Chapter 7

Clara

“I will marry you?! Why did I say that?” I groaned, leading Damon to my room. I’d only said it in anger, to spite Veronica and make Liam jealous. Veronica’s shocked, pale face had made it worthwhile, but Liam had just frowned. I couldn’t decipher his thoughts.

I yelped, tripping backward. Damon caught me, his palm firm against my back. I hated the way his touch sent a pleasant sensation through me.

“If I didn’t need you, I would have let you fall,” he muttered, pushing me upright. “Stop thinking with that tiny brain of yours and focus on walking.” I clenched my fist, frowning at him.

“You could at least pretend not to be a jerk,” I murmured. He smirked.

My wolf howled in excitement, and—

“I can never pretend to be what I’m not, baby,” he murmured. That endearment almost made me gag. It wasn’t that he wasn’t handsome. In fact, with his tousled black hair, deep gray eyes, chiseled jawline, and toned olive skin, he was the most handsome man I’d ever seen. He was perfection—and he knew it. That was the problem.

“Are you done undressing me in your head?” His deep voice broke my trance. My face heated with embarrassment as I stared at him wide-eyed.

“Keep dreaming,” I muttered, hurrying away to my room.

As I opened the door, Damon scoffed. “Jeez, you’ve been living like an animal,” he muttered. I frowned.

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“Why is this room as small as my dog’s house?” he muttered. My eyes widened.

“That’s a lie! This is the biggest room in the pack. This was the Alpha’s room… or at least it was until he moved out to be with his mate,” I spat the word mate. Damon snickered.

“Yikes,” he muttered. “You know what? I don’t even want to get married again. You can leave.” I turned to go, but he grabbed my hand, pulling me close.

My hand landed on his chest. I gasped, noticing how close we were. We stared into each other’s eyes; my wolf howled and purred.

Damon pushed me away. I bumped into a shelf, knocking things over.

“Are you crazy? I could have gotten seriously hurt,” I said.

“But you didn’t. Pack your things. We leave in thirty minutes,” he murmured. I crossed my arms stubbornly.

“I don’t want to marry you anymore,” I murmured. He sighed, walking toward me. I gulped.

Even though I hated him, my wolf didn’t. His nearness was messing with her—and my body. Curse the mate bond!

“Look, my father won’t let me become Alpha King unless I marry you and claim you as my mate. You know about the Moon Goddess’s curse, right?” he asked. I nodded slowly.

“If we don’t marry, your pack will be doomed,” I murmured. He shook his head.

“All wolves will be doomed. I’m the crown’s successor. I don’t believe in superstitions, but are you willing to risk it?” I frowned, considering his words.

“Why should I care what happens to wolves? I don’t have any good memories with them,” I murmured, a hated feeling settling in my stomach.

Damon grabbed my shoulder, forcing me to look at him. “Don’t you care about the unborn pups and the innocent ones?” he murmured. My frown deepened.

“Do you?” I asked quietly.

“No, I care about no one but myself,” he murmured, releasing me. I scoffed.

“That’s not something to be proud of,” I murmured. He tilted his head.

“The sooner you learn that feeling emotions for others weighs you down, the better. I’ve learned that, and now I’m invincible. Are you in or not?” I sighed.

“How long do we have to be married? I don’t want to be married to you for too long,” I murmured. He scoffed.

“The feeling’s mutual, love. We have to be married as long as the old man is alive—a year or two, by my calculations. But if he keeps butting into my business, maybe just months,” he muttered the last part to himself, but I heard him clearly. I gasped.

“That’s your father you’re talking about. You shouldn’t wish for his death,” I murmured. He rolled his eyes.

“He’s old; he’s bound to die. Pack your stuff, and let’s leave,” he said. I turned to my closet, but Liam barged in.

“Clara, we need to talk,” Liam said. I heard Damon groan and massage his temples.

“How dare you barge in when I’m with my mate?” Damon stalked toward Liam. Liam looked small next to Damon.

“I’m sorry, but I need to speak with her. You can’t leave me, Clara. You promised…”

“You broke that promise first, and I’ve given you the freedom you wanted,” I murmured. He shook his head, walking toward me and grabbing my hand.

“But I still love…” Before Liam could finish, Damon punched him hard in the cheek.

Liam fell, groaning and coughing up blood. He stared at Damon wide-eyed.

“Touch my mate again, and your entire lineage will regret it. I don’t make empty threats.”