Chapter 5: Dangerous Games
1682 Words
Chapter 5: Dangerous Games
(Elina's POV)
The slap reverberated in the small restroom, the sound slicing through the tense silence like a blade. My palm stung immediately, and my heart galloped in terror as the red mark on Damon’s jaw became visible.
His expression didn’t waver at first. Those piercing blue eyes locked onto mine, his wolf looming beneath the surface. Slowly, his lips curved into a mocking, dangerous smile, one that sent a shiver down my spine.
“Well,” he said, voice low, laced with something wild and untethered. “Is this revenge for all the times I’ve bruised your pride, little wolf?”
My throat was dry, my fingers trembling. “N-no,” I stammered, taking a step back against the smooth, cold wall. My wolf whimpered inside me. “I—my wolf—we reacted...” I struggled to find the words. “Instinct. She’s on edge from everything happening with my mother. It wasn’t intentional.”
His eyes narrowed slightly. “Instinct, you say?” He tilted his head, studying me like a predator sizing up wounded prey. The sharp angle of his jaw somehow made him even more alpha, more overwhelming. “Then allow me to remind your wolf...” His voice dropped, dripping with authority, “...who she belongs to.”
Before I could react, his hand snaked out, curling around my waist with a grip that could shatter granite. His mouth crashed against mine, possessive and rough. The metallic tang of blood mixed with the heat of his lips as my teeth grazed against his in the brutal kiss.
“Stop!” I gasped, twisting my head away. My heart pounded, and panic coursed through me. “Stop, Damon. Someone might—”
“Might smell me?” His deep chuckle sent chills down my spine. He pulled away, his thumb brushing my lower lip with an almost teasing touch. “Would that be so bad? If they knew?” His tone was casual, but his gaze felt heavy, suffocating.
He strolled to the sink, washing his hands with a calmness that belied the storm that had just passed. “How’s your injury healing?” he asked, lifting a brow at me through the mirror. “From our last... encounter.”
My stomach flipped. Was he testing me? Had he detected the subtle changes in my scent? The pregnancy?
I swallowed hard, pushing down the panic. “It’s—fine,” I replied, my voice tight. “That’s what I was here for, just a... follow-up.”
He turned, leaning casually against the counter. His imposing frame blocked the exit completely. “Is that all, Elina?” His eyes bore into me. “You’re hiding something.”
I froze, my wolf recoiling under the weight of his dominance. “I’m not,” I said, forcing calm into my tone.
His nostrils flared slightly, his eyes narrowing. “You smell... different.”
My chest tightened. Did he know? Could he tell? My wolf whined anxiously again, but I forced a weak laugh and folded my arms defensively. “Different? Maybe because I’ve been in a hospital all day, Damon.”
His gaze didn’t soften. Instead, he stepped closer, closing the gap between us. “Are you carrying my pup?”
The air felt ripped from my lungs. His words, spoken so bluntly, struck like a whip.
“No!” I snapped, too loud, too fast. I needed to control myself. Think. Calm down. I forced a bitter smile and continued, “After last night? With how rough you were? It wouldn’t exactly be possible, would it?”
He smirked faintly at the edge of my response, perhaps appeased. “You have a point,” he said casually, though his tone carried an edge I couldn’t decipher.
He took a step back, finally allowing me some space to breathe. “Let’s go,” he said, motioning me toward the door.
I followed, clutching the slight trembling in my stomach. He couldn’t know. Not now.
When we stepped out, Asher stood waiting with his arms crossed, his gaze flickering between us. His grey eyes landed on the red mark on Damon’s face, his brow creasing in confusion.
“What happened?” Asher asked, his voice filled with genuine curiosity.
“Oh,” Damon answered lazily, brushing a thumb over his jaw. “Your designer has quite the temper. Though...” His lips twisted into an infuriating smirk. “...this isn’t the only mark she left.”
Before I could stop him, he tugged his shirt collar aside briefly, baring a faint bruise near his neck.
My face burned in mortification. I wanted to scream for him to stop, to walk away, but my throat locked up.
Asher frowned but didn’t press further. Instead, he turned to me. “You ready to head back, Elina?”
I nodded quickly, escaping the tension that felt like it was choking me alive.
