His mate's secrets

Chapter 3 - Fickle intentions

It was only two weeks after that night that Damon found his fated mate. A month later they were bonded, and the Red Valley pack finally had their Luna. Flic hadn’t thought about it much at the time. Sure, she was disappointed their game had ended before it had had a chance to begin, but that was the roll of the dice in this word of mates. However, as the years went by, she found herself still chasing the rush he had given her. No one had made her feel that electric since. Some had come close, but she always found herself imagining the depth of his crimson eyes, watching her with an arrogance that told her he could do better.

Sometimes she caught his gaze at pack events or the rare occasion he would come into the bakery. There was always a weight in the air when he was near her, and her attention would automatically gravitate towards him. A skitter of sparks would travel her skin in memory of his touch, leaving her longing for more, but Damon would look away every time. Flic was certain her infatuation was one sided and wondered how many other women felt the same heat in his presence, but it didn’t make the need go away. It was worse when the Luna was at his side, though that was a rare sight, even before...

Flic sighed and looked around the Alpha’s office. It had been many years since she had been in there and, though Damon had changed it a lot, she could still see the familiarities of the old room. The same leather couch, the same wall of bookcases, full of dusty books collected through the Red Valley pack’s life. She let her fingertips trail over their spines and breathed in their delicate, sweet smell. It tried to hide under the thick dust, but Flic had a nose for old books. She had been around them enough. Her own were the only items she had brought with her from her original pack.

“You were supposed to come to my room.”

A voice rumbled from the doorway, and she turned to see Alpha Damon. Her breath caught, feeling the full weight of his attention on her. This was the first time they had been alone since that night and the thought made a shiver skate down her spine. She smiled at the man who had been unreachable for the last ten years, but Damon turned with a huff and walked to his couch, gesturing for her to take a seat. It wasn’t the reaction she had expected, but Flic was intrigued to understand what was going on. She may hold a certain attraction for the man, but she couldn’t forget that she had just been chosen from a line-up of frightened women. She hoped he had a good reason to justify that show.

“It felt inappropriate.” Flic moved closer but she didn’t take a seat, crossing her arms as she eyed the Alpha carefully. “Do you have an issue speaking in your office, or do you invite all the woman you need to talk to to your bedroom?”

A gleam flashed in Damon’s eyes, and he leaned into the couch. In just a white shirt and dark suit trousers, the material tightened as he relaxed back, drawing her eye like a moth to a flame and she was ashamed to say it wasn’t the shirt she was looking at. “Bedroom? The request was to come to my room. I live on the whole of the upper floor, there’s plenty of space up there, including a meeting area.” Warmth swelled in Flic’s cheeks, a rosy blush colouring her skin which only deepened as the Alpha smirked. “Did you want to see my bedroom, Felicity?”

She felt Damon ease the control of their conversation away from her like water through her fingers and she grappled for a response. “That’s not... I didn’t know... Julien said...” She fumbled but quickly shut up as his eyes glimmered with amusement. “Why am I here, Alpha?”

“That’s what I’m trying to discuss, Felicity. Why don’t you take a seat?” He gestured again to the couch.

“I’m fine.” She stood firm, stubborn in her decision to keep some distance between them while she was trying to focus. “Why do you keep calling me Felicity? Everyone calls me Flic.”

Damon sighed and stood. She watched him as he approached, her body tensing with each step closer. His eyes were on her, intent fuelling his gaze, and she staggered back a couple of steps until she felt the harsh bite of his desk against the back of her thighs, preventing her retreat. The Alpha stopped mere inches away, his form towering over her. He seemed larger than she remembered, and Flic swallowed her desires as she slowly lifted her eyes to his, taking her time to appreciate the man before her.

Damon leaned in closer, dangerously coming into touching distance. “Do you not like to be called Felicity?”

Her name rolled off his tongue like the allure of sin and Flic was thankful the desk was there as her knees became weak. However, she was not the same eighteen year old pup he had last tried to tease. She leaned back, resting her hands against his desk, and let a lazy smile play on her lips. “I only like it when you say it... Alpha.” She purred.

Damon suddenly stiffened, the gleam in his eyes fell away as his expression hardened and he stepped back. The victory felt shallow as his presence pulled away and she frowned as he turned to the coffee table and picked up a single sheet of paper before handing it to her. His frame was tense, and his eyes no longer lingered on her as they had done moments ago, deepening the pit of disappointment in her stomach.

“What’s this?” She asked him after skimming the first couple of lines.

“A proposal.” Damon sighed when she crooked an eyebrow at him asking for more. “As you know, three years ago I... became single. The pack council have decided this is the best course of action to take if I’m to remain Alpha.”

Flic frowned and read through the document, her eyes widening the further she got. It was an agreement, though completely different to the other one she held with the Red Valley pack.

“Felicity.” The Alpha spoke her name and her attention snapped to him in an instant. “Take tonight to read through it and decide whether to sign.”

“I still have a decision?” She eyed him over the paper.

“Of course. Did you think I’d force you to agree?” Damon smirked and then dropped his voice low. “Do you want me to?”

