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©¢-18 Let Me Stay
- Let Me Stay
An’s POV
The noises pulled me from sleep- boots on hardwood, the clank of armor, low voices murmuring in the halls. This abandoned packhouse was empty yesterday. Just four people were living here, including me.
Now it sounded like an army had moved in.
A knock at the door caught my attention.
“Coming in!” Aurelia’s voice, bright and unapologetic, preceded her as she slipped inside, her arms laden with
bags.
“Good morning!” She beamed, dumping the bags onto the bed. “I came to check on you.”
“Good morning,” I murmured, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. My neck ached where Damon’s teeth had grazed last night, a phantom sting that sent heat pooling low in my stomach.
“Also, I wanted to see if any of these fit you.” She patted the bags. “You can’t keep wearing Damon’s shirts, though I’m sure he doesn’t mind.”
“Thank you,” I said, though my fingers trembled as I reached for the first bag.
“Freshen up and try something on,” she urged, already bustling toward the window to throw open the
curtains.
The morning light was harsh, exposing every shadow under my eyes, every sharp angle of my too thin frame.
“What are all these noises?” I asked, flinching as another round of shouts echoed from below.
“Oh! The warriors have arrived. She replied.
“Warriors?” I frowned.
“Yeah, for the hunt. Aurelia turned, her eyes alight with a fire that made my blood run cold. “We found evidence of a hidden rogue pack in the forest. We’re going to tear the woods apart until we find them.”
My heart stopped.
My pack. My people.
Luna Celestine had taken me in when I had nothing. Gave me a home. Kade and Amara became my family.
And now Damon’s warriors, given a chance, would slaughter them all.
I had to find a way to get back and warn them. But how?
“Come on, hurry up!” Aurelia clapped her hands, snapping me back to the present.
Numb, I stumbled into the adjoining bathroom, the tile icy under my bare feet.
The face in the mirror was a stranger’s- pale, hollow–cheeked, lips bitten raw from holding back screams.
And on my neck- A dark, vicious bruise
The memory of Damon’s mouth on my skin, his hands gripping my hips, his growl vibrating through me-
“Nothing happened,” I whispered to my reflection.
18 Let Me Stay
Because it hadn’t.
He’d left.
No words. No explanation. Just cold silence.
He didn’t want me. I laughed inwardly. Who would want a sickly woman like me? I couldn’t even win the heart
of a man when I was a better version of myself, when I was… healthy.
Aurelia’s voice floated through the door. “Someone had a great night.”
I stiffened. “What?”
“Don’t play innocent.” She smirked when I stepped out, her eyes zeroing in on the mark. “From the look of it, he almost marked you.”
My fingers flew to my neck. “It’s not-”
“Relax” She laughed. “I never took the prince for the patient type, but it’s good. Gives you both something to
look forward to.”
Iyanked the first dress from the bag- a deep green thing that clung to every curve.
“It suits you. I thought it would fit you given how thin you are. I guess you have curves in the right places,”
Aurelia teased.
I sighed.
“How are you feeling?” Aurelia asked as I struggled with the zipper. “Nervous? Thrilled?”
“About what?” I asked, while fixing my hair.
“The capital. You’ll be there by tomorrow.” Aurelia sounded excited.
The world tilted.
“Capital?” I gasped.
“He didn’t tell you?” Aurelia froze For a second.
No! That was bad! I didn’t wait for an answer. Instead, I ran.
The packhouse was a blur of unfamiliar faces, warriors in Arkendale colors stopping mid conversation to stare as I flew past.
“Ara, wait!” Aurelia’s shout faded behind me.
I followed Damon’s scent, mint and sage, until I stood before a heavy oak door. I had to find a way to stay. I had to find a way to get back to the pack.
I didn’t knock.
“You’re sending me away?!” I burst in, chest heaving.
Then I froze
Damon sat behind a massive desk, his face carved from ice. Sailas stood by the window, even he had a serious look on and a half–dozen warriors stood at attention, their expressions shifting from shack to amusement.
s**t. They were probably having some important discussions.
18 Let Me Stay
And every eye
locked onto me.
“Ara, wait-” Aurelia grabbed my arm.
“Sorry, Your Highness,” she stammered. “I shouldn’t have-”
Damon’s gaze was glacial. At the moment, he was a prince, and not the man who’d touched me senseless just a few hours ago.
“You can’t just barge in, Aurelia whispered, “this is confidential.”
Shame burned my cheeks. He was the prince and I was just a nobody. I didn’t even know the protocols.
“Sorry, Your Highness. I turned to flee.
“No, wait.” Damon stood up. And I froze on my trail.
He ordered in his sharp voice, “Leave. We’ll discuss this later.”
The warriors filed out first without a word. Then came Sailas with all his glory.
“Is that a mark?” Sailas‘ voice filled with amusement as he stood just inches away, inspecting my neck. My hand went flying automatically to hide it.
“Shut up and come with me!” Aurelia dragged him by the ear. The door clicked shut.
Silence followed. Alone, Damon’s eyes burned into me- dark, furious, and… hungry?
“Come here.” A command.
