Alpha Damon novel Chapter 118

Sienna:

This was one of the few days that I believed seemed calmer than usual when I came to dealing in the office when it came to working and taking care of the responsibilities that I had to take care of. I had just wrapped up reviewing some reports, and for once, the day had been calm, structured. Almost normal.

A normal that I found myself admiring, embracing. Lately, the two of us, Damon and I, have managed to come to something that I did not even think that we would have. It was a feeling of mutual, one that I found myself growing addicted to.

That, of course, changed the moment I turned the corner and saw her.

Lysandra.

She was standing near the window, arms crossed over her chest, dressed in her usual too-expensive, too-tight business attire, looking like she was born to sit on thrones made of sharp glass. But something was different.

She looks completely different despite dressing the part. There was something about her that I did not understand. Her eyes weren’t on me.

They were distant.

Almost… lost.

I slowed down, debating whether I should pass quietly or make my presence known. But before I could decide, she looked up and locked eyes with me.

Her expression twisted into that usual coldness, but there was something underneath it, a flicker of something raw.

Annoyance? No.

Pain.

“I would recommend that you would look away from me unless you want to lose your eyes.” She said, and I frowned. I did not respond at first as I studied her expression. “I believe that you have other work to take care of going ahead and play employee. You’re not a shareholder, whether or not you have a few shares in your name, you still are working as if you are some kind of employee.”

I couldn’t explain what possessed me in that moment, maybe it was the fact that I had felt pain so deeply, for so long, that I could recognize it in others. Even if that “other” had once done everything to break me.

I walked toward her.

Her brows raised sharply. “Coming to gloat now? What is it this time, going to tell me you’ve claimed his office too? Is that why you’re walking towards me?”

I ignored the sharpness in her voice. Instead, I let my eyes drift to her hand, where I noticed the subtle but telling way she held her arm. A tightening in her muscles, a twitch of discomfort. Defensive.

Something wasn’t right.

Want to walk past me, clearly not wanting to engage in a conversation with me, clearly not wanting me to be around her.

Without thinking, I reached out and gently wrapped my hand around her forearm.

Lysandra jerked, clearly caught off guard. Her eyes darkened and I could tell that she was doing her best to control herself. She was reminding herself that this was not the pack, that she did not have any control here, and that she could not just simply growl at me as she wanted to.

“What the hell are you doing?” she hissed, yanking her arm away. “Who the hell do you think you are to wrap your hand around my arm?”

“She tried,” I answered honestly. “But that’s not what bothered me.”

He tilted his head, confused. “Then what?”

I hesitated, then added quietly, “She looked… hurt. Not angry. Hurt. I don’t know why. But something is going on.”

Damon blinked at me, then nodded slowly, his gaze softening as it lingered on my face. “You still tried to check on her?” he asked, almost like he couldn’t believe it.

“She’s been cruel,” I admitted. “But if she’s hurting, then that’s not something I’m going to ignore. I know how it feels to be hurting and have no one care.”

He didn’t respond right away. Instead, he stepped closer, reaching up to gently brush a strand of hair from my cheek. “I don’t know how you do it,” he said quietly. “Still seeing the best in people… even her.”

“It’s not about seeing the best,” I said, offering a faint smile. “It’s about not letting myself become the worst.”

Damon nodded, his thumb brushing against my cheek before his hand fell back to his side. “You amaze me sometimes, you know that?”

My chest warmed at his words, but I kept my voice steady. “I’m not trying to. I’m just being me.”

He leaned in, kissed my forehead, and whispered, “And that’s more than enough.”