The room that Damon was talking about, opposite his room, was not a bedroom in my opinion. It was a museum that displayed Damon Thorne’s wealth. At dawn, Rys took me there, and I had to acknowledge the epitome of luxury that this place was.

The place carried a silent luxury that made the place feel ice cold, devoid of warmth. It had a no-nonsense feel to it. The bedroom was impossibly enormous and of modern design. It was built like a cathedral.

Amidst all these however, was that familiar scent of rain and musk, signifying Damon’s territory.

The terms I negotiated earlier with Damon that highlighted my privacy, was the only thing that kept me calm, if not, I would have panicked out of my mind. After Rys left, I used the time that I was alone to explore the bedroom.

I checked every nook and corner of the bedroom, from the air vents to the locks on the windows, I checked everything.

By the time I looked everywhere, I told myself one thing, escaping was out of the plan. Instead, I will get familiar with place, both the penthouse, and Damon’s internal world.

Preparations for the pack event started around noon. Damon had nothing to do with the planning, instead, a team of professionals, precise and intentional handled it. A woman who looked nervous, introduced herself to me as the Alpha’s personal stylist.

The woman laid a gown down in the lounge. It was a blue dress that looked so beautiful, it felt enchanted. It was cut with so much precision; I could spot the curves on the dress without anyone wearing it.

‘’This one is for the Winter Solstice Gathering.’’ With eyes wide and direct, the stylist said to me in a hush whisper. She looked scared, as if she dared not offend me. As the Alpha’s mate, everyone was careful around me.

‘’That night is usually a very important one for the pack, as everyone would have their eyes on the Alpha and his intended Luna.’’

I instantly felt cursed. An Intended Luna? I relaxed as they did a makeover on me; from my hair to my make-up, everything was done to taste. Elite taste. When I wore the dress, I felt the burden of it at once. It was heavy naturally, but something else made it heavier. Something unseen.

Expectation.

Everyone’s eyes will be on me. I was going to be displayed as a prize for their Alpha after being packaged like a commodity and wrapped in expensive linen.

It was getting dark. I could see shadows crawling across the penthouse as the sun started to hide behind the clouds. Just then, Damon walked in.

His Alpha power oozed like heat from his black suit which was tailored to perfection. His eyes were fixed on mine, paying no mind to the attendants nor stylists who had al frozen because he walked in.

His eyes swept over the dress, and he accessed the modesty in the design, which was still somehow inviting.

‘’This is acceptable, I must say, Elara.’’ His words were not meant to make me feel good about my clothes, but to claim me.

‘’You highlight my taste perfectly,’’ he added.

We had set a boundary between each other, so he did not touch me. However, the tension that existed between us even though we were far apart, was more offensive to me. I felt more violated.

The bond tugged at me, raging and demanding that I closed up the gap between me and Damon.

With a cool voice, I replied, ‘’I will fulfill my end of the contract. But about the rules of your court, you must tell me. You must also clearly state what you expect of me tonight.’’

Again, he flashed the predatory half smile he was fond of, then he said; ‘’simple rules. Stand by my side, when I smile, you smile, and then you must prove your loyalty to the pack and act graceful.’’

‘’If you fail tonight, that contract of privacy you stated for me will no longer exist.’’

Then, as a necessity, he gave his arm to me. It was all a formal act, and nothing intimate. I trembled internally as I took his hand.

Tucked inside the financial district of the city, that gathering was held in a massive structure. It was the headquarter of the pack, but it was disguised as a night club.

The energy in the room made my hairs stand up. Everyone in the grand hall was so tall and fit. There were hundreds of them, all emanating wealth, power, and confidence. They were very ‘wolf.’

The room became silent as soon as Damon and I entered. So many eyes steered towards us, flashing different colors, from amber, to yellow, and even pitch black. I could feel the scrutiny in their eyes, deep and thorough.

To my surprise, I could feel their thoughts as they stared hard at me. ‘’The Alpha chose a human?’'

‘’Look at how small and weak she is.’’

‘’She’s so fragile.’’

Damon made a warning, a non-verbal one, by holding my hand in his tightly. Projecting dominance and total control, he held his head up and high.

While we walked across the room, we stopped to greet pack elders and executive members of the pack. Every person that Damon introduced me to, was like a judge, putting me under trial.

One old woman showed her disapproval by flashing a fake smile. She was covered in diamonds, looking wealthy and affluential.

‘’Elara, you are welcome. For a very long time, Damon has been waiting for his mate. He has a legacy to uphold, and as a human that you are, we hope that you will not be too fragile for him, bringing his legacy to a standstill.’’

I could clearly hear the disdain in her voice as she spoke.

‘’Strength is what makes legacy thrive, madam. I was not selected because I am fragile. I promise you, that was not the Alpha’s goal.’’

As I finished speaking, I felt Damon squeeze my hand as he demanded caution, as well as a dark way of giving his approval to my response.