Claire’s POV
The threat hung in the air, razor-sharp.
I should have been terrified. Instead, I noticed the violent pulse jumping at his jaw. I felt the raw heat rolling off his massive frame. He was fighting his own beast.
He didn't just want to use me. He was starving for me.
I tilted my head back and bared my pale throat.
His heavy grip tightened. His entire body went rigid.
“Rumor says the Alpha King is disgusted by females,” I whispered. I trailed a daring finger down his hard chest. “But you clearly aren't disgusted by me.”
His gold eyes flared.
This was a massive gamble, but survival trumped everything.
“I can be your weapon,” I murmured, my lips deliberately grazing his tense jaw. “But you're hesitating. If you don't have the balls to claim what you want... then give me back to Chase.”
A guttural snarl ripped from his deep chest. His rough hand clamped around my jaw, possessing me completely.
“You begged for this,” he growled.
He didn't give me a single second to breathe.
Damian crushed his mouth against my neck. His sharp fangs pierced my flesh.
White-hot pain exploded through my body. I swallowed a raw scream, forcing myself to stay perfectly still.
Then the agony shifted.
Liquid fire hijacked my veins. It raced from the deep bite straight into my chest. My dormant wolf violently surged forward. For the first time ever, I heard her clearly.
Damian pulled back slowly. His eyes glowed molten gold. His breathing sounded ragged.
I swayed, dizzy from the sudden rush of raw power flooding my veins.
But I didn’t back down.
Instead, I stepped closer.
His gaze narrowed. “Claire.”
I pressed my palm to his chest, feeling the steady thud of his heartbeat. I let my fingers trail up to his broad shoulder, slow and deliberate.
Damian’s breathing hitched.
His iron control slipped, just a fraction. His large hands gripped my waist.
I let my hand slide down his spine. His grip instantly tightened.
“Careful,” he warned, his voice gritty. “I said you were under my protection. I didn’t say I was easy to manipulate.”
I met his gaze and didn’t deny it.
Damian stepped back. His hands fell away.
But the absolute claim in his tone remained.
“From now on, you belong to me,” he stated quietly. “Anyone who touches you challenges the King.”
Before I could reply, a shadow guard materialized from the dark corner and bowed low.
“Your Majesty,” the guard announced. “Chase issued a public warrant for Claire.”
My blood ran cold.
“Read it,” Damian commanded.
The guard’s voice sounded entirely dead as he recited the notice.
“Claire Pierce is wanted for urgent questioning after being discovered in a compromising position with a feral rogue. The matter involves improper conduct and the violent assault of a key witness. Loyal pack members are ordered to report her location and assist guards in delivering her to His Majesty’s custody through proper channels.”
The floor tilted beneath my feet.
The guard continued.
“Any claims made by Claire should be treated as desperate attempts to shift blame and damage innocent reputations.”
The trap was crystal clear.
They weren't just calling me crazy.
My hands curled into tight fists. The coward wouldn't defy the Alpha King openly, so he weaponized the pack law against me.
Damian’s face darkened. “He’s pretending to respect royal custody while strictly controlling the narrative.”
“And branding me a liar before I can even open my mouth,” I added coldly.
The bite burned hotter. A wave of nausea hit me hard. I pressed a hand to my stomach, forcing myself to breathe through the sickness.
My inner wolf was wide awake. My blood felt like liquid fire.
I touched the fresh bite.
The mark throbbed violently beneath my fingertips.
A cold smile tugged at my lips.
“You want to hunt me with pack laws, Chase?” I whispered. “Then I’ll answer with a name much stronger than yours.”
The guard hesitated.
Damian caught it instantly. “What else?”
“Chase also sent a formal invitation for tomorrow night’s engagement banquet,” the guard stated. “He requests Your Majesty’s presence as the honored guest.”
The room went dead silent.
Then, I laughed.
The sound came out ice-cold.
“He publicly frames me today,” I scoffed, “then invites you to bless his new engagement tomorrow?”
Damian’s mouth curved into a cruel smirk. “He wants the pack to see him as the wronged hero. Loyal to the crown.”
“And he wants them to see me as a pathetic criminal.”
My fingers traced the raised bite.
“Take me with you,” I said.
Damian stared at me. Genuine surprise finally crossed his face.
“You want to walk straight into his banquet with a public warrant on your head?”
“Yes.”
“He wants that crowd to see you in chains.”
“Then I’ll stand in front of that crowd before he gets to write my story.”
Damian said nothing.
His gaze sharpened. A visible shift sparked in his eyes.
Pure recognition.
He expected blind fear. He didn't expect me to demand a front-row seat to the battlefield.
“You understand what that room will be?” he asked.
“A bloodbath,” I said. “But if I hide, Chase wins by default.”
Damian studied me, finally seeing the feral part of me that Chase had failed to kill.
His mouth curved into a lethal grin.
“Good,” he rumbled. “Then tomorrow, you will not hide behind my name.”
His eyes dropped to the fresh mark.
“You will walk in wearing it.”