Chapter 12

Damon

I tapped my pen incessantly on the table, bouncing my foot, and only looked up when Luca cleared his throat.

“Erm, Alpha?” he said, and I glared.

“What?” I muttered harshly. He gulped.

“You’ve been reading the same page for over an hour,” he murmured.

“So?”

“So maybe you should try turning the page?” he suggested. I groaned, threw the file across the room, scattering papers across the office.

Luca stared at the mess before turning to me.

“I didn’t mean…”

“It doesn’t even make sense. Why am I thinking of her?” I muttered. He furrowed his brow.

“Who?” he asked.

“Who else but that stubborn little devil?” I murmured. He raised an eyebrow.

“Do you mean your wife?” he asked. I groaned.

“Don’t call her that,” I muttered.

“Well, she is your wife, and if you can’t stop thinking about her, it means she’s slowly warming her way into your heart, and who knows, you might end up falling for… Ahh!” He screamed as I threw a vase at his head. It missed by an inch.

“Shut the fuck up and clean this up. I’m going to bed,” I muttered, standing and storming out.

Earlier, teasing Clara had backfired. I was so turned on I had to leave immediately. She’s not even my type, so why the hell was this happening?

Fuck this wretched mate bond!

“She must be a witch. If she thinks she can charm me, she’s fucking mistaken,” I muttered, climbing the stairs.

“Erm… Alpha? Are you talking to yourself?” Luca asked. I groaned.

“Mind your own fucking business and go home,” I muttered before disappearing down the hall.

I passed Clara’s room. The slightly open door made me roll my eyes. What if a killer were on the loose? Such a clumsy girl. I initially intended to close the door, but found myself walking inside. Why? I had no idea, but there was no turning back.

I glanced at her bed, frowning when I didn’t find her there. I listened carefully; no shower running meant she wasn’t in the bathroom. I checked the closet—nothing.

A panic unlike any I’d ever felt surged through me.

“Clara?!” I called, dashing from the room.

I ran down the stairs. Luckily, Luca was still there.

“Clara is missing. Find her, quietly. I don’t want my father finding out,” I murmured. Luca nodded, immediately carrying out my orders.

“Clara, you’re going to be in a lot of trouble,” I muttered. Could she have run away because of how I’d spoken to her?

Almost immediately, Luca’s voice echoed in my mind.

“[We found her. She’s by the lake, but she wouldn’t let any of us touch her, and she’s soaking wet],” he said. Relief escaped my lips.

“[No one should touch her. I’m on my way],” I replied, shutting out his voice and hurrying to the lake.

I found Luca and some men watching Clara seated by the lake, staring at the sky, drenched. They bowed as they saw me, but I ignored them, walking towards her.

“Little Devil, why did you run away? Why are you soaking wet?” I asked. Seeing her crying, I frowned. Had my words hurt her that much? Was having my baby really that bad?

“I fell in the lake. I wasn’t trying to run away; I just wanted to clear my head,” she murmured, standing. Then I noticed she was wearing my shirt—way too short, riding up her ass, and revealing her nipples through the wet fabric.

“Look away!” I ordered. My men, including Luca, immediately turned.

“Why would you wear that outside?” I muttered, grabbing her hand. She burst into tears, making me panic.

“Erm, Clara? Okay, if you don’t want to carry my child, you don’t have to… just stop crying,” I said hastily. She scoffed, yanking her hand away.

“I don’t care about that. Liam and Veronica are getting married, and he had the guts to send me an invitation? How could he do this to me? So the love we shared was all a lie?!” She screamed, running into my arms. I reflexively embraced her.

“Why do I still love him so much? Why?!” she cried on my chest. Suddenly, I felt something unexpected—jealousy.

“Stop loving him. You’re married to me,” I murmured. She scoffed, pouting, and I desperately wanted to kiss her. Had she always looked this beautiful, or was I drunk?

“Our marriage isn’t real, Damon. I can’t stop loving him, and I don’t know if I ever can,” she murmured. My hold tightened.

“Then what do you want to do about it?” I asked. She smiled, and my dick twitched.

“Let’s crash the wedding.”