Mated To The Pack’s Doom

Damien

It was official, I was losing my mind.

I couldn't even summon all the rage I had against Arielle as she sat beside me.

She even had the guts to hum a song. And to make it worse, I found comfort in the tunes she produced.

My father had been pestering since the ceremony to reject her, to have her locked away. I even had some peace because he had left to meet some officials in a nearby village. I couldn't get any sleep or peace because of her…

Yet here I was, finding that peace in her company. It was crazy.

—I was crazy.

I slowly turned my head in her direction, and I took in her features under the moonlight.

Despite her injuries, she was still very beautiful, so beautiful that my heart always skipped a beat whenever I saw her… It made no sense, yet it was happening.

Her voice was gentle as she sang, mostly because she didn't want to generate attention. But that was what made her song even better, because of the care she put in it…

Every single thing that made her up, was suddenly so beautiful, my heart pummelled. My breath caught and my thoughts became even more chaotic…

What was she doing to me?

I forced my sight away from her, hoping to regain my senses but it wasn't working.

Her voice was doing something to me, it was unintentional, yet her pure innocence stirred something primal and needy within me.

My eyes suddenly fell on the cut at the side of her head, and I felt rage bubble through me.

Bailey!

I had received reports, but I didn't stop it. At the time, I told myself that Arielle had probably put herself in the situation but as I looked at the scar now, I couldn't help but regret my thoughts…

I should have stopped Bailey…

My mind was brought back to reality, and I realised that Arielle had stopped singing.

"Where did you learn how to sing?" I asked her.

Arielle's eyes lit up, just like the way I remembered when she was younger. "I— no one taught me how to sing. I kind of just figured it out myself…"

I nodded at her. "Is that how you learnt how to steal?"

Surprisingly, she wasn't offended by my words. A small smile played on her lips.

"Yeah… I had to do that to survive. The old guard at the food court used to catch me in the act a lot." She giggled.

I remembered the past, I just never cared much.

A memory flashed in my head, and I stared deeply at her. "You mentioned the food court, are you the one that was caught sleeping in the kitchen after you stole the cake?"

"Wow, yeah! How do you know that? That was several years ago!" A smile covered her face, and that sparkle moved in her eyes again, stirring up the chaos in my heart.

"Incredible, you are the one. I heard it, but I never believed it. A thief sleeping on the crime scene?" I whispered and surprisingly, I smiled.

"Yeah, you know I have an explanation for that— let me talk." She held out her hand.

"Okay, explain." I pursed my lips as I held back smile.

Arielle stood up. "So that day, I skipped lunch because I was cleaning the stables. When I got back, a maid had eaten my food because I had taken too long so she took my rations."

"Really, is that how they do it when you are young? Rations?"

"Yeah, we had little rations when we were younger. But it's different now, the rations are bigger. Anyway, come the evening, they served mushroom soup, and I hated it."

"Yuck, mushroom soup gives me nightmares." I shuddered at the thought of it, and she smiled.

"Yeah, so I didn't eat it, and I gave it to Riley because I had a master plan that night, to steal cake from the kitchen," she laughed.

"Then why did you pass out in the crime scene?" I spread my hand on the backrest.

"So, I was really exhausted and the cake was creamy!" She explained and I could see the excitement on her face.

"I sneaked at night and stole the cake and ate it in the kitchen, I took some milk and water when I was done, but I was so exhausted that I thought maybe if I closed my eyes for a second, I would be fine but that was a fatal mistake."

"You passed out till the morning." I laughed.

"Yeah, I know. I was just seven, I was exhausted!" Arielle sat down and covered her face in embarrassment.

"At least you had fun, right?" I glanced at her beside me.

A small smile played on her lips. "Yeah, although what happened afterwards wasn't funny. I starved the whole day."

"At least you ate creamy cake."

"At least I ate some creamy cake!" She laughed.

I was lost at the sound. It felt like music that pulsed through my soul… and without trying, I memorised it.

I had to physically snapped out of the trance that came with her presence.

"You have to go to sleep now. It's really late and cold. Bailey will come for you tomorrow," I reminded her.

She looked surprised but she played it off with a cute smile and nodded several times.

"Yeah, that's right." She stood up and dusted her backside. "Thanks for having me in your company." She bowed her head.

I nodded at her and watched her start towards the door.

I sat down there and a small frown played on my face.

It was almost as if, I had just realized that I enjoyed her company. She— who I was supposed to be avoiding me. I couldn't even get angry at myself in this situation.

Instead, I smiled at myself.

Shaking my head, I slowly made my way to my room too.

I climbed on the bed and closer my eyes to sleep but running footsteps in the corridor kept my eyes awake. It was getting closer to my room.

I slowly went to the door and brought out my claws. Who would dare be running in the corridor at this time?

Seconds later, Raymond barged into the room completely breathless.

"What's wrong? Why are you here by this hour?" I demanded.

He raised his head up; "Damien, there is trouble. The eastern village near the border has been attacked by rogues."

My eyes went wide in realization.

My father had gone to that village to talk to officials of the pack!