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CHAPTER 3

DAMON'S POV

The soft almost eerie moonlight washing through the blinds casted a soft, almost haunted light in my room. I sniffed, the smell of dirty laundry fazing the air as I felt my mind wonder.

I felt a mix of emotions in my veins: Anger, hatred and... Need?

No. That wasn't it, it couldn't be. I wasn't suppose to feel attracted to my enemy, especially one I wanted to kill. But somewhere behind the hatred I was forcing myself to feel for the alpha, was this forbidden desire in my veins.

My thoughts were cut short by the loud, almost deafening sound of rock music blasting from across the room.

I gritted my teeth, took a deep breath, and tried to focus on anything other than the noise. The old sketch pad was clutched in my hands, the one I had kept hidden for years was now in between my heated palms. The intricate illustration of the charcoal drawing I made of the Alpha's tattoo in order not to forget any detail, especially when it was the only one I had.

The page in front of me displayed my latest drawing of the spider tattoo replica. My hands moved over the lines obsessively, carving the curves and angles into my memory— the ones I had been making since that night. One single memory burned into my mind— my parents' killer with that accursed mark.

Years of tracking down more details had finally boiled down to this. Alpha Alejandro. I felt a sense of relief wash through the me as I raised my head slowly, the disturbing music fazing through my thoughts.

The tattoo on Alpha Alejandro's wrist was a perfect match to what I had seen that night. I needed more proof, but that tattoo, it was him; he had to be the one.

A need to know just wouldn't leave me alone. My heart was still racing from earlier when I saw him, and the music wasn't helping either. I needed to clear my head, get out of here before I lost it. Without a second thought, I grabbed my jacket and left the dorm, out into the night.

The cold evening breeze whistled softly as I made my way into the pack streets. My feet veered with familiarity, as with each turn, I felt myself pull closer to the little familiar building of a coffee shop. The coffee shop, Hot Mug, had been my go-to whenever I needed a place to clear my thoughts.

But as I passed the bustling city center, my eyes caught something strange: a line of black cars rolled up to the entrance of a club I knew all too well. Shady stuff went on in there— stuff nobody talked about in public. People in power, men with dark secrets, all hiding in plain sight.

And then he appeared. Alpha Alejandro, my heart leaped as I watched him step out of one of the cars flanked by his entourage. My heart stopped beating in my chest, and I froze in my tracks, watching him from across the street.

He was going inside.

I had no idea what possessed me, but I followed. Warning mode engaged my mind, pleading with me to turn back, but my feet continued moving on. The club door swung open, and I stepped into a world of dim lights, loud music, and prying eyes. The place smelled of sweat, alcohol, and something darker I couldn't place. Half-naked women draped themselves over men much older than me; the false laughter of these women rang through the room.

Pairs of eyes turned to me, and sized me up. A few older men approached me. Their gaze was on my body a little too long, their intention clear. I shoved past them, desperate to find Alejandro, but the deeper into the club I went, the more trapped I felt.

Then I saw him, just up ahead. He was on the VIP floor, surrounded by women fawning all over him as if he was a god. So relaxed, so utterly in control. I swallowed the lump in my throat and took another step forward, but before I could get any closer, someone grabbed me.

A hand fisted in my hair, tugging me backward so hard I nearly fell. Pain exploded at the back of my head and I gritted my teeth, trying to twist free, but his grip tightened. I was thrown against a wall, cool surface pressing against my back as another hand gripped my throat.

"Where do you think you're going?" a low voice hissed in my ear. The guy looked like one of Alejandro's guards, built like a tank, his eyes cold and unforgiving.

"Let me go," I spat, trying to pull away, but he only laughed, tightening his hold on me. He shoved me again, this time slamming me harder against the wall. My head pounded from the impact.

"Maybe you don't belong here," he sneered. "Maybe I should teach you a lesson." His hand tugged at my hair again, yanking it back until I was forced to meet his gaze.

Just when I thought I was about to get beaten senseless, a voice cut through tension like a blade.

"Enough."

The guard's grip on me loosened instantly, and he stepped back as if burned. My chest heaved, my breath coming in ragged gasps as I turned toward the voice.

Alejandro stood there, watching me with a dark expression that made my skin crawl. "Leave him." His voice was calm but commanding, and the guard immediately slunk away, leaving me standing there, dazed and confused.

Alejandro's eyes swiveled to mine before I could utter a word. Then he reached out, his hands clamping down on either side of my chin, moving in so close without warning. He lifted my face up, peering at me as if I belonged to him or something.

"Who are you, really?" The tone of his voice was menacingly low. "You don't think I know who you are?" His thumb slid along my jawline, and a shiver danced down my spine.

I opened my mouth to say something, but nothing came out. I was paralyzed, stuck in his clutches.

"I know exactly who you are, Damon," he whispered, the inches between our faces now non-existent, pressed in close. The heat from his body radiated from him, slapping me in a wave. "And I know what you want."

I tried to pull away, but my body betrayed me. His scent overwhelmed my senses, and my wolf stirred inside me, eager despite everything. I hated him, I wanted to kill him-yet all I could feel was the burning desire pooling in my veins.

"You're mine now," Alejandro growled, his lips brushing my ear. "And you'll do whatever I want."

And before I knew it, before I was able to so much as process what was happening, he kissed me-rough, possessive, and utterly consuming. I didn't try to resist. I couldn't. The world around me disappeared as I was pulled into the vortex of his touch, my body surrendering to his control.

He took me to a private room, the door closed behind us, and the finality in that sound made my heart race. The minute we were alone, he pushed me onto the bed, his body pinning mine beneath him. His hand slid under my shirt; his touch ignited every nerve in my body.

"Are you ready for this?" The words were a low, sultry whisper against my skin, his hot breath against the side of my neck.

I hesitated, my mind screaming at me to stop, but the desire raging inside me won out. "Yes," I breathed, my voice barely audible.

And with that, I was his.

The events of the night before hit me like a kick in the gut the next morning. My body throbbed in places that I don't want to think about, and my eyes adjusted from the still-dim room with every blink. How was it possible that I had ended up in this position, lying in the arms of the man I vowed to destroy?

Alpha Alejandro. My parents' murderer.

The man I had just slept with.