13. Emotions & Confusion

KIARA

I could not believe he did that. The dickhead! Urgh, I was so going to get him for this!

"Guys?" Liam said again, his eyes now a deep magnetic navy. "Justin, carry on with the training."

The young man, who was in his mid-20s, nodded - motioning for everyone to carry on. Raven looked at me and I gave her a nod. I needed her. Guaranteed, Liam will flip…

Liam walked off and we all knew he wanted us to follow him. I looked at Damon.

‘We got this.' He said through the link. I took a deep breath as we followed Liam into the packhouse and into the lounge. He looked around, seeing two teens on the sofa.

"Out." He said curtly.

Liam was friendly, however when he got angry, it wasn't good. Raven shut the door after the two boys left and he turned his darkened eyes on us.

"Care to explain why you're fucking my sister?" He said, now turning to Damon.

With anger radiating off of him the air in the room felt thick. I looked at Damon, who looked calm. Should I speak?

"Calm down, Liam." Damon said.

"Don't tell me to calm down, yeah? When you've gone behind my back! Of all the girls... my sister, really Damon?" Liam said. "Since when have you two been dating?"

"We aren't." I said suddenly.

I didn't want anything to make matters worse. Liam turned to me and, if anything, looked more pissed off.

"Look, I'm not a kid Liam. Unlike you, my views on things are different. This decision between Damon and me was made together. So just stop with this Alpha male crap."

"So, you two are fuck partners?" Liam said, sounding a little disbelieving.

"Friends with benefits?" Damon added helpfully before sighing. "Look bro, it wasn't meant to come out. The plan was to end it once we met our mates. Look, it's been a while and neither of us has found it getting in the way of our normal relationship."

Liam frowned; I knew he couldn't get his head around it. Liam was a one-woman man. In all honesty, I don't know how many women he's been with, but he does not sleep around. Something mom was super proud of.

"Someone will get hurt… Do you two think you two are mates?" He asked quietly.

"There's a chance."

"No." I said at the same time Damon had spoken.

I looked up at him. Guilt filled me when I saw the flash of hurt flicker through his eyes. There were no feelings between us, right? Just a sexual attraction maybe? But I think I might be wrong…

"Liam, they aren't kids. If they want to do this, then who are we to butt in?" Raven said, the usual energy-filled girl was quiet and serious.

"Rather me than someone else, right?" Damon said quietly. Liam ignored him.

"Do you think this is ok?! You know what? Do what you want. Kiara always likes to act like she knows what she's doing, and you Damon, you're the one who's going to get hurt in this. Trust me." He shook his head and stormed out of the room.

"Liam!" Raven said. I saw the pain in her eyes and the hurt look she cast at Damon before she rushed from the room. I sat down and sighed.

"He'll be ok." Damon said. "The Alpha was a bit of a prick though, mentioning it like that."

"A bit? The guy's a complete dick." I snapped.

"Leave it. Trust me, he isn't worth it." Damon replied quietly.

I looked up at him, now remembering the look in his eyes when I had said no.

"Damon, you don't like me, do you?" I said standing up and walking over to him, not missing the way his heart began to race.

"Course I do. You're my favourite girl." He said it with a smile. I didn't smile back. He was avoiding my actual question.

"You know what I mean, Damon." I replied. Thinking back, he had joked about dating a few times.

"Kia, it doesn't matter. You've never considered it as more."

He placed his hands on my upper arms, giving them a gentle squeeze. But I had just got my answer, like a slap to show me I had been so blind to it.

"Damon, didn't I say to you if feelings crop up that we should..." He cut me off by cupping my chin and placing a thumb on my lips.

"That was my choice. I'm fine. I don't want you feeling guilty."

I looked down. What did I feel? Yes, there was that chemistry that I found him attractive but if I compared it to the strong emotions that had filled me recently when it came to a certain jerk it wasn't the same... But even those were just sexual. I sure was confused.

"Kia, look at me." He said, tilting my head up slightly. This felt too intimate… I couldn't do this.

"I'm sorry Damon, but Liam was right. Someone was going to get hurt. We shouldn't do this anymore." I whispered. Why did it feel like I was being untruthful to myself?

"Is this about Liam or Alpha Alejandro?" Damon asked softly. My eyes widened and my heart thudded. I stepped back.

