15: Damion

Damion checked the address for the fourth time, feeling the bags under his eyes. He strained

against the exhaustion, forcing his mind and body to focus on the mission at hand. He looked up at

an apartment building that was eight stories tall with a red brick exterior. Nigel and Joel flanked

him, ready to kill this sick fuck that hurt his best friend's Mate. He felt eyes on them as they entered

the building, but didn't care who watched him. They followed the steps to the fifth floor, walking

down the sticky hallway until they reached the last door at the end. He nodded to Joel and Nigel

before he slammed his foot against the door, sending it flying open and off its hinges. What he

wasn't expecting to see was a lair of obsession.

As they entered the premises, pictures of Lily covered every surface of the walls. Lily smiling. Crying.

Even in pain. He had pictures of her bruises, her lacerations, her blood. He had it all around him like

it was a giant gallery of her misery.

"This is fucked up, man." Joel said behind him.

"No kidding. I can understand obsession with a sense, but this is on a whole new level.” Nigel

agreed with Joel as they searched the apartment. Damion raised his nose to the air, but he couldn't

smell anyone outside of Joel and Nigel, and a scent lingering in the doorway behind them. When he

looked back, an older lady stood just in the hall, her eyes wide as she took in the room.

"Are you Jasper's neighbor?" He asked her as he approached her. She stepped away from him,

obviously afraid.

"Yes. Is he okay?" She asked, looking around his living room to the insanity on the walls, "What is all

of that?" She asked, horror painting her face.

"We're trying to locate him." He mentioned to her.

"Are you with the police?” She asked nervously.

"No. We're Werewolves. We came to find him. Have you seen him?" He asked her. She stared wide

eyed at him, slowly shaking her head.

"No, he left about a week ago now. Said he was visiting his girlfriend out of town.” She told him. His

blood ran cold.

"Joel! Nigel! Grab whatever evidence you can. We need to hurry back and warn the King." He yelled

his orders. He watched as the men tore down some pictures, picking up what looked like journals

on the couch. It will not please Jayce when he gets back.

When he got back to the city, everyone was getting the festival underway. It was still early when

they all got back, exhaustion nipping at their asses, but he couldn't stop yet. He needed to get to

his Alpha and Luna to warn them of the danger she was in.

He drove up the stone driveway and stormed into the house without knocking. Jayce was coming

out of the kitchen with Lily just behind him. Both must have woken up recently as they still had

some bed head. A fruity scent filled his lungs, and he followed his nose to a woman that stood just

behind Lily. His Wolf howled with excitement.

Mate.

"Damion, you could've called.” Jayce said to him, but he couldn't focus on him. His eyes were solely

on the woman before him. She was slightly taller than Lily with hazel eyes and red curly hair that

was like a bob haircut and the left side of her head shaved low. She had piercings lining her ears

and a thin layer of makeup. Aside from the other two, she was more awake and ready to go.

"Can I help you?" She asked, her voice like sweet velvet to his ears.

"Oh, boy." Jayce said behind him.

"What's wrong with him?" Lily asked in a whisper.

"Well, from the looks of it, I think Erica is Damion’s Mate." Jayce said bluntly. Lily gasped beside him.

Erica continued to stare back at Damion, her eyes filled with the recognition he was feeling.

"Hi, I'm Erica.” She introduced herself.

Erica.

"Damion. Damion Stark. Beta to the Werewolf King." He gave a very lengthy and unnecessary

introduction. She tilted her head as she listened.

"Are you okay? You look dead ass tired." She told him.

"I'm more than okay now." He said, reaching out to grab her hand, but she pulled away.

"Oh Damion. Take this slow. She doesn't like it when guys touch her." Lily informed him. Was she

hurt like Lily was? His Wolf snarled angrily at the thought of that.

Oh, wait...

"I came here because I have information.” He said, finally turning his gaze away from Erica, though

her scent wrapped around him still. Jayce's expression darkened.

"We can talk in my office.” He told him, finally waking up.

"Is it about Jasper?” Lily asked Damion directly. His eyes shot over to Jayce, who nodded grimly.

"Yeah, and you're not gonna like what I found either.” He told her. He watched her face turn from

concern to fear. Jayce grabbed her hand and squeezed it tightly.

"You're not alone anymore. Remember that.” He told her. Lily nodded, letting out a breath. She

came a long way since he last saw her. She was terrified at the mention of Jasper's name. Now she

looked like she was ready to face the problem head on.

"Let's go." She said to him.

He laid out the pictures on Jayce's desk, one more disturbing than the last. Lily only stared as she

looked at each photo. Jayce was doing his best to keep himself and his Wolf in check. Erica, on the

other hand...

"That sick, twisted fuck! I'll end him!" She screamed as she was going through the journals he found.

