Claimed By An Alpha

Chapter 8: The Pull

Two days.

That’s how long Lila had until Tyler came back.

And the bond was getting worse.

It started small. Waking up with Damon’s scent on her pillow even though he wasn’t there.

Then it was hearing his voice in her head when she was alone. _Stay inside._

Then it was this.

A pull in her chest. Like an invisible string tying her to him.

Lila was in the kitchen at 2AM when it hit.

A sharp tug. Right in her ribs.

She gasped and grabbed the counter.

“Lila?”

Damon was in the doorway. Barefoot. Hair messy. He looked like he’d just run here.

“Are you okay?” he asked, crossing to her in 3 steps.

“The bond,” Lila whispered. “It’s pulling.”

Damon’s jaw clenched. “I feel it too.”

For a second they just stared at each other. Breathing hard.

Then Damon grabbed her hand. “Come with me.”

He led her out to the back gardens. The moon was full. The training grounds were empty.

They stopped in the middle of the field.

“What are we doing?” Lila asked.

“Testing it,” Damon said. His voice was tight. “The bond. How bad it is.”

He let go of her hand and took 5 steps back.

The pull in Lila’s chest yanked. Hard.

She whimpered.

Damon’s eyes flashed. “Come here.”

Lila walked to him. The closer she got, the easier it got to breathe.

When she was in front of him, the ache stopped.

Damon stared at her mouth. Then her eyes.

“This is bad,” he said quietly.

“I know,” Lila whispered. “It’s like... I need you close.”

Damon closed his eyes. “I told myself 3 months. Public rejection. No touching.”

Lila’s heart sank. “Right.”

“But Lila,” Damon opened his eyes. “I don’t think I can.”

The air between them went electric.

Damon reached up and tucked her hair behind her ear. Same gentle touch from the office. But this time his hand didn’t drop.

His thumb brushed her cheekbone.

“You’re scared,” he said. “Of me. Of this. Of Tyler.”

Lila nodded. Tears welled up. “Yes.”

Damon stepped closer. Now there was barely any space between them.

“Let me make you not scared,” he whispered.

Lila’s breath caught. “How?”

Damon didn’t answer with words.

He answered with his hands.

One came up and cupped her jaw. The other settled on her waist, pulling her flush against him.

Lila gasped. She could feel his heartbeat. Fast. Matching hers.

“Damon,” she whispered. It sounded like a prayer.

He looked at her lips. Then back at her eyes.

“Can I?” he asked. Voice rough.

It was the most vulnerable she’d ever seen him.

Lila nodded. “Please.”

And then Damon kissed her.

It wasn’t soft. It wasn’t slow.

It was desperate. Like he’d been holding back for weeks and finally snapped.

His mouth was warm and firm and tasted like coffee and him.

His hand in her hair tightened. The one on her waist pulled her closer.

Lila’s hands came up and grabbed his shirt.

For a second, everything disappeared.

No Tyler. No pack. No 3 month rule.

Just Damon. And the bond roaring between them.

Damon broke away first, breathing hard. His forehead dropped to hers.

“f**k,” he whispered. “Lila.”

Lila couldn’t speak. Her lips were tingling.

Damon pulled back and looked at her. Really looked.

His silver eyes were dark. Full of something she’d never seen before.

Want.

“I shouldn’t have done that,” he said.

Lila’s heart dropped. “Okay.”

Damon’s hand came up and brushed her bottom lip with his thumb.

“But I’m going to do it again,” he said.

And he did.

This kiss was slower. Deeper. Like he was memorizing her.

His hand slid from her waist to the small of her back.

Lila made a sound in the back of her throat and Damon growled softly in response.

When they broke apart, both of them were shaking.

Damon rested his forehead against hers again.

“The bond,” he said, voice wrecked. “It’s not just pulling us together. It’s... it’s claiming us.”

Lila nodded. “What do we do?”

Damon was quiet for a long time.

Then he took her hand and laced their fingers together.

“We fight Tyler in 2 days,” he said. “And after that... we figure out what this is.”

“Even though you said 3 months?”

Damon looked down at their joined hands.

“I was lying,” he admitted. “To myself.”

Lila’s breath hitched.

Damon led her back to the house. Still holding her hand.

At her door, he stopped.

“Can I come in?” he asked.

Lila nodded.

They sat on her bed. Not touching. Just close.

“I’m scared too,” Damon said suddenly. “Of this. Of you leaving. Of losing you like I lost her.”

Lila reached out and took his hand. “I’m not going anywhere. Not in 2 days.”

Damon looked at her.

Then he leaned in and kissed her one more time.

Soft. Sweet. A promise.

“Get some sleep,” he whispered against her lips. “I’ll be right outside.”

He left. But not before kissing her forehead.

Lila fell asleep with his scent on her skin and his taste on her lips.

For the first time in 5 years, she wasn’t scared of the morning.

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