Chapter 41: TRIP

Matthew’s hands balled into fists, his own wolf snarling inside him as he stared hard at Damien. Their gazes locked, and Damien sneered at him.

“I said get out,” he demanded.

Not wanting more chaos to erupt, Matthew turned and walked away, slamming the door shut behind him.

Inside, he was fuming with rage, pain, and jealousy.

He ignored the greetings of the staff who bowed their heads as he walked past them.

When he reached his private chambers, he shoved the door open, slammed it shut, and kicked the wooden stool in his path, sending it crashing hard against the wall.

“Damn it!” he grunted, his voice thick with rage and heartbreak. He shoved his hands through his thick brown hair, pulling at the strands until his scalp stung.

Deep down Matthew had always known Damien and Sofia were already having sex, but knowing it and seeing it were very different things. Walking into that room felt like being punched in the stomach. It hurt in a way that words could not explain.

“Why?” he whispered, his voice breaking in the quiet room. “Why does it have to be him?”

Matthew had carried his secret feelings like a heavy stone in his chest. He had loved Sofia from the first moment he saw her. From the shadows, he watched her. When he could, he helped her in small ways. In his heart, he dreamed of being the one to protect her one day. What started as a small crush slowly became something much deeper, even if Sofia didn’t know it.

His heart felt like it was being crushed. Seeing the woman he loved in the hands of a man who treated her like a sex slave was more than he could bear. Jealousy burned inside him like poison. He wasn’t just angry at Damien. He was angry at himself. He was the Beta, the second-strongest man in the pack, yet he felt like a coward for not pulling her out of that room.

Matthew sat heavily on the edge of his bed, his chest rising and falling fast. The image of Sofia’s face stayed in his mind—tired, flushed, and trapped in pain she didn’t deserve. He wanted to be the one she trusted. He wanted to be the one who helped her heal, not the one who stood by while she was hurt.

“He doesn’t deserve her,” Matthew whispered, his eyes filling with fire. “He treats her like she is nothing, but she is everything.”

He stared at his shaking hands. The pain was still there, but a thought came to him. If he couldn’t have her love, then he would give her something just as important.

Her freedom.

Even if he had to stand against his Alpha to do it.

Back in Damien’s room, the air was still thick with the scent of sex and rage. Damien stood up as he pulled his jeans back on. He didn’t look at Sofia immediately; he was too busy trying to settle the adrenaline still surging through his veins.

Sofia remained on the desk, her body trembling. Her eyes searched the floor for her clothes, but her heart sank. The dress was nothing but a pile of shredded fabric, ruined by Damien’s violent hands. She felt small and exposed, clutching the edge of the desk just to keep from falling.

A sharp knock at the door broke the silence.

Damien walked over and opened it just a crack. A terrified maid stood there, holding a freshly pressed uniform. He snatched it from her without a word and slammed the door shut again. Turning back, he tossed the bundle of clothes at Sofia. It hit her shoulder before sliding into her lap.

“Put it on,” he ordered, his voice cold and distant again.

With shaking hands, Sofia dressed as quickly as she could, feeling his gaze on her the entire time.

As she dressed, Damien’s mind began to race. He had a vital trip to the Crystal Pack starting today. He would be away for three days. Usually, he looked forward to pack business, but now a knot of unease tightened in his stomach.

If he left her here, what would happen? The image of her with the knife flashed in his mind. She had already tried to kill herself twice; without him there to watch her, she might try again—and succeed. And then there was Matthew. He had seen the look in his Beta’s eyes. It wasn’t just concern; it was a challenge. If he left Sofia behind, Matthew would be at her side in a heartbeat.

The thought of Matthew touching her, talking to her, or comforting her while he was miles away made Damien’s blood boil. Jealousy, hot and possessive, flared in his chest.

He turned to Sofia just as she finished buttoning her vest.

“Get your things ready,” he stated, his tone leaving no room for argument. “You aren’t staying here. You are accompanying me to the Crystal Pack.”

Sofia looked up, her eyes wide with confusion. She expected to be thrown back into a cell for trying to kill herself, not taken on a diplomatic trip. “The Crystal Pack?” she whispered.

“Don’t make me repeat myself,” Damien snapped, though his eyes lingered on her lips for a second too long. “You are my slave, Sofia. Wherever I am, that is where you will be. Go. Now.”

Sofia nodded slowly and walked toward the door. As she left, she didn’t see the way Damien watched her go, his hands clenched into fists. He wasn’t taking her because she was his slave; he was taking her because he couldn’t bear the thought of her being out of his sight.

Hours later, Sofia stepped outside into the cool morning air. In front of her, several black SUVs waited in a straight line. Their engines were running, making a low sound that matched the tight feeling in her chest. She stood to the side with her head lowered, waiting for Damien to come out.

The large front doors of the mansion opened, and Damien stepped outside. He looked calm and powerful, dressed in a dark suit that made him look more like a businessman than a wolf. The guards bowed as he passed, but he didn’t look at them. His eyes moved over the cars until they landed on Sofia.

He walked to the first SUV. A guard opened the door for him. Damien stopped and glanced back at her.

“In,” he said, his voice short and firm.

Sofia blinked and looked at the other cars meant for the staff. She hesitated, thinking he must be talking to someone else.

“Now, Sofia,” he said sharply.

She hurried forward and climbed into the SUV. The seats were soft leather, and the car smelled expensive. She slid as far away from him as she could and pressed herself against the door. Damien got in after her. The door shut with a heavy sound that made her feel trapped.

The cars began to move. Sofia watched the packhouse disappear behind the trees.

Inside the SUV, the silence felt heavy. Damien sat still, his legs crossed. He wasn’t looking at his phone or papers. He stared straight ahead. Sofia could feel the warmth coming from him, even though he didn’t touch her.

“You’re shaking,” Damien said suddenly.

Sofia wrapped her arms around herself. “I’m just… cold.”

He didn’t answer right away. Then he reached out. Sofia froze, thinking he would grab her. Instead, he reached past her and pressed a button. Warmth spread through her seat.

“Try to sleep,” he said quietly. “It’s a long drive to the Crystal Pack. I need you awake when we arrive.”

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