Claimed By An Alpha

Chapter 10: Ours

The house was quiet after Tyler left.

Too quiet.

Lila’s heart was still racing from the gates. From Damon shifting. From the way he said _mine_ like a vow.

Damon hadn’t let go of her hand once.

Now they were in his room.

His room. Not the guest room. Not her room.

Big bed. Black sheets. Windows looking out to the woods. It smelled like him. Cedar and snow and something warm.

Lila stood in the middle of the room, unsure.

Damon shut the door behind them. Click.

“You don’t have to—” he started.

“I want to,” Lila cut him off.

Damon stopped. His silver eyes searched hers.

“The mark,” he said quietly. “It’s still new. It might ache.”

Lila touched her neck. She could feel it. Warm. Tingling. Connected to him.

“It doesn’t hurt,” she whispered. “It feels... right.”

Damon exhaled. He looked wrecked. Like he was holding himself together by a thread.

“Come here,” he said.

Lila walked to him.

Damon reached out and tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. His hand lingered on her cheek.

“I waited so long to do this right,” he murmured. “No rushing. No fear. Just us.”

Lila nodded. “Just us.”

Then he kissed her.

Slow this time.

No desperation. No anger.

Just Damon. Soft lips on hers. Learning her. Cherishing her.

His hands came up and framed her face. Thumbs brushing her cheeks.

Lila melted into him. Her hands found his chest. Bare. Warm. She could feel his heart pounding under her palms.

Damon broke the kiss and pressed his forehead to hers.

“You’re sure?” he whispered.

Lila answered by pulling him down for another kiss.

This one deeper.

Her fingers slid into his hair. His arms came around her waist and lifted her.

The world tilted and suddenly she was on the bed. Damon above her, caging her in but careful. Like she was glass.

He kissed her jaw. Her neck. Right over the mark.

Lila gasped. The bond flared between them. Hot and golden.

“Damon,” she whispered his name.

He looked up at her. His eyes were dark. Full of want. Full of love he wasn’t saying out loud yet.

“Can I?” he asked. Voice rough.

Lila nodded. “Yes.”

Damon smiled. Small. Real.

And then he kissed her again.

His hands were gentle. Reverent. Like he was memorizing every inch of her.

Lila’s breath hitched. Her nails dragged down his back and Damon groaned into her mouth.

The bond between them pulsed. Stronger. Brighter.

It wasn’t just physical. It was soul-deep. _Mate._

Damon pulled back just enough to look at her.

“You’re beautiful,” he said. Honest. Awe in his voice. “Mine.”

Lila reached up and kissed him. “Yours.”

He smiled against her lips.

The room got warm. The sheets tangled.

Whispers. Kisses. The sound of his name on her lips.

Damon holding her like she was the only thing that mattered.

And when it was over, they didn’t pull apart.

Damon wrapped his arms around her and pulled her against his chest.

Lila curled into him, her head on his shoulder. His mark tingling on her neck.

They were quiet for a long time. Just breathing.

“I’m not letting you go,” Damon whispered into her hair.

Lila smiled. “I don’t want you to.”

Damon kissed the top of her head. “My mate.”

“My Alpha,” Lila whispered back.

Outside, the moon was high.

Inside, the Alpha who thought he’d lost everything... had found it again.

And he was never letting go.

---

*Morning.*

Lila woke up first.

Damon was still asleep. One arm thrown over her. Face relaxed. No more tension.

She traced the tattoo on his chest with her finger.

Damon’s eyes opened. Silver. Soft.

“Morning, mate,” he said.

Lila blushed. “Morning, Alpha.”

Damon pulled her closer. “Don’t call me that in bed.”

Lila laughed. “What should I call you?”

Damon rolled her under him and kissed her.

“Mine,” he whispered.

---