The Strong Bond novel Chapter 22

"She's mine" He growls.

"To bad" is all Pierce says before walking away.

When Damian walked into his room he found his mate sleeping peacefully, and didn't want to wake her just yet. He decided slide in next to her carefully pulling her into his arms, so he could lay beside her while she napped. At first, he felt like some kind of creeper just lying there staring at his beautiful mate while she slept. Then he smiled at himself as he softly chuckled thinking he was acting like a love-struck teenage boy. Even though he was an original and has dated through the years. The feelings that he had towards Lena were so foreign to him, and didn't know how to deal with them. Damian wonder how he went from never wanting Lena to know they were mates. To thinking about her every minute of the day, and needed to be near her or the need to touch her. When he first learned, he found his mate he was determined to brake it off right away, but for some reason to this day he can't remember why he never did. His thoughts were gone when he felt movements in his arms. Damian looked down at his little mate as she snuggled closer to him mumbling something.

"What was that little red?" He asks chuckling.

"You're like a soft hard warm pillow" Lena muffles into his chest. Damian couldn't help but let out a hardy laugh from his mate's comment.

"I don't know if I should take that as a compliment" He states through laughter. Lena opens her eyes as she peers up to a very amused Damian. "It is! I wish I had a Damian pillow at home" She says smiling making Damian laugh some more.

"Ready?" Ashton asks smiling as he walks up to Lena. Quickly taking her eyes off Damian she gives Ashton a small smile and nods. Not wanting to leave things like they were Lena walks over to Damian, and places a soft kiss on his cheek. Even though Damian looked tense, and angry like he was fighting with something inside his head. Lena noticed his body relax some after she kissed him. "Night" she whispers before walking away. She took her time hoping he would stop her, and at least say something. But he just stood there as she walked away with his Beta Ashton.

It was the night of the party and Damian hasn't seen or spoken to his mate, and he knew he was to blame for that. He let his emotions get the best of him, and let his mate leave thinking something was wrong. He was mostly upset that he didn't get to spend time with her, because of his business with Alpha Pierce. He also wanted to talk to her about their relationship, and knowing sooner or later more people will find out. Going on with sneaking around was okay with him, because less people would know leaving her safer. But on the other hand, that leaves to out there for other unmated males to try and make a more on her. Damian was trying to keep his emotions under control so he didn't scare Lena away. The more he is around her, the need to mark her grew, and didn't know what to do. Lena was still in high school, and knows there were a lot of people that wouldn't like the idea of him being Lena's mate. The best thing he could do was talk to her about this and see where she stood. He just hoped he could get her alone at the party, and that she wasn't angry with him for not staying in touch the past couple of days.