CHAPTER 10

1051 Words
DAMIAN POV. I was a jerk. An asshole. That’s what people called me behind my back, though none of them dared to say it to my face—except my mate, Mirabel. The Moon Goddess must have been toying with me, mating me to her. Mirabel. An Omega. The lowest rank in the werewolf hierarchy. Not only that, but she came from a poor background—a stain she could not wash off, no matter how hard she tried. Sure, no one chooses where they are born, but they should damn well know their place. And if they forget? Well, that’s where I come in. I never would have messed with her if she hadn’t sent that stupid note, confessing her love for me. An Alpha. The highest rank. The one everyone looks up to. Did she think she could reach me, touch me, stand beside me? She had forgotten her place, and I made it my mission to remind her. Now, maybe it sounds cruel. Maybe it sounds petty. Bullying someone just because they are beneath me? But you don’t understand. People like Mirabel—those low-ranking, doe-eyed, too-sweet-for-their-own-good types—they are dangerous. They will do whatever it takes to claw their way to the top. They will take what you have, strip you of everything, and leave you broken. Ask my mother. It was Omegas like Mirabel who destroyed her. Who left her shattered, never to recover. And I will be damned if I let that happen to me—or to my brothers. So no, I don’t trust her. Mate or not, there’s something about her. Something she is hiding. I can’t put my finger on it, but I know it’s there. And yet… When I saw her at the border, she looked so helpless. Vulnerable. Like she couldn’t hurt a fly. It twisted something inside me—something painful and raw. It had to be the bond. That’s what the bond does, right? It makes you feel things. Makes you hurt when they hurt. But what if it’s not just the bond? What if I actually like her? In a different life, maybe I would let the bond take over. Maybe I would pull her close, kiss her soft lips, and mark her as mine. Maybe I’d tell her she’s the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. That I’d burn the world down to keep her safe. But this isn’t that life. This is reality. And in reality, girls like Mirabel are dangerous. Her shady background is enough to destroy me—and the pack. That’s why I chose Vivian. She’s from a family I know. A background I trust. She is safe. Mirabel isn’t. So I keep her at arm’s length. It’s better this way. Safer. ********** “Relax,” I said, holding up my phone with a photo of her horrified face. Her cheeks were flushed with indignation, but damn, she looked cute. Moments like this, I let myself pretend. Pretend that we could be together. That having a mate wasn’t a curse. “Delete it!” she yelled. I smirked, holding the phone higher, just out of her reach. She was too short to grab it, and I laughed at her futile attempts. “Make me,” I teased. Her glare could’ve burned through steel, but all I saw was how adorable she looked. We were still arguing when my phone buzzed. The screen lit up with Vivian’s name, and just like that, the moment shattered. Mirabel’s smile faded, and guilt twisted in my gut. “Answer it,” she said quietly, stepping back. I hesitated, hating the way her light dimmed so easily. But I nodded, giving her a weak, apologetic look before walking away. “Hi, babe,” I said, forcing my tone to sound warm. “Where are you, love? The boys are waiting. Don’t forget we have that dinner meeting tonight,” Vivian’s voice purred through the line. I clenched my jaw. I had almost forgotten. “Yeah, I will be there soon,” I replied, my voice clipped. “Give the phone to Scott.” Besides my brothers, Scott was one of the few people I could trust. He wasn’t just a loyal soldier; he was more like my right-hand man. He understood me better than anyone else, even more than my beta. My beta and I only spoke when it was necessary—usually about pack matters. There was no personal bond between us; being betrothed brother, he was far too ambitious for that. “Where are you, Alpha Damian?” Scott’s voice came through the phone. “I’m at the hospital,” I admitted. Scott hesitated, then asked, “The hospital? What are you doing there? You hurt?” “No,” I replied curtly. “I’m with Mirabel.” There was a pause before Scott chuckled lightly. “Mirabel? As in Mirabel, Mirabel?” He dragged out her name teasingly. “Tell me, Alpha, you are not developing a soft spot for the girl, are you? That’s not like you at all.” “She is weak,” I snapped, brushing off his insinuation. “Helpless. Someone like her would never survive on her own. It’s pathetic, really.” Scott laughed again, but his tone turned more serious. “If you say so, Alpha. Just don’t let her softness rub off on you.” “I don’t have time for this, Scott. Be ready when I get there,” I ordered, cutting the conversation short and ending the call. I slipped my phone back into my pocket and that’s when I noticed Mirabel standing by the doorway with unshed tears. “You think I’m pathetic?” she whispered. “Mirabel, wait. You don’t understand—” I started, stepping toward her, but she shook her head violently, taking a step back. “I heard enough,” she hissed. “Let me explain,” I said. “No, Damian. I don’t need an explanation,” she said firmly. Without another word, she turned and walked away. I didn’t follow her. I couldn’t. My feet felt glued to the floor. She’s just an Omega, I told myself. A weak, insignificant Omega. So why did watching her walk away feel like a dagger twisting in my chest?
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