Thump.
The body of the Warlock collided with the wooden floor, Vincent looked slightly taken back, exchanging worried glances with Lolita's parents. Damien himself was left speechless. Judging from Steph's expression, this sight was a rarity from his usual composed authoritative Alpha.
After what felt like an eternity, he was the first to break the reticence. "Your compliance is greatly appreciated" signalling towards Steph, he sent the Beta to carry the imperishable body aside. "Isaac, help him would you?"
Isaac's malachite eyes flashed towards Steph whom slung the body effortlessly over his broad shoulders. Mumbling discontent under his breath, he opened the door for the Lycan, gripping on the handle until his knuckles turned white. The pair reluctantly departed, Isaac making sure to harshly shut the door.
"No. You will do as I say." The king spoke, no doubt influenced by Vincent. "It is not fit for you to leave, when you're to be engaged to Vincent, leaving the palace with another man is not proper."
A low growl sounded from the provoked Alpha. "Without my protection, there will be no palace, asking for your daughter to come with me in return is a reasonable price considering-"
"Considering we ought to be married soon, I will protect her." Vincent enveloped Lolita in his arms causing the petite girl to grow rather uncomfortable, she watched her mate's jaw clench and unclench as he forced his wolf aside. Knowing the hell bent rage the he would inflict if the seething wolf became untameable, the brunette struggled out of the muscular arms and away from the now frowning man.
"I'm sorry Vincent but I cannot marry you. I have lived all my life at the will of my father, obeying his every command. But this is too much for me, you're truly a wonderful gentleman and although the rational side of myself is telling me to marry you. I can't for my soul nor wolf will ever forgive me. As selfish as this may be, I refuse your proposal, for every nerve in my body is simply begging me to act for myself."
Both Lolita's parents bore startled expressions. Never had anyone dared to defy the King. Lolita's heartfelt speech took them by extreme surprise, the king had practically jumped from his skin, his wife sharing a similar reaction.
"My dear Lo" The Queen spoke, her tone laced with the fear of loosing her only daughter. "You don't have to marry anyone if you're not ready." Her eyes began watering as she was on the brink of begging. "Just stay with us, please. Whatever false promises the devil has made you are far from the reality for he only acts in the interest of himself. He will only use you, heaven knows what he will do."
Lolita stood paralysed for she felt her mate's pain at these words, her heart throbbed as she saw his glistening blue orbs drop. "Perhaps you should stay" Before he could continue, Lolita had reached his side, intertwining their fingers she squeezed his hand, shooting him a warm reassuring smile.
"I have been raised to fight for what I believe in, and I believe in him."
"He will crush you like a sparrows egg."
"If that's the fate the Moon Goddess has in store for me, so be it."
Now it was Damien's turn to return the gesture, his slight pressure of his warm hand supplied Lolita with all the reassurance she needed. "You, father yourself stated that if I find my mate tonight, it is he who I will be with."
"So you see, the company of your daughter seems to be a reasonable ask." Damien added shrugging his shoulders before folding his bulging arms.
Lolita missed the warmth of his hand, slightly hurt that he had shifted away from her, she composed herself and remained level headed. After all, this was progress for reserved Alpha, he had momentarily broken his imperturbable temperament multiple times tonight.
The blaring eyes of her parents distracted her from this. However the sacred word 'mate' seemed to calm then colossally. Noticing this, Vincent on the verge of insanity, argued "She must reject him. We had a deal."
"A deal?" Lolita's mother scoffed. "Do not speak of my daughter as she is some sort of property. This isn't an auction, this is my little girl's life." She moved closer to her daughter, shocking both the King and Vincent entirely.
"She has a right to be with her mate. As much as I distrust him, I know whole heartedly that he would not harm his mate. That is a different story" She gently pushed his dark silky fringe from his face. "Isobel raised his better than that. And even if the idiot does act on his impulses, they will not urge him to inflict any harm on his mate." The mention of his late mother caused Damien's muscles to tighten. Elizabeth and Isobel had always remained close friends, some would even go as far to say sisters. When Isobel had perished, Lolita's mother had offered to take Damien under her wing, however, the boy had profusely refused in regards to the fierce loyalty to his pack. Soon, his conquests had only grown Elizabeth's displeasure of the boy but as dim as her hope for his future had been, it never had truly disappeared.
Conceiving a look of defeat, Vincent stormed out of the room, muttering "Crazy people" which earned a faint giggle from Lolita.
