A bite from an Alpha King

Book 3 Chapter 9: Losing Control

-Damian-

F*ck me, that was all I could think as every male in the room stared at me. I sighed and rubbed my eyes tiredly, taking a deep breath.

“Forget I said that. Just send her to Selene’s pack,” I groaned, turning my back to them and looking into the fireplace.

Silence enveloped the room, and I could sense them trying to piece together the reason for my outburst. I knew what I had to say. I just didn’t want to say it. But I couldn’t just run out of here, no matter how much I wanted to.

“Isabella is my mate,” I said in a low voice, my eyes fixed on the dancing flames.

“What?” I heard Garrett say, disbelief lacing his tone.

“She is my mate,” I repeated, turning back to him. “But I want her gone.”

“Why? If she’s your mate, then why would you want her gone? Being connected to you gives her the right to stay.”

“No. She needs to leave. She has to.”

She stays!

I shook my head, trying to rein in my wolf, who was relentless. He wouldn’t give up on the little female.

“Damian, what’s going on? Why would you want her gone?” Valerio inquired, clearly sensing my inner turmoil.

“Because… Isabella is my second chance mate.”

The room fell dead silent, but that was the reaction I had expected. There was a reason I hadn’t talked about it. Amelia was dead, and dead mates always made for an uncomfortable atmosphere.

“Stop looking at me like that!” I growled, pointing at each one of them, even the king, which probably gave him the justification to throw me in jail.

“She is your second chance?” I heard Chris ask, clearly struggling to believe that I had been mated before.

I nodded, but it was clear that these f*ckers were waiting for me to explain further. And while I would love to avoid it, I knew it was better just to lay everything out so they’d drop the topic once and for all.

“I had a mate a few years back, back when the old council was in power. Her name was Amelia. We came from the same pack, and when we turned eighteen, we found out we were mates. But we barely had a chance to be together before the council killed her and left me for dead. I was lucky to survive. When I heard Valerio was on a mission to take down the council, I didn’t hesitate to join him,” I admitted.

“So, you wanted to avenge Amelia,” the king concluded.

I nodded. “Originally, I didn’t plan to stay, but then you asked me to, and suddenly, there were people relying on me.”

“Where did you plan to go if the king hadn’t asked you to stay?” Garrett inquired.

“To Amelia, of course. She is the only one and always will be.”

The tension in the room was clear, but no one called me insane for even thinking about ending my life. Despite the fact that only two of them were mated, they all understood the pain of losing a mate. Just look at James.

“That’s why I need Isabella gone. She’s already making me lose control, and that simply cannot happen!” I exclaimed.

“She is your mate. It’s not unusual for you to become possessive,” the king said.

“It’s more than that,” I whispered, reflecting on how desperate I felt for her. She was driving me wild. I had never felt such a fierce need to claim something, to know it was all mine. I wanted to enjoy every part of her, every day. I wanted her to carry my mark, to scent her, and to beat the sh*t out of anyone who dared to look at her the wrong way.

I needed her in my bed, beside me, under me, on top of me. I wanted her in every way possible. I craved to taste her and hear her scream my name with that beautiful voice that could reach me even in the darkest corners of my heart. It was dangerous how close I was to losing control.

“I just need her gone,” I admitted, my tone growing more demanding.

“Does the half-blood know you two are mates?”

I shrugged. “I’m not sure. Half-bloods are all so different. I don’t know if she’s figured it out or not, but I still need her gone, whether she knows or not.”

“Damian, maybe we should wait a little,” the king suggested.

“What? Why?”

“Because just a moment ago, you looked ready to kill Garrett for even suggesting sending Isabella away.”

“That’s exactly why I need her gone. I’m losing control here.”

“Yes, but if we try to take her away, there’s no telling you won’t attack any of us for trying to remove her,” the king explained.

“I won’t,” I promised.

Silence fell over the room as everyone processed what had been said. But quickly, Chris spoke up. “Well, if Damian says he can handle us removing her from here, then I’ll go get her ready and take her to Selene,” Chris said, standing up from the couch.

I was in front of him in an instant, my hand wrapped around his throat, squeezing lightly enough for air to pass through but firm enough to warn him not to move or say anything that might provoke me.

“Anyone but you can take her,” I growled.

“Why? Are you afraid I might take a little detour to my apartment in the city before delivering her to Selene?”

I tightened my grip, growling with such intensity that the walls seemed to tremble. “Touch her, and I’ll hunt you down, cut off your hands, and rip you into a million pieces!”

It wasn’t even me speaking. My words came out sounding primal, like an animal trying to communicate but failing. But the growling and the way I was slowly choking him made my message crystal clear.

“Damian, let go of him. Now!” I heard the king’s command, but my hand refused to obey. All I could think about was finally killing this b*stard for even touching Isabella and the way he had looked at her. I could sense his thoughts, and they were far from innocent.

“Damian, let go of him, and I’ll go prepare Isabella,” Garrett said, rising from his seat in front of the king’s desk.

Garrett was a good choice. He was so in love with his mate that you could practically see heart shapes in his eyes whenever he looked at her. But even though I knew he had no interest in Isabella, he was still a male heading to her room.

“You move, and you die!” I snarled. Once again, my words sounded like an animal trying to speak, but the growling and hissing made my intent abundantly clear.

Garrett froze in place while I continued to squeeze the life out of Chris. He struggled slightly but knew trying to fight me right now, would guarantee I ripped out his throat.

“Damian!” the king shouted, but I wasn’t listening.

These males were trying to take my mate from me, and for a moment, past and present collided, flooding my vision with red as I remembered the agony of losing Amelia.