THE SCENT OF BETRAYAL

The family curse

DAMON’S POV

The last loose end that I had to tie was already dealt with, and now there was nothing that could stop me from being the king that I was born to be.

“what about your brother?” Noah asked me, and I scoffed

“What about him? Do you think that imbecile is a threat to me?” I asked him and he just sighed and shook his head.

“I just thought it would be better if he was dead too” he said, and I waved him off.

“I don't want to waste my energy looking for him. There is nothing he can do to me. The guy can't even write his name” I laughed

"Even if I did want to kill him. Where would I find him?” I asked

“I am sure he is not hidden far. Why did your father hide him?” he asked me

“Exactly, my father and mother chose to hide him because they saw that he was useless. They knew that he was an unnecessary curse in the family. I mean, when have you ever heard of a king producing a mentally unstable child?” I asked him

“Anyway, get me Ariana. I need to distress, and I want to give her the good news” I said, and as he was about to walk about the door, he paused.

“what now?” I asked him

“Didn’t your father’s beta have a daughter?” he asked me, and I paused and then shrugged.

“so what if he did? She wasn’t there when we were there, was she?” I asked him, and he shook his head. Of course, the Beta had a daughter, I had never seen her, but that didn’t matter. Even if she was alive out there, how would she ever know that what happened to her father was my faulty? Even if she did know that it was my fault, what could she possibly do about it? He was dead now, and there was nothing she would do about it.

It only took Noah a few minutes to get Ariana, and she walked into my office with a huge smile.

“Please tell me it’s all over now” she said as she threw herself in my arms.

“yes it is” I said as my lips sought hers. “none of the elders know anything, so I would say I managed to neutralize the threat successfully ” I said, and she kissed me gently.

“I missed you today” she said as she deepened the kiss, playing with the hair at the back of my neck. She knew how to turn me on. I growled excitedly and lifted her up.

She wrapped her legs around my waist as I carried her to my room, which was a few doors away from my office.

“Wait… didn’t he have a daughter?” she asked me, and I sighed, trying hard to hide my irritation.

“Did he?” I pretended to be clueless.

“I am pretty sure that they said he has a daughter. We have to find her and get rid of her” she emphasized.

“And what threat is she to me?” I asked her as I lazily lay on the bed. I was no longer in the mood for any fucking

“why should I waste my-“

“Its not a waste of time, if you killed my father I would want revenge” she said and I laughed. I laughed because I could see what she was trying to say and I found it hilarious that she even thought this stupid little girl would be any threat to me or my kingdom

“I am not worried about her and neither should you” I said

“She is a harmless fly and if she starts annoying me I will swat her away” I said

“then let’s finish our mating ritual so that you can officially be crowned as the king” she said reminding me of the stupid rule that the kingdom had. It was said that no wolf would ever be crowned king if he didn’t have a mate. I hadn’t found my mate yet and because of the current situation I had chosen a mate for myself.

“I know that…that is why our mating ritual will be performed tomorrow” I said, and her eyes lit up with excitement.

“Tomorrow is the mating ball, right?” she asked me, and I nodded

“the elders insisted I have it so that we can find my mate. I will announce then that I have already found her and introduce you” I promised her, and she almost jumped up in happiness.

“I can’t wait to make it official” she exclaimed.

Due to the rule that stated that I had to have a mate before being crowned the king, the elders of the pack had decided to organize the ball so that I could quickly get my mate and we could move on to the crowning ceremony. I didn’t think they would have a problem with me introducing Ariana as my mate because all they wanted was a mate after all.

“What if your mate comes afterwards? I need you to promise me that you won't leave me even if she comes. You will have to reject her” she stared at me pleadingly.

“I can’t promise you anything. I don’t even know how I will act if she came or if she would ever come. How about we just enjoy the moment?” I asked her as I pulled her into a a kiss, but she pulled away.

“No…you must promise me otherwise I will tell everyone-“ I interjected

“be very careful what you say next. We have a good thing going, and I would hate to end it. You must remember that I choose you and not the other way around don’t ever think that without you I wouldn’t have gotten here or that you are irreplaceable because you are” I said and she looked like she wanted to cry.

“Fine…but I am just scared” she whispered, and I lifted her hand to my lips and kissed it.

“Don’t worry about someone we have never met…" Even if we do meet her at some point, she will be my problem to deal with” I said

I actually didn’t want to be with my mate, and the reason was that I was afraid that I would love her to the point that she would be my weakness and control me in some way. I had seen the way my father doted over my mother and was willing to do anything possible in the wolf kingdom to make her happy. I didn’t want to dedicate my life to anyone like that. Ariana was a safe choice for me because she was easily disposable... with no strings attached.