Free Web NovelChapter 53: Find A Way III
"Are you refusing my challenge because you’re scared I’ll actually win?" I taunted in return, ignoring the incredulous chuckles that erupted in the background. The crowd of eavesdroppers was tickled pink at the very thought of Damon being afraid of me.
Even I knew what a tall order it was, but the surge of courage that took over me wasn’t something that could so easily be ignored. Ever since I had mated with the brothers, my strength had grown exponentially. There was a good chance that I could continue growing until one day, I might be able to actually give Damon a hard time.
Winning might be hard, but I would consider this a success once I clocked a black eye in on Damon’s pretty little face.
"You must have a death wish," Damon growled as he took a step closer to me menacingly.
Blaise put out a protective arm in front of me. Damon’s gaze flitted from his arm to my face, his lips twisted into a condescending smirk.
"Since my brother isn’t satisfying you enough, I’ll put you out of your misery. I, Damon Valentine accept―"
A sharp inhale from Blaise interrupted his words. "Damon, you can’t do this! You can’t be serious―"
However, Damon continued to speak, a dark, vicious glint in his eye.
He repeated, a little louder this time so that he clearly spoke over Blaise’s words, not allowing his younger brother to cut in. "I, Damon Valentine, accept your challenge on one condition."
"Damon!" Blaise yelled, exasperated. He then turned over to me, furiously shaking his head. "Harper, don’t―" ƒree𝑤ebnσvel.com
"Whatever it is, I accept your condition," I said immediately. ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm
Blaise let out an upset groan, slapping a hand on his forehead. "Harper! Just wait for a moment and think! You can’t―"
A wicked smirk crossed Damon’s face. He, too, pretended that Blaise was nothing more than a gentle gust of wind blowing by his ear. Damon cared not for Blaise’s words, and instead, haughtily folded his arms across his chest.
"How brave," he said. "In that case, when I defeat you in the arena, you have to spend the night with me."
My eyes widened, lips parting in shock. I had expected him to say something along the lines of having me work like a slave for the pack, scrubbing toilets and whatnot, not this.
"Over my dead body!" I cried out.
"Too late. Didn’t you just say you would do anything?" Damon said smugly, "I guess this little rabbit is just talk and no action. You don’t love my brother enough."
I spluttered weakly. The audacity of this man to question my feelings for Blaise. "I do love Blaise! And that is why I am not willing to sleep with you!"
Damon scoffed. "Not the first time you’ve done it," he muttered under his breath. He took a step closer to me, the smirk on his face diabolic. "And if my memory serves me, you seemed to have enjoyed it aplenty the last few times. Even if you didn’t, Blaise and I share the same face. It shouldn’t be too hard for you to get used to it. I can assure you that I can please you much better than―"
He didn’t get to complete his sentence.
The palm of my hand quickly made contact with his face. Damon hadn’t expected it, and thrown off guard, he wasn’t able to dodge in time since he had been so engrossed in taking a dig at his own brother. The force of the slap caused his head to swerve to the side, his lips parting.
Everyone else in the room took in an audible gasp of air, shock coloring their faces. After that, only silence filled the entire packhouse. I couldn’t tell which they were more shocked at― the fact that I had just slapped Damon Valentine or the fact that he hadn’t dodged in time.
Whatever it was, it had certainly caused the temperature of the room to drop several degrees. All signs of laughter melted from Damon’s face, leaving nothing but a frigid look of spite.
Blaise quickly stepped forward, shielding me behind him. He practically pushed me back so that his figure could block me entirely from Damon’s view. Even when I stepped out of his shadow so that I could return Damon’s gaze, Blaise was quick to step in between.
"Don’t take it too seriously," Blaise said. "There is no ritual combat, and Harper didn’t mean it."
Damon coldly laughed. "That slap sure felt like she meant it," he said.
"I’m going," I insisted. "Test me all you want, but I will win you."
"If you’re willing to accept the consequences of losing, then fine by me. You’re welcome to embarrass yourself," Damon shot back. He then turned his attention to Blaise. "Get your belongings. You have somewhere else to be."
The way he spoke left no room for argument. Shivers ran down my spine, and all around us, werewolves of Fangborne within the vicinity had their heads bowed down. It was clear that it was a command, not a request. Blaise had no other choice but to leave.
Not like he had much of a choice to begin with.
"Yes, Alpha," Blaise said. "But the ritual combat―"
"Was already accepted," Damon finished. "Harper said so herself. Whatever it is, she accepts my condition."
Blaise’s hands tightened into fists, his fingers curling inwards until his nails dug into the flesh of his palm. I could spot his veins throbbing at the back of his hands, desperately trying to rein in his own anger rather than explode in front of the crowd.
"Alright then," Blaise uttered. "In that case, if you’ll excuse me. I need to pack."
He said nothing more, turning to return to his room to grab his bags. I tried to trail after him but was quickly stopped when Damon held me by my upper arm, keeping me locked in place. His fingers came to play with the collar of my neck, a small grin curving his lips when I glared up at him.
"You still wear this," he said. "That, along with the mark on the right side of your neck, proves that you’re mine just as you are my brother’s. That’s not something you can change."
"Don’t get so cocky about it," I said. One by one, I peeled his fingers off of me, making an extravagant show of wiping my sleeve and hands down so that I wouldn’t have his filth clinging onto my skin. "Blaise is my mate. You are not. You two will never be the same, even if you wear the same face."
I took a step forward, scowling heavily.
"As for the combat, bring it on. I will not lose to the likes of you. You are never going to touch me like that again."
