Chapter Eleven - Protect Her - Damian's POV

I walk away, though it pains me to do so. My footsteps are steady, but each step feels heavier than the last and I almost turn around. Something about her makes me admire her, yet I also find her reactions amusing. She is very strong willed, as if nothing will ever break her. I noticed how she stood her ground, despite being as shaky as the leaves in the breeze outside. There was even fear in her eyes when she turned to confront me. It was almost a challenge. The thought makes my jaw tighten. I love the way she looks at me. But I wasn't supposed to feel this way. She isn't supposed to get under my skin or make me feel any certain way. Maya is just a means to an end. And that end leads directly to the prophecy that is over my family. I exhale sharply as I think about when she turned to face me again. There was defiance burning in her gaze underneath the fear. It makes me want to make her beg. As I turn the corner, I reach up and run my hand through my hair as I start down the staircase toward my study. The darkness of the hallway wraps around me like a cloak. Usually, I find myself at home in the darkness, but right now, it does little to quieten the turmoil in my chest. Her words play over in my mind. Control is a funny word. Technically, I control her, and I mean every single part of her, though she denies it. She has no idea how wrong she is. Her fate is tied to mine now, and there is no escaping that. The only problem is I don't own her heart. That is a little trickier than just owning someone or their body. When I finally turn the last corner and reach my study, I push the door open and step inside. The cool air of the room is a reprieve from the firestorm brewing in my mind. I walk over to my desk and flick the light of the desk lamp on. It casts long shadows across the room and onto the bookshelves. For a moment, I just stand there, staring at the room as if it can answer everything. Simon's words echo in my mind as well. He said I will grow to like her. And that is an entirely separate issue in itself. I hate how much truth there is in that statement. He knows what he is doing when he said it. But I really shouldn't like her. She is just a piece of the puzzle in a game I never chose to play. The prophecy has me bound to it, just as it has bound her. The stakes are entirely too high for me to mess up now. There are too many enemies circling around us like vultures and they will tear this place apart if they know she is here. Especially if they found out who she was. Sadly, I can't protect her if I can't figure out how to make this work with her. I walk around the desk and settle into my chair. My hands are still clenched into fists as the familiar weight of responsibility settles over my shoulders. Failure isn't an option, especially for me. A sharp knock at the door breaks the silence and my thoughts. I lift my gaze to the door. 'Come in." The door finally opens with a slight creak, and Evelyn steps inside. Her expression is calm, but her gaze is sharp as it settles on my face. 'Well, I found the girl sleeping in the chair. It looks like she ate in just the few minutes you were gone and I checked in. I didn't bother her." 'Good," I reply. 'She needs rest. I think the howls were bothering her, but there is nothing I can do about it." Evelyn studies me for a moment as she shuts the door behind her. 'Well, she is human, alpha." I growl low in my throat. 'Don't you think I'm aware of that? I've waited for her almost my entire life. When my father told me about the prophecy, she became my sole obsession and now she's here." Her lips quirks into a smile, but her gaze doesn't soften any. 'You can't protect her from everything. You know that, right? She's going to figure it out, eventually. The pack isn't good about hiding." 'She doesn't need to know what's out there yet," I say firmly. 'Not until she's ready. They must hide because I have commanded it." Evelyn tilts her head, her expression changing to one of amusement. 'Oh, really? And when will that be? She is here, alpha. They won't wait until she's ready. Someone is going to slip and she will see sooner or later. Not only that, you have our enemies breathing down our necks. How long is long enough?" I turn away, gripping the edge of the desk as I stare down at the scattered papers. 'She's human, Evelyn. She's not ready for this life." 'So, are you going to keep treating her like some fragile doll? Damian, get real. I already caught one of the guys in the hallway in his wolf form. She's bound to notice that. The howls were especially loud tonight because they're all curious. They know what she means to us. If you think you can hide her away, you're wrong. The enemies will figure it out sooner or later as well. You have to figure this out soon." I don't respond. Because deep down, I know she is right. Evelyn sighs when she sees I am not responding. Her expression finally softens up a bit. 'I know you think you are protecting her by keeping her in the dark because that is what you do. You protect even when you don't think you are. But this isn't good. She will be vulnerable when it comes time. She can't help you fight back if she doesn't know anything about our world or why she is here." I turn away from Evelyn, my gaze fixed on the paperwork on my desk from earlier. The reports about rogue activity are daunting. 'You think I don't know that?" I ask in a whisper. 'Oh, how I know that, but she's human."