn’t care, I just wanted to be near her. The closer I got, the more the air around me seemed to buzz, like there was an electric current in it. What the hell?

I was just about to take another step when—bam—some girl grabbed my arm. I froze, irritation flooding me. I turned to look at her, ready to snap, but then I realized what was going on.

She was dressed like a rabbit. A bad one. “You’re new. I’ve never seen you around. Want to dance?” she asked, flashing me that awkward smile.

I leaned down, giving her a once-over. “You’re trying too hard. Everyone can tell.”

Her face fell, and I honestly didn’t care. I pulled my arm out of her grip, turning back to the girl with the raspberries. I was done with the party, done with the noise. All I wanted was to figure out what the hell was happening.

But as I got closer to her, something felt off. Like, not in a bad way, but something was definitely messing with my head. My stomach felt like it was on fire, and my head was spinning. I hadn’t even had that much to drink, so what was going on?

I was literally right next to her now. She was still just standing there, almost like she was waiting for me. I stared at her face, trying to figure out what was happening to me.

“What the hell is going on with me?. Get it together, Damien” I muttered under my breath. But I couldn’t even answer myself. All I knew was, I couldn’t look away.

I pulled away from the wall, almost like my body had a mind of its own. I was drawn to her, like I couldn't stop myself if I tried. There was something about her, something pulling me closer, and I didn’t even know why. My mind wasn’t even involved at this point. I just needed to get closer, needed to figure out whatever the hell was going on inside of me.

She started to say something, but her words got cut off with a sharp breath when my hands brushed up her neck. The second my fingers made contact with her skin, everything froze for a second. Her body tensed, and I could feel this weird energy between us. It was like the whole world was silent, and I was only aware of her, of the way her skin felt under my touch, the way her eyes locked on mine.

Her eyes—man, they were all over the place. Confusion, hesitation, maybe even a little fear? It didn’t matter. The more I looked at her, the more I wanted to close the space between us. I couldn’t think straight anymore. I had to be closer, had to figure out why I couldn’t get her out of my head.

I yanked her neck toward me, and without thinking, my lips slammed into hers. It was quick, messy—definitely not the soft kind of kiss. At first, she didn’t react, just gasped, like she didn’t know what the hell was happening. But then, she kissed me back. And just like that, it was like the world shifted. Her body melted into mine, and I wasn’t even sure who was pulling who anymore.

I wasn’t even thinking. I just wanted more. I yanked her closer, the heat between us building like crazy. She wasn’t holding back either. She grabbed my collar and yanked me down so we were on the same level, pressing into me. I didn’t even know what was happening anymore. All I could focus on was her lips, the way she moved, the way it felt like we were both drowning in this kiss. I held onto her, tighter, almost lifting her off the ground, and she didn’t hesitate. She was just as caught up in it as I was.

She bit my lip, like she was fighting for control, but nah—I wasn’t letting that happen. I grabbed her bottom lip, pulled her even closer, and slammed her back against the wall. The kiss was messy and wild, but it wasn’t just a kiss—it was a claim, a mark I was leaving on her.

But then, she pulled away. Just a second, but it felt like a lifetime. Her breath was fast, and I was still reeling from the rush, but she didn’t kiss me again. She looked at me, her eyes wide, like the reality of everything hit her all at once. I could see it in her face—she had no idea who I was. And maybe, for the first time, she realized that.

She shook her head, her voice barely a whisper. “No.”

It was soft, but there was no mistaking it. She didn’t know me, and I wasn’t even sure who I was to her. But damn, I wasn’t done. Not by a long shot.

She whispered again shaking her head. "No."

I blinked, still kinda lost in the mess of everything happening. Without thinking, I leaned in again, testing the waters. She didn’t pull away, didn’t stop me, so I moved closer, adjusting the way I kissed her. This time, it was softer, slower—more gentle. My lips brushed against hers like I was feeling out the moment, teasing her with my tongue just enough to see if she’d let me in.

And she did.

She opened her mouth just a little, not a lot, but enough for me to slide in, my tongue meeting hers. I couldn’t explain it, but there was something about the way she kissed back—like she was matching my rhythm, pulling me deeper into the kiss. My hands moved, trailing down her neck, following the curve of her body, every inch of skin I touched leaving a trail of heat. My body kept closing the space between us, and I couldn’t stop myself. Every time her lips met mine, it was like I was coming alive.

I bit her lip gently, just enough to feel the edge, and then kissed it better, soothing the bite with my mouth. She tangled her fingers in my hair, pulling me closer, and I couldn’t help but growl low in my throat. It wasn’t just a sound; it was a reaction. Her hands felt like fire in my hair, and I couldn’t remember the last time someone had made me feel this way.

I kissed the underside of her lip, wanting more, needing more. I felt the shiver run through her, a soft moan slipping from her lips as I kissed her deeper, exploring every inch of her mouth. I moved my tongue in slow strokes, tasting her, feeling her respond with soft whimpers against me. It wasn’t just a kiss anymore. It was everything, all-consuming, like I couldn’t breathe without her.

