Chapter 0148
Raven
Two days had passed since Damien revealed that the Rogue was—or had been—his brother. He hadn’t elaborated on the matter, and more often than not, he was seen trailing Neah. Whether she welcomed his presence or not was another story.
His constant presence made it nearly impossible for me to spend time with her, especially when his scent kept distracting me.
Despite this, he had barely spoken to me. He would watch me whenever I was around, maintaining his distance as though I was some threat. The moment Eric or Dane showed up, he would vanish, retreating to Mallory’s house.
"He's being ridiculous," Midnight muttered as I stepped into the packhouse.
"Tell me about it!" I replied, just as frustrated as she was.
"She’s getting dressed," Dane grumbled in passing, frowning as he moved toward the front door. "Damien is standing outside her room."
"Are you seriously letting him guard her? We don’t even know who he really is!" I challenged.
Dane sighed and rolled his eyes—the same exasperated look he had given me for years whenever he thought I was overreacting. It was maddening.
Turning to face me fully, he placed his hands on my shoulders. "Raven, talk to him. He’s your mate."
"I don’t get why you’re acting like this. I thought, of all people, you would hate this—especially after everything our pack has endured."
"Things change. He’s not here for me; he’s here to protect Neah." Dane ran a hand through his short hair.
"What if he’s like Devon? What if this is all a setup, and you’re just walking away, leaving him alone with her?"
"Just because he hasn’t explained himself to you doesn’t mean he hasn’t explained himself to me," Dane said firmly.
"Oh? So he told you?" I asked, genuinely surprised.
"Out of respect for my position, yes. Now, go spend time with my mate before she has another hormone-fueled meltdown."
I frowned, but he simply shook his head and walked out the door.
Damien stood rigidly in front of Neah’s door, his posture disciplined like that of a soldier. His hands were clasped together, his gaze fixed straight ahead. I tried to approach quietly, but his head turned toward me, his expression unreadable.
"I’m here to see Neah," I whispered, feeling like I had been caught doing something I shouldn’t.
His stare made it seem as though I had just confessed to something far worse.
Without a word, he stepped aside, watching my every move.
My hand gripped the door handle, but before I entered, I turned to him. "Why are you treating me this way?"
His gaze didn’t waver. "What way would that be?"
"Like I’m nothing—like I’m something you tossed aside without a second thought. I never asked for this! If you don’t want me as your mate, just reject me and be done with it!"
A ghost of a smirk tugged at his lips, but it vanished just as quickly.
"Is this funny to you?" I snapped. "Do you even understand what this is doing to me? Your scent is everywhere, but you keep your distance like I don’t exist! Do you even want me as your mate?"
My heart pounded as my frustration spilled out.
"You hate Lycans," he said flatly after a pause.
Heat crept up my cheeks. Who had told him that?
"Neah is a Lycan," I defended weakly. "She’s my best friend."
"You should hate us," he murmured, stepping closer. "We are nothing like you. We are darkness. Cold. Monsters."
His face was mere inches from mine. His words were a warning, but I wasn’t afraid. This was the closest he had been to me since his arrival, and I couldn’t tell if he wanted to destroy me—or claim me.
But I knew exactly what I wanted.
"I’m not scared of you," I whispered, standing my ground.
"You should be."
I shook my head slightly.
Without warning, he shoved me against the wall, his body pressing into mine. His lips crashed against mine with raw intensity, a deep growl vibrating through his chest. His hands slid under my top, gripping my waist possessively. His knee pushed between my thighs, forcing me even closer to him.