Chapter Twenty Five - Falling - Maya's POV

Damian exhales loudly, his gaze darkening. 'It's real, whether you believe it or not. And you are a part of this world now." 'Part of what?" I ask, fearing that I might get eaten at any moment. 'What does that even mean?" He chuckles low in his throat. 'It means that your life will never be the same now that you know about us." I finally let go of the bed and go slack. 'So you bought me from my father to bring me here and keep me trapped in your supernatural world for the fun of it?" Something dark flashes in his gaze. 'You're here so I can keep you safe." That makes me laugh. 'Safe? You think I'm safe in a house with a wolf?" He clenches his jaw, his eyes flickering with something I can't read. I watch as he reaches the end of the bed and just stands there. Everything is visible to me except from mid thigh down, which is hidden by the foot of the bed. 'Look, I'm having a hard time saying this because I didn't want you to find out like this. But there's no undoing what I've done and you know what I am now. It's going to be okay." 'Are all monsters real? Do I have to deal with vampires and other things, too?" He looks guilty and even flinches at the word monster. 'I'm not the one you should be afraid of, though. There are other things that are far worse than wolves." 'Oh, that's cute, considering what I just saw. You're a big wolf and you're telling me there are scarier things than you out there. Oh, no thanks. I want to wake up from this nightmare now." Silence fills the air, and he breathes out a heavy breath. 'You're my mate, Maya," he finally says, his voice low and barely audible. My entire world spins and all I can think of is those scenes in the books I've read. 'Your what?" 'You heard me, Maya." 'No, I don't think I did," I say with a laugh. 'I could have sworn you just said mate, but that isn't what you said." 'That's exactly what I said," he says with a low growl and I realize he is serious. 'You have to be kidding me," I say as my face pales. 'Part of me says I wish I was, but I know what you are and what you will become." I catch every single word and nearly fall over on the bed. 'Become? Are you saying that I'm going to become like you as well?" 'Fate has deemed you as mine, but you don't have to become like me unless you want to. It's part of the prophecy and I need you as much as you need me." I feel faint and the walls start closing in as my breath comes in quick pants. Everything is sinking in and my entire world is tilting. 'You have the wrong girl." I try to get off the bed, but wobble and nearly fall. Out of the corner of my eye, I can see him coming around the edge of the bed. 'Stay away from me." 'You're going to fall," he says, but it sounds like I'm stuck in a barrel. 'Just leave me alone," I say before everything starts becoming black. I fall to my hands and knees, crawling along the floor as my breathing becomes labored. 'Maya," he says softly, but he sounds distant. 'I didn't ask for this," I whisper right as my entire world fades from view and I feel like I'm falling.