Chapter 7
They walked through the quiet hallways of the company, the sound of their footsteps echoing in the emptiness. Damian's towering figure led the way, his pace brisk and determined. Tanin followed a step behind, her thoughts racing.
When they reached the elevator, he pressed the button, his jaw tight with whatever unspoken thoughts were swirling in his mind. The doors slid open, and they stepped inside. The silence between them was suffocating.
As the elevator descended, Tanin stole a glance at Damian. His face was a mask of stoicism, but she could see the tension in his shoulders, the way his hands clenched into fists at his sides. He was angry—at her, at the situation, or maybe both.
Her wolf, Emily, stirred in her mind, her voice laced with disapproval. "You're playing a dangerous game, Tanin. Don't push him too far."
Tanin ignored her, though a part of her knew Emily was right.
When they finally exited the building and reached the waiting car, Damian opened the door for her. She slid inside without a word, her eyes fixed on the darkness outside. He followed, closing the door behind him, and the car pulled away from the curb.
The ride home was silent, the tension between them palpable. Tanin stared out the window, watching the city lights blur past, her thoughts a whirlwind of emotions. Damian didn't say a word, his presence next to her like a storm waiting to break.
As the car approached their estate, Tanin felt a pang of unease. She didn't know how long she could keep this up—this charade, this icy distance. But she had no choice. If she wanted to ensure Kitana got what she deserved, she couldn't let her emotions get in the way.
When the car came to a stop, Damian opened the door and stepped out, holding his hand out for her. She hesitated for a moment before taking it, her touch brief and impersonal.
They walked into the house together, the air between them thick with unresolved tension. Damian stopped in the foyer, turning to look at her. His eyes searched hers, but she refused to meet his gaze.
"Tanin," he said, his voice softer this time, almost hesitant. "If something's bothering you, just tell me."
She shook her head, forcing a small, tired smile. "I'm fine. Really."
Without waiting for his response, she turned and headed upstairs, leaving him standing there, his expression unreadable.
As she closed the door to their bedroom, Tanin leaned against it, her chest rising and falling with deep breaths. She knew this wasn't sustainable, but she had to stay focused.
"Just a little longer," she whispered to herself, her voice barely audible. "Just until Kitana is out of the picture."
Tanin sighed, rubbing her forehead. Just as she was about to enter the bathroom to wash away the exhaustion of the day, a soft knock sounded at the door. She paused, debating whether to ignore it, but curiosity got the better of her. Adjusting the robe she'd thrown on after changing, she opened the door to find a maid standing nervously.
The maid bowed slightly. "High Luna, Dowager Amelia and the Lycan have requested your presence downstairs for dinner."
Tanin raised an eyebrow. She hadn't expected an invitation, especially not after the icy silence between her and Damian all day. But then again, this was an opportunity—an opportunity to make him regret ignoring her.
A small smile tugged at the corners of her lips as a plan formed in her mind. "Thank you. I'll be down shortly."
After the maid left, Tanin took a moment to fix her appearance. She let her hair fall in soft waves around her shoulders and donned a simple but elegant dress that accentuated her natural beauty. If Damian wanted to act indifferent, she would make him feel the sting of guilt and the burn of envy all at once.
When she descended the grand staircase, the soft glow of the chandeliers illuminated her graceful steps. As she entered the dining room, she was greeted by the sight of Dowager Amelia, Damian, and the twins, Lyra and Antara, already seated. The atmosphere was warm and familial, but Damian's stoic expression added a chill to the air.
"Good evening," Tanin said, her voice light and cheerful as she greeted everyone, including the twins, who smiled brightly at her.
Dowager Amelia's sharp eyes immediately noticed the faint shadow of exhaustion on Tanin's face. "Tanin, dear," she said, her tone filled with concern. "You look a little pale. Is something wrong?"
Tanin hesitated for a moment, glancing briefly at Damian, who was busy pouring himself a glass of wine, pretending not to notice the exchange. She decided now was the perfect moment to make her move.
"Well…" she began, her voice trembling slightly for effect. "Something did happen today. It's nothing major, but…" She trailed off, looking down at her bandaged hand as if the memory caused her pain.
