Chapter 3


    Damon POV


    ‘Run Poppy, run.’ I pulled up the hoodie over my head and started to jog after her. ‘You don’t have


    much time to live.’


    Poppy Vincent was the wolf-less granddaughter of our biggest enemy, Alpha James Vincent. I was


    going to kill her because I won''t let anyone go near her.


    For the past three days, I was stalking her. Her irresistible scent drew me to her. It was so decadent


    that my nights of debauchery were nothing in front of it. It was so intoxicating that I couldn’t let any of


    my warriors touch her for the fear that they would burn or get addicted to her. I felt desperate with need.


    Madly. Badly. Obsessed.


    And so here I was. Hunting Poppy. Not because I had any wish to do so. But because I had to. I was


    I kept my distance from her on this silvery night as she jogged through the forest that surrounded the


    academy. For three nights I haven’t been able to attend the parties because my wolf, Onyx, brought me


    here.


    After her.


    Like her shadow.


    And for these three nights, I did everything in my control not to sink my fangs in her.


    I heard herbored breath and her heartbeat which was like a luby to me. She stopped in a clearing


    under the moonlight and I immediately hid in the shadows. As the moonlight fell upon her golden skin,


    giving a soft halo to her me red hair that escaped her ponytail, I couldn’t help but stare at her.


    I could have lunged at her and snapped her head in two, but what was the fun in it. I loved chasing my


    prey because I was the most dangerous predator.


    She snapped her head in all directions as if she perceived something was wrong. But she let out a sigh


    and sank her knees to the ground. She looked up at the moon. “Please Moon Goddess, let my wolf


    out…” she said in a voice so soft that it was like a melody to my ears. My chest rumbled with a growl at


    my irritation for even thinking it was a melody. ‘Down boy!’ I said to Onyx for he wanted to go to her and


    kiss her.


    I could make her mine now, except that I was already betrothed to Monica. I knew that only Monica


    could be my mate because she was a strong, she-wolf and more importantly, George Dawson’s niece.


    Her cousin, Nash Dawson, was going to be the next heir of the Howlers Pack. I didn’t want to start a


    war with the Dawsons now. It wasn’t right for the political climate. A twig snapped beneath my foot.


    Her head whipped in my direction. “Who’s there?” she said as she got up with her eyes wide and panic


    written all over her face.


    I wanted to step out and reveal myself, but the next moment she dashed in the opposite direction. I


    smirked, ‘Run little wolf, run.’


    She was out of the forest soon while I continued to follow her, keeping my distance until she reached


    her dorm safely. Poppy was mine and I wouldn’t allow a single shifter to catch my prey.


    Once again, she stopped right in front of her dorm and whipped her head around to check. As she did


    that, I caught a glimpse of her slender neck. My fangs grew painfully and so did my underpart. I wanted


    to sink both my fangs and underpart inside her. I clenched my fists and my jaw to control my wolf who


    wanted to shift and go to his mate.


    Yes, Poppy Vincent was my mate.


    “Damon!” Monica’s voice fell in my ears and I realized that I was about to shift. ‘Down boy!’ I willed


    Onyx immediately.


    She ced her hand on my chest. “Is everything okay with you, sweetie?”


    I looked at Monica, my heart thundering. A growl emanated from my chest because my wolf didn’t like


    the interruption. “Monica.” I acknowledged her with a cold expression. She blinked at me in fear. I took


    a ragged breath to control myself and ced my hand on the small of her back to guide her away from


    here.


    Monica was in the academy with me in the same ss. We were in ourst year of graduation. After


    graduation, Monica and I were to wed. I was twenty-eight and she was twenty-six. We were perfect for


    each other. I joinedte because my father needed me for the pack. Monica came a few monthster


    after I joined.


    “You can''t go after her, Damon,” she said in a low voice, advising me. “You can''t taint your hands with


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    her blood. Let others take care of her.” She paused and continued, “Her grandfather is your family’s


    sworn enemy. If hees to know that you have killed her, he is going to use it as an excuse to start a


    war.”


    It had been a few hundred years since the peace treaty existed between all the packs, but with the


    current political climate, it was crumbling.


    “If you like, I can handle her,” Monica suggested.


    “No,” I growled as frustration grew. “Keep away from her.” She was mine.


