Chapter 5

Kira's POV

I stood there, arms crossed, staring at Damon. "You do not just walk into my life and start making demands," I said, my voice sharp.

He clenched his jaw, probably trying to control his anger. "This is not about me just making demands. It is about keeping you alive."

I scoffed. "Oh, really? And where was all this concern when I was stuck under Scott's thumb for the last few years?"

He took a slow breath. "I did not know, Kira. I just..."

"You would have just done what?" I took a step closer, my eyes blazing. "Stormed in here and saved me, like some hero? Damon, I do not need your saving."

He ignored me. "Scott tried to have you killed. That is not something you can handle alone."

I tilted my head, a small bitter smile forming across my face. "Who says I am alone?"

"Who," his voice came out roughly and low.

I just raised an eyebrow. "Why do you care?"

He stepped closer, closing the space between us. "Because you are mine to protect, Kira."

My breath hitched. I rolled my eyes. "Oh, so I am yours? Well, that is funny because the last time I checked, you left."

He exhaled. "I did not have a choice."

"There is always a choice," I muttered, my voice more quiet now.

I looked at him, a mixture of anger filling my face.

He reached for my hand, but I pulled back. "Damon, I can handle myself. I've had to."

He took a slow breath. "At least, tell me what your plan is. You want to take Richardson Industries? Fine, then let us do it together."

My lips parted slightly. "I do not need your help."

He let out a laugh. "Yeah, what happens when Scott sends another assassin or Luke decides you are a loose end?"

I flinched at the mention of Luke Bennett.

"You do not have to do this alone, Kira," he said, his voice softer now.

My throat bobbed as I swallowed. "I do not trust you, Damon," I admitted. "Not yet."

He nodded. "Let me prove you can," running his hand through his hair. "I get it, Kira. I do. Trust me, now, you do not have a choice right now."

My eyes flashed. "I always have a choice."

"Do you?" he countered. "Because the last time I checked, you had an assassin trying to put a bullet in your head."

I stiffened. I hated the idea that he was right.

"So what, Damon?" I challenged. "So you think I'll just let you walk into my life and gain control, like nothing happened?"

He took a step closer, lowering his voice. "I do not want to take control. I want to keep you alive."

I let out a bitter laugh. "That is funny, coming from you. You left me alone with Scott, remember? You disappeared, and now suddenly, I am supposed to trust that you care?"

He clenched his fists. "You think I wanted to leave?"

I blinked, tightening my posture. "What?"

He nodded. "You think I would have walked away from you willingly? Scott made it clear that if I stayed, he would make your life a living hell. He was going to take your company from you one way or the other."

He took a short break to look at me. I did not react.

"He would have arranged an accident for you, anda

A

Aàp¹ leaving was the only way to prevent him from acting sooner," he continued.

My jaw tensed. "And now he is trying to kill me anyway, so what did you really accomplish?"

"You are right," he admitted. "I should have found another way."

I let out a sharp breath.

He reached for my hands again. This time, I did not pull him away.

"Let me fix this," he said. "Let me protect you."

My lips parted slightly. "I am not some damsel in distress, Damon," I muttered.

"I never said you were," he replied.

I let out a slow breath, looking away. "I need time to think."

He studied me. "Fine," he said, "but thinking won't stop Scott from making his next move. You need to be ready."

I nodded.

"You do not have to trust me, Kira," he said, his voice low and firm, "but you need me to help you."

I scoffed. "And what? Let you play a hero? I can handle myself."

He exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. "You do not get it, do you? This isn't about you proving how strong you are. I know you can handle yourself, but Scott isn't going to stop."

I folded my arms across my chest. "And you think you can stop him?"

He took a step closer. "Yes, I can do it alone, but neither can you."

My lips pressed together.

"Kira, tell me something," he persisted. "If you think you could handle this alone, why did you come back here, knowing I would be here?"

I stiffened. "I did not come for you."

"No," he arched a brow. "Then why?"

I hesitated, my fingers curling into fists at my sides. "Because I needed information. I needed to know exactly what Scott is planning, and the only place I could think still had a record of his movements was here."

He frowned. "You were trying to sneak into Crescent Moon archives?"

I nodded, meeting his gaze. "Yes."

He let out a humorless laugh. "You would have been caught before you even got close."

I bristled. "You know that."

"I do," he said, stepping closer. "Because Scott has those records locked down. He knew you would come looking for it someday."

My jaw tightened.

He continued, "He has been ahead of you this whole time, Kira. If you want to beat him, then you have to be smarter, and that means working hand in hand with me."

I swallowed hard, and for a moment, none of us spoke.

Finally, I let out a slow breath. "Fine, but that doesn't mean I trust you."

He nodded. "I'll take what I can get."

I crossed my arms. "So what is your grand plan? You said Scott has been watching me, waiting for me to slip in. How do you plan to stop him?"

Damon's jaw clenched. "For now, we need to get you to somewhere safe."

I scoffed. "Safe? There is no such thing as safe when Scott is involved. He has eyes everywhere."

"That is why I have a place in mind," he said. "It is off-grid, somewhere where Scott would not think of."

I arched a brow. "And I am supposed to follow you to some secret location? Just because you have my best interests at heart?"

He sighed, dragging a hand through his hair. "I am not asking you to trust me, Kira. I am asking you to be smart. You want to take Scott down? Fine, but you won't get anywhere if you are dead."

His words hit me, but going anywhere with Damon was dangerous.

I lifted my chin. "Fine, but the second I get the feeling that you are leading me into a trap, I am gone."

Damon's lips quirked. "Noted."

The moment I agreed, he grabbed his keys and motioned for me to follow him. I hesitated for half a second, glancing around my apartment.

I swallowed my pride and followed Damon out the door. We made it to his car in silence, a steel-black SUV with tinted windows and steel plating.

Damon opened the passenger door for me. I narrowed my eyes at him. "Still playing the gentleman?"

He smiled. "Just get in, Kira."

I slid into the seat, and he shut the door behind me.

The second he got in and started the engine, I asked, "Where are we going?"

"Somewhere safe."

"That is not an answer."

He sighed, glancing at me before pulling onto the road. "It's a cabin, deep in neutral territory. No one will think of you there."

I frowned. "A cabin?"

"I built it there myself a few years ago. I use it when I need to get away from the pack."

I leaned back against the seat, staring out the window.

"Fine," I said.

"You knew, didn't you?" I asked.

His hands tightened on the wheel. "Knew what?"

I turned to face him fully. "That we need mates."

"I suspected."

I let out a bitter laugh. "Suspected? Damon, we grew up together. The moment I turned eighteen, I felt it, and you did too."

He didn't reply.

I clenched my fists. "You left, walked away without a word, and now you suddenly show up and decide to play the protective mate?"

His expression darkened. "You think I wanted to leave, Kira?"

"Didn't you?" I shot back.

His eyes tightened on the wheel. "I did not have a choice."

I shook my head. "You always have a choice, Damon."

He did not respond.

"Why now?" I asked. "Why come back?"

Damon exhaled sharply. "Because Scott wants you dead."

I stiffened. "And you care because?"

His eyes flickered to mine. "Because you are mine."

I turned away, staring at the window. "I do not belong to anyone, Damon. Not anyone."

"We will see," he said softly.

I clenched my jaw, refusing to say anything.