Dowager Amelia leaned forward, her worry evident. "What happened, dear?"
Tanin sighed, lifting her injured hand for everyone to see. "I was at the company today, just looking around, and I ran into Kitana Scottsdale. She… she pushed me down, and I ended up bruising my hand."
A collective gasp echoed around the table. Lyra and Antara both straightened in their seats, their eyes wide with indignation.
"Pushed you down?" Antara repeated, her voice laced with disbelief and anger.
"Is she insane?" Lyra added, her tone rising.
Dowager Amelia's expression hardened, a dangerous glint in her eyes. "Kitana Scottsdale? That woman dared to lay a hand on you?"
Tanin nodded solemnly, casting a quick, teary glance at Damian. "What's worse is… Damian didn't do anything. He left me all alone after that, and he's been ignoring me all day." Her voice quivered slightly, and she bit her lip as if holding back tears.
All eyes turned to Damian, who finally looked up from his plate. His brows furrowed as he opened his mouth to defend himself, but before he could speak, Lyra cut him off.
"Seriously, Damian? You left her alone after something like that?" Lyra's tone was sharp, filled with disappointment.
"You're supposed to protect her, not ignore her," Antara added, crossing her arms.
Damian frowned, clearly caught off guard by the twins' unexpected scolding. "It's not what it seems," he began, his voice calm but firm. "I didn't leave her alone out of negligence. I had meetings—"
"Meetings can wait!" Lyra snapped. "Your wife comes first."
Antara nodded in agreement. "Exactly. How could you be so heartless, Damian?"
Dowager Amelia, who had been silently watching the exchange, finally spoke. Her voice was icy, and her words carried the weight of authority. "Damian, I expected better from you. Tanin is your Luna, your partner. Ignoring her after she's been hurt—especially in such a public setting—is unacceptable."
Damian's jaw tightened, his golden eyes flashing with a mix of frustration and guilt. "I didn't mean to neglect her," he said, his voice quieter now. "I… didn't realize it was this serious."
"It was serious enough," Dowager Amelia said sharply.
Meanwhile, Tanin kept her head lowered, her lips twitching with the effort to suppress a smile. The scolding Damian was receiving was far more satisfying than she'd anticipated.
The twins exchanged a glance before Lyra leaned closer to Tanin. "Are you okay now? Does your hand still hurt?"
Tanin shook her head, offering them a small, grateful smile. "I'm fine, really. The injury isn't that bad. It's just…" She trailed off, sneaking another glance at Damian. "I felt a little abandoned."
Lyra reached over and patted Tanin's uninjured hand. "Don't worry. If Damian ever pulls a stunt like this again, we'll make sure he regrets it."
Antara smirked. "Exactly. You have us on your side."
Damian let out a long sigh, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Fine. I get it. I'll do better."
Dowager Amelia nodded, her expression softening slightly. "See that you do. And as for Kitana Scottsdale…" Her voice turned sharp again. "She will be dealt with. That woman has caused enough trouble."
Tanin pretended to look surprised. "Oh, no, please don't go to any trouble because of me. I'm sure she didn't mean it—"
"Nonsense," Dowager Amelia interrupted. "You're far too kind, Tanin. Someone like Kitana doesn't deserve your mercy."
Damian, who had been watching Tanin closely, finally spoke. "You don't have to worry about Kitana. I'll handle her."
Tanin looked up at him, feigning hesitation. "Are you sure?"
"Yes," Damian said firmly, his golden eyes locking with hers. "I'll take care of it."
The sincerity in his voice surprised her, and for a moment, her resolve wavered. But then she remembered Kitana's betrayal in her past life, and her determination returned. Tanin was happy at least they could stand up for her, maybe if she had lead this kind of life in the past, she wouldn't have been betrayed so badly.
The rest of the dinner passed uneventfully, though the tension lingered. Damian remained quiet, while the twins and Dowager Amelia did their best to lift Tanin's spirits. By the time the meal ended, Tanin felt a sense of victory.
As she climbed the stairs to their bedroom later that night, she couldn't help but smile to herself. The first steps of her plan were falling into place, and Damian's guilt was the perfect foundation for what was to come.