From what they understood, it was his daily life tormenting Lily in writing. His plans to break her will

until she was nothing more than an empty shell. He watched Erica with amusement and interest.

She had a hot temper, and it made him hot all over. Watching her get riled up, ready to kill, made

him want to kiss her.

"I'll find him my damn self and I'll break every bone in his body." Her eyes darkened to a degree of a

psychopath as she described how she wanted to dismember Jasper. Jayce was listening with a

slightly disturbed expression, but Damion was falling for her even more now. Lily looked unfazed as

she stared down at the portfolio of herself. Her hands picked up one of her sleeping peacefully, a

fresh bruise on her cheek.

"I never knew he was this demented." She mumbled, dropping the picture back onto the desk.

Damion looked over to his Alpha, his best friend, his King. He looked beyond pissed, and that was a

rarity. Jayce's hands were literally trembling from the rage that burned inside himself.

"He's also missing. One of his neighbors showed up when I kicked down the door to his place. Said

he's been gone for a week now." He informed them. He watched Lily's body stiffen in response, her

hands shooting up to her face.

"What if he comes here?" She asked aloud, but he believed everyone already knew that answer.

Jayce got up from his seat without saying a word and pulled Lily into his bare chest. It didn't take

her long to break down. Damion ran a hand through his hair, pulling on it to keep himself awake.

"If he does, we'll be ready.” He told her, running his fingers through her hair slowly. He'd never seen

Jayce on a gentler side. Normally, he would throw and break shit until he cooled down. He wasn't

anywhere near chill, but his Mate needed him now more than ever, and he prioritized that over

everything he felt.

Damion took that moment to take a glance at Erica. Was she getting emotional like Lily, so he could

comfort her?

Erica had one journal in her hands, her shoulders visibly shaking, and she was mumbling curses

under her breath. She looked just as pissed as Jayce, and that was something else. She caught him

staring.

"What are you looking at?" She almost growled.

"Uh... Shit." He rubbed his face. He was far too exhausted to handle this right now. "I need to crash.”

He mumbled, forcing himself to turn away from them all.

"Damion." Jayce called to him before he left the room. "Thank you." He said to him. Damion tossed

him a tired smile before leaving the small group alone. He made his way down the steps without

stumbling, but he couldn't guarantee a safe trip home.

"They won't care if I crash on the couch.” He grumbled as he made his way into the living room and

plopped his tired ass down on the sofa. The moment his eyes shut, he was out.

He felt electric impulses along his arm, signaling his brain that his Mate was near, yet his eyes

wouldn't open. Her fruity scent filled his senses, as if she was smothering him. The pulses surged at

his fingertips, making him jump slightly. His Wolf was growling pleasantly at the sensation.

About damn time you were satisfied, you mangy mu...

"Damion?" Her velvet voice made his eyes snap open and see her face just inches from his. He

looked into her eyes, the green, vibrant like the forest and the orange like the rising sunrise. She sat

back quickly as he sat up. Pink tainted her cheeks. He rubbed his face, still feeling groggy.

"What time is it?" He asked as he glanced out the window at the night sky.

"Late. Jayce wants to see you." She told him, getting to her feet and walked away. He jumped up,

rushing over and grabbed her hand. This time he watched as the shocks affected her now. She

swayed slightly, but held steady. He took the moment to take in her outfit. She wore an overly large

shirt and jeans. Man, did she look great in it.

"Wait, can we talk?" He tried not to beg. She looked back at him with uncertainty. "Look, I know this

is confusing and we just met and all, but you're my Mate." He declared right off the bat. She looked

at him with her furrowed brows.

"So, we're like Lily and Jayce?" She asked him, and he nodded.

"Yes, well no. Each bond is unique in their own way." He ruffled his hair. “Shit, I'm not really sure

how to talk about this. I've been a man whore until now.” He said outright. Erica stared at him wide

eyed.

"At least you're honest. That's a good quality.” She rested a hand on her hip. He ran a hand over his

mouth as he tried not to ogle her.

"I know this is sudden and you're probably leaving soon, but can I have one dinner with you before

you leave?" He blurted out. She cocked her head at him, giving him a very slow once over. The look

made his cock hard for her.

"Fine. I can never say no to free food.” She said to him before going back upstairs. He followed right

after, taking two steps at a time.

"Really? Great, tomorrow night at 7. I'll pick you up." He told her, but she ignored him as she

opened the door to Jayce's office. Lily was asleep on his lounge sofa while Jayce was at his desk. He

had her pictures in one pile, the journals in another and a video of Jasper on his TV screen where he

gave the speech about Lily being a missing person.

"We're trying to figure out the best way to go about this as low key as possible.” Erica told her as

she took her seat beside Lily. She brushed her fingers through her hair slowly, smiling down at her.

