The Blessed And The Beast

Three: Damien

Damien’s P.O.V.

She had been wandering my woods for a week. A week of me following her like a lost cub, trying to figure out what her intentions were, before she finally snuck up on me.

I had been stalking her each day as she moved so effortlessly through the trees, watching with fascination as she examined every abnormality. Disruptions in the dirt, broken branches, and torn leaves.

Occasionally, I would leave a trail just to steer her in a different direction and get her away from my cabin.

She had been getting closer to finding it each day. She had never given up or taken a break beyond stopping to relieve herself or munch on food. I gave her privacy but never let her wander too far away. The last thing I wanted was for her to actually find me or where I lived.

The second the sun was up, she was sneaking through the woods.

When it set, she would go back to the river to stare at the spot I had been in when I first spotted her.

Eventually, she would turn in for the night, and there was always an uncomfortable feeling that would settle in my gut, knowing she was going back to sleep in a camp of men.

It was unreasonable and unwarranted, but I wanted to cross the river and drag her back to my side of the water like a caveman, but I shook that thought away quickly.

It had been a while since a female had crossed my land, and I had given her my attention. Even then, it had only ever been for one night. Once it was over, they went on their way.

I didn’t see it necessary to seek them out, and it had been a while. Still, seeing her, even covered in some disgusting slime, sparked an interest in me that I couldn’t shake.

It took everything in me to walk away that first day and not cross the river to enjoy what she was offering as she held her arms out and invited me to join her. Her emerald green eyes pierced my soul so deeply that I initially thought she was a witch.

Someone as hypnotizing as she had to be casting an enchantment. But no. She was just that breathtaking.

I hadn’t been expecting an uneventful day today. I had assumed it would be the same as every day before of her wandering the woods, searching for me. But she was one step ahead and switched the roles in our game of cat and mouse.

When she stepped into view, I had been in my fur, hunched over my lunch. Her bright green eyes were wide, so innocent and happy. It was the kind of happiness that belonged there, that should be there forever.

We held gazes as I ripped another chunk of meat from the deer and chewed it slowly. If anything, her happiness turned to amusement as I growled at her.

It was pointless and sounded pathetic. My hackles weren’t even up, and I felt no aggression toward her. It was simply a warning, one I hoped she took to heart because I wasn’t sure I could fight her if she attacked me. There was a protective need in me, telling me to keep her safe. Fighting her would go against that, and just the idea of it made me feel sick.

Instead, the green-eyed hunter simply sat down at the base of a tree and watched me. It was invigorating, but the long sword strapped to her back reminded me not to underestimate her. Any woman willing to run after a bear in their underwear and then hunt them for a week had a motive.

but I liked having her eyes on me. I liked being the

would do the trick if she were interested. But the Lycan hunting me

she rubbed the tip of her thumbnail over the pad of her middle finger, the only indication that she was

elegance that I knew she didn’t

I narrowed my eyes, went back to my meal, and she

would give her that. But so

myself get distracted by her, and knowing she was not here alone, having seen several men in the area recently, I needed to be cautious. Wolves and

attention, so her

kill with a roar that everyone would surely hear within a mile. That had to be it. I had never had a woman as beautiful and poised as her wander into my woods. Never before had they ever had any

change, and I watched as she dropped her hands to the ground as if to push herself up. The action was confusing and made me growl. She was foolish. She should have grabbed her weapon.

might have been able to pull her sword or a dagger in time. Why

panic finally

I continued to move away from her. Her voice was like warm honey, so soothing and sweet. I could sit back and listen to her talk for hours. But

to be using magic. Maybe she was tampering with siren blood, or perhaps she had a witch in her hunting party who had managed

I didn’t want to wait and find out. It was bad enough that

which wasn’t a mistake I was willing to make

I spun around, running through the trees as quickly

stealthier than I had thought because not once did

edge the rest of the day, waiting for her to appear as she had before. There was a sadistic part of me that wanted her to, regardless of

risk might be worth seeing

minutes with that woman, and I was already contemplating allowing her to pull her blade

It was ridiculous.

had just started to set, and

that I knew she was there when I walked up to clean my hands. She wasn’t exactly silent and

have walked away, but something wouldn’t

then, I wanted her

to get a closer look at her

one look

I knew it, I was stomping back through the forest, furious with myself for needing to see that she made it back to her camp okay. She had never had any problems doing so over the past week,

almost ignored the sounds of metal clanging coming from the river and barged right to my spot, the same spot I had been watching her from at

me slow, and I ducked behind

eyes closed briefly before I shook

and as the sound of metal sliding into the leather sheath