"Eat," Damien said as he held a spoon in front of me. I didn't even look at what it was. I did my work of chewing and swallowing. "Is it good?" he asked.
I didn't reply, looking away from him. A part of me knew that I was doing the wrong thing, cutting him out like that, but a major part of my mind didn't care right now.
Damien lifted my face to his with a finger, gently and slowly. His dark eyes burned into mine, the pain clearly visible in them. "Are you going to keep ignoring me Hanna? It’s been one week."
I looked away again, not speaking. I didn't understand how he could look at me with so much love, how he could even look at my face. I didn't want to look at my face. I felt... filthy. Damien still hadn't told me what had happened to Westin and I knew that he was waiting for the right time.
"Don't cut me off Hanna," he pleaded, his voice full of hurt. "I love you. Talk to me baby."
I didn't say anything. What was his problem? I was eating, showering and sleeping. Why couldn't he just let me be?
He should hate me, he should leave me, but he wasn't doing anything of that sort. Instead, he was here, next to me, telling me how much he loved me. I didn't deserve his love. I couldn't even protect myself.
"I'm going down," Damien muttered, "I'll check on you in some time."
That was a warning. Reminding me that he was right here and should I do anything stupid he would come to know. I thought of the first day after the incident when I had locked myself in the bathroom and I refused to come out. Damien was furious. He broke down the door and since then I always had someone with me.
I laid down and closed my eyes, waiting for the temporary solution to all of this. Sleep. My mind kept going back to Damien's words. Was I doing the right thing in cutting him off?
"I will always get you dearie," he smirked. "You know I own you."
I trembled with fear. I shirked away from him, trying to stay strong.
He laughed evilly. "Your precious Alpha couldn't save you then, what makes you think he will now?"
I couldn't speak for the life of me. Words were lost and I felt tears fall down my face.
"I always had a claim to you dearie. Right from when you were ten. Remember that time when I called you into my office?"
Of course I remembered. He had tried to molest me even then. A small sob escaped my lips.
He smirked, continuing. "Then you had to go to that spineless fool and when you were done with him, to that dick who replaced me."
"Please," I whimpered as he came closer to me.
"I should have taken you long ago dearie. But now I will have you. You are mine dearie."
His cold, scary eyes looked at me, sending chills down my spine. He advanced closer towards me and I shrieked.
"Hanna!" I heard Damien yell, his hands holding me down. I was aware of the wetness on my cheeks and my ragged breathing.
I slowly opened my eyes and looked into Damien's face. His face was pale with worry, his eyebrows furrowed.
"Damien..." I spoke for the first time in one week, my voice a sob. I fell against his chest as sobs overtook my body. He rubbed my back with his hand, one hand holding me in place.
"Shh... It’s okay, I got you baby," he whispered, holding me tighter.
"He--He--" I choked out, pulling back and looking at him. "He- will c-come after me."
Damien's face darkened. "He will not Hanna. He's dead."
I stared at him in surprise. "Dead?" My voice was rasp and thick. "You killed him?"
"Yes." Damien said, his voice emotionless. "You are safe. Sleep baby."
I laid my head on his chest and fell into a peaceful slumber, thankful for his presence.
"Hanna?" Damien woke me up. I didn't respond snuggling closer to him. I felt my blood go cold when I realized that he wasn't next to me. My eyes flew open and my hands searched the bed. Instantly, he was by my side, holding me tightly.
"I'm right here baby," he reassured me, rubbing small circles down my back. I snuggled closer to him, reveling in his warmth. "You okay bunny?"
I looked at him and whispered, "I don't know."
"Talk to me Hanna," Damien said, his voice full of pain. "Your mind is cutting me off. I need to know what is going on that head of yours or else I will go crazy."
I stayed silent. Should I tell him? I had no idea how he would react to this, but I knew that I had to tell him. I knew that his wolf must be going crazy by now, his mate wasn't talking to him.
"Tell me Hanna." He urged and I decided that I would.
"What did you do to him?" I went for the easiest question.
His face scrunched up in disgust. "I killed him Hanna. That is all you need to know."