    Monica nodded immediately. “I will keep my distance, but you must stay away from that lowly wolf-less


    girl.”


    “Don’t try to control me, Monica.” My jaw tightened. I nced at my back. She was gone. Tomorrow


    night then.


    “How about you shift her to the dorms in the south and she will stay away?” she suggested as we


    headed to my t. There were only three ts in the Umbra Academy. Two others were leased at a


    hefty price to the witch coven and shifters.


    A low snarl escaped my chest. That dorm was adjacent to that of male shifters. The thought of Poppy


    next to them made unreasonable jealousy re in my chest. “No!” I snapped. Poppy was mine to im.


    We reached my t and Monica closed the door behind her. She gave me a lusty look when I took my


    hoodie down. She closed the gap between us and nibbled my jawline. She lifted my hands up and


    removed my sweat shirt. “I think you need to take the steam off you.”


    Poppy POV


    Why did I feel that I was being watched? I had this feeling every time I came out of my dorm. Ever


    since I hade from my pack, I jogged at night when the moon was up in the sky. The cool rays of


    the moon calmed my frayed nerves. But this feeling was unnerving. Every night.


    Tonight while I was running, I stopped. The hair at the back of my nape rose and I snapped my head in


    all directions, perceiving danger. I think I was just imagining. I sank my knees to the ground with a sigh.


    Looking up, I let out my usual plea to the Moon Goddess. “Please Moon Goddess, let my wolf out…”


    Suddenly, I heard a twig crunching. Scared of the unknown, I bolted up and rushed out of the woods.


    Goddess, who was stalking me? When I reached my dorm, I stopped, bending over by supporting my


    hands over my thighs. Panting, I looked around and didn’t see anyone there. Quickly I walked into my


    dorm.


    I chuckled when I saw my chubby little room mate Anna, who was a witch. Her hair was a beautiful


    shade of chocte brown yesterday but today they were green. With a round face and two dimples on


    both her cheeks, she was adorable.


    “You look nervous, Poppy,” she said as she looked at me, lifting her nail paint in the air. She shook it a


    little and its color changed from brown to green.


    I scratched the back of my neck, willing myself to calm down. I shook my head to shove the ominous


    feeling. “It’s nothing,” I breathed and headed for a shower.


    “I’ve made some sandwiches for you if you like!” I heard her high-pitched voice behind me.


    Gosh, she was really a sweetheart. I grabbed a sandwich and prepared a cup of tea that Hilda had


    given me and then went to take a nice long bath.


    Over the past three days, I’ve been here, and she and I had be close friends. After taking a quick


    shower, I headed to the library, where I spent most evenings. I didn’t want to mingle with others


    because I didn’t want them to know that I was weak and wolf-less. I just needed a few more days to


    figure out how to escape to the human world. I figured out that the cash that Hilda had given wasn’t


    enough. It was only three thousand dors. I needed to work somewhere for more. But where? This


    school was like a fortress and I needed a ticket out.


    The smell of dust, paper, leather and ink invaded my senses the moment I opened the door of the


    library. A loud thud caught my attention and I saw that a girl had dropped her books on the rug. She


    red at me as if I was responsible for it. Quickly, I made my way to the end of the library where I knew


    I would find the books on shifter history.


    When I was alone there, I swear I could feel someone watching me. Again. The hair on my nape rose


    in a warning as a shiver danced down my body. I didn’t want another shifter to take me to a dark corner


    and beat me just because I was weak. So, I took the book and moved to where the witches were


    seated. No one even lifted their eyes to acknowledge me. Great.


    “Did you know tonight the Umbra Wolves would be holding their party?” murmured one who was


    seated a few chairs away from me to her friend.


    “Tonight?” her friend squealed.


    “Keep it down, Nellie!”


    Nellie whispered, “Tonight?”


    “Yes! And unfortunately, I can''t help at the bar. Can you go instead of me?”


    Nellie’s mouth downturned. “I can''t, Jacky…”


    “The cash is good. The man who owns the bar gives two grand for a few hours. All you have to do is


    serve them with drinks. You take the cash. And not to mention that you will get heavy tips.”


