**Chapter 9** **Damon** As the sun dipped beneath the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange and deep violet, I settled into the familiar confines of my home office. I had curated this space meticulously during the renovations a few years ago, ensuring it met my every need. The walls, adorned with deep green paint, exuded a masculine essence while simultaneously invoking a sense of calm. Built-in shelves lined with first editions I had painstakingly collected stood as a testament to my passion, their spines gleaming like hidden treasures under the soft glow of strategically placed lights. But despite the sanctuary I had created, my mind was a storm. After four relentless hours glued to my screens, my eyes throbbed with fatigue, and a pulsing headache threatened to crack my skull open. I took a long, satisfying swig of whiskey, relishing the warmth that spread through me, momentarily soothing my frayed nerves. Yet, I couldn’t shake the lingering urge to peek at her, to see if that fiery spirit of hers had quelled even a fraction. But discipline held me hostage—torturous hours laid ahead before I could surrender to the promise of sleep, a promise I doubted I could fulfill tonight. Just then, the buzzing of my phone jolted me from my thoughts. It was Matthias. “Your girl isn’t where she’s supposed to be,” he texted, his words sending a jolt of panic through me. “What the fuck is that supposed to mean?” I snapped back, my heart racing at the implications. “You should really keep better track of her,” he shot back, a sage reminder that felt like a slap. “That’s what I have you for. Now, where the hell is she?” I knew, deep down, I should have been monitoring her every move, but I had trusted Matthias to keep an eye out. “Looks like she snuck out. Better call Nicholas. He’s going to lose his shit when he realizes he’s lost her,” Matthias replied, the finality of his words sinking in like a stone in my gut. Lost. Just the thought of it ignited a fiery wrath within me. Nicholas had been loyal for years, but if anything happened to her, I wouldn't hesitate to wrap my hands around his throat. “Relax. She’s at Elysium,” Matthias reassured me, but my heart thundered at the mere mention of that particular place. “I’m looking at her right now.” “Damn it, Matthias, you better hurry,” I barked, my impatience boiling over. Suddenly, instead of a reply, my screen lit up with an image that sent a jolt of rage coursing through my veins. There she was, Misty, my future wife, throwing back a shot in the company of a certain obnoxious hockey player from the office. His hand rested possessively on her hip, and an animalistic growl rose in my throat. “I’ll be there in ten,” I shot back, adrenaline surging through my veins. “You live twenty minutes away,” he reminded me with a hint of amusement. “Don’t let her leave with any of them!” My voice dripped with urgency, each word laced with a protective fire. “I like you like this, brother,” Matthias teased, “Desperate. It’s cute.” “Fuck you,” I hissed. Under any other circumstances, I would have appreciated his rare attempt at humor. Matthias had been more closed off since that incident, his playful spirit seemingly dulled. But right now, all I could focus on were the fingers gripping Misty’s waist—an image that fueled my darkening thoughts. “You better hurry, or someone’s going to fuck your girl,” Matthias warned, an unsettling truth that made my teeth clench and my grip on the phone tighten as if I might snap it in two. “Do you have a death wish?” I growled, my frustration boiling over. Bubbles flickered on the screen as I waited anxiously for his response. “Sometimes,” was all he finally returned, a smugness to his tone that only fueled my anger even more. Fuck. I hated this feeling. I was angry at myself for not keeping a closer eye on her. “Just remember she’s my wife,” I reminded Matthias, the words tasting like a promise I was desperate to keep. “Not yet,” he replied, that infuriating smirk evident even in his words. “She’s MINE,” I declared, a primal certainty coursing through me—a conviction as strong as steel. There was no doubt left in my mind. I would do whatever it took to protect what was rightfully mine.