Chapter 19

“That finally brings us to the conclusion that cloud surfing is one of the best methods.”

The four walls of the classroom reverberated with Professor Smith’s voice who continued teaching the students but his eyes kept fleeting back to Emmaline who looked deep in thought. Though her eyes were on him, her mind was somewhere else. Her gaze which always used to stay focused today looked empty and lost.

Emmaline was absent-mindedly staring at the whiteboard. Her hands were moving of their own volition scribbling down the points spoken by her teacher but her mind was consumed with Damien’s thoughts.

“You just can’t force me to work for you. This is against the law.”

Emmaline raged at Damien who was unfazed by her outbursts.

He let out a snort before looking at her in amusement, “I don’t think wolves have anything to do with the rules and regulations of the humans, Princess.” He again passed a taunt to annoy her and unfortunately, he gained succeeded.

His acute gaze followed her moves. Emmaline approached him within three long strides and jabbed her index finger in his chest before speaking in an accusatory tone.

“Stop provoking me, all right? Yes, I am a werewolf so what? You’re also like me. If this truth transcends these four walls, we’ll both get in trouble. So stop hitting me below the belt by bringing up this topic again and again. Moreover, this shouldn’t concern you so better stay out of my matters.” She warned him in a dark tone but Damien smirked while backslapping himself mentally.

Why?

Because he tricked Emmaline and evoke the truth from her.

Damien had no idea that Emmaline was a werewolf. He stipulated this fact because he wanted to find the reason for those unwanted sparks that he always experiences in her presence. He had never felt this way before and the only way to get rid of his anxiety was to confront Emmaline. Damien was dubious of her identity but now the revelation knocked him off his feet. Because if Emmaline was a werewolf and if she makes him feel those heavenly sparks then it leaves to a certain conclusion.

She was his mate.

Damien had put the stamp on it but things hadn’t resolved, the reason being Emmaline who was still in denial mode. Though Damien hadn’t told her about the mate thing, he was damn sure that she was intentionally skirting it. She could feel it but her resentment towards him wasn’t permitting her to listen to her heart.

Taking a step forward, Damien bent down so that they both came at the same face level, “Because that’s the only way I can have you by my side. My dear Princess, you’re facing trouble understanding your love language. That’s why I am making you understand your language. After all my sweetheart isn’t a fragile bimbo, she’s a warrior who loves fighting.” He snickered.

His words roused her ire further, “So this is how it is going to be huh? When you ran out of your dirty tricks, you stoop to blackmail. Are these your morals?” Emmaline spat and jerked back revulsed by their proximity.

“Anything which would help me keep you by my side is fair in my eyes, Emma,” Damien spoke in his deep voice.

Emmaline shot him a glare but her eyes turned to the size of saucers when he circled his arm around her waist and jerked her forward which resulted in the collision of their bodies. Emmaline was startled by the soft caress of those familiar sparks which again pulled the strings of her heart.

Damien noticed it. Bringing his right hand up, he traced his index finger all over her jawline and stopped near her lips, “Felt it, didn’t ya?,” he chuckled and leaned forward such that his nose brushed against hers, “I know I am being a total ass but that’s what I am Emma. What captures my eyes, what entices my heart becomes my obsession. I don’t give up until and unless I have it in my hands. And right now, what I want is you.”

“I AM NOT A THING THAT YOU CAN PURCHASE JUST BECAUSE IT GOT YOUR EYES, BASTARD!!” Emmaline shouted at his face and slapped his hands away.

Her outburst irked him. Damien gripped her arm in a vice grip and was about to give her a piece of his mind when all of a sudden, his eyes met with her glossy ones. His gaze immediately softened.

Damien shook his head in denial and tried to comfort her but Emmaline didn’t let him come near. She continued moving backward while shooting daggers in his way.

“No, I am so sick of you. I didn’t commit a crime by slapping you. You do know that I am all by myself. I have never felt this helpless before but you forced me to show you my weak side. I hate getting sympathy but you compelled me to supplicate.”