Ugh, my fucking heart!

"You could have woken me up sooner.” He sat in the chair across from Jayce.

"You looked like you haven't slept in a few days." Jayce shot him a look. He shrugged. Once he was

on a mission, he'll see it through to the end, no matter the cost.

"What's the plan?" He asked, fully awake now. He needed to focus on the issue at hand

"With the festival just a week out, we can't afford any mishaps with that.” Jayce rubbed the bridge of

his nose. "I can maximize security, but that'll put the people on edge." He let out an aggravated

sigh. His eyes fell on Lily, and they softened instantly.

"What if we don't do that?" Erica spoke up. They both looked at her. "Before you say no, hear me

out." She got to her feet.

"If this puts Lily in danger, no." Jayce growled instinctively.

"What is it, Erica?” Lily yawned from the sofa, sitting up, her hair half covering her face. Lily looked

adorable as a sleepy head. Damion watched Jayce's body shift slightly as she awoke. Did he think

the same thing?

"Look, we all know Jasper will stop at nothing until he has Lily again,” Erica took the floor instantly.

Damion felt drawn to her as she talked, "Let's draw him in and trap him.” She clasped her hands

together like she was caging a butterfly with her hands. Lily got to her feet, sleep pushed aside as

she stood beside Erica. She wore a tank top and shorts, scars covering more of her body than he

realized.

"Erica has a point.” Lily agreed with her.

"Absolutely not." Jayce disagreed instantly.

"So you want to wait for him to creep into the city? Let him watch me from the shadows like some

fucking predator?” Lily raised her voice. This was the first time he saw her show any other emotion

aside from the usual.

"You'll stay safe at home." He growled at her. He gripped the desk to the point it splintered.

"So you'll just cage me up?" She asked him. Did Jayce just flinch? He watched his Alpha's nose flare

as he tried to calm down for the sake of his desk. Damion had to admit, the women together were a

force to be reckoned with.

"Eventually, he'll disregard your authority and he'll break in here to get her.” Erica said, standing tall

beside Lily.

"I don't want to be a scared woman anymore.” Lily said, a little shaken. "Jasper deserves to rot for

what he's done to me. Hell, he could've done this to other women and he could do more if we don't

handle this properly.” Lily said. Jayce let go of his desk and leaned back in his chair. He looked as if

he was thinking it over.

"And if I say yes, what exactly do you plan to do?" He asked her. Lily walked beside Damion, resting

her hands on his desk.

"Announce that I'm your Mate." she told him. Damion watched Jayce's eyes widened slightly, his

hand covering his mouth slightly as if he was trying to hide the very faint smile.

"That's a big deal, Lily. I wanted to wait until Doctor Marshall gave the okay.” He told her, but who

was he kidding? Damion could practically see his Wolf's tail wagging.

"This is my choice. Not only will you announce us, but that would explain the extra security. Your

people wouldn't second guess that something else is actually going on.” She suggested to him.

Jayce nodded slowly.

"It could work. You'll have the protection necessary, but that also means that Jasper wouldn't dare

come near you the entire day." Jayce mentioned.

"Perhaps we can have Lily do one event? This gives her the chance to get to know her people as the

new Luna." Damion threw out there.

"True, we have the lanterns, but that's at the end of the day." Jayce said.

"May 1?" Erica stepped up to the desk, her hip barely brushing Damion's shoulder.

For fuck’s sake...

"I believe this would also be an excellent opportunity to do a book signing.” She suggested. Lily

looked over at her, a little surprised.

"I haven't done a book signing in so long.” Lily said, but she looked absolutely thrilled about it, "We

ran into some fans here actually the other day. I'm sure they would be ecstatic.” Lily looked over to

Jayce and he looked defeated.

"The festival is a week out. Will you have time to get things together?" Jayce asked Erica doubtfully.

She cracked her knuckles, a glimmer in her eye that sent a chill to run down Damion's spine.

"Leave it to me." She smirked and Lily let out a giggle.

"This will actually be fun.” She said. Damion heard Jayce let out a sigh.

"Can you two excuse us? I need to have a word with Lily." He said, but he had a glimmer in his eyes.

Lily froze up at the gaze as Damion got to his feet.

"Wait, but she didn't do..." Erica argued, but Damion grabbed her arm. The shock almost made his

knees buckle beneath him as he dragged her from the room, closing the door behind them.

"What the Hell are you doing?" She demanded, but he put a finger to his lips. There was a soft thud,

a growl, and a loud moan followed. "Are they...?"

"Fucking? Sounds like it." He shrugged, walking away from the door. "So, 7 sharp.” He waved bye to

her. He felt her gaze on him, but he didn't dare look back.