"Where do think you're going love? Your new found lover's right before your eyes." His body pressed against to mine, trailing my now bare flesh with his bloodied palm, my back scrapping against the freezing concrete of the old alley out of the bar. He held a hand against the wall to grind me off. Sucking at the tenderest area of skin of my neck, my high pitch shrieks of protest went unheard by the ghost crowd gathered at the opening of the alley way, staring mindlessly with clear disgust at the sight before them. All members of Damon's Pack I've seen around the training ground or around else where with Stephanie at the front of them, wearing her signature crooked grin.

A rampage of whispers flooded my ear as he kept thrusting deeper and deeper while making sure to arch my back to bring my body closer to his. ' 'Shes the Luna? She cant defend herself even! What will she defend us!'

'Why couldn't the Alpha make Stephanie the Luna. They even know each well.'

'Id rather take Stephanie as Luna than her. At least Stephanie can fight like a Warrior.'' All words I've heard at one point; whether during the fight with Stephanie or appearance back...here. Each and every one held the same amount of truth as the previous, since all were spoken by real mouths from real people. 'And he rejected me for her. I pity him.' 'What a degrade for the Alpha...''

Yanking my head aside, he sunk his jagged canines into the scars of Damon's marks, letting the leftovers of my oppressed pain run free into the wind, my voice slowly going forgotten over the course of all the intertwined chorus of whispers.

"Nora!! Nora! Noraaaa!!!" I awake shooting upright tangled amongst the sheet waist down, cold sweat beading down my forehead and neck washed with salty tears. My breathing hitched. It felt as if my head were beyond disoriented from the over-flooding of thoughts.

"Hey. It was nothing. Just a nightmare. Breathe, deep breathes," Damon assured despite it all sounding as an order. Being already close enough at my side, he shifted closer and tilted my head towards his, "Easy simple breathes. In and out." He lead me, brushing my hair past my ear studying my face with grave concern knitting his brows. "In and out."

I swallowed my stale bile and followed along, matching my hysterical breathing to his soothing pace and calm voice. The harsh winter sunlight of January was shining in full through the drawn windows and patio doors with a welcoming chilling breeze. I should've been shivering to my death but something burning inside me kept me warm.

Damon was still in his white dress shirt and vest as the night before -now creased with wrinkles but sleeves rolled up at the elbows, his inked brand staring up at me. Sharing the same sheets with me, our bodies were oddly close, maybe a bit too close for my comfort.

His body was right next to mine as if I had fallen asleep on him and I couldn't help but consider, why he hadn't bother to move me if I had. My eyes betray me, rising into his. Damon never failed to shocked me with his handsomeness, even in morning when he should've been hung over after a long night.

That's when my mind drifts and I take ownership to notice my clothing; I was stripped and changed into a baggy shirt -which smelled of Damon and his excotic scent of pine cones. "Keep breathing," he drawled with deathly silence once I had stopped to admire his features. I could not only hear his desperation for me to carry on but also feel it in every living breathe he drew, in his darkened enraged eyes, through our bond. He was a living heartache. Had one night changed so much?

The thought rose back the bile I had somehow managed to choke down, back into my mouth and I tore away the sheets and ran off the bed, stepping off the sides of the bed and nearly colliding with the floor in-between the final steps with my trembling legs, in the direction of the washroom. I had nearly missed when I collapsed in front the toilet, heaving up my leftovers of what remained of yesterday's meal.

My throat grew drier and drier with each heave like having sand paper scrapped against the walls of my throat; surely not helping with the uneasy knot growing in the lowest pit of my stomach.

My eyes were squeezed for the most part, even when I felt the gathering of my hair behind and circles being drawn by some gentle hand upon my back. A wave of certainly settled its ways in with that touch, putting an ease to my knot tightening and churning in my stomach. My throat grew cold, my sweat continuing to drip down in icy droplets. A groan slips my chapped lips as I try standing, with the hand on my hair letting go and twisting around my waist, helping me rise.

My knees remained to stay uncooperative, giving under my weight. Damon's hand scooped me up in one swift gesture, hoisting me to his chest. "Keep deep breathing. Helps with the dizziness."