I didn’t move. Couldn’t. The air between us crackled, thick with unsaid things
His nostrils flared, scenting my rage, my hurt. “Now,”
“Why are you sending me away?” My voice shook. “I thought you wanted me.”
“This is for your safety.” He replied.
I
“I don’t want to go.” I objected
forest.
“It’s not up for negotiation.” His jaw clenched. “We found a rogue pack in the ‘s not safe here.”
“Is this because we didn’t finish things last night?” The words tumbled out, raw and bleeding. “If you don’t want me, just reject me. Don’t pretend-”
“Who put these ideas in your head?” A growl ripped from his chest.
“Did I say something wrong?” I asked. My voice shook.
“You are mine.” He crossed the room in three strides, crowding me against the wall. His heat, his scent, mint and sage and something darker, wrapped around me, suffocating me. “Talk about rejection again, and I swear to the gods, I’ll mark you right now.”
“Do you pity me?” I asked. I couldn’t control my emotions.
“Why would I pity you?” He looked shocked for a second.
“Why would you want a wolfless, nobody like me? You are a lycan prince!” I finally spilled it.
His forehead dropped to mine, his breath hot against my lips. “Because you’re my mate. I want you Ara, even if you were a fly! Wolf or not, I f***** don’t care!”
- Let Me Stay
“Then why did you leave last night?” My lips trembled.
“Because if I hadn’t, his growl vibrated through my bones, “I would have ruined you.” His hand fisted in my hair, tilting my head back. His breath touched the mark he left yesterday, making me feel things I shouldn’t have. “I would have taken you on the floor like an animal, marked you so deep no one would ever doubt who you belong to.”
My heart stuttered. My breath came in short, sharp gasps.
“But you,” his thumb brushed the bruise on my neck, ‘deserve so much more. You will have a crown on your
head when I claim you.”
Did he really mean it? It didn’t matter. Focus Ara! You can’t let these butterflies win.
“Then please don’t send me away,” I begged. “I feel safe here. With you.”
He stilled, as if he was having conversations with his wolf. I couldn’t go away because my pack needed me
and L
“I told you, this is not up for discussion,” Damon’s voice was final, the steel in his tone leaving no room for
argument.
I stared at him, my chest tightened. His storm–grey eyes were unreadable, his jaw set like stone. There stood my mate who would send me away while he destroyed everything I had left.
No. This wasn’t happening
I had one day. Just One.
What should I do now?
I couldn’t fight him. Not here, not like this. So I did the only thing I could- I retreated. I had to think of a plan.
“Fine.”
- me. I didn’t look back
The word tasted bitter, but I forced it out, ducking under his arm before he could stop me. as I left the study, my pulse roaring in my ears.
Aurelia was waiting outside, her arms crossed, her sharp eyes flicking over my face. “What happened?”
I swallowed hard, forcing my voice steady. “Can we go for a stroll?”
A flicker of surprise crossed her features, but she nodded. “Sure, let’s go.”
The moment we stepped outside, the crisp forest air hit me, thick with the scent of pine and damp earth. The packhouse grounds were alive with movement. The warriors in dark uniforms, their weapons glinting in the sunlight as they prepared for the hunt.
My pack. My family.
I had to get to them.
“He said no, didn’t he?” Aurelia asked as we walked, her voice softer than usual.
“Yeah.” I kept my answer short, my gaze darting over the tree line, memorizing every path, every shadow,
The woods stretched beyond the clearing, dense and endless. Somewhere in there, hidden beneath layers of magic and secrecy, was home.
O
How for was it?
Aurelia sighed, misreading my silence. “Don’t be sad. The palace isn’t that bad. Besides, the queen favors Prince Damon. She’ll take good care of you!
I barely held back a scoff. Comfort my ass.
The queen’s favor meant nothing if Damon’s warriors slaughtered my people first. The silence broke as a warrior jogged up to us, breathless. “My lady, we found a lead.”
My stomach dropped
No. They didn’t! Oh goddess!
Aurelia straightened, all business.
“Go back to the packhouse, Ara,” she told me before turning to the warrior. “Show me.”
And just like that, she was gone, striding off with the others, leaving me standing alone. The warriors moved in perfect sync, their focus locked on their mission. No one was watching me.
This was it.
My chance
I forced myself to walk slowly at first, my steps measured, my breathing even. I didn’t run–not yet. Not until I was sure no one would notice.
Then, the moment the trees swallowed me whole, I moved
Branches whipped at my arms, my legs burning as I sprinted deeper into the woods. My lungs ached, my heart slamming against my ribs, but I didn’t stop.
а
I carved tiny marks into the bark as I went, leaving a trail I could follow back if I needed to. The forest was at maze, but I knew these woods–or at least, I knew how to survive them
Luna Celestine and Kade taught me well.
The river appeared suddenly, a silver ribbon cutting through the trees. I skidded to a stop, my breath coming in sharp gasps as I scanned the rocks along the bank.
There. Finally I saw a crescent moon, etched into stone. The mark of hidden entrance for the pack. I stepped closer, my fingers trembling as I traced the symbol.
No mistake.
This was it.
My key to home.
My
To safely.
