Chapter 20

Clara

"He not only allowed them to demean me, but I also discovered"

"He shares his women with them. I've heard this story five times, Clara. It's been a week; shouldn't you move on?" Aunt Amelia said through the phone. I huffed.

"No, because he's a bastard, and the fact that he hasn't apologized is infuriating. I don't even want his apology; he can keep it," I muttered, then sighed.

Since that day, Damon and I have barely spoken, except for the occasional dinner with his parents. Afterward, we'd go our separate ways without a word. I'd be lying if I said it didn't affect me; it did.

"Enough of that. You're coming to the wedding, right?" Aunt Amelia asked. I sighed.

"No, Aunt. I don't think I can watch Liam marry someone else. That would be too much," I murmured, and she sighed.

"Please, dear? I miss you, and I really want to see you. If it makes you feel any better, Liam and Veronica have been having problems ever since you left," Aunt Amelia said. My eyes widened slightly.

"Really? Why?" I asked.

"She's just a pretty face with no brains. She can't do any work and can't fight either. She's unfit to be Luna, and Liam and everyone else are finally seeing her for who she really is. They fight every day, and he's moved back into your room," Aunt Amelia informed me. I frowned.

"But they're getting married in two days. If they're that unhappy with each other, then"

"He still has to marry her, Clara, or a great calamity will befall the pack," Aunt Amelia explained, and I sighed. I was in this mess with Damon because of that stupid superstition.

"I don't know, Aunt Amelia. I might" Just then, there was a knock on my door, and my heart did a backflip—which was weird.

"Hold on, Aunt. It seems I might be getting my apology now," I said as I got out of bed.

"Couldn't stay away, hLuca?" I asked, wide-eyed, as I opened the door to find Damon.

Luca chuckled and bowed his head.

"Good day, Madam. I apologize for disappointing you. Were you expecting someone else?" he asked with a knowing look. I cleared my throat.

"Good day. Why are you here?" I asked. Luca snapped his fingers, and two maids entered my room carrying shopping bags.

"What is"

"This is your outfit for Liam and Veronica's wedding. If you need anything else, please let me know," Luca said. I frowned.

"I'm not going anywhere," I muttered, and he nodded.

"Damon is in his study. You can tell him that," Luca said, and I glared at him. He excused himself, and I sighed before closing the door behind me.

I glanced at the bags and scoffed. He couldn't even bring them to me himself. What did I even expect?

My stomach rumbled, and I immediately took a bath so I could go down for breakfast. I got dressed in a pair of jeans and a crop top that Delilah had lent me. Damon had refused to give me my things or buy me clothes, so Delilah lent me some of hers because, as she put it, she was tired of me flashing my butt.

After getting dressed, I went down for breakfast and paused when I found Damon sitting at the table, legs crossed, reading a book.

He didn't acknowledge my presence, and that hurt more than it should have.

I huffed and was about to leave when he spoke.

"Where are you going?" he asked. I huffed.

"Anywhere but here," I muttered.

"Clara, stay and eat," he ordered as my fingers wrapped around the doorknob. He used his Alpha tone, so I had no choice but to obey.

I slowly turned around, glared at him, and sat down at the far end of the table. We didn't speak even when the maids brought the food. Why was he suddenly here? I'd been eating alone for the past week.

"Pass me the turkey," Damon said, turning to me. I scoffed. There were maids; why was he looking at me?

"Oh, like you passed your women around? Are you going to pass me around, too?" I mocked. He slammed his fist on the table.

"Everyone get out except you, Clara," he muttered as I was about to stand.

The maids and butlers immediately left, leaving me with Damon. He pushed his chair back and walked toward me, but I avoided his gaze.

"Look at me, Clara," he muttered. I shook my head.

"I don't want" I gasped as he pulled me from the chair and slammed me against the wall. Despite the aggression, I could feel a moan threatening to escape, especially when he pressed his body against mine.

"What is your problem, Clara?" Damon whispered. I forced myself to focus.

"You're a bastard! And to think I was starting to believe you weren't so bad, but you give your women to your rich, misogynistic friends to sleep with, huh? That's barbaric! You're a fucking piece of shit!" I muttered. He stared at me for a while before leaning close to my ear.

"I never claimed to be a good person, Clara. I'm a very bad man, and I've done much worse than let my rich, misogynistic friends sleep with the women I sleep with. The women I sleep with are all sluts, so why shouldn't my colleagues have a taste? If you turn out to be a slut as well, then they'll taste you, too," he muttered. My body froze.

All other feelings vanished, replaced by anger and disgust. I pushed him away with all my strength and slapped him hard across the face.

"I wish we'd never met at that party, and I curse the day you were born to be my mate," I muttered through clenched teeth. He turned to me, his face and eyes void of emotion. I couldn't read him.

"The feeling is mutual," he muttered before releasing me and walking out of the dining room.

I clenched my fist, stood there for a while, and took a deep breath. Was this the man meant to love and care for me my whole life? Then, I guess I was never meant to be loved and cared for. Why was my life so pitiful?