Chapter 7
“like you, Daphne.”
1 blinked, completely throsen od by Barons words Did I hear that right? He likes me? I stood there, dumbfounded, still panting from my outburst on the training ground. He were steady, dark, and amused. He meant every word
“Uh… what?” ] stammered, trying to wrap my head around it.
“like people like you,” Damon clarified, his voice low and smooth Strong, Serve. Not afraid to speak their mind. I’d love to see howe capable you really are.”
Oh So, that’s what this was. I could feel my pulse slowing down, but my brain wasn’t keeping up. He was challenging me. This wasn some awkward confession–he wanted to test me, to push me further. I narrowed my eyes, letting a slow gain spread across my face. “You think you’ve got me figured out?”
Damon smiled, a half–cocked grin that made my heart beat just a little faster. “I think you‘ re capable of more than you realize. So, bring it on
I stepped closer, feeling the heat of the challenge sparking between us. “Be careful what you wish for, Knight.
He chuckled and turned away, leaving me standing there with my head spinning, adrenaline still pumping through my veins. What the hell just happened?
The next day, the inevitable happened. I got called in by the Alpha, just like I knew I would. My little destruction spree in the training grounds hadn’t gone unnoticed, but that wasn t the only reason. He wanted to apologize on his son’s behalf. I could tell he was worried about leaving the pack in Jasper’s can, but I didn’t think that would be a big problem. He still had Jake if it ever came down to it
When I left the Alpha’s office, Jasper was waiting for me outside, his face serious, but something in his expression had changed. He Joked softer As soon as I passed by him, he spoke, his voice low and remorseful. “Daphne, I’m sorry.”
I almost laughed. This was new. “You‘ re sorry?” I repeated, raising an eyebrow.
Jasper nodded, stepping closer like he actually thought we could work things out. “I know I’ve messed up. I took you for granted. Briana… I was just trying to be there for her because of her condition, but I see now that I hurt you in the process.”
It was almost impressive how he spun his excuses. “Jasper,” I sighed, cutting him off before he could get too comfortable with this new loving persona. “Stop.”
He blinked, confusion flashing across his face. “What?”
“Stop,” I repeated, my voice firm. “We’re done. I’ve given you chance after chance, and you blew every single one of them. I’m not. doing this anymore.”
For a moment, he looked like he didn’t understand what I was saying. Like it wasn‘ t registering that I meant every word. He opened his mouth, probably to make another plea, but I shook my head.
“You had your shot, Jasper. It’s over.”
And just like that, I left.
Over the next three days, things started shifting. The training was different. Not just because I could feel the stares from the pack, but because Damon was there, watching. Always at the edge of the field, arms crossed, that damn grin on his face like he knew something I didn’t. We hadn’t spoken since that night, but I felt his eyes on me constantly, and for some reason, it was impossible to ignore.
I should’ve been annoyed, but instead, I found myself wondering–what was he waiting for? Was he testing me again? If so, I was determined to prove that I could handle whatever challenge he threw my way.
After training, I usually stayed behind to polish my technique. Punching bags was my therapy, and after everything with Jasper, I needed more of it than usual. One evening, just as I was lost in the
Chapter 7
rhythm of my strikes, I heard a familiar, irritating voice.
“Enjoying the attention?” Briana sneered, her voice thick with
smugness.
I didn’t even bother looking at her. “What do you want, Briana?”
She took a few steps closer, but I kept my focus on the bag. “I just wanted to see how you feel, now that the whole pack is talking about how you humiliated me. Is it fun watching a weak wolf like me getting scorned by everyone?”
I rolled my eyes and kept hitting the bag, ignoring her. Briana was relentless though, like a mosquito that just wouldn’t stop buzzing in your ear.
“And by the way,” she continued, her tone dripping with fake sweetness, “Jasper always loved me more, you know. He was only with you out of obligation.”
That was it. I spun around, my patience gone. “Would you cut it out? Jasper and I already broke up. Go ahead, fawn over him all you want.
She flinched, taken aback by my bluntness. Good.
“And stop calling yourself weak,” I added, my voice cold. “Yeah, you‘ re weak enough that I could flick you across the room, but you were never sick. You‘ re a lying, manipulative skank.”
Briana’s face flushed red with fury. Her hand twitched like she was about to hit me, but before she could make a move, a loud growl filled the air. I turned to see Jasper storming toward us, his eyes blazing.
“Enough, Briana,” he snapped, his voice sharp but controlled.
She pouted, trying to play the innocent act, but Jasper wasn‘ t buying it this time. “Go,” he said, more firmly. Briana hesitated for a moment, probably waiting for him to change his mind, but when he didn’t, she stormed off in a huff.
