Chapter 8 - Poppy
Chewing on the inside of my bottom lip, I stare at the closed door, contemplating my next move.
I could probably just walk out of here unnoticed, slip past stealthily like a trained spy, and avoid Damian’s mother. Unless he’s already left for Fort Smit without me…
Unable to face either of them, I’ve stayed in my room ever since I woke up. I found dinner on the coffee table in front of the couch in the room, but I have yet to find the appetite to eat. It’s a miracle that I fell asleep at all last night.
All I can think about is Daniel, and how I can protect him from whatever lurks in the shadows of the Nightclaw border, and from his own father, who has lost his mind.
Of course, Damian doesn’t seem to care about what’s going on in his brother’s pack, simply because he doesn’t know about his son’s existence. And I’d like to keep it that way.
That’s why I have to go back, even if it means running away from Cedar Valley.
With that thought, I’m about to get to my feet when there’s a knock on the door.
“Poppy…? Are you awake?” comes Damian’s voice, softer than it has been since the day I woke up to find that he kidnapped me.
It’s not monstrous anymore.
For one dangerous moment, my guard slips. I almost forget he’s the enemy.
I shake off the thought, reclaiming my armor of steel as I stand up and march to the door, throwing it open and finally feeling like I’m the one in control again. At least he hasn’t marched in here without knocking first.
“What do you want?” I ask flatly, positioning myself in the doorway so he doesn’t think he can just come in.
“I, er—” he pauses and rubs his nape as he averts his gaze to the floor. “I wanted to let you know that we’ll be leaving for Fort Smit in an hour. Breakfast is prepared downstairs, so when you’re ready…”
His voice tapers off as he continues to stare at the floor, appearing rather sheepish for someone who kidnapped me and forced me into a mating ritual.
But then it hits me.
Our argument last night must have shifted his perspective, almost as if he’s finally listening to me.
He’s trying.
But it means nothing to me.
I’ve already decided to leave with Daniel once we return to Fort Smit.
“So, you’ve finally decided to stick to our deal?” I ask as I raise a brow.
He nods slowly as he lifts his eyes to meet mine, and for a moment, I think I see them softening.
“Yes. I’m sticking to our deal. You can get what you left behind while I attend the council meeting. We’ll come back tomorrow. We can stay at your old cabin for the night.”
“M-my old cabin?” I ask hesitantly, a new wave of panic setting in. Damian wants to stay over in Fort Smith with me?
How am I going to get Daniel out?
Damian nods. “I’ve just heard from Dorian. The Nightclaw territory isn’t exactly safe, especially at night.”
I suck in a breath through gritted teeth. “What exactly is going on?” I ask, deciding to use my position as luna to my advantage. The more I know, the more prepared I can be for my escape with Daniel. “Since you made me your luna, it’s only fitting that you tell me what you’re dealing with.”
Damian takes a deep breath. “We still don’t know exactly what we’re dealing with,” he admits.
“The corruption is spreading beyond Nightclaw’s borders.
Plants are dying. Animals have been found dead without a single wound on them.
Simon has been researching it, and today’s council meeting is supposed to give us answers.
Until then, none of us should be traveling after dark. ”
I nod thoughtfully, realizing that this disrupts my plans. I can’t put Daniel in more danger, so I’ll just have to wait for the right moment to leave.
In the meantime, I’ll have to keep Daniel’s existence a secret from Damian. And if Dorian finds out about us, he’ll be sure to tell Damian that I didn’t enter Nightclaw alone, but with my son.
That will thwart my plans entirely.
“And do you plan on telling your brother about the mate bond?”
“Yes, of course, I—”
“Don’t.”
Damian frowns, and I fold my arms and turn away.
“Why?” he asks, and I shake my head.
“Now is not the time for it. It’s like you said, Nightclaw is dealing with something terrible. Besides, it’s not like we’re actual mates.”
A moment of silence stretches before Damian sighs. “What are you so afraid of, Poppy? Why don’t you want anyone to know? Is there someone else—”
“No! There’s no one else, Damian.” I spin on my heel and glare at him. “You kept me a secret for almost a year in the past. You can do it again.”
Damian purses his lips, his nostrils flaring. “Fine,” he agrees with a tight nod. “We’ll keep this quiet for a little while. But I’m only doing this because that’s what you want. Not because I like it.”
Good.
I just bought myself enough time to figure out a way out for Daniel and me.
Now, to deal with another problem.
