Page 94 of Love Bites

And honestly?

I liked the idea so much it hurt.

nineteen

BLAIR

I was plasteredto Damian’s chest with sweat and who knew what else when I eventually woke up.

Despite the discomfort of the sweat, I felt more rested than I’d been in a long time.

Though I wanted to blame that change on feeding from him the night before, I knew it was just having his arms around me like that. The physical contact alone was enough to relax me.

One of his arms was wrapped around my waist, holding me securely against him. His hand was on my back, stroking my skin lightly, and it made me feel so good I wanted to melt. “Good morning, little siren.”

His murmur made my lips curve upward just a little.

“Good morning.” I didn’t lift my head from where it was tucked against him.

“I got a few messages about you trying to leave the Manor while I was sleeping.”

Ah.

Right.

“I didn’t believe my sisters when they said I wasn’t a prisoner. Avery proved it. Your security team didn’t try to stop me. The guy in the parking garage gave me keys.”

His arm tightened around me. “Of course you’re not a prisoner. I just need you to stay safe. With me.”

“Are you going to tell them not to let me go next time?”

“No. I’m going to keep my phone closer if there’s going to be a next time.”

There was no question in his voice, but I didn’t want him to think I was going to be sneaking out or anything. “There won’t be. If I ever want to leave, I’ll let you know.”

I felt his grip loosen a little. “Thank you.”

“Mmhm. But if I’m going to start telling you things like that, you have to tell me all of the important things too.”

“You heard about Porter?”

“Is that the werewolf’s name?”

Damian sighed. “Yeah. He’s an old friend.”

“Why were you meeting with him? And why were you fighting?”

“Porter’s family ran the pack in Mistwood for centuries, up until another alpha challenged his father and killed him. Werewolf law required the challenger to let Porter’s mother and siblings leave, but he killed them too. Porter wasn’t there when all of that happened, but as soon as he heard, he came back to town and tore the new alpha to shreds. Rather than staying to lead thepack like the law indicated he should, he abandoned it. Curtis rose to power instead.”

My eyebrows lifted against Damian’s skin. “So he’s the real alpha?”

“The rightful alpha, yes, but not the real alpha. Curt has hold of the pack’s magic. He’s in charge in every way, he just didn’t fight Porter for the right the way wolves are supposed to.”

“Oh. So you called him in to meet with him because…”

“Because if I kill Curtis, it’ll start a war. But if Porter kills him, it’ll create peace,” he said simply. “All of the other leaders know and trust Porter, too. If we can set him up as the pack’s alpha, all of us can relax our security here at the Manor and focus on our people like we did before Curt came into power.”

“And my sisters would be free.”

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