Chapter 25

Clara

After I got dressed in Damon’s shirt, the three of us went to the dining room. As soon as Damon’s mother saw me, she stood up and rushed toward me.

“Oh, honey, I heard your chosen mate rejected you yesterday. I’m sure it must have been very painful,” she said. I nodded, though I suspected being rejected by your fated mate was far worse.

“Oh, poor girl. Come sit. I made sure to help with the cooking this time,” she said, and Damian groaned behind me.

“Mother, are you planning on giving us food poisoning?” Damian asked, pulling out his chair and sitting down.

“Watch your mouth, boy,” his mother replied, and I giggled. This was the first time I'd heard anyone scold him.

“You didn’t mark her,” the Alpha King pointed out, and everyone’s attention instantly turned to my neck. I felt overwhelmed.

“Hmm,” Damian mumbled, and the Alpha King sighed.

“You need an heir, Damon. At your age, your mother was already pregnant with Dimitri,” the Alpha King said. My eyes widened. I’d never heard anyone mention him before, and the tension—everyone’s glances at Damon—suggested a strained relationship.

“You couldn’t keep it in your pants, and Mom was all too willing to spread her legs for you,” Damon said. Even I was shocked.

“Damon! I will not have you disrespecting your mother!” the Alpha King boomed. I reflexively bowed my head, a whimper escaping my lips. His power was overwhelming!

Damon laughed humorlessly, then stared the Alpha King in the eye.

“Why are you so worked up? It’s the truth, isn’t it?” The Alpha King started to respond, but his wife shook her head.

“Just leave him alone, dear. Shall we just eat and move on?” she said. I glared at Damon.

He had no filter, saying whatever he felt, regardless of others' feelings. His mother was genuinely sweet, and I knew he cared for his family, but why was he always so rude? I decided to ask him after breakfast.

Everyone tried to forget the incident, or at least move past it, while Damon remained silent. I kept nudging him to speak, but he ignored me, focusing on his food.

“Are you two still fighting? You look like it,” Delilah observed. Only then did Damon look up. He turned to me, and I took that as my cue to act like the perfect wife.

I interlocked my arm with his and rested my head on his shoulder. I noticed his tension under my touch, but I didn’t read too much into it.

“We talked all night, and it was all a misunderstanding. Damon just doesn’t know how to communicate, but that’s something he can fix. Right, hubs?” I murmured, turning to him. He smiled slightly and nodded.

“Only for you, wife,” he said. His words made my heart skip a beat. I quickly turned away, clearing my throat and releasing his arm. This mate bond was stronger than I thought.

“You two are perfect for each other. I can’t wait to see how positively you’ll influence him,” his mother said, and I smiled at her.

After breakfast, the Alpha King and his wife left for their duties. Delilah wanted to stay, but Damon immediately dismissed her. She made a small fuss but left.

Damon was about to leave when I spoke:

“Why are you so rude to your family? They seem so nice, and they care about you deeply. Don’t you think you’re being a little harsh?” He paused.

“And who are you to meddle in my personal life?” he asked slowly. I frowned.

“I’m your wife,” I replied. He scoffed. “You’re not my wife. You’re a gold digger, getting paid to be my wife. Isn’t that why you agreed to this? Money? Don’t meddle in what doesn’t concern you. How I treat anyone is none of your business,” he said. Tears streamed down my face.

I sniffled, rising from my chair.

“I’m sorry. I forgot my place for a second. I thought we were closer after yesterday, but I guess I was wrong. I’ll never meddle again,” I murmured, then paused at the door. “Some of us are alone in this world, but you have your whole family. Don’t be ungrateful,” I said before running from the dining room, tears blurring my vision.

Luckily, I reached my room without falling down the stairs.

Ugh! Why did I keep trying to have a relationship with him? He was a mean jerk!

“I hate him!” I screamed, wiping away my tears angrily. Why was I crying over such a douchebag?!

“Stupid bloody bastard! Jerk! Arrogant narcissist! Why should I let him walk all over me? I have the upper hand. He needs me; I don’t need him!” I said, a smile spreading across my face.

Maybe it was time to give him a piece of my mind. I would let him know that my name was Clara, and I wasn’t someone to be bullied…