I watched her leave, then turned back to Jasper, who looked more. conflicted than ever. He opened his mouth, probably to try his luck at wooing me again, but I shut him down before he could even start.
rhythm of my strikes, I heard a familiar, irritating voice.
“Enjoying the attention?” Briana sneered, her voice thick with
smugness.
I didn’t even bother looking at her. “What do you want, Briana?”
She took a few steps closer, but I kept my focus on the bag. “I just wanted to see how you feel, now that the whole pack is talking about how you humiliated me. Is it fun watching a weak wolf like me getting scorned by everyone?”
I rolled my eyes and kept hitting the bag, ignoring her. Briana was relentless though, like a mosquito that just wouldn’t stop buzzing in
your ear.
“And by the way,” she continued, her tone dripping with fake sweetness, “Jasper always loved me more, you know. He was only. with you out of obligation.”
That was it. I spun around, my patience gone. “Would you cut it out? Jasper and I already broke up. Go ahead, fawn over him all you
want.”
She flinched, taken aback by my bluntness. Good.
“And stop calling yourself weak,” I added, my voice cold. “Yeah, you‘ re weak enough that I could flick you across the room, but you were never sick. You‘ re a lying, manipulative skank.”
Briana’s face flushed red with fury. Her hand twitched like she was. about to hit me, but before she could make a move, a loud growl filled. the air. I turned to see Jasper storming toward us, his eyes blazing.
“Enough, Briana,” he snapped, his voice sharp but controlled.
She pouted, trying to play the innocent act, but Jasper wasn’t buying it this time. “Go,” he said, more firmly. Briana hesitated for a moment, probably waiting for him to change his mind, but when he didn’t, she stormed off in a huff.
I watched her leave, then turned back to Jasper, who looked more conflicted than ever. He opened his mouth, probably to try his luck at wooing me again, but I shut him down before he could even start rhythm of my strikes, I heard a familiar, irritating voice.
“Enjoying the attention?” Briana sneered, her voice thick with smugness.
I didn’t even bother looking at her. “What do you want, Briana?”
She took a few steps closer, but I kept my focus on the bag. “I just wanted to see how you feel, now that the whole pack is talking about how you humiliated me. Is it fun watching a weak wolf like me getting scorned by everyone?”
I rolled my eyes and kept hitting the bag, ignoring her. Briana was relentless though, like a mosquito that just wouldn’t stop buzzing in your ear.
“And by the way,” she continued, her tone dripping with fake sweetness, “Jasper always loved me more, you know. He was only with you out of obligation.”
That was it. I spun around, my patience gone. “Would you cut it out? Jasper and I already broke up. Go ahead, fawn over him all you want.”
She flinched, taken aback by my bluntness. Good.
“And stop calling yourself weak,” I added, my voice cold. “Yeah, you‘ re weak enough that I could flick you across the room, but you. were never sick. You‘ re a lying, manipulative skank.”
Briana’s face flushed red with fury. Her hand twitched like she was about to hit me, but before she could make a move, a loud growl filled the air. I turned to see Jasper storming toward us, his eyes blazing.
“Enough, Briana,” he snapped, his voice sharp but controlled.
She pouted, trying to play the innocent act, but Jasper wasn’t buying it this time. “Go,” he said, more firmly. Briana hesitated for a moment, probably waiting for him to change his mind, but when he didn’t, she stormed off in a huff.
I watched her leave, then turned back to Jasper, who looked more conflicted than ever. He opened his mouth, probably to try his luck at wooing me again, but I shut him down before he could even start.
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Chapter 7
“It’s too late, Jasper,” I said, my voice steady. “You had your chances. I’m done.”
I walked away, leaving him standing there like the fool he was. As I stepped outside, I was startled to see Damon waiting. Leaning casually against the wall, his eyes met mine, and for a moment, I felt a flicker of something I couldn’t explain.
“Well,” Damon said, pushing off the wall with a grin. “That was ntertaining.”
olled my eyes, trying not to smile. “You‘ re always watching, ren’t you?”
He stepped closer, his eyes twinkling with that familiar, mischievous. look. “Maybe I like what I see.”
I froze, completely stunned–again.
“It’s too late, Jasper,” I said, my voice steady. “You had your chances. I’m done.”
I walked away, leaving him standing there like the fool he was. As I stepped outside, I was startled to see Damon waiting. Leaning casually against the wall, his eyes met mine, and for a moment, I felt a flicker of something I couldn’t explain..
“Well,” Damon said, pushing off the wall with a grin. “That was entertaining.”
I rolled my eyes, trying not to smile. “You‘ re always watching, aren’t you?”
He stepped closer, his eyes twinkling with that familiar, mischievous look. “Maybe I like what I see.”
I froze, completely stunned–again.