    “Why would I need money, Jacky?” Nellie shrugged. “I would have gone to the bar, but then what’s the


    fun? I would rather be with those wolves than get bored at the bar. That party is hosted once a month


    and people barely get the invite. I am going to coax my boyfriend to get one. He has contacts.”


    Jacky pursed her lips tightly, looking helplessly around at other witches, but no one responded.


    I kept my eyes low but the conversation caught my attention. I felt like this was my ticket out. With


    another two thousand dors, I was sure I would be able to bribe the gatekeeper and get out of the


    Umbra School. But Hilda had said that the Umbra wolves were dangerous. What if they scented that I


    was wolf-less and killed me right there? Tremor of anticipation coiled down my spine. Suddenly, an idea


    struck me. I raised my hand and said, “I can help…”


    The two witches narrowed their eyes on me. I was sure they were thinking that I was asking for a free


    entry to the party.


    “Shhh!” The librarian''s harsh voice sounded and we became quiet.


    “Come out,” said Jacky after a few minutes of awkward silence.


    Anna had cast the spell on me so that no one could smell that I was… weak. She had coated me with a


    sublime scent of citrus. Jacky had asked me toe to the basement of the only coffee shop that the


    Umbra School had.


    “Remember not to look into the eyes of any wolf out there. They are very dark and feral,” Jacky said as


    she handed me an I-card. “The owner, Joey, is a hard-task master though soft in the center. Make sure


    that you don’t get into any argument and just keep doing your work.”


    I exhaled roughly as I pinned the card to my dress, a ck shirt and ck pants. “Sure,” I replied


    shakily. My decision to go there wavered by every second.


    “You are never to reveal about this party to anyone, okay?” Jacky warned me. “Not many know. If you


    are seen talking about it on campus, you will be thrown out or—” her gaze darted between my eyes. “—


    you will be killed.”


    “How do you and Nellie know about it?” That was my natural question.


    She chuckled. “We are cousin sisters and belong to the royal family of the Infinity Coven.”


    I stifled a gasp. Infinity Coven was the strongest witch coven with its headquarters in New York.


    “Stay safe,” she said in the end as she left me in front of the coffee shop.


    I clenched my teeth. I looked up as the clouds darkened. The scent of rain filled the air. In the distance,


    the warning of thunder rumbled. And I stepped in. I had no experience of waiting at tables.


    Two burly shifters were standing guard at the entrance. One looked at my ID and nodded while the


    other stamped at the back of my hand. “That way,” he pointed and I hurried to a spiral staircase. It was


    so dark and eerie that I had to feel my way down but the more I descended, the more I could hear loud


    chatting, muffled music and beats of drums.


    I reached thending and opened the heavy double panel door. A burst of blinding light, ring music


    and lots of entangled bodies hit my vision in arge room. A shiver ran down my spine. This ce was


    full of debauchery and then some more.


    I knew shifters rarely had issues about not wearing clothes, but this was outrageous. My cheeks heated


    because I had never seen anything like it. The Umbra wolves were surely primal.


    “You must be Poppy!” A pushy voice sounded from my left. When I snapped my head in that direction, I


    saw a tall,nky man. “I am Joey.” He pointed to the bar at the back of the room. “Go there and start


    working,” he barked.


    I nodded and hurried to the bar when all at once, I got the same feeling. I swear I was being watched.


    “Hi!” I waved at the shifter at the bar. He was handsome. “I am Poppy, Jacky’s recement.” His


    chocte brown skin was like silk over his perfect muscles.


    He gave me a stern re with his deep brown eyes as he shook drinks in a cocktail shaker. “Kelvin,” he


    said with a tight nod of acknowledgement. He looked at his partner. “Clyde, this is Jacky’s recement.


    Give her the list.”


    His partner, a shifter with sandy brown hair and green eyes, beamed at me and said, “Wee to the


    chaos, Poppy!” He handed me a tray with three drinks. “Table 6!” he said, pointing to the right.


    The job couldn’t be so difficult, right? I made my way to the crowd. Every time I served them with a


    drink, I was offered generous tips. I ignored how Umbra wolves didn’t care for the world while they sat


    over each other without clothes, bouncing off their steam or drank and watched those who were on the


    dance floor.


    It had been an hour of nonstop running and I was dead tired. But the moment I looked at my tips, I was


    delighted. I stashed the money in my apron and ran for my next order.


