I can see the gate approaching, and dogs are scattered in front of it.
Dogs? Why does he have so many of them?
The closer I get, the more they resemble wolves. Maybe they're huskies or some kind of wolf mix. They must be, because they're absolutely massive, far too big for normal dogs.
My foot slams on the brake, tires screeching, and a thick cloud of dust surrounds the car. My hands clamp around the steering wheel, white-knuckled, my heart pounding.
As the dust begins to settle, a figure emerges at the center of it all. The Alpha.
Damian stands between the wolves and the gate like something out of a fantasy movie. I blink a few times, almost expecting the image to fade. He's shirtless, chest rising and falling with heavy breaths, fists clenched, eyes blazing.
There is no way this is real. It has to be a dream. Any second now, I'm going to wake up in that cozy bed, the morning sun streaming through the window, and laugh at the bizarre dream I had.
But the dust clears more, and he remains there. Real. Tall. Strong. Unrelenting.
He marches toward my driver's side window and taps gently. I stare up at him, torn between awe, frustration, and panic.
I roll the window down just a crack.
"Where are you going?" he asks, his voice low but firm.
I raise a brow. "Isn't it obvious?"
He sighs and leans forward, resting one arm on the roof of the car. "I don't want to keep you here against your will, but I can't let you leave. Not yet."
My brows furrow. "Why the hell not?"
He runs a hand through his already-messy hair, looking as conflicted and exasperated as I feel.
"Tonight is a full moon. Just... please. Stay one more night. After that, I'll open the gate myself and watch you drive away. I swear."
I glance toward the wolves—no, the creatures—standing silently ahead of me. They look almost... reverent. Watching. Waiting. It sends a shiver down my spine.
"They won't hurt you," he says with a small smile, as if he senses my hesitation. My heart betrays me and skips a beat.
I lift my chin, unwilling to show weakness. "I know," I say curtly, rolling the window down the rest of the way.
His smile widens slightly, almost smug.
He extends his hand through the open window. "I'm Damian."
I stare at his hand for a second, but take it anyway. The moment our skin touches, a jolt of warmth shoots up my arm. I swallow the gasp threatening to escape.
"Samantha," I reply, "but everyone calls me Sam."
"Nice to meet you, Sam."
He leans forward, voice lowering, his face now only inches from mine. I'm acutely aware of how close he is, of the way his scent wraps around me like a blanket—earthy, wild, electric.
"Look," he murmurs, "I know this all seems insane, but I promise, you're not in any danger. I'm just asking for one night."
My eyes drop to the steering wheel. His words seem sincere, but that doesn't change the fact that I don't belong here. This... whatever this is... is not my world.
I tighten my grip on the wheel.
Without a word, I release the brake, shift into first gear, and slam my foot on the gas.
The wolves scatter in all directions. My eyes squeeze shut for half a second as I brace for impact. The car slams into the gate with a metallic crunch and bursts through it. My body jerks forward into the steering wheel, then back into the seat from the force.
Instinct takes over.
I yank the wheel left and the car skids, tires struggling to grip the dirt road. Dust whips up behind me as I shoot forward, accelerating fast.
My heart thunders in my chest. My hands are trembling.
In the rearview mirror, I see Damian—now just a silhouette in the rising cloud—standing in the road, wolves gathered around him like an army.
And then they vanish into the distance.
---
Damian POV
I fall back in my desk chair with a sigh. My muscles are still coiled tight and my canines won't retract.
I look at the carnage around me. My office is officially destroyed. And I don't feel any better. This is a disaster.
I immediately ordered Stephan to find her through the mind link. What was she thinking blasting through the gate like that?! She could have killed herself!
There is a knock on the door and I growl at it, irritated.
Eric comes in, seemingly unbothered by the fact that I didn't want to see anybody.
He gives a long whistle as he looks around the office and I give him a sharp look.
'Not a goddamn word, or I'll snap your neck.' I tell him through the mind link. Mindlinking a skill most alphas have, it takes years to master and most wolves never develop the ability. It's almost a lost ability among lower ranking pack members.
Eric throws his hands up in mock surrender and falls down in a chair.
"Just thought you'd like to know: she is here."
I place both my hands on the desk and close my eyes, trying to calm myself. She is back, they found her. Excitement makes my heart race but I take a deep breath.
'Bring her to me' I order Eric through the mindlink.
He gets up lazily and moves way to slow, my patience hanging by a thread and still being tested.
I take a deep breath and see Eric signalling someone to come in.
But its not who I wanted to see...
"Hello Damian." She says with a smirk, a sly smile spreading across her face.
"Hello Ruby." I say gritting my teeth and giving Eric a dirty glare. He will be punished for his trick.
He smirks and closes the door behind him. Fucker.
Ruby doesn't even glance at the room but heads straight over to my side of the desk, her high heels clicking against my hardwood floors, grating at my nerves.
She leans against it, letting her dress ride up her pale thigh.
"I've missed you, D." She says with a pouty face, leaning slightly forward so that I get a clear view of her breasts basically falling out her dress.
She smiles, and reaches for me, but I push my chair back and it screeches against the floor.
She clicks her tongue and shakes her head, looking disappointed.
"Now, now, don't be rude. You invited me, remember?"
She says getting up and moving to a chair. She crosses her legs exposing more than I would like to see.
"Yes, I did." I start, folding my arms in front of me. Most witches are actually pretty decent, but powerful ones, like Ruby, have a mean streak.
"Your cloaking spell failed." I inform her.