Chapter 30

His sonorous voice melted her heart right away like a puddle of wax.

One by one teardrop fell from her eyes which his long fingers wiped away cautiously. The walls that had caged her soon shattered emancipating the agony she had held in her heart for so long. She wept silently but Damien let her cry. He continued clearing tears from her blotched face without saying a word.

Emmaline was staggered but in pain. Yes, she was at fault for attacking Stephanie but didn't she cross her line? Yet she was the only one in the cross hairs of the raging public who were judging her actions without even giving her a chance to explain?

Her breathing had turned shallow. Never in her life, she had faced such humiliation that too at night in the middle of the street when the whole world sleeps and demons lurk in shadows hunting innocent souls. Guess, today she became one of their targets.

No one had a clue what was going on. They could have asked her too as she lived with them but no they all lend their ears to the woman who was dressed up in brands from head to toe. Only because she was poor.

That thought forced her to ponder. She wasn't human but were they one? She lacked compassion but they also lack feelings then what's the difference? At least she attacked Stephanie because she badmouthed her dead parents but these people, they don't even know what was the matter but they blindly believed the baseless lies that Ella and Stephanie fed them like robots.

And just like always Damien came to her rescue. Her Dark Knight, her only lifeline. Emmaline kept staring at him, her gloomy blue hues were glued on his meticulous ones that only displayed love and adoration.

Damien gave her an assuring smile though his heart ached at her distraught state. Masking his sorrow, he gently cupped her small face in his palms and leaned forward. Pressing his lips against her forehead, he planted a kiss there while everyone stared at them in awe.

Emmaline didn't back away from his touch this time. Neither she denied nor accepted it. She just let him kiss her. She can't deny that his touch always pacifies her. How much absurd it may sound but she needed him right now.

Her breathing eventually turned calm. The crowd stood dumbfounded watching the two love birds' cute moments. Some were happy but some envied Emmaline. Most importantly Ella, who looked ready to kill. She couldn't believe that the girl whom she was criticizing so brutally a few minutes before was now being backed up by the hottest bachelor in New York. Not only her but all the girls who had circled Emmaline like hungry wolves were bristling in rage. After all who didn't know Damien Knight?

But unlike others, there was someone who was completely astounded.

Stephanie blinked her eyes multiple times trying to get rid of the picture that her eyes were witnessing.

"What's going on? Why is he comforting her when he was the one who-"

Her chain of thoughts got broken when suddenly she felt an iron grip on her left hand. Frowning, she looked over her shoulder only to find herself and Ella crowed in on by a burly hot guy. Ella also followed her gaze. Terror seized her body when her eyes met with a pair of icy ones that were devoid of any human emotion.

Tousled ash brown hair, jet black eyes, rugged features, a straight nose, and tan skin, the man looked hot as hell but the unfathomable expression on his face was alarming.

Ella tried to snatch her arms back but his fingers were coiled around her dainty wrists like iron fetters. She was only bruising herself by struggling like a fish in his hold as he didn't even budge from his spot.

Panicked, she shifted her eyes back to Damien whose burning gray eyes were already trained on her.

"Take them, Ryan." He spoke gruffly.

His dominant voice immediately earned a curt nod from Ryan as he grabbed the two women by their forearms and started dragging them away like prisoners. Emmaline who was still relaxing in his hold, relishing the warmth of his touch, was startled eyes when Ella's screams rang in her ears. She immediately shot her eyes in her direction; the view left him stunned.

Ella was screaming her lungs out while Stephanie was letting out low grunts as a man twice the size of an average human being hauled them like animals. People were shocked but no one dared to intervene. They even held their breath as if it would cost their lives. 'Cause the man standing in front of them was someone whom they shouldn't even think of trifling with. He was not only a business tycoon but the most powerful man in New York. His one snap of the finger was enough to slit their throat. Also, his steel eyes held a clear admonition. They were too scared to even move a muscle.