---
Back at the design studio, I threw myself into work. Each thread woven into the ceremonial marking gown felt like a lifeline. My hands moved with precision, stitching the fabric while my mind focused entirely on one thing: earning enough money to pay my mother’s fees.
I couldn’t rely on Damon anymore. Not after everything. I wouldn’t give him any more chances to control my life.
Hours passed in silence until the need for caffeine drove me to the break room. I stepped inside only to hear snickers and whispers.
“I’m telling you, she’s playing them both,” Rachel’s voice was sharp and mocking. “First Asher, now Damon? Typical omega behavior. Desperate for a way up the ladder.”
My blood boiled. My wolf stirred angrily. I stepped through the doorway, refusing to let them think I hadn’t heard.
“Care to repeat that?” I said smoothly, though my voice carried the sharp edge of a blade.
Rachel jumped slightly before recovering her composure, fixing me with a smug smile. “Oh, look who it is. The professional climber herself.”
I smiled back sweetly. “Coffee?” I said as I grabbed the steaming pot. Then, without breaking eye contact, I “accidentally” tipped it over her expensive white blouse.
She shrieked, jumping away as the hot liquid soaked her chest. “You b***h!” she yelled, her face twisting in fury. “Everyone knows what you’re doing—you’re using both alphas to get ahead!”
The break room fell silent as other employees peeked their heads in, drawn by the commotion.
I stepped forward, my voice venomous. “Prove it.”
“What?” she stuttered, caught off guard.
“Prove your accusations,” I repeated coldly. “Because if you can’t, you’re in violation of both human and pack laws about defamation.”
Her mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water, her confidence crumbling under my direct challenge.
Asher arrived moments later, his expression dark and serious as he surveyed the scene. His beta presence filled the room, a calm but commanding authority that silenced further arguments.
After hearing the full story, he turned to Rachel, his voice like steel. “Pack law is clear. Slander, gossip, and disruption of harmony won’t be tolerated. Pack members and employees are expected to uphold respect.” His hand gestured toward the door. “You’re banished. Leave the company and the territory immediately.”
Rachel’s face paled, her jaw dropping in shock, but she didn’t dare argue. She stormed out, accompanied by nervous glances from her coworkers.
Despite the resolution, rumors spread like wildfire through pack social channels, fueled by phone videos and malicious comments.
By evening, Asher found me in the office. His grey eyes softened as he approached. “Let me take you to dinner,” he said gently. “We can talk. Just like when we were younger—before all... this.”
I sighed, closing my eyes for a brief moment. “Asher, we shouldn’t. It’ll only add fuel to the rumors.”
“Elina,” he said firmly, stepping closer. “You’re my friend. Gossip shouldn’t dictate how we treat each other. I won’t let it.”
I was about to respond when the air shifted. A familiar presence flooded the space, one that made my wolf alert and restless.
“Am I interrupting?” Damon’s voice cut through the tension like a blade. He stood in the doorway, his sharp gaze scanning Asher’s proximity to me.
“No,” I said quickly, my spine stiffening. “We were discussing the ceremonial marking gown design.”
“Ah,” Damon said, stepping fully into the room. He settled into the seat beside me, his thigh brushing mine with deliberate care.
His pine and storm scent wrapped around me, enveloping my senses until my wolf couldn’t help but lean into it.
“This should be interesting,” Damon drawled, addressing me directly. “Speaking of designs, have you thought about my... earlier request?” His hand brushed against my leg, subtle but possessive.
I shifted uncomfortably, trying to create distance, but his alpha dominance kept me pinned.
I cleared my throat, pulling out the sketches. “The design is done,” I said briskly, focusing on professionalism. “For your future Luna.”
He studied the sketches, his expression impassive, before smirking faintly. “You’ll need to be there when Seraphina tries it on.”
The name was a slap to the face, but I kept my composure.
Damon leaned back in his chair, his smile turning sharper. “Will you be as committed to this task as you seem to be to helping Asher?”
Beside us, Asher bristled. His jaw tightened, his voice steady but pointed as he responded. “Elina’s dedication is one of her best qualities. Her work is extraordinary.”
The two alphas exchanged a brief, charged look, their wolves silently challenging each other.
I sat frozen between them, the air crackling with tension. My hands trembled as I clutched the sketches, trying not to let my unease show.
- Writer
