Damon's POV.
"You have a mate?" Jason questioned in disbelief as he trailed behind me into the study.
"But that's impossible." He said as I went to sit behind my desk, my hands folded across my chest.
"What are you gonna do?" Jason asked when he noticed that I wasn't saying anything.
"What do you think?" I threw back the question at him and he grinned.
"I have long given up on trying to figure out what you will do in situations like this." Jason raised both hands up in surrender and I almost smiled.
"But we Lycans don't have mates. Could this be another form of trick from the witches?" Jason suggested but I shook my head sideways.
"Nope. I don't think so." I refuted and he frowned.
"But how could you be so sure? Witches are as cunning as a fox, if not worse." Jason said.
"Besides, they agreed to give you one of their daughters as a mere breeder, isn't that suspicious?" Jason pointed out and I took in a deep breath.
'He was actually right. What could be their motive this time?' I pondered.
"So you are saying they staged this mate bond?" I asked and Jason nodded.
"But Tulip has the Dacra on her neck, she can't do magic. She was only able to contact her father through the forbidden spell, so how?" I paused, thinking it further.
"Also remember no spells can be done on me except when they are extremely close." I reminded Jason just in case he had forgotten.
"You are right, but what if her father told her some ways to do a spell even without her powers, or do you know what they conversed about?" Jason walked towards the window to take a look outside.
His words actually made sense. Witches aren't to be trusted. They were not just cunning but manipulative as well.
But, back there, I noticed Tulip's expression when she found out we were mates, it wasn't pleasant. She ran out, horrified, and for some unknown reason, my heart tightened in pain, or was it anger?
No woman has ever rejected me before. They have always wanted to be close but Tulip was different.
I not only terrified her, as she acted as though she despised my existence. Not that I cared anyways.
That aside, could she have made it seem like we were mates to make me drop my guard?
I pressed the shiny little button on my desk, and in a minute, a knock sounded on the door.
"Come in," Jason said and the door opened to reveal one of the guards on standby.
"Gideon, tell Jane to prepare her mistress, I need to see her in 10 minutes," I ordered, and Gideon bowed before exiting the room, understanding my message instantly.
30 minutes passed and no sign of Tulip. I waited patiently, going through some documents, trying to while away time by actually reading before signing.
This should be Jason's work since he was my Beta, but I decided to do it myself while he continuously whistled as he stared at the gorgeous women from the ball who were standing outside.
"The ball is still on. Don't you think it was rude just leaving your people out there?" Jason inquired as if he truly cared when as a matter of fact, he wanted to go gawk at heavy-chested ladies.
"They will understand," I replied and glanced at the wall clock.
'It was almost an hour. Was this girl daring me?' I thought as I felt excitement busting through my veins.
"I can't sense her in the building anymore." My Lycan, Nate, whispered into my head and I froze.
"What the fuck do you mean?" I growled at him when a heavy knock sounded on my door. Nate vanished immediately.
The door opened to reveal Gideon again, his head was bowed, but before that, I caught his expression tighten.
"My Lord, Lady Tulip has escaped," Gideon revealed and Jason disappeared from the window to his presence immediately.
"What? How?" He snarled at Gideon, who was trying not to tremble as Jason's aura filled the office.
Now that was my Beta, not the unserious pervert that often flocked around me. He knew how important Tulip was to me; she was the only one who could bring Pearl back to life, my woman, back to me.
"We don't know how. I went to check on Jane since it was taking her so long and saw her knocked out on the floor with the lady nowhere to be seen." Gideon explained and I smiled.
So she had it in her to hurt someone? For her benefits?
I stood up from the chair, placing both hands on the table.
"Secure the fortress, I will go after her alone." I told them and Jason walked up to me.
"No." He refused. "She isn't worth it, let the guards go."
His words made me want to scratch out his eyes, but I just ignored them and walked out of the study, towards the garden.
There was a faster pathway there.
"Now, little bird, where could you be?" I chuckled, knowing she was still in this palace, trying to figure her way out.
Ever since she tried escaping two days ago, when she just arrived at this palace, I increased the security and at the same time, allowed Jane to give her time to roam this place and try to figure out a way out.
I wanted her to have hope so I could smash it in her presence. No one escapes me, especially not the little witch I planned on breaking.
Her fragrance lingered in the compound, almost making me go crazy with want but I controlled myself and saw her trying to climb the wall.
"Gently or you might break a foot," I smirked, watching as she shuddered, her leg missing a step as she mistakenly let go.
She let out a scream as she dropped and I wondered if I should let her shatter a few bones so she would learn her lesson and remain still for some months but rather;
I found myself dashing forward and catching her into my arms. She was as light as a feather and unconsciously wrapped her hand around my neck.
Her touch made my blood hot and I found myself staring into her face, our eyes locking as her beautiful, pink lips parted in shock.
She tried getting out of my arm, but I tightened my hold on her, bent, and then sealed my lips with hers.