I kept following his instructions, patterning myself to match his very own. Closing my eyes, I could feel us both hanging our heads, not against one another's but close enough for us both to feel each breathe we drew in with sharp precision. He rested me against the bed board and atop the utterly cold grown sheet, still breathing just as restlessly as me. Our hands were brushed upon each other; our fingers overlapping without fulling touching. He cleared his throat, reopening his eyes up to mine. "I tore him apart," he exhaled, "For you."

"For you." Such a delicate line written on its own. But connected with those words, changed everything. Damon killed for me. No. To save me. Damon killed for me, to save me. Two dependent causes joined to form one horrendous sentence, enough to send shivers rattling down your spine.

"His hands were over you and so was his scent that I-" Damon's eyes swirled ink black with hints of gold, "I-I couldn't resist. I made a grave mistake though. A mistake of killing that bastard. I should've kept that miserable son of a bitch alive just so I could relish his tortuous death I had planned out, savouring every second ever-so slowly and slowly...just so he could suffer no less than you by my hands than you did by his."

He didn't need to tell me. I couldn't see it all before my eyes in his mind through the bond. Flashes of either humans or werewolfs being skinned alive in the dire sunlight, hot silver rods being thrust into their eye sockets, a dozen million scalpels in all sizes and angles used on their skins to give evidence they did as they meant, cells full of trembling malnourished children begging for mercy and so much more, it swelled my eyes just to see.

This was my Mate. The curliest of cruel, the vilest of all, the worse of worse of Mates. What was the assurance he wouldn't do this to me one of these days if I dared to disobey or rebel against his repulsive ways. There were none in mind.

"The WolfsBane he injected," he selected each word with great caution, "was chemically altered and lab created WolfsBane, used to temporarily disoriented the victim for a brief moments. The type used for abduction or even for sedating prisoners at local Pack jails."

"Why are you-?" I ask in a small tremblingly voice, failing to see a point to all this information.

He looked up with anger lightening his orbs. "You deserve answers," another pause, "I was the one to create it in the first place. This modified version of WolfsBane given to you. Mid university I had stumbled to come across the formula during one of my labs. After realizing what I had made, I kept it to myself and the Pack but over the years, I shipped orders out to some of the closet Packs in hope to strengthen weak alliances. This was one of my main shipments I had sent before departing."

I lick my alcohol-and-puke-tasted dry lips moist. "Who changed me?"

"Celeste." He sighed, withdrawing his hand from mine entirely. I dont think he noticed it touching in the first place. Bleakness shaded his eyes. "I called her the second I got you to the car and began driving us back here. The second-" his stuttered which wasn't very like the Damon I knew. It were like he were struggling to admit whatever he was going to say. "The second I felt you drifting. Again. The second time I found your pulse close to none.

"By the time I was done snapping his neck, the WolfsBane has taken it toll on you. It wasn't meant to have an affect like that and I-I don't know why b-but it did." He seemed to shocked even more than I imagined. His face gave it off. "I had Celeste and Stephen -the Alpha of the FireCrest Pack rush the closest Pack doctor here. The moment they arrived and the doctor mentioned a perhaps aftereffect of such a large dose, I-" he clutched his fists, sighing exaggeratedly before dashing out of the bed. With frustration creasing his face, he left muttering an excuse something along the lines of "Needing to make a phone call."

The air drastically flickered from solidly genuine to suddenly cold rigid. We were having a moment. God, no. We had our moment. And instead of opening up as he should've, he had left more questions in the sea of questions than answers. Deserving answers my ass.

The Alpha of most callous Pack Ive known, had created such a thing as awful as this that it nearly costed him his Mate? He never once told me -and not just him but everyone I knew and trusted in his Pack, never thought twice to tell me that my Mate was and possible could be a mad scientist? They kept me in the dark for what? What else had he--?

Who did he think he was even, to do such a thing? And especially to me? His Mate. Compared to his infidelity -which was rough enough to bear, this was just sprinkle to that cake I figured.

