"Damon!" she screamed, her voice raw and beautiful. Her sweet cries of pleasure triggered something primal within me, and I lost all control. Lifting her, I pushed us both back onto the bed, thrusting into her with a ferocity born of feral need. As her name tumbled from my lips, I felt my release surging through me.
"Fuck you are so beautiful, Audrey," I gasped, my body trembling with the aftershocks of our shared bliss.
The scent of sweat and sex still lingered in the air, mingling with the tension that hung heavy between us. Audrey and I lay entwined, our bodies still tingling from the passion we had just shared. We could only watch each other, searching for answers in the depths of our eyes. Tears trickled down her cheeks as she gazed back at me, her striking blue irises filled with a sadness that mirrored my own.
"Hey," I whispered, stroking her raven hair as she trembled against me. "It's okay." Audrey choked on a sob, and I could do nothing but hold her tighter. I discarded the condom and climbed back into bed, pulling her into my arms as she cried. I wished I could take away her pain, absorb it into myself and spare her this torment.
As Audrey's sobs quieted down, we lost ourselves in the sorrowful embrace, our hearts beating in sync. The world outside faded away, leaving only her warmth and the faint scent of lavender that clung to her skin. My mind raced with thoughts of what could have been, of a future where we were free to love without fear or consequence. This was our ending, and no matter how much we'd fought against fate, we couldn't escape its cold grasp. But as Audrey lay entwined in my arms, her warm skin pressed against mine, I knew that one thing would never change: I would always love her.
Chapter 9
Damon
Thesuddencacophonyofshattering wood and tortured, guttural howls viciously yanked me from the depths of slumber. My heart thudded wildly in my chest as I struggled to sit up, disoriented by the darkness that enveloped us. Audrey's eyes locked onto mine, a mixture of fear and sadness swirling within their blue depths.
"It's Liam," she whispered urgently, her voice trembling. "He needs you now." There was no time for hesitation or questions. We leaped out of bed, our naked bodies momentarily exposed to the chill air before we hastily threw on whatever clothing lay strewn about the floor. The sense of urgency was palpable, propelling us forward as we burst out of the room and followed the harrowing sounds that echoed through the house. My heart thundered in my chest as we raced down the hallway, Audrey's hand gripping mine tightly. The howling grew louder with every step, a haunting sound that echoed through the house and sent shivers down my spine.
I burst through the door to the guest room, bracing myself for the sight of Liam transformed into his formidable black wolf. Instead, I found him sprawled on the floor amidst the wreckage of shattered furniture. Sweat dripped from his brow, his chest heaving as though he'd just run a marathon. I scanned the room for any sign of danger, but there was none.
"Liam," I exhaled, relief mingling with growing concern. "What's going on? What happened?" He looked up at me, his brown eyes wide with terror, his face contorted with pain. It took him a moment to find his voice, and when he finally spoke, it was ragged and choked with tears. "Damon... they've taken her. They have Erica."
An hour had passed like the blink of an eye, yet every second felt like an eternity. Audrey and I worked with feverish haste, shoving clothes and essentials into bags. Liam sat slumped against the wall, a shell of the strong Alpha werewolf he once was, drowned in despair.
"Come on, Liam," I whispered, crouching beside him. "We need to go." My voice cracked with emotion, but I forced myself to lock it away for now. There would be time for tears later; right now, we needed action. His gaze flickered to mine, a glimmer of recognition buried within the depths of his dark eyes. I extended my hand towards him, waiting for him to take it. After a moment that seemed to stretch on forever, he reached out and grasped my hand with a trembling grip.
"Erica needs us," I murmured, pulling him to his feet. His legs wobbled underneath him, threatening to collapse, but I steadied him with a determined grip on his arm. Together, we stumbled out of the house and into the chilly night air. I helped Liam into the front passenger seat, buckling him in as if he were a child instead of the powerful creature I knew him to be.
Before leaving, I needed to find Audrey and say my goodbyes. My heart weighed heavy in my chest, but there was a task at hand, and we couldn't afford any distractions.
I found her in the living room, her black hair falling like a curtain around her as she spoke into her phone. The blue glow of the screen reflected in her striking eyes, only amplifying the intensity of her gaze.
"Thank you, Cadmus," she said, her voice tense. "I'll see you soon." I felt a shiver run down my spine at the mention of his name. She continued, "Yes, I know I owe you big time for this." Audrey hung up and exhaled, her shoulders dropping with the weight of the call. Turning to me, she gave a small, weary smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.
The sight of Audrey, her blue eyes clouded with worry as she looked at me, sent a jolt of unease through me. I knew that voice on the other end all too well, even before she'd said his name, Cadmus. The sorcerer whose shadow still clung to her like a dark, heavy cloak.
"Who was that?" I asked, though I already knew the answer.
"Cadmus," she whispered, confirming my fears. "He... he knows more about the sorcerer world than me."
"Are you sure you can trust him, Audrey? After everything he's done to you?" My words came out sharper than intended, but the thought of her getting wrapped up in his twisted web again made me sick. She shook her head, silencing my concerns.
"I don't have much of a choice, Damon. If he can help us save Erica, I need to hear it." I wanted to argue, to tell her that there had to be another way, but I could see the resolve in her eyes. She had made up her mind, and nothing I said would change it.
"Please," I implored, stepping closer, "be careful around him, Audrey. You know what he's capable of." Audrey looked at me then, her eyes shining with unshed tears.
"I will, Damon. I promise." With a sigh, I pulled her into my arms, feeling her body tremble against mine. We were both standing on the edge of an abyss, unsure if we'd ever find our way back to each other. But for now, all I could do was hold her close, savouring this moment of solace amidst the storm.
"Promise me something," I whispered into her hair, inhaling the familiar scent of her lavender perfume. "Promise me you won't let him drag you down again."
“You know I never make promises I can’t keep,” she tried for a light tone but we both knew the gravity of the situation. Cadmus may be Audrey’s fated mate, and probably Sophia’s father, but that wouldn’t stop him from trying to use her gifts for his good again. I felt the heaving of Audrey's chest as she buried her face in my shoulder, her tears soaking through my t-shirt. The anguish emanating from her was palpable, and I knew that we both felt the same sense of finality between us.
"Shh, it's okay," I whispered, even though I wasn't sure if it really would be. My arms tightened around her, trying to offer solace, but I could feel the tremors running through her body.
We stood there for what felt like an eternity, our bodies pressed together, trying to hold on to one another for just a little while longer. But eventually, we had to pull apart. The world outside was waiting, and I couldn't ignore the urgency of the situation any longer.
As I reluctantly stepped back, I gently wiped away the remaining tears from her cheeks, my thumb caressing her smooth skin. She looked up at me with a small, sad smile that tore at my very soul.
"I'm sorry about the furniture," I murmured, guilt gnawing at me. "Liam didn't mean—"