But somewhere in the back of my mind, I knew something wasn’t right. I was lost in it, but part of me was still stuck on this feeling, this confusion gnawing at me. What the hell was happening? Why was I acting like this? I’d heard stories—wolves losing control when the full moon hit, when they couldn't find their mate, releasing all that pent-up energy on some random person. It sounded like bullshit, but in the back of my head, it made too much sense.

I’d spent 25 years of my life without acting like this on a full moon. I wasn’t that kind of guy. I wasn’t some random dude just looking for any excuse to lose it. But right here, right now? I couldn’t stop. My heart was racing, my head was a mess, and my body was doing its own thing like it didn’t care what I thought.

She was just some ordinary girl—why couldn’t I stop looking at her? Why couldn’t I tear my eyes away? I didn’t get it.

“Is it because of the full moon?” I muttered, just thinking out loud. My voice barely made sense even to me, but I needed an answer, anything to explain why I was losing it like this. I wanted it to stop. I wanted to feel normal again. But my body didn’t care. It just kept going, like it had a mind of its own.

“Damn it,” I cursed under my breath, my hand reaching up instinctively. I pulled the hood off her head, keeping my lips locked with hers. Then, just as I thought I couldn’t feel more confused, I cupped her face gently, my touch soft, tender—completely out of character. It was like my hands didn’t belong to me anymore either. The weird thing was, she seemed just as shocked by it as I was.

She let out those soft sounds—gasps, moans—that hit me like a damn freight train. I couldn’t resist, even if I wanted to. Pulling away from her lips was the hardest thing I’d done all night, but I had to. The craving for her skin, the way she felt under my touch—my body just moved without thinking. I nudged her jaw aside, trailing my lips down her neck, tasting her. Every inch of her skin felt like fire, and I couldn’t understand why. It didn’t make sense.

I thought maybe it was her perfume, that it was something external that was making her taste so f*****g incredible. But deep down, I knew it wasn’t that. It was just her. Just her. That thought f****d with my head, and I couldn’t shake it. Why the hell was she like this? Why couldn’t I stop myself?

It felt like I was stuck in some twisted puzzle, and I was the one too damn stupid to see the answer. But I didn’t care. I just wanted more. I couldn’t stop. She was responding to me, her body shaking under my touch, her nails digging into my shoulders. I didn’t know what I was doing anymore. Every part of me was screaming to stop, but all I could think about was getting closer to her, feeling her, tasting her more.

I tightened my grip on her dress, pulling her closer, positioning myself over her. I wanted to stop, but I didn’t. I knew this was a mistake. I knew it before I even let myself get this far. But still, something in me pushed forward, something in me couldn’t pull away. I could already feel the guilt creeping in. The regret. I knew I’d feel like s**t about this later, but right now? I couldn’t care less.

Her body melted into mine, like she wasn’t fighting it either. She was surrendering to it, and I couldn’t stop. I could feel the conflict in her, even if she wasn’t saying anything. She knew this was reckless. She probably knew she’d regret it too. But damn, there was something about the way she leaned into me, the way she responded, that made it impossible to stop.

This was wrong. I knew that. But I also knew it felt way too damn good to pull back.

“Sh*t,” she muttered, her voice barely more than a breath.

I didn’t get it. One second, she was all over me, and then the next? She was shoving me away like I was some kind of disease. It wasn’t a gentle push either—she was forceful, pushing me back again and again until I finally stumbled away from her. My mind was all over the place, trying to make sense of what just happened. Why had I done that? Why couldn’t I control myself?

I couldn’t meet her eyes. Instead, I focused on the floor, running my hand through my hair, trying to process the mess in my head. What the hell was going on with me? I hated this feeling—this confusion. It wasn’t like me. Not at all. And it pissed me off that I couldn’t even explain it. I couldn’t understand what was happening to my body, why it was reacting like this. Why I’d been so… aggressive.

I heard her glance around, and when I looked up, I saw it—the panic in her eyes. The way she was looking around at all the people staring. It made something inside of me twist, like I was suffocating. I didn’t want her to feel like that. Hell, I didn’t even know what I wanted anymore. But when she shifted her gaze, when her eyes landed on the Bunny girl standing off to the side with that stupid smirk on her face, I felt this urge to punch something. Punch someone. It pissed me off even more.

And then she whispered again, just a soft “Damn it” under her breath. Something about the way she said it hit me, hard.

I looked over my shoulder at the crowd. More people were gathering, staring, whispering, judging. But none of that mattered. I could hear her voice again, echoing in my head. That soft, quiet sound that made everything inside me stop for just a second.

“I have to go.” She muttered it more to herself than to anyone, but I heard it, and something in me reacted. My stomach churned as she pushed past me, ignoring me completely. She sprinted toward the front door, shoving her way through the crowd like they weren’t even there.

I wanted to stop her, to say something, but I was frozen. Why the hell was I standing there like an i***t? Why wasn’t I going after her?

But she was already outside, disappearing into the night, leaving me standing there in a haze of confusion. Something was wrong. I couldn’t shake the feeling that I had just screwed up big time.