Page 68

DAMON

I cracked my eyes open against a shaft of light that filtered in through the window. The surrounding scents were not of my room back in Stoneclaw territory. Instead, peaches and cream filled my nostrils, the smell all around… Sasha.

A warm mass pressed against my front. I dropped my gaze. A mass of wild curls tickled my nose. Sasha. The memories rushed back. Our intense love making. Our mating.

Pride swelled in my chest, my heart so full it threatened to bleed out. I tightened my hold on my mate. Sasha let out a contented sigh as she burrowed deeper into my chest.

“I love you,” I whispered into her hair.

“I love you more,” she murmured in return.

She lifted her gaze, the warm brown of her eyes melting into mine.

I could have remained in that bed with her forever.

My cock twitched at the thought of making love to her again.

But there were more pressing matters to attend to.

And if we were going to live the life I envisioned for us—a life where I kept Sasha protected and safe—then I needed to snuff the threat out. Now.

“Sasha,” I began. “About the Dark Fae…”

Her gaze grew serious. “Tell me.”

My lips thinned. “Before you and your wolves killed the traitorous rogues, I was able to interrogate Rick and his bears.”

“You tortured him, of course.” Sasha scowled.

My smile was all fangs. I pressed a kiss to her forehead, and she purred beneath me.

“Rick visited a witch at the were club and learned how to open a portal to the Fae Realm.”

Sasha’s eyes widened. She propped herself up on her elbow. “My god,” she breathed.

I nodded, frowning. “He gathered ingredients together. Some snakeskin, mandrake root, myrrh, burdock root, nightshade, and…” I paused, the words too evil to speak. But Sasha needed to know. “The blood of a witch of fae.”

Sasha’s mouth slackened. She blinked, a far off look in her gaze. “Blood of a fae,” she whispered. “Did they kill…”

“I don’t know how to gather a fae’s blood.

My guess is those Dark Fae bastards would kill their Light Fae brethren for the sick enjoyment of it.

” I gritted my teeth. “I know Rick used a witch’s blood as the last ingredient.

He ground them all up and poured it onto the ground, deep in the woods on the fringes of our territory.

A portal opened, and he went through. He met with a Dark Lord by the name of Dargon Vensteel. ”

I pushed into a seated position, resting my back against the headboard of Sasha’s bed. She followed my lead, tucking her smaller body against mine. I sensed the sour tang of her anxiety rolling off her soft skin.

My upper lip curled back as I thought of my former friend’s treachery. Though my heart still bore a hole in it from the betrayal. “Rick formed an alliance with the Dark Fae Lord. They would richly compensate him for killing you.”

“But why?” Sasha demanded. She swallowed. “What threat could I possibly pose to the Dark Fae, as all-powerful as they are?”

“Because the Dark Fae seek to take over our realm.” I looked down at her, my lips twisted.

“You were right, Sasha. You told me of your suspicions of the Dark Fae wanting our planet for themselves. But I doubted you. I was an ass.” I sighed.

“Have been an ass during the entire investigation. You solved the case, though.”

“No, Damon, no,” Sasha said. She placed her hand over mine. “We were both at a loss over the investigation. It took both of us to solve it.”

I shook my head, allowing myself to grin. “You’re too good for me.”

Sasha’s mouth popped open in surprise before she ducked her chin in embarrassment. She shook her head as if to rid it away, then asked, “Did Rick tell you why the Dark Fae Lord wanted me dead?”

I growled. “Because of your powers of the Light Fae.”

“What?”

“You’re part Light Fae, Sasha…”

“I-I don’t understand. I’m a werewolf.”

“Not according to the Dark Lord,” I said. “You have an ancestor in your bloodline who was a Light Fae. They revealed not much else to Rick. Only that you posed a threat to the Dark Fae because of your Light Fae heritage and powers.”

Sasha licked her lips, her eyes shifting slightly, her gaze unseeing. I remained silent and let her muse over what I’d revealed. Sasha’s head lifted.

“That explains so many mysteries in my life.”

I cocked my head. “Like what?”

She tugged on one of her curls. “When I was a baby, someone sent a birthday present. Of course, this is a common thing. I had many gifts presented to me by the pack. Especially since I was the beta’s daughter.” Sasha’s eyes darkened as her gaze drifted to a far off place. One I couldn’t follow.

“Except this present… it wasn’t a gift. It was death.”

A chill slipped down my spine.

“A witch had gifted me silverbane, a highly toxic substance to werewolves, more toxic than iron.” Her hands trembled in her lap.

I could see how much this story was costing Sasha. I encircled my arm around her shoulder and drew her in close.