Damien looked at her sadly. His heart constricted painfully inside his chest. Emmaline wasn’t a girl who would give up this fast but she wasn’t shrewd either. Though people called her reticent and arrogant, the truth was the exact opposite. She put up a cold face to mask her inner pain. Her heart yearned for love and care but she deliberately suppressed her feelings. She still hadn’t overcome the pain of the past that’s why she alienated herself as she couldn’t bear another heartbreak again.

Damien didn’t have any idea about her history but watching her in this state made him extremely guilty.

Emmaline who was silently shedding tears jolted when she felt a warm touch on her right cheek. She looked up only to find Damien wiping her tears with the back of her knuckles. She tried to move back but Damien cupped her face in his palms.

“I am sorry”, he breathed while clearing her tears with his slender fingers. Emmaline kept her face stoic. Damien then made her look into his eyes but she looked everywhere except him. He felt a writhing in his heart watching her avoiding him.

“Baby, I am truly sorry for what I’ve done to you. I know a sorry won’t justify my mistakes but it’s the least I can do right now. All I want is one last chance. Just put your trust in me this time and I swear on my life, I wouldn’t disappoint you. But if you’ll keep running away from me then how am I ever gonna win you?” He spoke in a heavy voice.

Emmaline let out a dry chuckle before making eye contact with him, “Wow, great. I am impressed.”

“That’s my ulterior motive.” Damien also chortled earning a glare.

Emmaline sighed heavily. She was so fed up with this hot-headed man and with the baseless arguments.

Neither he won’t leave her alone nor she would accept defeat. So, the only option left was to fight for her right.

Yanking herself away from his hold, Emmaline let out a low growl before swinging a fist at his face. But to her dismay, Damien caught her fist in mid-air. Her pupils dilated as fear groped her. She wiggled, trying hard to pull her fist back but Damien had other plans. Twisting her hand behind her back, he pulled her towards himself.

Emmaline panicked. Her struggles turned tenfolds when her soft bosoms got squished against his rock-hard chest.

On contrary, Damien was exhilarated. He let out a guttural moan that left Emmaline flustered. Securing her hand behind her back, Damien then lifted her chin with his index finger and thumb before gripping them tightly. Blood rushed on her cheeks when she looked into her captivating grey hues that were glowing with hunger and possession.

“You can’t get away from me Emma. You’re mine and only mine. I can’t see you in pain. I can’t stand tears in her blue eyes that’s why I am putting a hold on my obsession. But that doesn’t mean that I will ever leave you. So, you better don’t jump to any ridiculous conclusions and put up a fight. Yes, I will try everything in my power to win your heart but if you continue rejecting me, then I am warning you things won’t end well.”

With that, he bend down and placed a wet kiss just at the corner of her pink lips leaving her shocked.

Emmaline mentally facepalmed herself. His act not only shocked her but also left her embarrassed. She had run out of ideas. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t find anything to ease her discomfiture.

Emmaline had no idea that someone would suddenly appear out of nowhere in her bland life deprived of love and stake his claim on her.

The previous encounters with Damien were not only problematic for Damien but Emmaline too. She was more affected because of her naivety and fear that had her trapped in a loophole of unanswered questions. She escaped her reality and started a fresh life by burying the past behind but she can’t erase Reina which was her indispensable part. She can’t keep her deprived and yearning for her mate her whole life just because of her selfishness.

Initially, Emmaline quelled her emotions thinking that it may be her infatuation. Damien was no doubt an Adonis so it was obvious for her to get bewitched by his features. But with the passing days, those feelings grew stronger. Her heart used to flutter even by imagining him. Whenever she recalled him which was mostly in rage, she couldn’t stop the butterflies in her stomach. His eyes, his voice, his dapper appearance, and his imperative gait, she can’t just get his idea out of her mind.

But the day he molested her, her one-sided love took the form of a hate love. He lost all his respect in her eyes and his evil ways only piled up her hatred for him.

Somehow, she became successful in kicking him out of her life but his frequent appearances didn’t let her mind to sway from him.

But what he did last was the last blow. Emmaline was more furious at herself than at him. Despite knowing that he was the root cause of her problem, she failed to protect herself when he kissed her. Though it wasn’t a kiss, the seams of his lips touched hers which ignited a new fire in her heart.

Her head lolled forward as a deep sigh escaped her lips.

‘Am I ever going to see the end of this?’

*****