Chapter 74 - Temptations

I didn’t want to pressure Damon or add to his stress, so when he got up a few mornings later to an urgent call from Luke, after spending nearly every moment awake and asleep by my side, I knew I had to accept that he’d be leaving for a while. Damon had been so protective and attentive that it almost felt strange to imagine him leaving, but deep down, I knew it was inevitable. At first, Damon refused Luke’s insistence on his presence. I overheard him on the phone, his voice tense. He told Luke to handle things on his own for now, as he was staying with me.

“It’s too urgent for me to manage without you. The southern council won’t sign any peace agreement unless you’re there,” Luke said. His frustration and desperation were clear through the phone. I could practically hear him gritting his teeth on the other end of the call.

Damon sighed heavily, clearly torn. I could sense how much he hated leaving me, especially with everything we were going through. I gently touched his shoulder, hoping to ease the tension that had built up in his muscles. I leaned in close and whispered, “I’m safe here. You need to go.”

“No,” Damon shook his head, his voice gruff but filled with concern. “It’s too soon. I can’t leave you here like this.”

“How could anything happen? The woods are fully guarded, and I’ve got 24/7 private security with me. It’s just for a day. Go,” I reassured him. I knew Damon wasn’t easily convinced, but I also knew that the responsibility he bore weighed heavily on him. He had been stuck at my side for days, and I could see the toll it was taking. He needed to focus on other matters, and this was important for the safety of our pack.

Reluctantly, and clearly unsettled, Damon finally agreed, though his unease was evident in the way his jaw tightened. We hadn’t been intimate in days, and I could sense that this added to his frustration. His stress was showing in every little thing—he had grown short-tempered with the staff, and it was increasingly difficult to find a peaceful moment between us. Maybe getting out there, with the adrenaline of werewolf politics and conflict, would help clear his mind and release some of that pent-up tension.

After kissing my forehead, lips, and stomach goodbye, Damon left the bedroom. I sighed softly as I watched him walk out, trying to convince myself that everything would be fine. I thought I might be able to drift back to sleep, but my mind was restless. A short while later, the maid brought me coffee and casually mentioned that Damon was still waiting for his ride. It surprised me; I had assumed he’d left already.

Feeling the need for one more kiss, I slipped on some shoes and quietly made my way down to the foyer. The house was silent, save for the faint sound of Damon’s voice carrying through the hall. But before I could surprise him, I stopped just around the corner when I saw that Valia had already intercepted him.

“I’m so disappointed you’re leaving so soon. I feel much safer when you’re here,” she said, standing on her toes to touch his shoulders. Valia was still in her nightgown, a sheer, creamy fabric that left little to the imagination. The way the fabric clung to her curves made my stomach twist with jealousy as I watched her place her hands on him.

“There’s no need to worry. I’ve arranged for additional guards. You’ll be perfectly safe,” Damon replied, barely paying attention to her as he busily typed away on his phone. His focus remained on the screen, and though his words were reassuring, I could tell that his mind was already half elsewhere.

“But I hardly ever get to see you anymore. I haven’t had a proper chance to thank you,” Valia continued, her voice low and suggestive. If I wasn’t straining to listen, I might not have caught the seductive edge in her tone. She leaned in closer to him, and I could feel my blood boiling.

My instincts screamed at me to storm over and tear her away from him. Every fiber of my being wanted to assert my place at Damon’s side, but I held back, gritting my teeth as I watched. I wanted to see how far Damon would allow this to go. Deep down, I trusted him, but the insecurity of our lack of intimacy gnawed at me. I feared that if I wasn’t enough for him right now, someone like Valia might be. She was opportunistic, and I hated how bold she was being.

“You don’t need to thank me. It’s my job,” Damon said, still not giving her much of his attention. His voice was neutral, and while that reassured me somewhat, I couldn’t help but feel a pang of doubt.

“I wanted to ask you something... and I hope you won’t be angry,” Valia hesitated, clearly trying to grab his attention. Damon finally lifted his eyes from his phone and looked at her. As she did, she let her hands drop from her chest, revealing more of her cleavage through the sheer nightgown.

That’s it, I’m going to kill her, I thought. My feet moved forward instinctively before I forced myself to stop. I had to stay calm. I couldn’t afford to be the one who lost control and made a scene, especially not in front of Damon. I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms, as I watched the scene unfold.

“What is it?” Damon asked, his patience clearly wearing thin.

“Well, this is a bit embarrassing,” she said, taking a step closer to him. “I was wondering if you knew anyone interested in... a doll. I can cook, I can have beautiful children, and... I’m really good at sex—”

“Valia,” Damon interrupted, his voice sharp, immediately cutting through her flirtatious facade. “I brought you here because you said you had nowhere else to go. Isn’t that right?”

“Yes, but—” Valia started to protest, but Damon’s face had hardened, and he wasn’t about to let her continue.

“To answer your question, I don’t know anyone looking for a doll. And this conversation is highly inappropriate. Blake at the Losten Pack Reserve runs the Doll Lab. I can put you in contact with him. Maybe they’ll put you in stasis until someone is interested.”

“No, that’s not what I meant—” Valia tried again, but Damon was done.

“I have to go now,” he said firmly, brushing past her and heading out the front door without a second glance. Valia stood there, her mouth still parted in shock, clearly not expecting to be dismissed so easily.

I watched from the shadows, a mixture of relief and lingering frustration bubbling inside me. Damon hadn’t budged, hadn’t given in to her advances, and yet my insecurities still gnawed at me. As I quietly retreated back upstairs, I couldn’t help but wonder if this was just the beginning of the challenges we would face.