Bonus | Aine: Chapter 11.5

Poll winner: Damien's POV- the first night Áine is in the cabin

NOTE: There are some spoilers in this chapter. If you don't want to see them, then I'd recommend waiting until Chapter 11 has been posted before reading this. If you do read, please don't spill anything in the comments of the regular chapter updates!

Damien's POV

I can feel her staring at me. Her big bug eyes peering out of the rickety cabin window and stalking my every move. She’s been doing it all night, and it’s putting my Beast on edge. He is fighting with me to go over to the cabin and check in on her, but I refuse.

It takes all the willpower I have not to look out of my window at her as I get up to leave my bedroom. The floor creaks slightly underneath my feet as I walk across the hall to the newly occupied room.

Olivia moves about in her bedroom, humming quietly to herself as she unpacks her belongings. My Beast is mad at me for moving her into my home, and finds her excitement at the change irksome. If he had his way I would rip her throat out right here and now, but I resist the temptation.

As frustrating as she is to be around, she is admittedly an excellent assistant, always on top of things and seeing out my orders to completion.

Olivia squeaks as I knock on her door, and I smirk as she begins to scramble around inside the room. Drawers slam shut, and there’s quiet smacking as she pats her cheeks. I know that she believes me moving her into my home means that I will finally take her, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. My sexual interest in human women is nonexistent, my desires starting and ending with Beasts. 

Not like that matters anymore though. I doubt I could even get it up for anybody now that my Beast has found his mate.

My patience begins to wear thin as Olivia continues to pamper herself, and I raise my fist and pound at the door once more. Fortunately she seems to sense my urgency, and seconds later the door is ripped open.

She jumps to the side as I step inside the room, glancing around the space. Clothing is strewn all about on the bed and dresser, and I crinkle my nose in distaste at the sight of her underwear left out in the open on the mattress. Her desperation is unappealing, but now is not the time to address it.

I told myself I wasn’t going to do this, but Áine’s staring all night has worn me down.

“What did she say?” I question, turning to glare down at Olivia.

She was gone with Áine for a long time this afternoon. I thought I wouldn’t care, but with every passing minute my frustration grew, my Beast unhappy that his injured mate was being taken care of by another. He wishes for me to give her more of my blood to heal her, but I refuse to do so.

I gave her doctor a small vial to ensure that she doesn’t die, but I don’t want the human to feel that she is entitled to my body in any way. Her kind is greedy, and I don’t want to encourage that loathsome behavior from her.

Olivia’s face reddens as she meets my gaze.

“Not much. She’s pretty quiet.”

I frown, unhappy with that response.

“What did you say?” I probe, needing to know what has been said to her.

As unhappy as I am with having a human as a mate, I know that I must, at least to some extent, play the part. My people value the mate bond too much to allow me to send her away, their outward frustration with me for putting her in the cabin proving that point.

“I told her that she has to use the bathroom in here to clean and relieve herself, and asked her why she was sent into the woods.”

Olivia’s response has my Beast perking up, excited to hear more.

I push him down, not needing the distraction my lovesick puppy brings.

“What did she say to that?”

Olivia shrugs, glancing down at her feet. I can tell that she doesn’t want to answer me, her fear permeating throughout the air. My chest rumbles in displeasure at her reluctance, the deep sound furthering her scent.

“She said that it was because she’s gay, but for obvious reasons that’s untrue. I didn’t push her on it.” She admits, crossing her arms over her chest in an attempt to comfort herself.

The lie has me smirking, happy that the human kept her reason for execution a secret. It’s important that I figure out why before allowing her to spread that information. While we Beasts don’t follow and live by many laws, I need to make sure that she hasn’t done anything too heinous.

It’s something that I’ll have to discuss with her, but knowing that she is choosing to be secretive about it I will give her a couple of days to adjust before demanding she tells me.

“Did you say anything about me?” I continue to question Olivia.

She shakes her head.

“I did tell her that you’d help her to the bathroom while she is still healing.” She admits.

I frown, unhappy that she made such a promise on my behalf. It will please my people to see me taking care of my mate though, so I choose to let Olivia’s mishap slide just this once.

“Anything else I should know?”

“No, sir.”

Nodding my head, I turn and leave her room. Olivia shuts the door behind me, and I listen as she slides down against the wood. My Beast enjoys the scent of fear she gives off, and pushes me to go in and force more out of her. I ignore the temptation, choosing instead to seek solace in my bedroom.

I can feel her eyes back on me the second I enter my room, and I catch myself instinctively turning to look out the window at her.

She sits in the dark peering at me over the window ledge, and I turn away before she can register that I’m aware of her gaze. I’m glad that Olivia took care of her tonight. My Beast fought with me to keep her in my home after finding her in the foyer, and I imagine that if I had spent one more minute with her he would have won out.

She looks so pathetic sitting in the dark all alone, and I make a mental note to provide her with some clothing and a blanket for warmth. Olivia was always complaining about the draft in the cabin, and I don’t need the backlash from my people that will come with Áine getting sick.