PURE BLOOD

This was so Damian, he was shameless, but I wonder why I was surprised, he laughed with me and told me that I was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen and that he loved me but still plotted with my family and his to kill me. But anyway, I grabbed my phone from my bag.

I took a few pictures of them and a short video, I was careful as I didn't want to get caught. I know how cruel Damian is when you try crossing him.

It seems like the universe is helping me with my plans because there was no way this would not come in handy one of these days. I quickly tossed the phone into my bag and turned to take one last glance at them, and my eyes were locked with Damian's eyes.

"Fuck!" I silently cursed as I quickly hid, scared that he saw me take the pictures, I hurriedly left the scene.

I glanced back at intervals as I hurried to the reception hall. I sighed in relief when I got back at the reception.

"Hey, I have been looking for you," Ava said to me the minute she saw me enter.

"Sorry, I had to use the restroom," I quickly replied.

"I might not make it to the art exhibition next week."

"What? Why!"

"The Stones family will be holding the allegiance ritual to welcome me into the family," she explained.

"Oh! I thought that was done before the wedding.

"You know about the ritual; not many people know about the ritual," she said, looking at me suspiciously.

I let it slip again. I might as well tell them who I am. I knew I had to damage control, or else I'm fucked.

"Yes, my mom once had a maid who was banished from the house stone 5 years ago; she told me about the ritual but didn't go into too much details anyway, so I just know the basics."

"She must have told you the rules."

"Of course, to keep your mouth shut about it."

She nodded, then her phone pinged, and she stopped to reply to the message.

"Wheew, that was close," I whispered under my breath. I can't possibly get caught before I even got started.

Originally the ritual is held before the wedding but I guess they have there reason of holding it after the wedding.

The ritual is to formally initiate the bride into the Stones family. The ritual is held by the elite of the family, with only the Alpha, his mom, and the pack elders in attendance. Some members of the Stones family don't even know the details of the ritual.

I don't know why there is so much secrecy surrounding the ritual. I bet she won't even know the faces of the people in attendance because she will be blindfolded.

"What happened to this maid of yours?" Ava asked, and I guess she still has her doubts.

"She died two years ago; God bless her soul," I said while pretending to be sad.

"So sorry," she said, and I nodded while trying to hold back invincible tears.

"Ava, darling, come; I would love for you to meet someone," Lelani called out, and Ava excused herself and went to meet with her.

I sighed in relief and said, "Talk about interrogation." I was hand-fanning myself when I heard someone walking towards me from behind.

I turned almost immediately to see Vale coming from behind, or, would I say, sneaking up from behind.

Of all the people I loathe, Vale Stone made it to the top of the list. He is the younger brother of Damian, but honestly, he made my days at the stones a living nightmare.

I'm surprised the devil smiles; his face was all smiles the minute he came close to me.

"Hi, you must be Nicole West," he asked, smiling from ear to ear while stretching his hand to take mine. I looked at the corner to see Kimberly and Damian; I guess they were done with their little room adventure.

Damian looked my way, and I turned immediately to talk to Vale.

"Hi, and you are?" I faked ignorance while I took his hands. I could feel my skin crawling in disgust, but I knew I had to calm down.

"Vale Stone"

"No one warned me about your good looks," I said, smiling while pretending I was dumbstruck.

"I guess they warned you about mine."

I knew it was only a matter of time before he crawled to my side, like an ant to sugar.

"Brother!" Vale called out the minute he turned to see his elder brother standing behind him.

"Vale, give Nicole and me a few seconds; I need to iron things out with her."

"Ok, brother," he said with a smile, but his tone betrayed him, he wasn't happy about it, but he knew better not to disobey Damian.

"I saw you watching my little thing with Kim. Are you craving me, or you can't just get your eyes off trouble?"

I didn't say a word, as I knew he would play right into my plans.

"Heard you are widowed; wonder how you would sleep at night after watching that," he said, brushing his finger on his lips, giving off his sexy smile. I would have fallen for him if I hadn't known him better.

I smiled as he was playing right into my plan. I was about to say something when Ava tangled her arm in his and leaned on him.

"Is everything okay?" she asked, taking his lips in a kiss.

"Yes, I was discussing the art show with your husband."

"You were?" they both asked. Ava frowned, turning his gaze on Damian.

"She was," he quickly replied, while I smiled in affirmation.

"Honestly, Ava, he loves you more than anything; I'm so jealous right now," she blushed and giggled. She hugged his arm even more tightly. He stared from me to Ava, confused.

"What did he say?"

"That he wouldn't mind putting everything on hold just to let you see portraits and be happy."

"We are going to the art show?"

"I don't......."

"Kimberly, could you come over for a second?" I cut him off. I turned to give him a stern look while warning him silently to play along or I would punch his stupid ass open.