Flic’s eyes flashed at the challenge. “Why would I want that?”

“Some people like to relinquish control.” The Alpha shrugged, but his gaze became heavy. “To follow another’s wishes. To be... dominated.”

He drew a step closer once more, and Flic couldn’t allow herself to look away. A blush crept into her cheeks, and she felt her heartbeat vibrate across her skin. His last word hung between them, thickening the air with a potential that tasted sweet and enticed her to bite. “That’s not me.” She whispered, her tone as unconvincing as the light tremble of her lips.

“Great.” Damon grinned, snapping the tension like a dry twig. He brushed past her to stand behind his desk and she turned with him, feeling a prickle down her spine as he walked behind her. “Then you can read it and make a decision on your own. That will be all for now. You can go.”

“Excuse me?” Felicity narrowed her eyes and placed the agreement on his desk, feeling the offensive chill of his cold shoulder. “You put me through that... that show back there in the hall, hand me this crazy contract and then dismiss me?” It was hard to keep the growl from her voice.

“The only important thing right now, is you keep this all confidential.” Damon spoke as he sat and began collecting the papers on his desk.

“You had women lined up, on their knees. They all know what’s happened, or at least that I stayed behind.”

“Did you recognise any of their scents?” The Alpha peered up at her.

“Well... No.”

“Then things worked out as planned, they don’t know it was you.”

Flic thought back to the hall. He spoke with such confidence that something must've been prepared to assert the woman wouldn't recognise each other. It must've been a blocker of some kind, like the one the Alpha had used to hide his own scent, but once again she wondered how Red Valley had gotten hold of such things without her.

“The girl next to me knows.” Damon c****d an eyebrow in question. “We... spoke.”

He sighed, but did little else to show the news bothered him. “We’ll watch Beth, but things won’t be obvious enough for her to connect the information. This arrangement must be kept secret, our courting must appear real.”

“Did you really just say courting?” A bubble of laughter passed her lips, and she was barely able to suppress it when he glared at her. “Come on, I’m a twenty eight year old woman. Courting, really?” The glare didn’t lessen, and she slipped into a teasing smile. “Okay then, Alpha. What does your courting entail?”

“Stop that.” Damon grumbled, tearing his eyes from her.

“Stop what?” She pouted, her expression the perfect image of innocence making him scoff. “How about we pour a drink, and you tell me exactly what it is that you want? I’m sure you have some hard stuff around here.” She batted her eyelashes at him and saw the corner of his lips twitch. “Hard liquor, I mean.”

“No.” Damon replied flatly.

“You want to talk about this sober? Well, alright, but I think I’ll need something.”

“No. No talking. Just read and sign if you agree.”

“You expect us not to discuss something like this?” Flic gaped.

“Yes.”

He answered so plainly like he didn’t care, and it made her blood boil. This wasn’t a light agreement, like supplying the packhouse with baked treats every day. This was her life, his life, and yet he couldn’t spare the time to talk about it. She narrowed her eyes at him, daring him to look up but his eyes were focused on the papers in his hand. Flic didn’t know if he was actually working or just avoiding her, but she wouldn’t let him ignore her. Not when he handed her something so massive it was hard to comprehend.

“That’s not enough.” She growled.

“Then, what do you want?”

“An explanation. To all this.” She waved the agreement at him, but still, he did not look up.

“Everything is written there.”

“It doesn’t say why you chose me.” She slapped the paper down on his desk.

“Because...” Damon snapped to his feet a muscle twitching in his jaw. His annoyance for her persistence was as clear as day but she wasn’t about to back down and bend to his wishes because he couldn’t say what he truly wanted. This agreement may have been the council's decision, but she was his choice. She had felt his choice back in the hall before he had made it, it sparked between them with a buzz she had felt every time their eyes met over the last ten years. Was it too much to ask to have him admit there was a reason?

The Alpha leaned forward on his desk, and she mimicked him, her chest heaving with anger. She could feel the puffs of his breath dance on her cheek, the inches between them cracking with sparks that drew them closer. Heat ignited a fire in his eyes. “Because...” He growled again, his gaze flickering to her lips. “Because the council enforced it and you... piqued my interest.”

“I piqued your interest? That's it?” Flic whispered, feeling her stomach drop. It wasn’t enough. Not for her nor a reason for this, and she’d push him for the truth. She couldn’t be the only one feeling the connection.

“Yes.” Damon answered with a grunt, though the way his eyes travelled down her body told her a different story. She smirked, a flash of victory in her eyes, but then the Alpha abruptly straightened. “You have my answers. I’ll leave you to decide.”

“Wait.” Flic was frozen as she watched Damon head for the door. “I still want you to explain all this.”

He didn’t stop and didn't even to turn as he responded. “I’ll send a council member to answer any other questions you have.”

As the door slammed shut behind the Alpha, Flic could’ve screamed at his stubbornness. She didn’t because he would’ve heard her and that would have given him the upper hand. She had been so sure of his intentions after that little show of being chosen in the hall and now, no matter what the agreement in her hand stated, she felt like she couldn’t gauge him at all. What did Damon want?