"You're right." The king spoke tirelessly. "No one can do a better job at protecting Lo than her mate, and to say her mate is of such a rank. I'll accept."
"I was going to take her regardlessly" Damien stated. "But this works too." He smirked dodging the Queen's playful hit.
Hand in hand, the pair were soon outside, the chilling night piercing Lolita's bare skin. They had decided it was safer to return for Lolita's luggage, it seemed unnecessary considering there was a potential killer nearby. Taking in the intimate scenery, Lolita felt a speck of loneliness knowing she will not be returning to the surreal garden in which she basked in regularly.
The midnight door of a sleek sports car swung upwards, black, how had Lolita not been surprised. The gentleman helped Lolita inside before swiftly returning to the driver's seat. The beast of an engine roared, causing Lolita to jump from her sleepy state. Damien chuckled at her irritability causing her to jerk get head away from him and rest her petite frame on the cold window.
The car took off at an incredible speed, the smooth and silent journey caused Lolita's heavy eyes to flutter before she drifted asleep.
Once reaching their destination, Damien turned towards her, melting at the sight. Her dark wavy hair fell to her elbows, currently spilling over her angelic face. Her plump lips a bright crimson shade, along with her large eyelids were held shut, her fair skin illuminating under the moonlight.
Unable to disturb her from her peaceful state, Damien slowly lifted his precious mate from the car, holding her close to his chest which caused her to snuggle in further, he took her to the hotel room in which he was currently residing in, after placing her down, he walked into the bathroom to call his Beta on word of the prisoner. The slight buzz of mumbling caused Lolita to shoot up, screaming at the unfamiliar surroundings.
Damien sprang into the room, scanning for any possible danger, after seeing nothing he relaxed. Lolita expected him to tell her not to worry and even something cheesy like 'I'll always protect you'. However, what came out of his mouth next threw her off. "That" he motioned at the girl. "Strains the vocal cords excessively." Lolita groaned colliding her head with the feathery pillow.
"Top or bottom?" Damien asked holding up a pair of what seemed to be sleeping clothes. Chuckling at the mortified expression the brunette bore he added "I'm kidding" before handing her the shirt.
Shutting the door behind her, the petite girl changed into the long sleeved grey shirt which thankfully went down to her mid thigh. The oversized t shirt was definitely much more comfortable than the previous dress she wore, but what caused her to snuggle into it was the memorising musky sent which it bore, no doubt Damien's. After finishing up, she returned to see Damien had also changed into the bottom half of the clothes, his sharply sculpted body defined in the dim light. He sat majestically on a chair, book in hand, smiling at the girl, his attention soon returned to the book, as the small girl crawled into the warmth of the bed. "Sweet dreams" he mumbled.
After tossing and turning for what seemed like an eternity, Lolita decided she could not sleep. Conflicted with thoughts, regretting her decision she turned to face the frightening Alpha, despite their growing relationship, a small part of Lolita was still terrified of him and his constant personality switches.
"The Great Gatsby." She observed. "Seems fitting."
Shutting the book, Damien faced the girl before tiredly chuckling "Sleep" elongating the vowels.
"I can't" She whispered back, sitting up, the warmth of the blanket evaporating as it dropped, inviting the icy air to pinch at her skin.
Walking across the room, Damien disappeared, the sound of the microwave filled the silent air before he returned with a small cup. "Here, it'll help."
Pushing the warm cup away, Lolita truthfully mumbled "I just want to go home." Damien shrugged his shoulders at this, taking a sip from the cup himself, the room grew quiet.
Rolling her eyes, Lolita pulled the cup away from his frozen grip and took a sip of the warm contents. Handing him back the cup, which he placed this on the bedside table, Lolita suddenly realised how cold he was. Mentally slapping herself, she pulled his chilly body onto the bed, throwing the toasty comforter over him, standing up herself, before she could be seated, Damien held up the blanket and pulled her small frame into his own, wrapping his arms and legs around her.
"Sleep" he repeated in the same tone, nuzzling into the crook of her neck. Lolita could not help the sweltering feeling and heavy eyes which accompanied this. Afraid to move an inch, her body relaxed, letting her eyes flutter shut, she mumbled "Goodnight Damien."
"Goodnight Princess." Holding onto the electrifying feeling of his warm breaths, Lolita was soon sound asleep.