Seriously in need of a diversion, I was getting out of bed when dark circles spotted my vision and my toes went straight jamming into the bedside table. A loud thump sounded from the other side.

Going down more cautiously, I arrived to be presented before the same scroungy diary once again.

Sept 23th

Dear Diary,

Being only a couple of weeks in, I can already feel the overwhelming sense of being a mother creeping in on my sense. Ive became so subconscious of everything; even the simplest of task like cooking food and counting calories -something I thought Id never worry about till my mid 30 (aha, I wish) had me stop and think twice.

I had to care for myself -especially in the time like this, since no one else in this abandoned house would. Morning sickness was worse than period cramps, something I wish someone would've been kind enough to tell me all those times I had complained selfishly.

Things are the same whether Im pregnant, if you're wondering. I still get my daily dose of molest every night, but just a milder version than before with more great caution to flick as little pain as physically possible. That aftermath is just the same. ......

I could help but take notice at the jagged tearing of pages in-between pages. Someone must have torn the pages out,trying to cover up whatever was written but it didn't stop me from continuing on.

Jan 19

Dear Diary,

At the hospital, after my water breaking at the crack of dawn and going through about 14 hours of crucially painful labour, engulfed in soft but thick blankets I held my first son. I cried silent tears of joy in the room clutching him for dear life, being unable to tell when Rocco had entered watching solemnly until he made his presence known.

Despite doctors, saying he need to be in the hospital for a few extra days since he was born over a month late, I remained adamant to stay admitted as a patient for those remainders of days. Nathan was one of the first few faces I saw waking up. Camilla was at her parents when Nathan had got the call her water also breaking.

5 hours later, I get the call from Camilla herself informing their first born Xavier, while congratulating me and Rocco of having the best timing possible to have a son as well. What a coincidence two childhood best friends had sons with the same birthday, only hours apart and one Pack over.

Now no less than an hour ago, I proclaimed our son's name as Damon to Rocco -who didnt question it but rather declared it publicly.

Damon, Greek for tame and gentle I read somewhere. I gave a silence pray to the Moon Goddess to make him as one. The most compassionate, sincere Alpha no one has seen in ages but also, an even more understanding mate, more so like his father before. Amen.

.....

Jan 26th

Dear Diary,

Today was the day Rocco and I went to the SilverRose Pack to meet Nathan's first born, Xavier. He had the same bright eyes of Nathan but with that softness in his features like his mother, Camilla. Even in his deep sleep, he wore Camilla's million dollar smile plastered on his face.

I could see him in 20 years looking no more than this father, the exact hair, eyes, laugh, but with the glorious smile inherited by Camilla.

Damon was busy dozing in and out of sleep like he's been doing since the day he was born, no crying what-so-ever. I swear I havent seen a baby as quiet as him. He hardly ever cried and when even he did, he was to be sure to do when Rocco wasnt around and it were us two only. I couldn't quite understand him for acting like this but its maybe cause Ive taking this mother thing to seriously.

....

July 27th

Dear Diary,

Nathan and Camilla came today without Xavier, carrying some more good tiding. They were now expecting twins.

Rocco and I were both just as taken back but it didnt seem to end Rocco's madness. He went back to locking his door to his study just over 6 months ago. I failed to mention it before because maybe I was taking this all to serious.

He needed his time, I understood that. He was an Alpha of the most largest Pack alive and I highly-respected him for that but now, he was a father of a son. I dont know what to do anymore. Either way I looked at this equation, I saw jagged twists and turns, outnumbered ends leading to different aspects I hadnt considered before and I...just dont know anymore whats right and wrong.

Damon had me mostly occupied, feeding, changing, burping, sleeping him was a full chore for a 17 year old new mother like me and without support was worse. Oh yeah, my birthday went by too. Like always, it was a quiet one though. No one remembered and neither did I. Happy 17th Birthday to me I guess. ....

This was enough, I thought slapping the book shut. I had plenty to read for one day. Enough of being cooped up on the first day of the New Year in The Big Apple in a overly baggy sweat shirt and boxer shorts and worrying over matters that can be dealt with on another day. It was time for an adventure.