"I don't know. But let's end it. Besides, the blood moon is coming, so we will most likely meet our mates." I said quietly.

There were two blood moons in a year, but for one the Alpha king hosted a huge ceremony. The success of finding your mate there was high. The last blood moon Damon hadn't found his mate, but he was only 18 going on 19, so there was plenty of time.

"If that's what you want." He said, flashing me that smile that he always gave me.

I stepped closer, flinging my arms around his neck tightly. I was upset and there was only one person I had to blame.

"I'll always be here for you, Kia. Even if I'm no longer your fuckbuddy." He said with a chuckle.

"I'm sorry it's ending like this." I said quietly.

"Then make it up to me." He said with a glint in his eyes as he held me by my waist, pulling me against him.

"Go on…"

"One last night?"

My heart skipped a beat, I was already confused… But I couldn't refuse him. Not when he never refused me. I smiled and nodded.

"You've got yourself a deal, Beta." I said with a wink, before hugging him once again.

I smiled slightly as he hugged me tightly, caressing my bare waist.

"You're still number one."

"Hmm until you meet your mate." I said amused as I stepped back, feeling a tiny bit better.

"Yeah. But what if we are mates?"

"Then I'd be a lucky girl." I said, although deep down I didn't think we were.

The small smile on his face was worth it. I turned away, feeling the guilt wrap around me as it slowly morphed into anger. Anger at one certain Alpha who I was not going to let off.

I left the packhouse, trying to sniff him out.

"Searching for someone?"

I turned, shocked at the sight of my grandfather Jackson.

"Grandad?!"

"In the flesh cutie patootie." He chuckled.

I squealed and rushed over to him, ignoring the pain that set a spasm up my leg as I launched myself into his arms. Cutie patootie. A name dad had called me since I was little, and unlike dad who had switched to angel, granddad still called me it.

"Has Grandma come?"

"Not this time." he said, kissing my forehead.

Grandad and grandma lived out of the pack. It's been years but they liked the privacy. To be honest, granddad and dad clashed a lot. I was around eleven when I learned that dad and mom were step-siblings before they found out they were mates. Apparently, they fell in love before the blood moon. I loved their story. To me, it was romantic and not weird at all.

Because of the constant clashing, and the fact their parents were married, they moved away. Although grandad was perfectly fine with it now, dad didn't seem to be able to let go of that grudge. It was a typical behaviour of dad's. He can't forgive others quickly or himself, I knew he still felt guilty about my ankle.

Although they didn't live here anymore, Dad kept their mansion in good shape and they stayed in it when they visited.

"Why are you here?" I asked as he set me down again.

"The King's here. There are a few things he's discussing and I thought I'd come to see if your dad needs help."

"Ah, I see."

"Well, I won't stop you. You look like someone with a goal in mind." He said with a small smile. I nodded. Damn yeah, I had a goal to claw a certain jerk's eyes out!

"I'll see you later, granddad!" I called before hurrying off.

It took me a further ten minutes before I caught the intoxicating woody scent mixed with male musk. My stomach flipped and I frowned. How could a man be so sexually attractive while also being a complete jerk? Oh, wait! You just need to behave like a prick, like the Alpha king.

"Do you really have to ruin my day by showing me that face of yours?" His annoying voice came.

I frowned and scanned the area. He was here, but where?

I gasped when he suddenly landed in front of me, a dangerous look on his face. I looked up at the tree behind him then back at him.

"Before speaking, remember my warning." He said coldly, his dark eyes piercing into me.

I gulped despite myself. What's he going to do? Me being me, I had to speak.

"After causing issues by opening your mouth, do you think I care? Fuck your warning and fuck you."

That was the wrong reply. I felt the darkness swirl around him. His eyes blazed red as his power wrapped around me like a storm, pressing down on me. The urge to yield filled me.

Run! Danger! It was what my wolf was screaming, but my feet were rooted to the spot, refusing to budge. I closed my eyes the moment his hand wrapped around my neck.

The most dangerous sinister growl I have ever heard left his lips and my heart pounded against my rib cage, sending shivers up my spine. Never had I heard something so terrifying. It made me want to cower and yield to him.

I think I just pissed off the Alpha king. Scratch that, I definitely did.