Behind Closed Doors

Chapter 5: First Fights

Hundreds of questions fly around through my head. Who is this man? Why is he out here in the forest instead of at the ball? Is he from one of the local packs? Why haven’t I ever seen him before? And why don’t I care about any of the answers right now? This beautiful stranger is mine. My mate. And I don’t even know his name. As if he is reading my mind, his deep, seductive voice whispers against my ear, “Damien.” His voice sends warmth straight to my already soaking p***y.

I stifle a moan and take a deep breath before trying to remember my own name. “Mia”. I can’t stop the tremor in my voice. He groans before pulling his head up and staring deep into my eyes. It is like he is trying to see into my soul and I think it's working. In his eyes, I can see darkness, but through that so much compassion and kindness and strength. His face twists into a conflicted emotion I can’t quite read, and a second later rustling comes from behind me. I freeze, not knowing what to expect. Damien is a stranger after all. Maybe he is here to bring me to my doom rather than pure bliss.

“Mia, this is my beta, Jeremiah.” I turn to see another over 6-foot man with auburn hair, kind amber eyes, dressed in all black as well. Damien continues, “We need to leave now. It is not safe here. Jeremiah, shift and bring the car to the edge of the territory. As close as you can without being seen.” Damien demands stoically.

“Yes, Alpha.” Jeremiah shifts into a large wolf that matches his auburn hair and takes off deeper into the woods.

My mate is an alpha. He has his own pack. The more I learn about him, the more questions pop up. But only one needs to be answered right now.

I pull away from my mate’s embrace. “Wait, leave? What the hell do you mean leave?! I can’t just leave, my whole life is here! My sister, my family, my pack. I am supposed to take over the beta position for my father! Who the hell even are you?!” I scream at him. I just met this man and he is already trying to control my life. I decided at this very location last year that I would no longer let a man, even my mate, control me.

Damien steps closer and brings his hands up to cup my face. My wrath dissolves almost instantly, stupid mate bond. He speaks and his words wash over me like a cooling river, further taming me. “I know you have no reason to, but I need you to trust me. Fate brought me here tonight to meet you but it was not the only reason why I am here. All I can say for now is there are some evil people here that would be very happy to see me dead and would use you to hurt me further. They would torture you and may even go after your family and friends if they knew you were my mate. I can’t have that.”

I feel the blood run cold in my entire body. Dana. I would murder anyone who hurt her. I can’t put her in danger right when her fairytale love story is about to begin. But just leave with him and not ever know when I’ll see my family again? That’s insane.

He reads my mind again. “It may take some time, but I promise you will see your family again once it is safe. You have my word.”

We’re both quiet for a minute while we contemplate. I am trying to think of a plan while he is trying to decipher if his words have had their desired effect on me. I turn away and pull my hands through my hair out of frustration.

I finally speak up and twist my head to look at Damien, “If I leave without any trace or notice, people will look for me. My parents will stop at nothing if they think I have just disappeared. Especially with the rumors about Rogue Alpha”

I see Damien’s back tenses. He must know I am right but doesn't want to admit it.

“What rumors are being said about the Rogue Alpha?” He says quietly.

I’m surprised he asked about that of all things. “Alpha Greene said there have been teenagers going missing, he said that it might be the Rogue Alpha orchestrating it.”

Damien goes silent but I see his nostrils flare and eyes closed. I can’t be sure but under his breath I think he said, “f*****g liar”.

After another few seconds, he resolutely states, “I will not leave here without my mate. I have waited for you for too long to leave you in danger here.”

There is no discussion in his tone. My choices are to go with him or reject him here and now. I don’t know if I have the strength to do that. I can see he is good and the goddess wouldn’t make me suffer twice when it comes to mates, right?

A quick idea forms in my mind. “Take me to my packhouse. No one should be home yet and I can write a letter explaining I left to go search for my mate in other packs.” He growls at the thought, like even the thought of another hypothetical mate infuriates him. I flash him a scolding look and he stops.

He stares at me, silently trying to will my mind to bend and just leave with him now. He sighs, giving up when it doesn’t work. “Fine, let’s go.”

He turns to leave and I follow him going further into the forest. When I reach his side he grabs my hand, pleasurable sparks crawl up my arm. We walk a few more feet before I hear a distant rustling behind me. I turn to see and it looks like two people making their way into the forest walking to where we just were. They are too far away to make out their faces but one of them must be the reason why Damien was here.