Desired By The Hockey Captain Alpha

19. Red Moon Pack

Damien

The cold night air hits my skin as I slow down near the edge of the woods.

A second later the shift rolls through my body and bones snap back into place as I return to my human form. The forest is very quiet.

Running here in wolf form took less than ten minutes.

Driving would have taken twice that.

That mind link from Reece still rings in my head. ‘Your mother fainted again.’

The words made me leave Emily’s dorm like the damn place was on fire. I did not even bother grabbing my car. The woods behind campus were closer and faster. Shifting and running here was the only thing that made sense.

Footsteps rush toward me through the trees.

Reece, one of my father’s warriors, appears a second later carrying a folded set of clothes and shoes.

“Alpha Damien,” he says quickly, bowing his head in greeting.

I grab the clothes from him without ceremony and start pulling them on. Black shirt. Dark pants. Boots. My fingers move fast out of habit.

“How’s she, Reece?” I ask while shoving my arms through the sleeves.

“She’s stable,” he replies immediately.

That is good.

But stable does not mean fine.

I finish lacing my boots and start walking toward the mansion.

Actually, no. Walking is too slow. I pick up the pace immediately.

The estate stretches wide across several acres of forest and land. A long gravel road cuts through the trees leading straight to the main mansion. Soft golden lights glow through the branches ahead, marking the path toward the main house.

The place looks like something out of a damn historical movie. The massive stone walls. Tall iron gates. Endless land surrounding it.

My father likes reminding everyone exactly how powerful he is.

Right now I could not give a f**k about the view.

My mind keeps flashing back to Emily’s dorm. The way she looked standing against that wall. The way her body reacted when I whispered in her ear.

Fuck.

I clench my jaw and shove the thought away.

Now is not the time to be thinking about how badly I want to bend her over a bed.

Not when my mom just collapsed again.

The mansion comes fully into view as I reach the end of the road. The front entrance is brightly lit and a few guards stand posted near the steps.

They straighten immediately when they see me approaching.

“Alpha Damien.”

I ignore the greetings and head straight inside.

The doors swing open and warm light spills across the marble floor of the entrance hall. A couple of house staff glance up in surprise as I walk past them without slowing down.

My boots echo across the floor as I move toward the living room.

I take the stairs two at a time.

The hallway upstairs is quiet but I can feel the tension in the air. A couple of guards stand posted along the corridor outside the private wing. They straighten immediately when they see me.

I do not slow down. I head straight for my mother’s room.

The guard at her door looks surprised when I approach.

“Alpha Damien,” he says quickly, bowing his head.

I do not bother responding. My hand is already on the door.

I push it open and step inside.

Then I stop.

My mom is sitting on the bed with her back resting against the headboard. Her long black hair falls loosely over her shoulders and down her back. Normally her eyes glow a sharp emerald like mine but tonight they look dull and tired.

She looks smaller than I remember…Frail.

Her gaze is fixed on the ceiling like she is lost in some distant thought.

For a second my chest tightens.

Then she looks up. Her eyes widen the moment she sees me.

“Damien?” she calls, surprise lighting up her face. A soft smile follows immediately. “What are you doing here?”

I force a smile even though my chest still feels tight.

I walk over to the bed and sit beside her before pulling her into a hug. “I came immediately when I heard you fainted.”

Her arms wrap around me gently. Even that touch feels fragile. “It was nothing serious,” she says quickly. “I just had a little headache and I was tired.”

I lean back and study her face.

“Mom,” I say quietly. “Are you really alright?”

She holds my gaze with those dull emerald eyes and nods. “Yes. I am. You don’t need to worry about me.”

I smile for her sake but inside my chest something feels unsettled.

My mom has always been sick…terminally.

A rare wolf disease. The kind pack doctors whisper about because nobody really knows how to fix it. Her blood is infected. That is how the doctor explained it years ago. Her wolf is weak and she can barely shift anymore. As she gets older it keeps getting worse.

Sometimes she collapses without warning.

Sometimes she cannot even stand without help.

The doctor never gave us a straight answer about how long she has. Months? Years? Nobody f*****g knows.

“Damien,” she says softly, placing a gentle hand on my cheek. “Don’t worry. I’m not leaving you yet.”

My chest tightens.

“Not without seeing you get married to your mate. That’s all I want.”

“Mom,” I say quietly. “You’re not going to leave me, are you?”

Her expression softens even more. “No. Of course not. I’ll watch you achieve all your dreams.” She brushes her fingers through my hair like she used to when I was a kid. “From hockey… to finding your mate… to having your own child.”

Her voice grows softer.

“I don’t want you to end up like me, Damien. I want you to be happy.”

I smile slowly. For a moment I actually consider telling her.

Should I?

Should I tell her that I found my mate?

That she is human. That she has a smart mouth and a stubborn attitude and a body that drives my wolf completely insane.

Emily.

My mom would probably love her.The thought warms my chest. I open my mouth to speak.

The door suddenly opens, and my father walks inside.

The temperature in the room instantly drops.

He is tall and broad just like me. His black hair is streaked with silver now and his face carries that permanent cold expression he wears like armor.

The Alpha of the Red Moon pack

I stand up immediately.

“Alpha,” I say, bowing my head out of habit.

His sharp dark eyes glance at my mother first and then move to me.

A frown forms instantly. “Damien,” he says flatly. “What are you doing here? Aren’t you supposed to be in school?”

“I came to see Mom,” I reply.

“For what?” he says coldly. “She’s alright. There is no need to make a fuss.”

“She fainted,” I say.

“A minor thing.”

My jaw tightens.

“Dad,” I say, clenching my fist slightly.

“Damien,” my mother says quickly, pleading. “Please don’t start.”

I exhale slowly and force the anger down.

This is not the time.

I give my mom a small smile instead.

My father turns toward the door. “To the study. Come with me,” he says before walking out of the room.

I rub the back of my neck.

Honestly I do not have the strength for one of his lectures tonight. But disobeying him is not exactly an option.

My mom gives me a gentle look. “Go on.”

“I’ll be back,” I promise her.

Then I turn and follow my father out of the room.

The guards posted along the corridor lower their heads as we pass but I barely notice them. My mind is already bracing for whatever is coming. My father does not summon people to his study for pleasant conversations. Especially not me.

We reach the door and he pushes it open without even glancing back.

I step inside and close it behind me.

The study smells like old wood and furniture. Shelves packed with ancient books line the walls and a massive desk sits near the center like a damn throne. The windows stretch from floor to ceiling and look out over the dark forest surrounding the estate.

My father walks to the desk slowly, his tall frame straight and controlled.

I stand near the door for a second.

Honestly I hesitate to turn around.

I already know this conversation is going to piss me off and right now I am not exactly in the mood to deal with his f*****g bullshit.

But avoiding him is not an option.

So I turn.

The moment I face him, his hand moves.

He grabs a glass from the desk and throws it straight at me.

The thing slams against the wall right beside my head and shatters. Sharp shards scatter everywhere and a few slices across my cheek.

I feel the sting instantly.

Warm blood trickles down my face.

I do not react.

My father’s dark eyes burn with rage as he stares at me across the room. “You insolent child,” he snaps. “What are you doing right now? How dare you leave Bianca like that. Are you trying to curse trouble upon this pack?”