“I’m here,” I whispered near her ear.

Sasha nodded, her arm coming around to wrap around my narrow hips.

“I-I, was dying. My parents rushed me to the omega healer of the pack. He told my parents the silverbane was fatal. And the only way to save me was by letting a part of me die. Either the human part or the wolf.”

Soft tears pelted my bare stomach.

“They chose the wolf. And that day, on the day of my birth—my inner wolf died. I never blamed my parents for being a latent. Not once, not even when my peers shunned or beat me—out of sight of the adults—did I let my spirit break. I told myself that as long as I had my family, I was fine.” She sniffled.

A knot of anger burrowed deep in my stomach as I imagined a young Sasha attacked because of having no inner wolf. Ostracized. I wanted to rip out their throats.

“Then our pack had a battle with the werebears. And I saw you,” Sasha said.

I blinked.

“I saw you from my vantage point in the trees. And my soul recognized you as mine. Then I felt claws rake along my insides. I looked into myself and… there she was. My inner wolf.”

My eyes widened.

Sasha lifted her head and smiled up at me. “You brought me to life, Damon. Both parts of me. So never call yourself an ass. If you must call yourself something—say my mate .”

I swallowed past the lump in my throat. “Sasha…”

She leaned up and pressed a tender kiss to my lips. I cupped her cheek, relishing the tiny tingles that swept over me, causing my hand to tremble. She pulled away. Her eyes blazed with renewed determination.

“We need to go to Alpha Ryan.”

I scowled. “Why?”

“Because he only gave me twelve weeks to solve this case. That leaves today as the last day!” Sasha scrambled out of the bed, and my eyes snagged on her rounded ass. “He’ll wage war against you and your clan otherwise.”

“Let the bastard try.”

Sasha tossed me a glare as she hopped and wiggled into her jeans. “Damon.”

I held her glare.

“We’re going .”

A few seconds passed. I got my ass out of bed, cussing up a storm.

Never did I imagine I would cross into Silverfang pack territory, let alone with my feisty mate, Sasha, at my side.

But the hostile glares we received by the werewolves were proof enough.

“Scared yet?” Sasha teased under her breath.

“You wish,” I growled, meeting every scowl with hot amber eyes of my own.

We traveled through the passages in the mountain flanked by my sentinels and Sasha’s Beta Garret and another sentinel of hers.

Wolves moved out the way, snarling at spotting me and my sentinels.

It was a wonder we slipped through the territory boarder, once sighted by a patrol.

But Sasha having relayed the news of the investigation breakthrough had allowed us passage.

A male werewolf came jogging toward us. He enveloped Sasha in a hug, to which she returned the embrace.

My claws sliced out, moments away from ripping his head off.

Then I caught the familial scent. Eyeing the male more closely, I figured him a sibling.

“Ty, why… What’s going on?” Sasha asked, pulling away from him.

The chestnut brown haired male fastened his large golden eyes on me before looking at Sasha. “What the hell do you think is going on, Sprout? You bring werebears into the den. Are you kidding me right now?”

Sasha lifted her chin. “They are my guests and granted entry and permission by my invitation. As long as I am here, it’s fine.”

“Which might not be long with the stunt you’ve pulled,” Ty grumbled. He narrowed his eyes. “And he smells more like a guest. His scent is on you.”

A soft pink bloomed across Sasha’s dark cheeks. My brow raised. Was she blushing? I smirked. It was too damn adorable.

“Damon is my mate,” Sasha declared.

Though she seemed embarrassed, no shame shone in her eyes. My strong, sexy mate.

Ty’s eyes bulged, his brow shooting up into his hairline.

“The fuck?” He glanced between me and Sasha.

“Sasha, darling,” I told my mate. Ty’s eyes were in danger of rolling out his skull. “The alpha...”

Sasha tossed me a glance over her shoulder. “Right.” She turned back to her brother. “I’d love to stay and chat more, Ty, but we have urgent business to discuss with Alpha Ryan.”

“Sky said you mentioned something like that earlier,” Ty murmured, a vacant look in his eye.

Sasha and our group swept past, before Ty called, “Y-You mated a bear?”

“Yep,” Sasha announced over her shoulder. “And damn proud of it.”

A grin of pride creased my cheeks.

We arrived at Alpha Ryan’s office, but before we knocked, the door swung open. Ryan stood looming in the doorway, his gaze livid.

“You’ve gone too far this time, Sasha,” he growled. His claws sliced out. “Inviting bears into our home? I should’ve expected no better from a latent.”

My fangs punched out. “Watch what you say from this point on to my mate.”