Bane of My Existence

Chapter 17

Damon raked a hand through his damp hair, glaring at the state of his apartment. He didn't bring women over to his place. Didn't realise how messy his was until he eventually brought one over.

One that set off a series of chain reactions throughout his body, leaving him feeling giddy and spry. His wolf wanted to prance around like a pup after his first kill.
He didn't know what to think of it, let alone do with it.

If Kinsey had been an ordinary woman, he would have latched onto this feeling until he couldn't any longer. However, Kinsey was not an ordinary woman. If her sister found out she was dating a shifter, it would be game over for him and put his pack in danger. He had to remind himself to keep her at a distance--and stop slipping up.

Bringing home had been one mistake. Keeping her basically prisoner in his apartment all weekend was strike two. Strike three? Inviting her over again, and thus memorizing his address.

His wolf was on the fast track to mistake four: falling in love with her.

A knock came at the door.

Damon dropped the garbage bag at his feet and strode over to the door. Kalem stood on the other side, donning a razor sharp suit and a cheeky smile. "So? Is she still here?"

He scanned the room quickly before letting himself in. Damon allowed it. Solely because Kinsey wasn't here. When she was around, he was so out of his head, he'd lose his shit if another male went anywhere near her. Including his harmless best friend.

"Kinsey's not here," Damon muttered. He would have much preferred she stayed here. In his bed.

Kalem made himself comfortable on the couch, watching with amusement while Damon stuffed a pizza box in a garbage bag. "Of course not. She has a job--at the Corporation. Yet, I sense you're not happy that she left. You know the only way we'll get more information is if she actually goes into the office."

Damon snarled, opting to kick the bag of garbage at his feet instead of his friend. Though, "friend" was a bit of a stretch this morning with that tone. "I know that, but. . ."

He was afraid. For her. Going into the office meant going near those guards. Until he found out more about them--specifically what their weaknesses were--he didn't want her anywhere near them. Espeically if they could scent him on her.

Damon released an exasperated sigh, struggling to come to terms with what this meant.

He had failed his pack, Kalem, his brothers. All for what? A little bit of sunshine in his life? A ray of light to come home to? A soft, delicate body to cuddle with at night?

Kalem let his silence sink in for a moment then he regarded him with fresh eyes. He leaned forward, elbows on his knees, meeting Damon's gaze without mockery or cynicism. "You like her, don't you?"

Damon found his way to the armchair and folded into it, testing the limits of the furniture's strength. He let out an strained groan. "She's. . . not what I expected. My wolf craves her."

Kalem scrubbed his chin, reluctant to speak, and chose his next few words carefully, "The Corporation has always been one step ahead of us. She's our in."

"I know." And Damon hated that his friend was right. Because of him, his packmates weren't the ones who disappeared off the streets. But it didn't put an end to it. As long as the Corporation was breathing, the Night Folk would never be safe.

"Why don't we tell her?" Kalem offered. "You said she has no idea what her sister is doing to us. Let's tell her."

One of the many things Damon liked about Kalem was that he was constantly surprising him. Like his acceptance towards Kinsey, when Damon knew the rest of his pack wouldn't be so welcoming, knowing where Kinsey worked. And wanting to tell her about their situation.