But his fears held no worth for Emmaline. Anger shot in her veins when realization dawned on her. Damien's eyes turned a shade darker when she moved away from him as if it burned her. But what blew his top was the resentment shining in her teary eyes that was directed towards him.

"What are you doing? Didn't I tell you to leave me alone?" Emmaline snapped at him but her words were cut off by Damien who immediately placed a finger on her lips making her jerk back.

"Sshh, I don’t want to hear a word from you," he reprimanded her, and that only enraged her more.

Emmaline was furious but she was angrier at herself than at him. Yes, she was emotionally broken but she can't just give in to his touch? She openly denies him, nailing colors to the mast that he has no importance in her life but his presence always foils her plans. She readily shows him her weakness, her tears?

But how he's always able to bring out the vulnerable side of her? One who is a weak, helpless, orphan who is in dire need of comfort, yearns for love, and easily gets swayed by the man who had snatched her happy-going life?

What's going on with her? Since his arrival, her life had turned upside down. And the worst part was that whenever she is in trouble, he saves her. Damien was making her feel things she doesn’t want to. Like a magician, he uncovers her shell without doing anything and compels her to live at his mercy.

A muscle in her jaw twitched as inciting thoughts corrupted her mind. She was losing herself. By easily getting triggered, she was only making a fool of herself.

Emmaline closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She needs to get a hold of her emotions. She can't just let any stranger enter her life and break down her resolve.

Opening her eyes, she squared her shoulders and slapped his hands away earning shocking gasps.

"And I don’t want you to ever touch me." She grated out and threw him a stink eye.

Now that for sure Damien minded. His jaw clenched and his steely eyes darkened leaving no shades of empathy for the girl.

Taking a menacing step in her direction, he towered over her small frame. Emmaline didn't back down either and met his gaze head-on but was startled when he grabbed her left hand and slowly intertwine their fingers. Annoyed, she immediately tried to yank away but a whimper escaped her lips when he tightened his grip and pulled her close to his face.

"I fucking dare you to move back, my intransigent Angel." He hissed near her face, his tone was sarcastic but rage in his eyes was evident. Emmaline opened her mouth to retaliate but he immediately placed his thumb on her lips before cupping her chin in a firm grip.

"Listen pretty face, I am in no mood to deal with your cavils. Let me first clear the hurdles and then I will let you go. Don't make a scene or else you would be responsible for the carnage. I wouldn't leave these scumbags for offending my woman. And you know I always walk the talk."

Her jaw dropped at his straightforward threat.

'The audacity of this man.'

Damien saw how her eyes gleamed under the moonlight. Emmaline started shaking, she blinked her eyes as she could feel Reina taking control. Damien noticed it too but he was lost in her beauty. The golden rings around her irises were enchanting and he could feel himself getting drowned in those mesmerizing hues but h controlled himself ‘cause she was again demurring.

His lips twisted in a smirk. He was amused.

"Before you proceed to claw at me, let me show you something my Luna." Damien chuckled and titled her face to left. A scowl appeared on her face but the moment her eyes met with the same jet-black ones, her heart sank to the pit of her stomach.

'Ryan? How come he returned this fast?'

Emmaline looked around but couldn’t spot Ella and Stephanie. That’s when fear gnawed at her heart. Gulping the heavy lump that formed in her throat, she shifted her eyes back to Ryan who had his left shoulder leaned against the wall and was staring straight at her with his arms crossed over his chest. Suddenly her gaze dropped to another man who was standing beside him. A pair of green eyes were also set on her. She recognized him as she had seen him with Damien once. He was also standing beside Ryan with his hands dipped in the pocket of his ripped jeans. His face was stoic but Emmaline could notice that he looked annoyed. As if he was unwillingly brought here.

Emmaline didn’t even realize that she was staring at them for a while but what she saw next left her horrified. Their eyes abruptly changed colors.

Her heart skipped a beat.

They were werewolves.

'Oh my god, this man is an Alpha?'

Her mouth abruptly turned dry. She couldn't believe her eyes.

