Breaking the Bond that Binds.

Chapter 45 - Nothing is what it seems

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Before he left the hotel Nico slipped into the clothes he'd been preparing for the last few days. They reeked of cigarettes and vinegar. This would cover his wolf smell. He was a patient man. He approached each assignment cautiously, planning thoroughly, and not rushing a step...his job was all about patience. As uncomfortable as it was wearing the dark hoodie and pants, it was a big part of his job to not reveal himself as a Lycan.

The man sat watching the street, it was quiet. One cigarette after another filled the car with a thin layer of smoke. Finally there were only two sets of garbage bins left on the curb. The man knew that the residents of the house had gone to work but waited a little longer anyway, just in case a neighbour might do their daily good deed and retrieved them. Another half hour passed and he made his way up the street. He had watched the two younger men leave the house earlier that morning and went straight for the front door. Once again the screen door was open and it took no more than a minute to open the door and slip inside.

The house was very quiet, he moved around making sure he knew every detail of the lay out of the first floor. Where the back door was, what sort of lock it had, just in case he needed to go out that way. Nico checked the draws in the kitchen for weapons a desperate target might rush to. Where the light switches were. He scanned the rooms and the details were stored away for possible later use. There were several different scents but the dominant ones were that of the two men.

Nico went up the stairs. There was a small box room with a set of weights and exercise mat. Further along the hall was a small bathroom and then a bedroom. He entered and sniffed. It was the older man's room, several male scents filled the room. The man checked if the door locked from the inside, examined the windows. They were painted shut...good. He moved up the narrow stairs to the attic room. When he opened the door he instantly smelt the potent scent of a pure blood. It filled the room like an invisible force. He sniffed and allowed himself a moment to enjoy it. The smell of a young virile Lycan, is best of all. He also smelt the lingering scent of the older man...they are or at least have been lovers.

The man examined the small bathroom and wardrobe, not problems there. He saw the parcel sitting on a dresser opened. He checked inside and it still held the contents. There was only a small louvre window in the room and the only way in or out was the door.

We went back downstairs and looked around one last time, going through different scenarios in his head. Then he left quietly. On the way out he double checked the fuse box at the side of the house. The last tick on his mental check list. He walked back down the street and back to the car. In the car he stripped off the hoodie and opened the car window. It was unfortunate the boy will smell the lingering unpleasant smell of his clothes around the house but better that than the scent of one of his own kind. Now he just had to wait for instructions. He hoped he would be told to abort the assignment.

.......

"Thank you for coming so promptly." Damien opened the door and politely ushered her in. The lifeless greeting annoyed Sophia. They had spent a great deal of time together in the past few days but his attitude towards her was still as formal and expressionless as the day she arrived. There was no warmth in his voice when he spoke to her, he avoided her touch no matter how sweet or clever she tried to be. It was insulting and she was getting sick of playing the demure female waiting to be chosen. Being called to his office to speak privately wasn't a good sign.

As she entered her Secretary started to follow but she was abruptly stopped by Damien at the door. "I wish to talk to Miss Vasiliki  privately." She looked over his shoulder, ready to push her way in if necessary. Maria's eyes flared with resentment but she saw Sophia nod and wave her away. The Secretary looked sternly at Damien and closed the door as she left.

"Sophia I feel that I have to be honest with you. It would be unfair on you otherwise." Damien felt himself waiver.  " I know you have come a long way, you had certain expectations but I'm afraid I can't accept you as my mate. I don't want to give you any false hope that my feelings will change.  I am not ready to take a mate." Damien's voice is gentle for the first time but the words were harsh and she didn't want to hear them. It sounded like pity, she didn't want to be pitied she wanted to be his Luna. Sophia was going to be his Luna. There was no way she was going home to be mated with someone her parents chose, to be turned into something no better than a breeding she-wolf because of the blood that ran through her veins.

The tears came to her eyes, a deep flush to her cheeks and she sighed. Damien moved to sit beside her and tentatively laid his arm around her shoulder, then thought better of it and held her hand instead. The awkwardness was palpable. Sophia leaned on him. "I thought we'd found some common ground, perhaps we need more time." She looked up at him. Her big brown eyes moist with tears, her lips parted and trembling. Perhaps she should faint she thought to herself and sobbed a little louder.  Damien saw the sadness fill her eyes, he sympathised but he was not moved enough to change his mind.

"Sophia, I've decide I won't be taking a mate for the present. Unlike my father I don't think I need to have a mate and heirs to be a good Alpha to my pack. In fact, choosing the wrong mate will only be a distraction. I don't want make another mistake like I did with my first mate." 

 Damien moved away, his jaw twitching with tension. Was that regret she saw in his eyes, was Damos correct that he still had feelings for the boy. Damien didn't notice Sophia's eyes flare amber and her fangs momentarily drop. She clenched her fists to control herself. How dare he mention a lowborn in the same breath as taking her as his mate. She forced more tears, gasped as if her heart was breaking.

Damien poured them both a deep red port and handed her the small glass. Sophia feigned trembling hands as she accepted it and sipped. What could she do, her brain was ticking over. She needed more time. Sophia was sure Damos's with his ridiculous infatuation would be a willing accomplice and help her. She didn't need to badger Damien, Damos would be happy to be her hero and do it for her. Then it struck her that perhaps a little truthfulness would be more effective than any scheme.

"Damien, do you know why I was so happy to accept your invitation?" Sophia's voice was sweet as honey, her eyes soft and sad. "My family have been trying to sell me off since I came of age. They didn't care if it was my true mate or not. My precious Pure Blood is a commodity, the dowry my family ask for me is a fortune and there are several families willing to pay it." She forced more tears, although it was easier now because this truth did truly hurt her, shame her to her core.

"I came here to be free of their hold on me. I had so hoped that we could perhaps start as friends and if we were lucky later...." Sophia sobbed. She was watching his face and thought there was a chance she might be getting through to him.

Damien returned to her side. His arm wrapped around her shoulder, held her as she turned and buried her face in his chest. She let herself cry. The pain had been held in for a long time, she didn't need to act and Damien's arm around her was comforting, more comforting than she expected. But it wasn't in her nature to lose control for long and although she sobbed quietly, in the back of her mind she was planning her next step. She realised how much she hated the boy...the boy who's memory was haunting Damien, who was getting in the way of her plans.   At that moment her wolf would have like to gutted the lowborn scum, take her fill of his blood and toss him away with the trash where he belonged.