Rogue Squad

The Mark

"So that was fun" Damien comments in a deep-cocky voice next to me.

We walk down the long windy halls of the pack house. From every angle people begin congratulating us. I ignore them promptly, but Damien takes knowledge of each and every one of them, giving them a thankful nod. I've never seen him so proud in his life. It makes my stomach churn in sickening circles.

"You can let go of my hand now." I snap at him as we continue toward his room.

"Why? We are an approved mated pair Lucia, you need to get used to this. You're my partner now." My wolf growls angrily in my head. She doesn't like the thought of us being partners with Damien and neither do I.

"We may have announced the pairing, but we aren't actually mated." I snap. "Now let go."

He smirks at my words. He quickly looks up at a passerby who congratulates us on our recent pairing. He thanks them with a half smile. Then he looks back down at me. He squeezes my hand tightly in his, almost squishing it.

"You will not tell me what to do." He growls, low and fierce. My wolf shakes slightly at the tone, but holds her ground. She's not weak enough to fall under his Alpha tone. After all, she is a Beta by blood.

"I will do what I want," I retort.

He growls at my defiant ways. "I will break your disobedient habits, Lucia."

My features form into a deep frown. My eyebrows pull together angrily. "Go ahead and try."

We reach his room after what feels like forever.

The night so far has been long and torturous. After getting through the lengthy announcement, the Alpha kept us there for a socializing party. People approached us and congratulated us for our pairing. With the Alpha watching, I had to keep a slight smile on my face. It was harder to do than anticipated. It took all my energy, especially when Raymond and Ruben came up to congratulate us. Ruben did so promptly, but Raymond watched my demeanor. He read right through my facade. He did not congratulate us, but merely gave a nod in my direction.

Damien closes the door behind us and I quickly untangle my hand from his. I take a large step away from him.

He frowns. "What the hell is wrong with you?"

"Nothing. I'm just done holding hands is all."

He rolls his eyes. "Whatever. Get undressed."

He reaches for the buttons on his shirt and starts to undo them. My eyes go wide in shock. "Excuse me?" I hiss.

He glances up at me with dark and agitated eyes. "I said, get undressed."

"I know what you said."

"Then what's the problem?"

"I will not be getting undressed, especially with you so close to me."

He smirks, "What's the problem? I've already seen you naked, remember?"

My mind flashes back to my first kiss. When Damien practically mauled me in the woods. I gulp unconsciously and a light pink blush brushes over my embarrassed cheeks. My fingers knot in little angry balls at my sides.

"I remember," I manage to hiss out through locked teeth. "But I'm not letting that happen. Ever again."

He raises an eyebrow at me. "Lucia, do you get how this whole mating thing works?" He takes a step closer to me, I step back. "The Alpha, my father, agrees on a pair." He steps closer to me again, and I step back once more. I feel the wall closing in on me from behind. "Then that pair is announced to the whole pack." He moves closer again. I retreat. My back hits the wall lightly. I'm cornered. "Then that pair gets to go back to their room and have a little fun as they complete the bond."