Damian
“Ruby, are you okay?” Liam asked, his gaze filled with concern, which made me subtly adjust my stance, leveraging my height as an advantage to cast a protective shadow over her.
Liam, being about an inch shorter than me, made it quite easy to obstruct his view with the bulk of my frame.
Why couldn’t he just mind his damn business for once?
I could sense Ruby’s fear and her reluctance for Liam to come near her, especially in such a vulnerable moment with her son. Guilt filled my heart suddenly, knowing I used her weakness against her, but it was the only way to get her to submit to me.
I hadn’t conversed much or spent considerable time with Ruby, but her stubborn nature was evident. And with the unfortunate history she had with Liam, it was obvious she had unconsciously erected protective walls around her heart.
Getting her to fall in love with me appeared nearly impossible and time-consuming, a luxury I didn’t have. Resorting to blackmail seemed to be my only immediate option. Still, I planned to make her develop feelings for me naturally, just as she had been affecting my own heart lately.
Her falling for my empty threats, thinking I’d be heartless enough to expose her critical secret to Liam, amused me. Because she didn’t know it, but she was caught between two men who want her, and there’s no way in hell I would increase the chances of her being with him, which is only possible with that information.
If I had my way, Ruby would take her secret to the grave, and Liam would remain oblivious to the fact that Alex is his son. I envisioned stepping into the role of Alex’s father once our mating process was complete. I bet the little boy hates me too; that would be no surprise at all.
“Damian, step aside right now,” Liam warned, trying to peer around me.
“Your attention isn’t needed here, so please kindly do me a favour. Fuck off,” I snapped, holding my ground as I carefully maintained the shield that kept Ruby and her son hidden from Liam’s view. The tension in the air escalated, and I sensed Ruby’s relief behind me.
Why was he so persistent?
She might not be fond of me at the moment due to my blackmail, but I was confident she despised Liam and everything associated with him. She hated the man’s gut. I was curious to find out what exactly happened between them, and I hope she could trust me later in the future to tell me.
Liam’s persistent presence sent a wave of irritation through me. This wasn’t the time for unexpected interruptions, as it was the only time I got to have a proper discussion with Ruby, even if she wasn’t willing.
The moment I entered the room and saw her next to the little boy, I knew it wasn’t just a fucking coincidence, and they had a connection-a bond between them like I had between my daughter. My suspicion was confirmed by her denial and her son’s confession.
The little boy had fallen into my trap just like I had expected-the subject of his mother leaving him seems to be a very sensitive topic.
“Why is it difficult for you to understand that your presence isn’t wanted here and for you to fuck off, or do you want me to send you directly to hell myself with my first?” I sneered, trying to maintain my calmness for the sake of Ruby and her son, not wanting to escalate the situation.
Liam’s confusion grew as he resisted my attempts to guide him out. He lifted his toes, stretching his neck in an attempt to catch a glimpse of Ruby.
“What’s your issue, Damian? Quit acting like a child and stop blocking my way,” Liam demanded, attempting to push past me, his steel grey eyes narrowing in suspicion.
“Liam, just leave me alone. Leave. Me. The. Fuck. Alone.” Ruby growled with her last statement, her wolf momentarily taking dominance. It sent shivers down my spine, and my body responded inappropriately, but I shook my head aggressively, knowing this wasn’t the right time for such thoughts.
It wasn’t the best time for me to become hard and horny.
But damn it to hell if I say her growl wasn’t so hot, and it seems like Liam was also turned on by it, much to my displeasure, and a frown formed on my lips. From a side glance, I saw her desperately shielding her son from him with her body.
Fuck, she would probably smell our arousal after that. Talk about awkwardness.
“You have heard the lady yourself; she doesn’t want to see you leave,” I asserted, my voice firm and Liam’s confusion deepening.
“This is my school. I own this place, so you have no right to kick me out. On the contrary, it is you who should leave,” he said, making me chuckle. Oh, he wasn’t informed yet.
I leaned in, a sinister smile playing on my lips. “Lilith didn’t tell you, did she?” I could see the tension in his shoulders as he frowned, looking at me like I had grown two heads.
“Tell me what?”
“That I own fifty percent of the school shares? Oh, how stupid of you to claim you’re the owner yet lack basic information. Terrible,” I said mockingly, finding it amusing.
Liam had really lost control over his life, and I could see that this information weakened him for a moment. Seizing the opportunity, I forcefully pushed Liam outside, closing the door firmly behind me and giving Ruby and her son a little privacy. My lips curled into a smug smile as I blocked any further intrusion, relishing the control I had in the situation.