I didn't reply. I wanted to know the entire thing. He sighed and said, "After we... found you, Titus captured him. He held him in the prisons, shackled in silver."
An involuntary shudder passed through me. I knew how lethal silver was to werewolves. It was a slow and painful form of torture. Damien looked at my expression, and I knew that he wanted to stop talking, so I gave him a small smile.
"Titus and the other warriors tortured him. They were avenging what he did to you. I couldn't stop them, even if I wanted to. The Elders agreed to it. Two days ago, after all his energy was drained and he was completely lifeless, I killed him."
I stared at him in surprise. He was emotionless, just a shell. "How did you find out...?" I left the question hanging, knowing he understood.
"Hanna," Damien said and I felt the pain in his voice. "This isn't a part I want to recall or relive."
"I want to know," I whispered.
He sighed. "I was at a meeting when I felt it. It was like a barrier in my mind, blocking me from something. I didn't realize what it was. I couldn't think straight. Imagine your hand being cut off or something along those lines." He paused and I shivered. He held me closer to him, his hand rubbing soothing circles on my lower back.
"I felt pressure in my head. Like someone trying to get in. I ignored it at first, but it became worse. Finally, I could hear you call out for help." His face turned ashen. I held him close to me, giving him the reassurance he needed.
"I immediately left office and while on my way here, I called Punter. He told me that they had checked the place before letting you enter. I asked him to check the house again. He couldn't get past the driveway."
"Why?" I whispered.
Damien's eyes momentarily flickered to mine, "Magic. But I will tell you that later. I could break the magic because it was on my land. But by the time I came inside..."
Damien closed his eyes as if in pain and I only realized how painful it was for him. I had been so selfish, not caring about him. He was also affected by this. Just because he wasn't showing it, didn't mean he wasn't.
"The magic?" I prompted.
"Rennard has used powerful magic that only an Alpha has. He somehow retained all the spells and access to the magic lab. He cast a spell on the house. No one would be able to see him unless he wanted them to. Even the warriors couldn't sense him. He used very powerful magic."
"Oh my," I whispered, horrified.
"I'm sorry baby," Damien whispered, making me look at him.
"What for?"
He frowned. "For not saving you. I wanted to keep you safe, and I failed. I should have been there for you. I understand if you never want to forgive me but--"
I cut him off with a kiss on his lips. "Don't apologize. You did everything you could. None of us knew that he would stoop that low and use magic."
"Oh baby," Damien whispered. "I love you so much. I hate myself for not being there."
"Don't," I whispered, placing a finger on his lips. "You are my life. I... I feel unworthy of you. After what he did... How can you still want me? How can you still love me?"
Damien's eyes darkened with unmistakable anger, "I love you. What that son of a bitch did doesn't matter. You are still my mate and wife. What kind of husband would I be if I didn't stand by you? Do you think so lowly of me and my love Hanna?"
I shook my head. "No. No. I just... I feel filthy." There. I said it and a dam burst open. I sobbed into his chest. All the pent up anger and sorrow came out in that one moment of weakness.
"You aren't filthy baby," Damien whispered, "You are pure. Body, soul and heart. And you are mine. I don't find you anything but the beautifully strong girl I mated and married."
I lifted my head and looked at him dubiously. "Really?"
His eyes showed me his sincerity. "Really."
"What now?" I whispered. "Do you still want my body?"
I knew I probably sounded dense, but I wouldn't want me after this. I didn't want Damien to reject me. I didn't want him to want me either. He was being so sweet, it was becoming hard for me to make a decision.
A yelp left my lips when Damien flipped me around so that I was on the bed and he was hovering above me. "What kind of a stupid question is that Hanna?" he snarled.
I bit my lip nervously. "I wouldn't want me. Why do you?"
"Because I love you!" he snapped.
"How can you love me?" I asked. I knew that I was rehashing this conversation, but I needed his reassurance. I wanted it.
"You are a strong woman. Amazing. Beautiful. Good." he whispered, bringing his lips down to mine. "And the fact that you are drop dead gorgeous is a cherry on the top."
He brought his lips to mine and I knew that I had all the reassurance I wanted right here.
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