"Yeah!" he exclaimed.

"Yeah?"

"Anything for you, darling," he said, hugging her.

He looked at me angrily, but I didn't give a fuck. "I will see you guys at the show then," I announced before turning to leave. "Two can play," I whispered to myself.

"Mrs. West, I hope you are enjoying the party," Kimberly whispered behind me.

"You have no idea," I said, smiling.

"Mr. Damian is a fucking god," she said, smiling.

"I'm sure he is," I replied giving her a good stare. I guess she has been dickmatized by Damian, judging from how obsessed she is with him.

I give it to him; he is sure handsome and knows his onions damn well. I wouldn't blame her if she kept longing for more.

"My deal here is done," I whispered to her.

"I'm glad you could come. Have a safe drive home."

"I wouldn't miss it for anything," I said to myself while smiling at her.

I headed out of the reception room and made my way to the hallway when I suddenly heard voices. I didn't need to be told, as I knew those fucking voices even if I was sleeping.

"What are you doing, Ava? You are deviating from the plan." Lelani was scolding Ava.

"Mom, I got this covered; it's just an art show."

"Do you? Why would he pick some stupid art show over holding your allegiance ritual?"

"Calm down, mom; I insisted we should go."

"Since when did he start listening to you? Swear allegiance to the house stone and secure your place as his Luna, the Future of the Crows, rests solely on your shoulders."

"I know, Mom and I will get it done."

"Lelani and her perp talk; they won't even know what hit them," I said, enraged.

I quickly walked away, heading towards the parking lot.

A few meters away from my car, the driver got off and opened the door.

As we drove away, Images of me running away from this house ten years ago with burn wounds all over my body flashed right before my eyes.

This revenge was all that kept me going all this time—the only reason I lived for, and I wouldn't rest till I made all of them pay for what they did to me.

The hunger for revenge was the reason for my marriage—the reason I married a man who was not attracted to my gender—in exchange for money when he died from his cancer. The reason I am still living on and I have not given up at all.

I took out my phone from the bag and went through the pictures. I played the short video I recorded, satisfied with everything.

"Wake me up, when we get there," I said to the driver, leaning my head on the seat and dozing off.

* * * *

"Help!" I screamed, banging on the door with the room filled with smoke. While some parts were burning, I kept hearing voices outside the door, but no one was helping me.

"Help!" I yelled, coughing in between, I grabbed a glass of water, poured it on my towel, and wrapped it around my neck, also covering my nose with it.

I screamed out in pain when a log of wood used for the ceiling fell into the room, engulfed in flames. I became restless, looking around for a way to escape. I suddenly heard a crack coming from above me. I looked up, and another log was gunning for me.

"Ma'am, what is the problem?"

I jerked up from the seat, breathing heavily while checking my surroundings.

"Are you okay, ma'am?" I turned to see my driver staring at me, surprised.

"It was just a dream," I said to myself. This has been my hell for years—these dreams.

"Nothing, just keep going" I said but then he lowered his face.

"what happened Jude, speak up, I do not have all day "

"When you screamed, I kind of turned immediately and ran into someone's car, They are packed Infront of us and the man that is driving is coming towards us."

I rolled my eyes, "Then get down and give them this tell them that my insurance will cover for everything, tell them to move it that I do not have all day."

He grabbed the card and got off the car heading to the car, a few seconds my phone started ringing.

"What?" I said.

"The man insists that you come down and apologize that he doesn't need your money and doesn't have all day like you too."

I rolled my eyes, he must be a supernatural being as he overheard me, but who cares, I opened the door, I hurried to where Jude was and snatched the card from him then turned to the man that he was standing with.

He was tall, handsome with a set of blue eyes and under normal circumstances, I would try to get him into my bed or something but today I needed to be home early after the long day at the wedding.

"I heard you won't collect the cheque?"

"Not him, me. What I want is an apology" I looked at the back of the car and the man had a set of stormy blue eyes, just like the other. But his face was covered and I could only see the eyes and curled hairs on his forehead. I felt electricity in my stomach and for once I was lost of words Infront of a man but then I caught myself.

"Look, like I said I need to get home and, I doubt an apology can get your car fixed or is this a chivuist thing?"

He scoffed, "Nope, it is I need an apology thing, It is so simple, apologize and leave."

I turned on my recorder, "If I apologize, I don't need to pay shit?"

"Yes."

"Good, then I apologize buttercup, for running into your car and hurting your chivuist dreams, that a woman should not drive, that their place is in the kitchen and also they should make no mistake at all" I finished holding his gaze.

I was waiting for him to burst out and start demanding for another apology but he started laughing.

"Alec."

"Yes, Ares?"

"Get in the car and get me out of here, he turned to me, it was nice meeting you miss short bomb" He said then wind up the window.

I scoffed then headed back to my car and we drove off.