Regaining himself, Liam glared at me. “Lilith… can’t. She can’t do that. She can’t dare sell my school to someone without letting me know. She doesn’t have that right.” Liam fumed, and when I said smoke was coming out of his ears, I wasn’t exaggerating.
“Half,” I said with boredom, wondering why I was explaining myself to him, but somehow I could understand him. He had inherited this academy from his father, and he seemed to cherish it with his life. Unlike me, who never inherited anything from my father, I did not have a good relationship with him after he left my mother for his true mate.
“She sold half to me, as if it were her favourite pair of shoes, not a school. I hope to get the remaining half of this school soon.” I smirked, looking around the building as if I had an interest in it, just to anger him more.
I revelled in the satisfaction of seeing Liam’s reaction. The anger on his face was a vivid display of his frustration, and I couldn’t help but enjoy the turmoil I had stirred within him.
Liam’s face turned crimson with anger, his jaw clenched, and his eyes shot daggers at me. “I know you’re lying, Damian, just to get Ruby away from me. Why are you always around her? What do you want from her?” He asked each word, fueling the flames of frustration within him. The tense lines on his forehead mirrored the intensity of his emotions, and the muscles in his neck strained with the effort to contain his rising temper.
“What I want with Ruby is not your business, so focus on Lilith and know how to tame your bitch; she is your responsibility while Ruby is mine. What we do is not your concern,” I urged, emphasising the need for him to redirect his attention away from the private matters at hand.
Liam’s voice trembled with suppressed rage as he demanded, “Everything that happens to Ruby is my concern, and I don’t know what fucking game you are trying to play, Damian? Why are you meddling in my affairs?”
I maintained a composed facade, responding with a smirk, “No game, Liam. I just happen to be in the right place at the right time. As for Ruby, well, she’s a fascinating woman. Perhaps you should ask her what she sees in me that she doesn’t see in you.” Liam’s frustration intensified, and I could almost taste the bitterness in the air.
The power dynamics were shifting, and like always, I held the upper hand. It was a satisfying feeling to know that I had disrupted the equilibrium of Liam’s world.
Liam’s face hardened, a stubborn resolve glinting in his eyes. “It is obvious you exploited the situation between your daughter and that little boy to manipulate Ruby. How shameless. Sofia mentioned that Ruby is the boy’s nanny, and from what I heard, the incident with your daughter wasn’t the boy’s fault. He was simply minding his own business before your daughter acted impulsively. Perhaps you should focus on teaching your daughter some manners and respecting others’ personal space.
“Get my daughter out of your mouth; what do you know about training kids when you have none? The issue with the boy has already been resolved, so stay out of it and butt off. Trust me, Liam, you do not want me to tell Lilith about your new little obsession with your ex-mate, so stick your nose out of my business or else.”
“Has Ruby been filling you in on our history? Is that why you’re pretending to have all the answers? Well, I’m glad she shared, and now you understand she’s mine. Ruby is my mate, so back off and go tend to your deceased one,” he retorted, his jaw clenched, and a momentary flash of frustration crossed his face.
On the other hand, I was beyond furious and surprised that I didn’t punch him in the face for his statement. My wolf snarled in response, angered by his words and eager to tear him apart for disrespecting our dead mate.
“Liam, let’s not complicate things further. If you persist, I won’t hesitate to inform Lilith that you’re attempting to win Ruby back into your life and kick her out like dirt. Imagine her finding out you’re attempting to replace her. You are surely going to lose everything, including that title of yours, which you are struggling to hold. I bet she would easily replace you with one of your warriors she is sleeping with,” I said in a cunning tone.
Coincidentally, Lilith appeared right in time, her presence surrounded by an otherworldly aura. Her intense gaze was fixed on Liam.
“Who are you trying to replace me with, Liam?” She demanded in a loud, annoying voice that echoed through the hallway. This unexpected turn of events amused me, making it easier for Ruby and me to exploit their lack of unity.
“Not your business, Lilith. I can’t believe you dare touch the most sacred things I cherish. I want to see you in my office right this minute before I use that pretty face of yours to clean the floor of the academy.” Liam growled as he walked away, and Lilith’s eyes widened, clearly taken aback by his disrespect. She probably wasn’t used to him acting this way towards her.
It seems like the news of me owning half of the shares of his late father’s academy did bring back some of his lost balls, and I was glad.
“What did you tell him, Damian? Don’t tell me you spilled the secret about our affair,” Lilith smirked as she seductively walked towards me and wrapped her hands around my neck.
“Stop acting delusional, Lilith. We both know nothing ever happened between us.”
Wasn’t she tired of this game? Maybe it’s time to set things straight with her.