Alpha Damon (Sienna) novel Chapter 300

“You’re aging. It is happening very quickly.” I murmured. “And it’s because of her. Because of Delilah. Because she broke the vase, she unleashed everything that you’ve been working on, isn’t it? That’s why you’re still trying to fix it. You’re trying to fix what you’ve worked so hard to build. She just came and broke.”

“Because she chose him,” she snarled. “That worthless wolf boy. Because she couldn’t see what I gave her. She betrayed us, both of us. She fell in love with a man of them, a man of the enemy. She turned her back against everything that she knows.”

I didn’t flinch. “You’re trying to use my hate. I see that now.”

She pulled free, and for the first time in weeks, her face cracked. Her illusion faltered. And beneath the surface, just for a moment, I saw her fear. And truth be told, I did my best not to smirk.

Good.

I turned on my heel and walked toward the war table at the far end of the room. Maps were strewn across it, bloodstained and torn. I stared down at the lands still under my hold, at the red circles I’d drawn where attacks had failed.

I could hear her breathing behind me. Heavy. Unhinged.

I didn’t care.

Instead, I rang the bell at the side. A signal. One I hadn’t used since Nikolai’s betrayal.

Within moments, the doors opened and three of my men walked in-what was left of my inner circle. The loyal ones. The dangerous ones.

Rico. Tomas. Angelo.

They bowed but didn’t speak. Their silence was the kind I needed.

“We move by dusk,” I said. “We take back what’s ours. Damon has drawn first blood. But we will return it tenfold. I just want to be done my way this time.”

“Even after the losses?” Rico asked. “Even after Nikolai?”

My jaw clenched. I looked away, but the pain was already rising.

Nikolai.

“You think I don’t remember?” I said, voice low. “I feel it every goddamn day. He was my brother in arms. He died because he believed in her, because he betrayed us. He chose his side, and anyone who does choose the same side will face the same fate.”

No one spoke.

“I won’t make that mistake again,” I said, straightening. “Tatiana is no longer our weapon. She is the storm. And storms don’t get trusted. They get harnessed.”

“What about Delilah?” Tomas asked. “The wolves think she’s theirs. She is working with them, she’s fighting along their side.”

“She’s a threat,” I said, trying not to let my voice shake. “And threats get eliminated. But not yet. Not while she’s still bound to the storm. It is going to be a while for her to be able to realize her mistake. We can reshape her and if not possible then we attack.”

“She’s not bound to anything,” Tatiana said from behind me. “If it is love, then the one way to do it is to kill whatever she’s in love with. He’s going to carve her into something different. Pain will carve her strength.”

“I know it. You keep denying it.”

Tatiana didn’t answer.

She just stared at me, hollow-eyed and flickering.

When she vanished into smoke a moment later, I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding.

Then I turned back to my men.

“Prepare the soldiers. Reinforce the borders. We send a message at dawn.”

“What message?” Angelo asked.

I looked up.

And smiled.

“That this war is far from over.”