I stirred, moaning from the warmth warming my insides. Blinding sunlight was peeking through the crack of the half drawn curtains when I tossed to my side. Groaning, I reach for the other pillow usual kept next to mine to hurl at the window, to find it vanished.

I rotated to my opposite side, taking the pillow from under on my roll over to cover my head. There was a headache exploding in my head, and my feet strangely ached. All my body's joints screamed in protest.

My body was smelled as if I were dunked in a human size cauldron of cleaning alcohol and then left in the same room as my brother when they hold their wrestling match and then left out to blow dry in the frying sun.

Suddenly the sheets felt too constricting at my waist. I tug myself out, feeling the sun baked bedsheet scorch my skin at first touch. Feeling even worse than before, I trying rolling back into the shadow even further away from the sun when I went flying down bed.

No sound came out as I hit the floor. Sprawled on the cold ground, I outstretch my hands as if I were to being making an imaginary snow angel. When the heat was transferred from my flesh to the cool floor, I rose warily, struggling to straighten my back even when holding the bed.

In the dresser's mirror, I gasp at my horrid reflection. My hair looked like a bird's nest, my velvety lipstick smeared -not badly but enough to give any girl a heart attack, lips cracked and bloody. Were those dark circled under my eyes I saw?

My eyes darted to the sleeping Damon on the sofa with an arm rested over his head. There was a coat swung over the coffee table's glass, that I vaguely remembered having thrown over my shoulders, strong pair of arms carrying and guiding me in through a car's door.

His shirt was badly wrinkled, his top buttons popped from the seams entirely.

Now's the chance to we've been dying for. He's heavily drunk and seriously, how hard can it be to mutilate his gentiles with a vegetable peeler?

JUNE!

Okay fine! Sorry, she apologized, not sounding one bit remorseful. First the grenade rocket and then the peeling.

You're hopeless, I frown. We arent even going to touch him! Let the wickedly Alpha King rest.

Going soft already?

Never, I cringe, biting my lip. But..let him be, okay? Best to ignore the ignorant old cocker before it comes pecking at your throat.

Heading for the shower, I gather my towel and clothes -jeans, red tank, a loosely knit coffee cardigan and some undergarments. Slipping a final glance to the exhausted Damon on the sofa, I slam the door to the bathroom, shaking my head.

I strip, going for the hot rinse and rose scented body wash and shampoo. I had just started to lather it on my skin and through my hair when a million baby bubbles began to appear. I took my time in playing with it. Soon after I brushing my teeth and drying my hair, water was dripping from the ends onto the bathroom floor when I unlatched the door lock.

"OH." A hand went to the frame while the other rested on my chest. "God damnit. What the hell are you trying to accomplish, trying to get me killed by scaring me to death Monsieur Alpha?"

Damon's eyes lustrous black flickered with traces of gold. It was like a a flick of a light bulb, here and gone in a flash. He held a hands to both sides of the door's frame, entrapping me in. The sleeves rolled to his elbow making the blue veins in his forearms and the veins in his undone collar bulged with the gulp of his adam's apple.

He was the predator, closing on his prey and I was this predator's savior? What was Aria on when thinking of such an absurd thought. I'd never give him the satisfaction of preying me. Not ever after all he's done. I'd put a hell of a fight.

I dared to stick my chin up to his face, stepping forward even if it meant practically being in his arms, our chest brushing ever so lightly.

Expecting to hear a growl, or even an attempt to shove me into the wall, I mentally prepared myself for the worse. Having the whole plan of how'd I get him to fall to his knees ready in my head, imagine to my disbelief hearing yet another gulp and a short stuttered, "How are you?"

"What does it matter to you? Don't you have some shank already on her way to make your bed with you?" I say coldly, trying not to get my heart to sink from the thought. Swatting a hand of his arm aside, I push myself away from his cage.

"I was just-just wanting to know you're okay-" "Sure! I'm doing just fine. Don't you worry about me for a second! I'm just trying my best to not overreact and to punch your worthless grin toothless. Is that what you wanted to hear because I can go and on about how much it would delight me to do such a thing." I stopped by the wall next to the dresser, turning back.

He appeared to grimace. For a moment he look conflicted, but it was over soon enough. He stalked up, not saying a word while slowly pushing me back and up against the walk as the night of the Games.

Tightly pursing my lips, the towel from my fingertip fallen and fist curled behind my back, I cock my head to the side as he brushed my wet hair from my neck with warm agile fingers. Almost affectionately.

Deceptive. People saw Damon as a vile monster, coldly heartless and quiet, as raging winter snowstorm. I saw him as a shrivel creature of no self importance. Like Dua Lipa said, 'if you're under him, you ain't getting over him'.

My eyes were snapped away when I heard him take in a heavy sigh of air. Hearing a rattle from his trouser's pocket, he pulled out a long silver chain that glistened in the sunlight.

Mom's Faith. I suck my breathe. That crescent shaped moon was the last thing I had of my mother. New rules be damned.

Seeing it after so long and here of all the times, I couldn't resist the tears from numbing my eyes. Damon undid the chain, taking it around my neck and tying it in the back of my head. My hands had recoiled and both were on the glass pendant surrounded by the silver crescent.

Chewing my lips, I fought to keep my tears subsided. He breathes heavily against my skin, his mouth only a kissable distance away. The warmth of his breathe made me consider how close we actually were. Our chest were pressing softly, my back was slightly arched over the wall, his hands were surrounding me, his finger wound in my drenching bangs brushing it aside my face and behind my ear.

Why would he be so cruel to play with me? His finger left a trail of destruction. A patch of scorching heat I was begging more of. Begging to consume me whole in it's flames.

"Im sorry I let you down," He said in his deep huskiness. Damon's eyes were consumed to the gold rings lighting his orbs.

He hung his head, pulling away, dropping to grab the fallen towel and heads to the wide spread bathroom door. Two phones simultaneously rang, one the sound of a flute harmony from atop the dresser and the other of chimes.

Letting go of the breathe I dont remember holding in the first place, I swipe and unlock the screen.

"Hey Lia. Whats up?"

"What in the merciful hell is it fucking now Kaden!"

He was halted in front the door, Damon's back was to me as he spoke with great effort.

"Nora my bitch!" There was muffled background sounds of ruffling items. " Whose hole did you crawl up and die, huh? How dare you ignore my demand for attention!"

"Lia, I thought I messaged you about my phone getting lost." I said wincing at the memory of the trip to New York, the club, New Year's Night, the club, the alleyway, the orphans of Sister Cath. Since my phone was lost in a wild goose hunt at a club, I had to buy another Iphone, the red IPhone XR and reactivate my number.

"Oh, big deal! You're not the only one who loves to be dramatic." She exclaimed, imagining her wave her white file tipped fingers with a fair amounts of boredom. "We need to catch up, no joke girl. Movies?"

"Yeah whenever you say. Ill be here." I catch glimpse of Damon from the reflection of the dresser. His body was stiffened, no longer slouching but alarmingly alert. His charcoal eyes raked up and found me looking in the face of the mirror. He shuffles his head away.

Lia went on and on rambling about some good movies selection. I was zoning her out, drawing my attention to Kaden's frantic lectures about taking some kind of action regarding the burned dead bodies turning up in the Pack. ... So tired from today, thought you all would need this even if it's short.

The Author; xbookgirlx15