Chapter 35
Elira
I groan, my eyes fluttering open as pain shoots through my body. I try to raise my hands to rub my forehead, but I can barely move them, the sharp ache in my muscles making it impossible,
As my vision slowly clears, 1 take in the quiet room around me. With each passing second, a cold dread spreads in the pit of my stomach as everything that happened with Damien nods my mind.
“Oh. My. Goddess.“1 cover my face with my hands, the memory of it all crashing over me.
“Did I just have sex with Damien!” I breathe out, refusing to open my eyes, praying this is all just a nightmare or some stupid wet dream about him. But no matter how many times I blink, I can still see myself lying in Damien’s bed.
Dumnil
1 shoot up quickly, ignoring the pain that spikes through my body. I slip into my underwear, which is scattered on the floor beside the bed. I scramble around, searching for my dress, but when I find it, I freeze,
It’s ripped apari
“What the hell!” I mitter under my breath, my face burning as I stare at the tom dress. I want to curse Damien, but more than anything, I want to ourse myself for getting so easily seduced–and for going as far as begging Damien to-
“Gosh, I must have been crazy” I shake my head in disappointment, pushing the thoughts away. I quickly move toward Damien’s walk–in closet. I know where he keeps his clothes because I’ve been here before. I spent an entire month unconscious, and a week while 1 was conscious, here
I swing the door open and uep inside. Rows of clothes greet me–mast of them baggy and casual, but a few are formal suits, neatly arranged.
I can’t wear his suits, and running out naked is
ked is absolutely our of the question, so I settle for a pair of pants and an oversized shirt
As soon as I slip into his clothes, his scent overwhelms my senses. If Lucian smells like the woods, then Damien smells like flowers–bright, sunny flowers that sheays seem to brighten people’s day
I sigh, staring at myself in the mirror. The shirt falls to my knees, and the trusers pool on the ground, dragging behind me like a child wearing their parent’s clothes,
I rub the bridge of my nose, trying not to focus on how I must look. My room is just a few meters away from Damien’s, and I’ll be able to reach it in seconds.
The only question is, who might I bump into on the way! I can’t worry about that now. I just have to run
I nod to myself and crack the door open, listening for any sounds outside. After a few seconds of seeing no one, I smile to myself and step out of the room, quietly closing the door behind me.
Now all I have to do is run. I clutch the hem of Damien’s pants like they’re my lifeline and hot toward the door with a speed that even surprises me. I’m almost there when–bam! My body slams into someone, and before Lean process what’s happening. I find myself hurtling toward the floor like
falling star
But just as I’m about to make a dramatic crash landing, a hand shoots out and grabs me by the waist, halting my fall mid–air. I freeze, half in shock and half in confusion as I stare at the woman in front of me, her short red hair falling across her face. I have to tilt my head back just to meet her piercing blue eyes.
“Are you okay?” Isabella asks, pulling me out of my daze as blink at her, my heart pounding so loudly that I can hear its echoes.
Goddess. Talmost fell.
“Can you hear me asked if you are okay?” babella repeats, her voice firm but soft, as she pulls me closer effortlessly. Her body presses against mine, and I inhale a shaky breath, my face turning red under the weight of her piercing gAZE..
“T–thank you, I am okay, I stammer, feeling the heat of her stane sink deeper into me, leaving me breathless. When I think we might stay like this for far too long. Habella neelu, steadying me on my feet before leaning hack slightly, giving me enough space to regain some control of Thy
I’m about to say something, but I freeze when I feel her gaze flicker over me. Her stare is so intense, it feels like it’s burning a hole through me. I clance down at myself to see what she’s looking at and quickly yank the shirt up to my neck, trying to cover the marks on my skin–those damo hickrys
Chapter 35
The reason I was so shocked by my reflection back in Dunsin’s room was because of the endless marks on my body. Now, as babella’s eyes scan me. I can’t help but feel a pang of guilt teist in my stomach. I just slept with her fiancé. Even though it’s just an arranged inarriage between them. 1 can’t shake the feeling that I’ve crossed a line I shouldn’t have.
“I—” I start, but Isabella’s gaze shifts from my neck back to my face, cutting me off.
“I’ve been meaning to talk to you,” she says, her tone calm and composed, as if she didn’t just see anything suspicious. I was looking for you bur couldn’t find you”
“Ah–yes, I was.. busy, I mumble, barely audible as Lavoid her piercing gaze. The weight of her words and her steady demeanor make me feel even
smaller
She nods once, her posture remaining stiff yet straight. “I just want to ensure there’s no bad blood between us, she continues, her words coming our in a single breath. “And I’d also like to apologize for what happened in the garden. Whatever choices the Alpha makes are final, so you don’t have to feel awkward or uncomfortable about anything.”
Her calmness catches me off guard, and I can only nod in response, wishing the floor would swallow me whale
“I–I’m sorry.” I blurt out, biting my lip nervously. “I won’t be Luana or anything like that, so you can be at ease. Especially if you love the Alpha. I’ll stay out of his way, and—”
Isabella interrupts me again. her expression stoic. “You’re deeply mistaken. I do not love the Alpha. Her words are blunt, leaving me speechless as my jaw drops.
“B–but-“I stammer, struggling to process what she just said. She doesn’t love Damien? Then why is she marrying him? The question swirls in my mind, and my thoughts immediately jump to my own situation, bring forced to marry Lucian at my father’s command. Could it be the same for her!
“Then why are you marrying him?” 1 ask stepping closer. “Is it because you’re being forced to?” My words seem to catch her off guard, her gaze- flickering in surprise as if she didn’t expect me to figure it out so quickly.
Her lips part as if she’s about to say something, but then she stops, her eyes narrowing slightly as she looks over my shoulder.
“Greetings to the Alphas,” she says suddenly, bowing in respect.
Alphas! My brow furrows in confusion, and I um around slowly. Sure enough. Damien is there, leaning lazily against the railing, his eyes shamelessly taking over me like he has every right in.
My breath catches as I take in the other man beside him, impeccably dressed in a suit, his hands casually tucked into his packets. His cold, emotionless eyes lock onto mine, just as I remember them. A shiver runs down my spine as his eyes narrowed at my neck
The tension stretches unbearably until Damien breaks it with a deep, amused chuckle.
“Well, I must say, little mite,” lie drawls, his smirk widening. “You look quite good, although— a bit funny dressed in my clothes”