    “This time you have to go to the room in there,” Clyde said, motioning to a door that was guarded by


    two heavily built shifters.


    I gulped. “What’s in there?” I asked in a squeaky voice.


    “Just go inside and don’t speak a word. Do your job silently. You won''t be allowed toe out until the


    ‘event’ is over.”


    I hated the way he said ‘event’ so mysteriously. “What is going on out there?”


    “Something very illegal.”


    “Don’t send me to the ce where they do pills , Clyde. I haven’t done the pills and I won''t be able to


    handle it!” I was shaking in anticipation.


    He chuckled. “No pills , but I can''t tell you anything here. Just go in and do your job like you did now.”


    My hands got mmy when he shoved the tray in my hand. “Go!”


    Nervous, I licked my lips and walked through the maze of bodies to reach the door where two men who


    were guarding it narrowed their eyes.


    “I was sent by Clyde,” I said in a voice like that of a mouse. “I am Poppy.”


    One of them lifted my hands to the side, swept my body for concealed weapons and then opened the


    door for me.


    The room I entered this time was dingy with most shifters around an elevated dais that was surrounded


    by an iron cage. I heard a thwack and then someone falling in the cage. A loud cheer followed.


    “Damon! Damon!” It seemed like a boxing arena.


    Through thebyrinth of the crowd I walked to the bar away from then where only one man was


    standing—Joey. He handed me five drinks and leaned forward. “Do not speak, okay? That is Damon


    Lombard and he can get dangerous.” I nodded nervously. I knew who Damon was. Future Alpha of the


    Umbra Pack and the cruelest werewolf in America.


    I took the drinks towards the maze and could feel the excitement that was palpable in the air. People


    took their drinks as I nced at the cage, hoping to catch a glimpse of Damon Lombard. I neared the


    cage and saw a man standing calmly in the cage while another was being lifted and taken out, beaten


    to pulp. I craned my neck and found a very muscr man’s back with a corded neck and rippling


    muscles.


    He snapped his head in my direction and his arctic blue eyes locked with my gray ones. I froze in my


    ce, as warmth radiated from my core and I felt I could never stop staring at him. I was entranced.


    The shirtless man in front of me was like a Greek God. I felt like I was punched in the gut and was


    falling from a cliff. What was wrong with me?


    His aura was so captivating that I felt like I could merge in it and never wanted toe out. My breath


    lodged in my throat as I had this sudden urge to run my fingers on his chest. Dark hair dashed the


    center of his chest, and a fine line of ck trailed down to his navel and lower.


    My starving senses drank him in. Dear Goddess… Damon Lombard was so… beautiful. The


    connection between him and me was… bizarre. His gaze was both terrifying and exhrating.


    “Damon!” Someone called him and he tore his gaze away from me. I stumbled back as the invisible


    thread that was holding me with him, severed.


    The emcee announced another fight. “This time we have Chris Jenkins against Damon Lombard. Chris


    is the future Beta of the Oriental Pack and today he is challenging Damon. Do you think Chris can beat


    him?” There was silence. “ce your bets now. You can earn a lot if you ce your bet on Chris, but


    you can lose a lot as well!” heughed.


    A murmur broke in the crowd. As soon as the bets were ced, the emcee shouted again, “So hold


    your heartdies for the panty dropping sexy Damon Lombard. He ising back in the ring!”


    Damon turned to look at me again. When our gazes met, my teeth started chattering for the desire that


    coursed through me. I could see the veins of his neck popping as he clenched his fists so tight that the


    knuckles were white. I gulped, sure that he was furious at me. But why?


    The bell rang and the fight started. And for the first time I saw how cruel Damon could be.


    He punched Chris on his face and then on his chest. The guy didn’t get a chance to recover from his


    punches when Damon lunged at him and kicked him on his knees. A loud sound urred and Chris


    roared in pain as he sank on the floor. Damon threw his punch on his temple and Chris was on the


    floor, unconscious.


    When the blood sttered on my apron and face, I realized that I was holding the iron bars of the cage,


    my head tipped up as I stared at him, entranced. He stepped over Chris and came near the mesh of


    the cage, right where I was.


    Up close, he looked… even more beautiful, ferocious, primal. My lips parted, feeling his gaze raking my


    skin all over like a caress.


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