Chapter 22

Clara

I didn't fight back as Damon placed me in the car. I curled into a ball, staring out the window. He got in soon after, followed by Luca and the driver. The car sped off, and I could feel Damon glancing at me from time to time until he sighed.

"What's your problem now?" he asked. I sniffled.

"I don't want to do this anymore," I murmured. He scoffed.

"Did I hear you right? All because he said he wanted to marry you?!" He was screaming, so I glared at him, despite the pain.

"Yes, Damon! He was willing to die rather than reject me. He wanted me, and he showed everyone that. I only agreed to this bloody marriage because he didn't want me anymore," I screamed back, tears streaming down my cheeks. Damon stared at me in disbelief.

"I'm your g mate, Dahlia," he muttered through clenched teeth, then scoffed again. (Note: The asterisk and "g" are unclear. Consider revising or clarifying.)

"Is that supposed to mean anything to me? You and I don't like each other, Damon. I can't do this anymore," I murmured. His face turned cold.

"Stop the car," he ordered. "And get out."

The car stopped immediately. The driver and Luca exited, leaving Damon and me alone.

"We are married, Clara. The reason I married you still hasn't been achieved," he muttered. I sighed.

"I don't care. I love Liam, and I want to…" Damon suddenly shattered the car window. I gasped, my eyes wide.

"Whether you like it or not, we are going to remain married until I achieve my goal. Never utter those words in front of me again, or I'll go back to Liam and kill him without regret," he threatened. I glared at him.

When I remained silent, he snapped his fingers, and Luca and the driver returned. As soon as the car started, I took off my ring and threw it out the window.

"I hate you," I screamed, turning away and crying silently.

No one spoke after that. I fell asleep and woke up in my room. I opened my eyes and sat up slowly, then winced at a pain in my right hand. I raised my hand, and what I saw chilled me to the bone: Damon's name was tattooed around my ring finger!

I screamed. Damon walked in smoothly, a knowing look on his face. He leaned against my doorframe, and I glared at him.

"What the f**k is this?!" I screamed. He pushed himself off the frame, closed the door, and walked toward me.

"You threw away your ring, so I drew on one you can't get rid of," he said nonchalantly.

"You are a psychopath! Why couldn't you have bought another one at least?" I asked, still in shock. He shrugged.

"I didn't want you throwing it away again," he murmured. I scoffed.

"You are insane, Damon! You could have at least drawn a ring, but you drew your name so boldly!" I shrieked. He smirked.

"Now, every time you look at your finger, you'll remember you're mine, Clara. I went easy on you; I only wrote my name once because you said you loved Liam once. If you say it again, I'll add another name until your entire finger is covered with my name," he said. I stared at him in disbelief. He did this because I said I loved Liam?!

"But you don't even like me. Why are you doing all this?" I asked. He was silent for a while.

"I hate being second to anyone. This is a matter of you bruising my ego, and I'm not going to let you get away from me. What do you see in him, anyway? He made you share. He doesn't really love you, Clara; he just wants to have you," Damon said. I glared at him.

"And how does that concern you? You don't want me, nor do you love me. I don't care if you think he doesn't love me; you don't know what we shared, and I crave love, Damon. Are you going to give that to me?" I asked. His face turned cold.

"No, I will never love you. I cannot love you," he murmured, and my heart broke. I didn't know what I was expecting, but he was my mate. Even though I hated everything he stood for, there was still a part of me that knew I would fall for him if he changed his attitude and treated me right, because he was my mate. But I guess that wasn't happening.

"Then this conversation is over. In the contract, you stated that we couldn't interfere with each other's personal lives. You f**k or be with whatever girl you want, and I'll be with whatever guy I want—and I choose Liam," I muttered. The anger in his eyes almost made me retract my words. If I didn't know better, I would think he had some kind of feelings for me, but that couldn't be it. Like he said, I was just bruising his ego.

He didn't say anything; he just turned away.

"Fine, then," he muttered. I watched him walk toward the door. He turned the doorknob, but the door wouldn't open.

"What the hell?" he muttered, trying repeatedly to open it.

"Open this door this instant!" he yelled. I could have sworn I heard a giggle before someone cleared their throat.

"It has come to my attention that you and your wife are having problems, and I can't have that. The door is locked from the outside, and you can't break it down. Just spend time with your mate. It will be opened in the morning," the Alpha King's voice boomed. I gasped, my eyes wide.

"What the fk are you on, old man? Open this fking door!" Damon ordered. I would have opened the door immediately, but I guess his tone didn't work on the Alpha King.

"No. Her mark has been removed, and you have a duty to mark her so she can be your Luna. Work out your issues by tomorrow, or I won't let you out. Good night, Clara," the Alpha King said before walking away. Damon tried desperately to open the door. I jumped out of bed and ran to the door.

"Can't you break it down?" I asked, staring at him with wide eyes.

"Don't you think I would if I could? The door is made of wrought iron laced with silver and wolfsbane. Even if I broke it down, which I doubt, I'd be badly injured," he explained. I sighed.

"So what does that mean?" I asked. He turned to me.

"I guess we're stuck together for the night." We both groaned.