CHAPTER 100: CHAPTER 100 TORN BETWEEN LOYALTY AND EMOTION

I panted, my limbs shaking, and tears of relief sliding down my cheeks.

He finally pulled his hand away and rested his palm flat against my back, holding me against his chest like I might float away otherwise.

Neither of us said a word for a while.

My head rested on his shoulder, and my breath was still unsteady. He was still hard against me. Still trembling with restraint.

I turned my face to look at him.

But Damon didn’t meet my gaze. He stared ahead, his jaw tight, as though furious with himself for giving in even this much.

"Sleep," he ordered, his warm breath fanning against my wet skin.

"But you are..."

"You don’t have to worry about me," he cut me off.

’If I don’t help, won’t that make me a bad person?’ But before I could utter another word, my eyes were already fluttering closed.

"How did you get drugged?" Damon asked.

But all I could say was some slurred speech before darkness cocooned me in its blanket.

...

(Damon POV)

I shut my eyes, tilting my head backward. Her soft, warm breath brushed against my chest. Now that I had helped her, I was the one who was burning, like coal was kindled inside me.

Everything happened too fast. I was also surprised at my actions; I never believed I would be able to touch any other woman in my life again.

I felt Beowulf pacing in my head.

"What now?" I grimaced as Ember shifted her position.

"What happened to us? Weren’t we supposed to rip her head off? Does this mean that we have betrayed Elissa?" Beowulf asked, his voice gentler compared to how he normally speaks.

I sighed. "Didn’t you see the mark on her shoulder?"

"Yes, it is exactly like our totem with Elissa. But why is it on Ember? Does this mean that she is Elissa? Maybe that is why we felt drawn to her, and why we could touch her."

"I thought you wanted to rip her throat apart?"

"That was because I didn’t want to betray Elissa, even when I felt drawn to her." Beowulf sat down, his ears falling.

"This fits too well to be true. Do you think someone is pulling the strings behind this?" I couldn’t help but ask. I can’t really say I have feelings for Ember.

"If it was magic, we would not have been able to touch her. And besides, if she is really Elissa, then do we take her as our mate or not?"

My brows furrowed slightly at his question. Yes... we had agreed not to take a mate before. But Ember bearing a mark that reflects my love and Elissa’s on her shoulder meant only two things: she is either Elissa reincarnated, or she was sent by the witches.

"Damon, do you remember the Fae’s words?" Beowulf asked.

"You mean the curse," I said through gritted teeth. "You don’t have to worry about that. It can never come true. Remember, we are immune to curses and magic."

I rose up. Water flowed down our body. I carried Ember out of the water before she caught a cold.

I quickly changed her clothes before lying her on the bed. My gaze lingered on her for longer than I intended.

"She doesn’t look like Elissa, Beowulf." My voice was laced with disappointment, even though I didn’t want to admit that I was disappointed because she looked nothing like her.

"It is her wolf that would tell if she is really Elissa or not. We have to wait for her wolf to awaken."

I closed my eyes. "Why do I feel that there is more to it? Why do I feel she would bring me nothing but trouble?" I muttered to myself.

I closed my eyes, inhaling sharply. Even though she felt like a red flag, all I wanted was to unfold every layer she had to herself.

"Beowulf, let’s finish this trouble at hand."

I opened my eyes. They turned grey, with a storm brewing within them.

"You mean we should get the other culprit?" he snarled angrily in my head.

Without wasting any more time, I left the room. I mindlinked Alaric to watch over the door. I didn’t want anyone to storm in and hurt Ember while I was gone. Not that I care. I don’t like my belongings touched.

I know Beta Roy must have felt the severing between him and his son’s bond. I believe he is already looking for him.

Anyway, I am not done yet. Come what may.

I followed the trace of the Omega who had warned me that Ember was poisoned. I arrived in a secluded part of the mansion. It looked like servant quarters. A sharp scream echoed from across the wall.

I held my hands behind my back as I strode into the room where the noise was coming from.

"Just one simple task, and you could not do it!" Maddie, Alpha Caelen’s first daughter and Ember’s stepsister, slapped the Omega that had come to warn me.

The other servants helped her to hold the Omega down.

Claws elongated from her fingers. She raised her hand up.

I let my aura spill throughout the room. Maddie stopped midway before turning toward me. Fear flickered through her eyes before it was masked by a stunned expression.

"Alpha Damon," she retracted her claws before running toward me.

Tears trickled down her eyes. "This ungrateful servant actually poisoned your breeder, my poor sis..."

"She is not a breeder," I cut her off.

She swallowed, seeing my darkened gaze.

"I meant Ember. Your pet. I just found the drug on her." She cried harder, bringing the small bottle of the aphrodisiac.

"Is that so?" I mused, my aura turning deadly.

Her body shuddered under my intense gaze.

I collected the bottle from her.

"Everyone dismisses, except for Maddie and the Omega on her knees."

I didn’t even finish my words before the servants scurried away.

I walked towards the Omega, whose face and body were already bruised.

"So you lied to me? You are the one who drugged Ember?" I asked calmly.