Chapter 135 The Day of the Alphas’ Gathering

He didn’t respond immediately. His eyes held mine, they remained dark and unreadable. Then he leaned closer, his breath grazing my lips.

"Don’t ask for what you know I can’t give."

"And what is that?" I whispered, even though my chest already knew the answer.

"Only you."

I looked away, my jaw clenched. "Then don’t expect me to stay."

His hand shot out, grabbing my wrist before I could shift away. "Don’t test me, Ember."

"Then stop acting like I belong to you."

’What a crazy psychopath? Egoistic maniac!’

His grip loosened. For a second, he looked almost... lost. But then he blinked, and the coldness returned like a mask snapping into place.

"You’ll have your food soon." He stood up.

"And after that?" I asked softly.



He paused near the door. "You’ll rest. You’re not strong enough to leave this room yet."

My eyes narrowed. "That sounds more like a warning than a concern."

He didn’t deny it. He left without looking back.

The silence that followed wrapped around me like a heavy blanket. I pulled my knees to my chest, ignoring the soreness and the bite that still throbbed on my neck.

He wasn’t going to choose me. But then... Why did he hold me like that? Why did he sound broken for a second, like he hated the choices he was making?

I shouldn’t care. I should be angry or even furious. But all I felt was emptiness. Maybe I should’ve fought harder. Maybe I should’ve never let him in.

I buried my face in my knees, the ache in my chest stronger than anything my body felt.

I needed to get out. Before it became too late to walk away.

The door stayed closed. Time passed, but I didn’t know how much. Minutes? Hours? It all felt the same. My fingers hovering near the mark, afraid to touch it... afraid to admit what it might mean.

’Does this mean I’m bonded to him? But why can’t I feel anything like the way it is written in the book? There is no connection... Was it really a bite to kill? But if it was, why did he want to kill me?’

A knock at the door startled me. It opened slowly, and a maid stepped in with a tray of food. She didn’t meet my gaze. She placed the tray on the small table near the window and left in silence.

The moment she closed the door behind her, I dragged myself off the bed.

Every step made my muscles scream, but I ignored it. My stomach growled again, so I forced myself to eat even though I could barely taste the food. This was the first time I ate without enthusiasm... Almost as if I had become demure again.

I looked out the window. The sky was grey, as if even the weather reflected what I felt.

Nine days... Nine days were lost with no plan.

Caroline and Lydia would think I bailed on them. That I gave up. And that I chose him. Did I make the wrong choice to bang?



I pressed a hand to my chest, right over my heart. "You’re so stupid," I whispered to myself.

A small part of me still wanted him to walk through that door, still wanted him to say he regretted everything. That he’d choose me, not for politics or power, but because he couldn’t stand to lose me.

But that part of me needed to die. I couldn’t afford to keep hoping.

Another hour passed. Maybe more. I washed my face in the small basin, pulled my hair into a loose braid, and tried not to look like the broken thing I felt.

My gaze fell on the two angry marks on my neck. Apart from the redness, there was no mark forming on it. But did it still look fresh after nine days?

The door opened again, I didn’t turn right away. Because I already knew who it was.

"Still here?" I asked, voice flat.

Damon stepped in, closing the door behind him. He didn’t say anything.

I turned to face him. "What now?"

"I wanted to make sure you ate."

I gave a bitter smile. "Still playing the part of the concerned master?"

His jaw tensed. "You think I don’t care?"

I tilted my head. "Do you?"

He stepped closer. "Which master wouldn’t care for his...."

"Pet." I helped him finish the sentence. I dried my face, then I turned around and walked past him into the main room.

He walked behind me.



"And now what? You’ll just hand me over to a jealous Luna and hope I survive?"

He didn’t answer.

I pointed at the mark. "You left this on me. And now you’re trying to pretend it means nothing."

"EMBER! Watch your tone. You should be grateful that I even spared you a glance."

"Really?" I turned to him, then I held the hem of my dress, bowing at him. "Thank you, your royal Majesty, for taking your precious time to spare me a glance... your grace knows no bounds."

A loud menacing growl erupted from his throat, his eyes flicked to grey before returning to their normal shade.

We stood in silence, our eyes locked in fierce battle. ’I have been wrong about him... stupid me. He would never see me as more than a pet, a breeder, and an Omega.’

I averted my gaze, then I sat back down on the bed, folding my hands in my lap. "Isn’t the Alpha Gathering tonight?"

"And what if it is?" His stance became more defensive, as he didn’t want me to go anywhere.

"I would love to be there... to see you take your Luna. And... to celebrate my birthday as it would be the night I get to meet my wolf." My voice became colder with every word.

"You shouldn’t come to the gathering, your body is too weak right now." His voice softened a bit.

"But I want to be there... I’m your pet, am I not supposed to be at your side? Or are you that eager to hide me away from your Luna?" I drawled.