Bound by Flame & Fang

Episode 16

After what felt like an eternity, I got up from the floor of the restroom and looked at myself in the mirror. My eyes were red, my cheeks swollen from crying. But somewhere deep inside me, a small voice whispered, you’re Ariel Morgan.

I straightened my back. You are, Ariel Morgan. The only daughter of Morgan, the great witch. The only daughter born without magic. I had survived being neglected, being broken by the people I called my own. If I could survive that, I would survive this too. This was just another phrase of my life.

I wiped my tears and turned off the tap. I picked up the pile of documents Damian had thrown at me like I was a maid and held them close.

When I opened the door, I almost bumped into Mr. Smith. He looked… terrified. Sweat shone on his forehead, and his hands trembled.

“Mr. Smith, what’s wrong?” I asked, confused.

He didn’t even meet my eyes. His voice shook as he spoke. “I’m sorry, Mrs. Blackthorne, for speaking to you so casually before. Please tell Mr. Blackthorne it won’t repeat itself.”

Before I could answer, he dropped to his knees right there in the corridor, begging me.

I gasped and tried to stop him. “Please, Mr. Smith, get up. I didn’t do anything. I don’t have the power to make you lose your job. You didn’t disrespect me at all!”

But I could hear it in his voice. The man was terrified. My stomach turned. There was only one person who could make a humble man like this shake. It's Damian.

"But why?, Why would he do such a thing, when only minutes ago he had humiliated me in his office?" I muttered to myself

I was still wondering why he would do such a thing, when Marcus appeared. He didn’t say a word. He looked at Mr. Smith once, and in an instant the man was gone—not vanishing like magic, but leaving so fast it almost looked like it.

Marcus turned to me, and his expression softened. The coldness he’d shown Mr. Smith vanished; now he wore a polite smile.

“Mr. Damian instructed me to show you to your desk so you can start working on your project,” he said.

I was tired and confused. I couldn’t figure out what Damian’s plan was. But I nodded anyway and gestured for him to lead the way.

We walked through several hallways, turning corner after corner until he stopped at a door. He opened it and gestured for me to enter.

When I stepped inside, my eyes widened.

This couldn’t be my office. It was too beautiful, too big. A large desk faced a glass wall with a view of the entire city. Shelves lined with books. Soft carpets. A private lounge area. Everything screamed luxury.

I was just a web designer. Damian didn’t even like me. So why the special treatment?

I didn’t ask any questions.

Marcus tilted his head politely. “Do you need anything else, Miss Ariel?”

“No, I don’t. Thank you,” I replied quietly.

He nodded once and left the room.

I exhaled and sat at the desk. I had work to do now. Whatever Damian’s game was, I had to focus. I couldn’t risk him throwing me out of his house. I had nowhere else to go.

I took a deep breath and opened the documents.

---

Damian’s POV

After I watched her leave with sad eyes, my wolf stirred angrily inside me. I knew I shouldn’t have treated her that way. But every time I got close to her, I felt myself becoming soft. Weak. All because she was my fated mate.

I had hurt her just now. I knew it. And guilt clawed at me. I wanted to punch myself for hurting her, even though I’d promised myself I wouldn’t.

A knock on my door pulled me back. I straightened my tie and fixed my face.

“Come in,” I said.

Marcus walked in and sat across from me. He stared at me for a long moment, reading me like only he could. Then he sighed.

“If you know you’d feel this way, why treat her like that?” he asked quietly.

I didn’t answer.

When he saw I wouldn’t respond, he said, “As for Mr. Smith, I fired him just as you instructed.”

Just hearing the man’s name made my jaw clench.

“Who does he think he is to flirt with my woman?” I growled under my breath. My fingers dug into the armrest of my chair.

Marcus didn’t react, but I could feel his disapproval.

“Why was he smiling like a fool at Ariel?” I muttered. My teeth ground together.

I felt good knowing I’d handled it. Next time, he would know never to look at what’s mine.

Marcus stayed quiet, his expression blank.

Just then, Ethan stormed into my office like an angry lion. I had expected him, so I wasn’t surprised.

He opened his mouth to shout, “Why—” but I cut him off with an alpha command, a wave of power that hit him like a wall.

He instantly calmed, his voice dropping to a low plea.

He knew exactly what an alpha command was. His father had served me for years. He knew who I was.

He fell to his knees. “Please give me back my keys. Allow me to have my house and my monthly allowance back. I didn’t do anything wrong. Why take everything from me?”

I smiled coldly at the sight of him begging. Pitiful. The same way Ariel had looked when he’d thrown her out of her own home, even though I gave him five hundred thousand dollars every month.

His begging was useless to me.I didn’t owe him an explanation.

“Get out,” I said in a cold voice. Just two words.

He knew I’d made up my mind. Begging would only make things worse.

He stood, ready to leave—just as there was a knock at the door.

My smile turned wicked.

“Come in,” I said. The door opened slowly.

Ariel stood there. Ethan was still in the room, frozen.

I leaned back in my chair, my eyes glinting gold.