Planning and coordinating my schedule in my head, I stood before the mirror an hour later, freshly showered, light neutral makeup and hair done up in a messy side bun, wearing a floor length black maxi skirt and loose but not baggy, light grey sweater, the sleeves pushed up to elbows with my roomy black leather duffel bag -which I mainly used in carrying books strung at my side.

I had my ears adorned with simple hoops and my mom's necklaces securely around my neck under my sweater. Over the sweater, I had worn a longer chain with a single dangling black feather. A limited edition signature from one from my most beloved series, I wore ever-so proudly.

I strode out the door moments later, down the empty hall and into the ghostly front lobby with only the receptionist smiling at the sight of me. I return the friendly gesture wholeheartedly, walking over to where I had the guards ordered awaiting for my arrival.

"My Luna." The handful of over a dozen men all greeted in union in casual wear. Damon's men I figured. I nod approval before approaching the front doors with the herd of guards just behind. "Where to my Luna?" One asked.

"Anywhere open," I reply immediately without a thought, "Somewhere out of the city. Somewhere where I can....can clear my head." Of Damon and his scent, the lightening in his burning orbs for eyes, the memory of his lips on mine from last night, his infidelity, his hurt -just everything relating him. I wasnt ready for him.

I pause at the front of the door to look at then guard while the others trickle back into the other two SUV. Nodding understandably, I imagined seeing something like sympathy written over his face when he reached out to open the door. Like he had heard my thoughts and felt what I was feeling.

The second I shut the door, the car swerves out and onto the traffic filled roads of Manhattan. Sky-high skyscrapers touched the sky with a metallic flashed tip, like a radiating star atop a Christmas tree. Decorative shops with eye catching bold signs, Java's smelling of rich coffee, cigarette butts littering the sidewalk, newspapers stands at every corner, men and women in formal suits, briefcases and a phone glued to their ears. Some to sight-see while others trying to get past the ocean of people rushing along the sidewalks.

My mouth hangs open from the sight and I swear I could've heard the driver chuckle. About a dozen different eye popping billboard screens were flashing, and showcasing over a dozen different images at once but were quick into changing in under a blink. We were in iconic Time's Square of Manhattan.

I've dont think I've seen any place like this. As extravagant and buzzing with the fast life; overly bold, but yet so lifeless. As pleasing as all the colour may be to the eye, it became an easy facade to overlook. The facade of time being of the essence. Always. How could you live life knowing every second is counted for, ticking away slowly and slowly and is meant to done doing something, anything really. Is meant to done either hustling from place to place, job to job, or errand to errand, to do what? Get money, pay bills and taxes, afford food, a place to sleep. How could they truly live without going through the motions of life and being unable to push aside the troubles of everyday life and just absorb the given moment? Was this life?

Aside the neon signs and shops, I saw people with their noses down as they moved through the crowd and not sparing the time to take a second glance at the person besides them or not even taking the time to wear a smile as they hurried down the flooded paths of one of the most beautiful cities in the world, proofing my point. Maybe it was just me, growing up a city not half as modernized and extravagant as this but it was something I thought heavily about.

Taking a couple of fully crowded streets, we somehow made our way onto some more broader roads like a highway or freeway leaving the skyscrapers and swarming city life behind. The roads narrowed and the scenery became more greenery filled. Taking an exit, we switched and took some internal lanes through what seemed like a more denser part of the forest.

"Where are we going?" I ask after placing my book I had boughten down, surveying the area and noticing the lack of human presence in this forest before facing my driver in the mirror.

"Somewhere my Luna," he purred sweetly after a lengthy pause. His tone sent goosebumps to erupt along my back hairline. Something didn't seem right. The other two SUV were missing, as in were vanished entirely. Not anything ahead nor behind. It was just us on this deserted road.

My heart hammered beneath my clothes so loud it might as well be heard by everyone who wished. Turning forward, I was paralyzed from realization. How couldn't have I remember that golden sway of hair and flirtatious, piercing- "Don't stress my Luna," Taylor drawled with feline amusement, his cap covering half of his face again, "The Alpha just wishes to meet you."

