Click to get it Chapter Twenty Two Damien's POV- I hadn't felt this miserable in weeks . +25 BONUS Not since Elara caught me with Sabrina and everything went to hell The rumours on the campus message board I saw about me dating Sabrina had only made matters worse , and I hadn't slept well , tormented that Elara had read them . All I wanted was to visit her , to speak with her , to discover some way to bridge the gap between us . But she'd also been avoiding me like I was some kind of plaque , always rushing off to this or that class or meeting , leaving me with nothing but passing glimpses of her in the halls . So when I entered the lecture hall that morning to teach , my heart skipped at the sight of her seated near the back , her head bent over a notebook . As I stood at the podium , I could see her , her dark hair spilling over one shoulder , her brow knotting as she concentrated She was gorgeous , even with that closed - off look she had on now , the look she'd not had in our past life when she'd looked at me like I was everything to her . I held on to the edge of the podium , my knuckles going white , trying to pay attention to the lesson . But f'kept glancing at her , looking for signs that there was still one iota of feeling , however little , for me . Our eyes met for a quick moment and I held my breath . Her sharp , hazel eyes met mine before they slid away , her posture blocking me out . It felt like a stab to the chest , but I wouldn't allow it to deter me . If she couldn't talk to me outside of class , I'd make her notice me here . I began asking questions about the material - pack dynamics , werewolf history , anything to get the room involved . But I continued aiming them at her , my voice possessing just enough bite to draw her in . " Elara , " I said and nodded toward her . " What's more important about the Alpha's position in keeping the pack together ? " She recoiled in her chair , her lips drawn flat " It's a matter of trust , " she snapped , a catch in her voice . " An Alpha must earn it , not command it . " There was dead silence in the room , and I felt the weight of her words as if they were issued as a neutral smile and sent another question her way . challenge , I nodded , forced a " And how does an Alpha rebuild trust after it has been broken ? " I was unable to stifle the question , it escaped , too intimate , too raw . Her eyes narrowed , annoyance crossing her visage . " No , they don't , " she replied . " Some things can't be fixed . " A murmur rippled through the class , but I didn't hear it . The anger , the defiance that was better than the flat indifference . For the first time in days , she was looking at me , really looking , even if there was fire in her eyes . A peculiar cascade of pain and relief tightened in my chest . I'll choose her rage over her silence , any day . As if on cue , Sabrina's voice interjected , bright and eager . " In fact , I believe that an Alpha can try to earn back trust by demonstrating loyalty putting the pack first . " She smiled at me , and her eyes hung on a beat too long , and my teeth clenched Elara's face grew dark , and I could nearly feel the tension oozing off her I asked , directing if at Elara , but Sabrina interjected before she could answer , her hand going up . " I know this one ! " she said , before launching into a rambling answer . Elara's jaw tightened , and I wanted to shout at Sabrina to be quiet , but I couldn't . And here , I was the professor , not just their Alpha , and the students were not required to participate . Yet with each word that came out of Sabrina's mouth , it felt like a wedge being driven , one that drove Elara farther away . As the lecture drew to a close , I spoke up before Elara could slip into the crowd . " Elara , would you come with me to my office ? I need to discuss something " My voice was even , but my heart beat fast . I had to speak with her - alone . +25 BONUS Sabrina stood straight up , her chair scraped the floor . "I can help too , Professor Scott " she said , her voice too eager , too predictable . I looked at her , my patience expended . " No , Sabrina , " I said coldly . " This is between me and Elara . " Her face fell but I didn't care . It was time to stop letting her make things complicated . Elara trailed silently behind me to my office , resisting each step . When we arrived . I shut the door and offered her a seat , but she remained standing with her arms folded . I leaned against my desk , looking for some way of talking to her without making her run . " How … how have you been ? " I winced at how awkward it sounded . " Fine , " she said , flat , offering me nothing . I tried again . " Is there anything in the course you are struggling with ? Anything you don't get ? " She shrugged and glanced at the door . " It's all clear . I'm keeping up . " Her brief replies struck me and a wave of helplessness came over me . I didn't want her to go not yet . My brain raced trying to come up with anything , anything , that would get her to stay a moment longer . " Elara , I just- " I should be going , " she interrupted , moving toward the door . " You have nothing to say , do you ? " - Impulsively I reached and took her wrist , halting her . Her skin was warm under my fingertips , and the contact jolted me . We both stiffened , and our eyes met , and for an instant , we were back in that other life when she was mine when I could touch her without fear . " Ellie , " I said quietly , the old pet name escaping me before I could stop it , soft and intimate , how I'd whispered it against her skin when we were all twisted up and tangled in the darkness She blinked and furrowed her brow . " Did you say something ? " My heart raced as 1 shook my head , quickly . " No , nothing , " I said , relief sweeping over me that she hadn't heard . If she heard that name , she'd know know how much I still felt , how much I couldn't shake off . She pulled her wrist out of reach , her face closing down . I couldn't allow her to leave here like this , not when it hadn't occurred to me to attempt to reach her . " Elara , " I said , low . " Are you … are you dating that guy ? Julian ? " Her eyes went wide , then squinted . " What's it to you ? " she snapped . " Why do you care ? " "I'm just looking out for you , " I said , and the words sounded feeble even to me . She moved closer , her voice incisive . " Looking out for me ? What kind of fucking relationship do we have , Damien , where you feel justified in ' looking out ' for me ? " right - I had no claim on her , not anymore . I was left speechless , it hit me I said nothing and opened my mouth . She was right like a punch in the face . " He's not a good person , " I said at last , grasping in the dark . " We should be careful around Julian " She laughed a bitter sound . " And you're a good person ? who should be lecturing me on who I should trust ? Her voice grew louder , sharper with each word . Stay out of my business . " ag in my head , as it I could do nothing but watch her turn and walk out , the door swinging closed behind her . Her voice rang sounded bitter and sharp and I felt the heaviness of my past mistakes crushing me down again . I lowered into my chair , staring at the shut door , fists at my sides . I hadn't known how far he'd gotten with her , how close he came to taking her from me . * Twenty Two +25 BONUS The stroke of the possessive heat rose my chest and made my blood boil . My teeth clenched , and I promised myself , Elara is mine ! Nobody can take her away from me ! And then my voice came out in a low growl , It's time I take back what belongs to