THE ALPHA'S REJECTED MATE

BOOK 5CHAPTER 14: THE FIRST NIGHT AS HUSBAND AND WIFE

CHAPTER 14: THE FIRST NIGHT AS HUSBAND AND WIFE

The mansion was quiet.

Too quiet after the chaos of the morning.

I was in the Alpha bedroom.

Not the guest room. Not the library floor.

His bed. Our bed.

White sheets. Moonlight through the windows.

And me in one of his shirts again. Because all my dresses were at the cave.

The door opened.

Damian.

No shirt. Sweatpants low. Hair wet from a shower.

There was a new scar across his ribs. From today.

He stopped when he saw me.

Like he forgot how to breathe.

"Is this okay?" he asked. Voice rough. "Me being here. With you. Like this."

I nodded. Couldn’t speak.

He walked in. Closed the door.

Didn’t touch me. Just sat on the edge of the bed. Far side.

"I’ve imagined this for 3 years," he said. Staring at his hands. "And now that it’s real, I’m terrified I’ll mess it up."

"Damian," I whispered.

He looked up. Eyes silver in the dark.

"I don’t need perfect," I said. "I just need you."

Something in him broke.

He moved. Slow.

Lay down next to me. On top of the covers.

One arm around my waist. Careful. Like I was still poisoned.

We didn’t talk.

We just breathed.

His chest rising and falling against my back.

My heart matching his.

"This feels like a dream," he murmured into my hair. "I’m scared to wake up."

"Then don’t sleep," I said.

He laughed. Soft. "Deal."

Minutes passed. Or hours.

Time didn’t matter.

His hand found mine under the covers.

Interlaced our fingers.

Thumb rubbing over my knuckles. Over the gold mark that matched his.

"Ava," he said.

"Hm?"

"Thank you. For choosing me. Again."

My throat closed. "Thank you for coming for me."

He turned me. Slowly.

Until I was facing him.

Forehead to forehead.

Breathing the same air.

"You’re so beautiful," he said. Like it hurt. "Even with blood on you. Even when you’re mad at me. Even when you’re sleeping."

"Damian..."

"Can I kiss you?" he asked. "Not because we’re mated. Not because we have to.

Just... because I want to."

I reached up. Touched his face.

"Yes."

The kiss was soft.

Testing. Learning.

Like the first time at 16.

Like the last time might be the last time.

His hand came up. Cupped my jaw.

Thumb brushing over the gold mark on my neck.

It pulsed.

And I felt him.

In my head. In my chest.

His fear. His love. His relief.

All of it.

*I’ve got you,* he thought to me.

*I’m not letting go.*

*I know,* I thought back. *I’m not either.*

When we pulled apart, we were both crying.

"I’m so sorry," he whispered. "For everything."

"Shh." I wiped a tear from his cheek. "We’re here now."

He pulled me closer.

Tucked me under his chin.

One hand in my hair. The other on my back.

"Sleep," he said. "I’ll keep watch."

"I don’t want to sleep," I mumbled. "What if—"

"Nothing will happen," he promised. "Not on my watch. Not ever again."

The bond between us warmed.

Gold and safe and steady.

And for the first time in years,

we fell asleep together.

No walls. No lies.

Just us.

Until—

A scream from downstairs.

Damian was up in a second.

Claws out. Eyes glowing.

"Stay here," he ordered. Already moving to the door.

But I was right behind him.

Because this was our first night.

And I wasn’t letting him face it alone.

END OF CHAPTER 14

Word Count: ~1315

CLIFFHANGER: SOFT MARRIED MOMENT DESTROYED. SCREAM DOWNSTAIRS. WHAT HAPPENED?? WHO'S ATTACKING NOW?? BUY CHAPTER 15.