I sucked in a sharp gasp, my hand going cover my bag's straps discreetly figuring my escape plan. "Which Alpha?"

"Does it matter? Either way, the Alpha's been wanting to meet you for some time. Especially since you and your Alpha daddy slaughtered and burned alive his men during in the forest twice and during the party." Something sparked in his eyes at the mention of the forest.

"I didnt burn them," I said softly, daring to meet his face. The memory still a fresh living nightmare in my mind, a salted wound on my flesh to bare for life, "I didnt burn your brother."

I remembered seeing Taylor's younger version in the group of prisoners Damon had burned alive. One of the youngest in the troup. He couldn't have been than 3 years younger than Taylor with the same boyish features and golden glint in the eyes whenever the light was reflected. "I didnt burn them, nor did I sit still when they were! Instead I was the one trying to save them all! I heard those screams, not only you're brother's but also of the other's begging on their torn knees for their merc-" "Shut up! Just shut up. You were there! Watching your Alpha Mate douse them in gasoline and probably savouring at the sight of them at your feet begging like dogs ready for slaughter!"

I take a moment of silence. You didnt need to provide him the truth. To defend yourself to him or proof anything. You tried and you know you did, June consoled. "Burn in hell with your Alpha."

Taking in all the strength I could muster in that moment, I swing my book filled bag at his face unexpectedly, leading him to eventually loose control and crash the car into the closet tree at the edge of the road. The airbags explode, and while cushioning my fall into the back of the seat, I yank open the door, nearly tripping on my way out because of my stupid decisions of wearing a floor length skirt.

Not sparing a second glance back to see if Taylor were following or not, I dash back the way we came, going along the trail of trees closet to the road with the intention to flag down any car in sight. Minutes became hours and soon I couldn't tell how much time had passed. No car had driven by.

I was about to collapse from exhaustion against the bark of a tree when I heard the glorious hum of tires not so far away. Hope once again fluttered. Swiftly getting back onto my feet, I rise and advance forward in the direction of the movement.

Walking in a jagged line in the center of the road, three dark matching SUVs slow down before stopping right before me. I already drained of energy when I had spotted the car but after seeing Damon himself, get out of the back seat from the middle one, I was drained of whatever remaining colour was left. He was yet, again in another one of his finest formal wear, all dressed to impress. A memory from the day back in the forest replayed before my eyes, the blood, the confession and protests of innocents with the scent of burnt flesh the next.

"What the hell are you-?" Damon grasped a handful of my hair from behind my head, bring my tear stained face to meet his anger filled demeanor.

"Get your hands off me!" I scream senselessly, thrashing in his arms not caring any less about the audience of guards ringing around us. "IVE HAD ENOUGH! Enough of you, him and anyone else thinking that I'm a weakling for a LUNA! For thinking you can treat me after all that's happened! To hold me like I'm you're personal, FUCKING marionette doll THAT YOU CAN HANDLE WHATEVER, AND WHENEVER YOU LIKE! TYING ME, LOCKING ME, RESTRAINING ME LIKE YOU OWN ME LIKE A BITCH ON YOUR LEASH! Is that what I am?! Cause if so, NEXT TIME, ILL SHOW YOU A BITCH WHEN I GUT YOU BOTH ALIVE IN YOUR FUCKING SLEEP!"

My vision blurs in to a million flashes of black spots as I feel the power of June seeping through my pupils. My head was already pounding before I sense his hand tightening around my arms and the I hear the drop in his icy and venomous laced voice, coming out as a low growl. "Who do you mean 'by him'?" .....

Hey owls!

Another one of my many random updates, and honestly god knows when the next one will come. School sometimes sucks. 😓

I know this chapter is sort of short compared to the others but I really wanted to give Damon and Nora their own mini chapter, where it shows their relationship and where it sort of is at this point in. Comment how you think of it and keep showing that love by reading and Voting!

We're at 61.2K Reads as of right now! Thank youuuu!!!!❤️

Ps. Just finished reading 'The Leveller' and 'Warcross'. Personally found Warcross 1000x better than the Leveller but still, I suggest reading both!

The Author; xbookgirlx15