Chapter 5
1476 Words
Veronica
Damien’s words echoed in my head long after Sebastian dropped me a few blocks away from my house. I was scared Damien would ask him for directions and storm in here one day.
I pushed the door open, with an exhausted breath.
“The school just called,” Fred’s father, Seth and the beta of our pack said to Vivian, his mate. “There’s a meeting tomorrow concerning something regarding a sensitive incident .”
Vivian sighed as I stepped into the living room fully, not sparing me a glance. “What did he do now?” She asked, rolling her eyes. “I swear that boy is going to lead us to an early grave.”
Disgust curled at my guts as I mumbled a greeting, heading upstairs.
They did everything else except hold the blame for raising a monster. They never asked questions when I woke up with bruises. Or why heavy thuds echoed throughout the house at night.
“Why are you home early?” Beta Seth asked making me freeze.
My heartbeat picked up. I turned slowly praying they wouldn’t hear. “I felt under the weather.”
Vivian threw me a dismissive glance, burying her face in her glass of wine. Beta Seth didn’t let up that easily. His gaze narrowed on me.
“Do you know anything about this call?” He asked. “What did Fred do again.”
My throat constricted as the images from earlier flooded in. I shrugged, my shoulders feeling like they weighed a thousand pounds.
Better to delay the inevitable.
Beta Seth’s gaze lingered a second longer before he exhaled sharply, turning to Vivian.
I took the opportunity, bolting up the stairs, not daring to stop until my door slammed behind me. I slid to the ground, folding my legs into my chest.
Fred would be furious.
I wondered how long it would take him to recover? How long I had before he came for revenge? A shiver ran down my spine, lodging itself in my throat.
I didn’t know how long I stayed frozen on the floor before finally, a sob escaped before I could stop it. I cried silently into my palms, my shoulders shaking violently as my heart broke into a million pieces.
He almost took my innocence today.
My breath caught in a sob.
He was going to try again.
The pain throbbed.
I didn’t know if I could get past that. If he crossed that line. I didn’t think I could live with myself. Not after that.
Damien’s voice found a way to squeeze into my despair, his words like a quiet comfort.
I won’t let anything happen to you.
A bitter laugh escaped me the minute I caught myself thinking of the possibility of me escaping this hell.
A sharp knock startled me mid laugh. I paused.
“You have a guest.”
It was Beta Seth, his tone coated with irritation before his footsteps faded away.
I blinked, racking my brain.
A guest.
I pushed down that unease that crawled down my spine and opened my door. I listened once I got to the top of the stairs.
I couldn’t hear anything.
That didn’t help.
Slowly, I descended the stairs with my heart in my mouth, thinking of a thousand ways I was screwed if it was anyone who witnessed what had happened.
The living room was empty.
I frowned, moving toward the kitchen.
My steps faltered at the doorway.
My foster parents exchanged a look between confusion and curiosity and annoyance.
Someone wake me up from this nightmare.
His large frame was turned toward me, as he discussed something in a voice too low for me to catch. Then Beta Seth’s gaze flicked toward me, a flicker of annoyance passing his eyes before it vanished.
Damien followed Seth’s gaze, turning until his green eyes landed on me.
For some reason, my spine went straighter.
But this time it didn’t feel like fear. Which was probably the only logical reaction to a man who just punched a hole in someone’s face.
This wasn’t fear.
It felt like he could… see me.
“Veronica dear,” Vivian chimed in suspiciously cheerfully.
I blinked, tearing my eyes away from Damien.
“You didn’t tell us you had made the acquaintance of the Alpha of the Valley pack.” Seth added, his brows slightly furrowed.
I swallowed against the dryness in my mouth. “Uh-“
“Veronica and I have a project together,” Damien said smoothly, rising from the kitchen stool. “I thought we could go over a few things now to get a head start.”
Vivian gasped. “I’d expect nothing less from a promising Alpha.”
Damien barely spared a glance at them. “I would appreciate it if you gave us a minute alone.”
Vivian looked offended. Seth looked guarded. None of them argued. Instead, they exchanged a cryptic glance before leaving the kitchen.
Then silence came. I could hear my own pulse pounding in my ears. And when I was certain they were out of earshot, I crossed the space.
“What are you doing here?” I hissed in a hushed tone, not bothering to hide my fear.
His expression slowly fell, his jaw ticking. “He’s your foster brother.”
My stomach dropped.
He didn’t drop it.
He rose, his shoulders locked tightly as he approached me. “Was that the first time?”
I already knew what exactly he was talking about and still I feigned ignorance. “What?”
He stopped in front of me, close enough that his scent wrapped around my senses. “Don’t play games when I’m trying to help you.”
“I don’t need your help.”
The words were too weak to carry bite. He caught it.
“Answer my question, Veronica.” He whispered. “Please.”
My throat burned as I stared at the ground. I shook my head slowly. A second passed.
“Has he hurt you in other ways?” His voice was slowly falling, his breath uneven.
I swallowed. Then nodded.
He released that terrifying growl. The same one I heard right before he rained down on Fred with fury. I instinctively stumbled back.
Damien blinked. Like he was fighting a battle I didn’t know. Silence stretched again, his jaw ticked once. Twice.
“Do you want him dead?”
“No.” The words left my lips painfully fast.
My gaze flickered to the stairwell, scared Seth and Vivian would burst in any moment. Then his question settled. Really settled.
Did I want him dead?
He was the primary source of my suffering. My life would be better if he was just… gone. My chest loosened at the thought. Then reality settled.
People rarely did things without a reason. It had been less than twenty four hours I’d met Damien. He was a wolf with the highest kind of power. Power that was so easily abused.
What would happen to me if I ended up settling with an even bigger nightmare?
I shuffled on my feet, shaking my head again. “No, I-“
Damien stepped forward, desperation bleeding into his voice. “Then tell me what you want.” He said quickly. “We’ll do it your way.”
I blinked slowly, raising my eyes to meet him. My breath stalled at that look in his eyes. Like I was the only one that mattered.
My wolf purred, clearly at ease with this… stranger.
His fingers twitched like he was fighting the urge to reach for me. “I can’t function knowing you’re stuck here. With him.”
“Why?” I asked, pulse pounding.
His posture stiffened, I could see a thousand thoughts shuffling in his head. Then he ran a rough hand through his short dark hair.
“I just can’t.” He finally said in a resigned tone.
For some reason, his answer hurt. For a split second, I thought-
“Do you feel safe here?” He asked after a moment of silence.
I shook my head not trusting my own words.
“I can help you,” he said softly. “But only if you want it, Veronica.”
I let myself indulge in the hopeful thought. Me, away from all of this. It would be a dream come true. Not waking up everyday, wondering what would trigger the people you live with, the people that were meant to protect you.
“I-“ I paused, wiping the sweat off my palms on my jeans. “How?”
Relief crossed Damien’s face as his shoulders dropped with a small sigh. Then he stood straighter. “Come, stay with me. Under my protection. No wolf would be able to touch you.”
His gaze hardened. “No one.”
- Writer