'He's not only powerful but canny. He knew I would again rebel so he brought his entire pack here. Now, what I am gonna do?'

Her body started shaking like a leaf. She nervously looked at Damien who was enjoying her petrified state.

"Poor you, see how much you're sweating?" He snickered while wiping her forehead with his bare fingers. Emmaline squeezed her eyes shut, swallowing her rage.

"Angry?" Damien snorted as he noticed her fuming. He could easily hear her grinding her molars in rage wanting to eat him alive.

Emmaline jolted on the spot when he circled one of his arms around her waist and with the other, he gripped her chin. She quickly tried to weasel out but he abruptly slammed her against his chest. Startled out of her wits, Emmaline grabbed his shoulders for support. She stifled the gasp that almost left her mouth as the impact pulled her to his face level, their noses brushed against each other. Emmaline blinked her eyes as they were so close that she couldn't even look away from him.

A knot formed in her chest when she felt his gaze pinned on her lips. They were breathing in the same air. Goosebumps appeared on her body as his breath fanned her lips making her hide them in her mouth.

Damien chucked as he found her act cute, "Keep hiding from me but one day for sure I would take them in my mouth. And I assure you, from that day it would be my favorite flavor." He whispered against her mouth. Her face turned red as a tomato as he was hinting at the lip gloss that she always wears.

Flustered she jerked her head to the side but her heart lurched to her throat when his lips collided against her cheeks.

"N-No," Gasping for air, she immediately moved back but to her surprise, Damien release her but didn't leave her hand. She tried to pull it away but he simply tightened his grip while his eyes never left her face for once.

“Keep ignoring me Em but we both know that you also enjoy my touch.” He snickered.

That’s when Emmaline lost her patience.

Hot molten lava coursed her veins. Her eyes stung with angry tears. She couldn’t believe that he saved her only to belittle her in the end. Without thinking twice, she raised her hand and slapped him right across his face.

"Who do you think you are, Damien fucking Knight? You think I enjoy your touch? You’re so delusional bastard if you think that your fake display of affection can gain a place in my heart. By being my savior, do you think I will change my tunes and would accept you willingly? The only emotion I ever feel for you is disgust. You disgust me so much that I even hate to breathe in the same air as yours. I HATE YOU SO MUCH DAMIEN KNIGHT! I WILL PREFER DEATH OVER BEING WITH SOMEONE LIKE YOU!" She bellowed and again tried to hit him but Damien caught her hand in mid-air.

"Wrong move Princess."

He spoke with clenched teeth; his face was still turned sideways. Emmaline visibly shivered as the depth of his voice was enough to freeze the blood in her veins.

Emmaline started struggling in his hold, she was damn angry but the ominous silence that followed after she smacked him was also frightening. Her wrists start turning purple, she could feel her hands going numb.

“LEAVE ME!!!”

Screaming, she looked around for help when something caught her eye that snatched the land beneath her feet.

Eyes.

Multiple hungry eyes hiding in the shadows were glaring at her from a distance.

She stiffened in her place. All the blood got drained from her face.

Wolves.

They were wolves.

Terrified, she hurriedly looked at Damien but her breath hitched when her bloodshot eyes fell on his bare canines. His beautiful steely orbs were no longer in sight. Just like that blood-curdling view, she was met with a pair of exceptionally beautiful but deadly powerful golden eyes gazing at her ferociously. The brilliance emanating from them made her heart go into overdrive but his expression wasn’t amiable. They made her fear for the worse.

"I warned you but as usual you never listen," he seethed on her face. Emmaline gulped noticing the throbbing veins on his temple. He was mad, very mad.

She opened her mouth to speak but her lips immediately got passed together after earning a bone-chilling glare from him.

"I tried to be soft on you but gentle ways never come in handy, especially for me.”

Damien rasped and took a step forward, invading her proximity. He then ducked forward and spoke while looking straight into her scared orbs.

“So, if you aren't willing to accept me then I also wouldn't mind forcing you."