Damian wants to stay the night in my cabin, and that means I can’t bring Daniel home yet.
Damian and I prepare to leave for Fort Smit when we’re done having breakfast, but I can’t concentrate much and barely have an appetite.
When it’s time to leave, he leads me directly to his SUV parked in the driveway, and I’m relieved that we don’t have to walk through the pack as if he’s flaunting me as his mate.
It’s like he’s loosening the grip he’s had on me since the abduction and forced ritual, and I can breathe again, even if it’s just for a moment.
Maybe that’s why I’m able to stare out the window as we drive onto the main road, marveling at the views of the mountains as we pass by. I’d forgotten how beautiful Cedar Valley was, having spent years burying every memory I had of the place.
Especially the memory of Damian.
I hate that he appears more level-headed than he has been these past two nights. I almost want to pinch myself in case I’m imagining things, but instead, I find myself stealing brief glances at him as he steers the car toward Fort Smit.
Perhaps I’d forgotten how he makes the simplest tasks seem so swoon-worthy—
“You alright? You’ve barely said a word since breakfast,” he comments, and I frown, snapping my head to the window.
Angry at him. Angry at myself.
“I’m fine,” I say as I cross my arms and keep my eyes fixed outside as the tree line on the right melts into a blur of brown and green.
Damian sighs. “Since you want to keep our mate bond a secret from everyone in Nightclaw, how do you propose we arrive in the pack territory?”
“You can drop me off at the south border. I can return to my cabin, and you can enter from the main road.”
“Right. And you’re still not going to tell me why you want to keep this a secret?”
“I told you already, Damian. It’s not a good time.”
He sighs again, sounding rather disappointed when he says, “Fine. If you insist. We will tell my brother when you are ready.”
I nod without saying anything, fighting the urge to look at him again when every bone in my body wants me to turn. I just can’t understand his behavior anymore.
Truthfully, I don’t wish to make sense of it. Besides, by tomorrow, Daniel and I will be gone, and this mate bond will mean nothing. Just like the past ten years meant nothing.
But it takes every ounce of sheer willpower to stop myself from being consumed by the scent of citrus and musk heavily swarming my airways.
I gulp hard when the space in the SUV becomes too tight, almost suffocating.
Why did he have to find me? Why did he have to push this mate bond on me?
“There’s something on your mind,” Damian speculates, and I scoff as I straighten up in my seat.
“I told you I’m fine, Damian. All things considered.”
“It didn’t have to be like this, Poppy. I’m—”
“Save it, Damian. I don’t care why you did what you did.”
“That’s fair.”
“Don’t get me started on what’s fair or not,” I sneer sarcastically. “And don’t pretend as if you care now.”
A moment of silence stretches between us before Damian whispers, “Maybe I do…”
I let his words get lost to the silence, choosing not to respond because I know better.
He doesn’t care. He didn’t care ten years ago when it mattered, when I was about to tell him that I was pregnant with his child.
He chose being alpha over being my mate and confidently claiming me in front of everyone when his father was still alive.
Probably because he knew what the pack would have preferred…
I stick to staring out the window, but the silence steadily becomes uncomfortable in a way that has me shifting, trying to find comfort, fighting the rise of heat in my veins when my mind wanders to places I’d rather not dwell on.
There was once a time when Damian and I couldn’t keep our hands off each other. A time when a drive like this would lead to us stopping on the side of the road to tear at each other’s clothes and let passion take over in the back seat.
I gulp hard as I glance over my shoulder, but not without noticing that Damian’s eyes flicker to my face for a split second, as if he’s reading my mind.
Tugging on the scarf I’d used to cover the mark on my neck, I clear my throat and look ahead.
Goddess!
I hate how close he is.
I hate how his muscles flex when he changes the gear and turns the steering wheel.
How is it possible that he still has this effect on me after all this time?
It’s a pity he’s not the same as he was back then. Heck! The man driving us to Nightclaw right now isn’t even the same man who kidnapped me two days ago.
It’s like he’s split into two people. It’s like there are two versions of him.
One who kidnapped me... And one who keeps looking at me like he still remembers the girl I used to be.
The thought makes me chuckle under my breath, and a hand flies up to cover my mouth. If Damian’s odd behavior is brushing off on me, maybe I’m losing my own mind, trying to dissect his behavior.
“Why are you laughing? What’s so funny?”
I frown as I turn to him, noticing the way the dimple in his cheek twitches with amusement.
“I’m not laughing,” I defend, but he turns to me and smirks.