While Damian longed to complete their mate bond, he knew it wasn't right—not yet. She didn't even know his true identity. And if he did something so sacred without giving her a choice, forgiveness would be nearly impossible to earn.
Meanwhile, Maya was lost in thought. She couldn't shake the conversation she'd had with them, no matter how hard she tried.
They were planning to run away tonight — to escape the village for good. Kalindi had secretly sold her house to a merchant in the city and now had enough money to start a life of her own.
She and Nia had made a plan: flee to the city and begin again. But first, they had to survive tonight. Just tonight. They had to slip away unnoticed. Because if the villagers found out about their plan...Maya didn't know exactly what they'd do — only that it would be bad.
There had been a girl once. A young bride, married off too early. She had run away from her husband's home and returned to her parents, begging them to let her stay. Maya's father — the village leader — had sent her back. Even though the girl had cried, sobbing that her in-laws were abusive. No one listened.
She ran away again.
This time, but into the forest. Hiding.
The villagers found her.
And they burned her alive.
That was the reality. That was how the men in this village decided the fate of women. And that's why Maya was scared. Terrified that something might happen to Nia and Kalindi.
She was praying—silently, that they could get away.
She snapped out of her thoughts when Damian's lips captured hers in a kiss, pulling her focus back to her husband, to the moment.
Tonight… she told herself she had to give her all to this man. So she kissed him back.
He was relentless. Kissing her. Like he needed to feel every inch of her soul through her mouth.
Then, slowly, he broke the kiss. His eyes found hers, and he pressed a tender kiss to her forehead. She closed her eyes, feeling the warmth of his lips linger.
"You must be tired, right?" he said softly, his voice thick with affection. "Let's get you into something comfortable — here, wear this," he added, taking off upper body clothing and gently placing it in her hands before heading back to the bed.
"What?" The word slipped from her lips before she even realized it.
"Hm? What, baby?" he asked, glancing at her with a soft smile. "I know you're tired. That's why I'm not doing anything tonight."
"But… tonight's supposed to be our first night," she blurted, frustration slipping into her voice.
The moment the words left her mouth, she winced. "I-I mean… what I meant to say is—"
"What, baby?" he interrupted again, casually, like the world didn't exist outside this room. His voice was calm, easy, and his posture relaxed as he lay back on the bed.
Even though he looked so relaxed, careless, even on the outside,
inside? He was feeling exactly what she was. The same heat. The same ache.
He looked at her, eyes dark with something deeper, and said,"Ñuha qēlos… listen to me."
His voice dropped an octave — sultry, commanding.
"I want to make love to you in my house, okay? And believe me…" he smirked wickedly,"You don't want to scream my name in your parents' house."
His tone was mocking, teasing — but she could hear the edge beneath it. She crossed her arms, chin tilted in defiance."I doubt that," she said, meeting his eyes—fire for fire.
Adding oil to the fire, she tilted her head and said,"I didn't know my husband was the type to go back on his word."
Then she looked at him — slow, deliberate — and let out a loud, exaggerated tsk.Daring him.
Even though Damian was enjoying this side of her, a part of him, the one ruled by instinct, growled at her challenge.
His Alpha side didn't want to walk away from it.No — it wanted to dominate it.It wanted to make the challenger submit.
And the idea? Gods, it sounded sweeter because it was his mate standing on the other side.
His instincts clawed at him, whispering,
Accept the challenge…
rut her…
make her submit to you completely.
He clenched his jaw, holding himself back, knowing if he gave in, there would be no mercy.
Not tonight.
Only need.
She smirked, and the Alpha inside him was done playing nice.
For so long, he had forced himself to be human, just for his human.
Damian slowly sat up, eyes locked on hers, jaw clenched then, in a low voice edged with warning, he said,
"You doubt me?"
Maya looked up at him, her breath catching—not from fear, but heat.She saw the shift in him.
This wasn't the gentle husband from before. This was something, something else, she could not point out.
But instead of shrinking away… she raised her chin.Met his eyes.And whispered — barely more than a breath
"Weren't you the one who said we'd make love on our wedding night?""Hmm?"
She was sure he heard her — because in the very next moment,His hand was around her waist,his mouth on hers,And he was kissing the hell out of her.
He pushed her back toward the bed, his body moving over hers, his lips crashing into hers like he couldn't breathe without them.
He kissed her like he owned her.
Like he'd lost every last trace of sanity.
Like her mouth was the only thing anchoring him to this world.
He pushed his tongue into her mouth, rough and possessive.A deep growl rumbled from his chest — loud, animalistic, not human at all.
Maya felt a chill run down her spine.Her hands gripped his shoulders, but instead of pushing him away...She pulled him closer.
She moaned softly when his bare chest pressed against her breasts —her nipples instantly hardening from the contact.
Heat flushed across her face.Suddenly overwhelmed, she broke the kiss, pushing him back with trembling hands, her cheeks burning in embarrassment