34. Hallelujah,

I let out a deep sigh, feeling a wave of happiness wash over me. It was the first time in a long while that I had felt truly satisfied with my life.

I spoke softly, my voice filled with contentment. "Any regrets? This was as close to perfection as it could be."

His warm hand gently stroked me as he whispered into my ear, "No regrets, none at all. This was truly perfect."

I gazed into Magnum's sleepy eyes, noticing how exhausted he looked.

With a smile, I complimented him, "You did a great job. Spending a week with a sex beast like me is quite an accomplishment. You definitely have some stamina."

He murmured, "Mimosa has helped me with that. She is insatiable, but not as passionate as you."

I laughed softly and replied, "Let's be honest, I'm horny. I'm a sex beast. I crave rough hard sex, not just lovemaking on the beach."

He smiled and teased, "So, our first time was lackluster for you, huh?"

I reassured him, "No, it was sweet lovemaking, not bad at all. I've had worse experiences, believe me."

He didn't respond, and the soft sound of his snoring indicated that he had fallen into a deep sleep. Carefully, I slipped out of bed and made my way to the shower. The hot water cascaded over me, washing away any lingering doubts or regrets. I relished the feeling of freedom. Despite being an alpha female, Damon didn't want me, and neither did anyone else. Charles hadn't forgiven me yet, still blaming me for that spell. Perhaps it was just that he had seen an ugly side of me that he couldn't look past. Even the strongest love can wither and leave only bitterness behind.

I let the hot water cleanse me as I washed my hair repeatedly, reveling in the fact that it was now blonde, a hue chosen by Magnum. I changed my hair color with my dental substances. We had gone through quite many shades of blonde before he had found the right one. I was brushing my long, slightly curly hair. As I washed myself, I couldn't help but notice the bite marks left by Magnum. They were a reminder of being owned, of finally being desired as a woman. Wulfe and I had our own unique relationship, but this physical connection was exactly what I needed. Sex was a way for me to express my love in a very physical manner. And Magnum was perfect for that. He wanted me, loved me, and showed it without any hatred or resentment towards me for that spell.

Of course, my self-blame crept into my mind, making me wonder if I had been too distant, too cold since everyone returned to the pack. Maybe I could have been more seductive, not always the cold, hard bitch. I convinced myself, to some extent, that this was my fault, too. I had been too hard, too much of an ice queen. There was no appreciation for Damon's seduction, just a few blushes and nothing more. I could have kissed him passionately, but instead, I chose to be the damn ice queen, always and forever.

I stepped out of the warm, steamy shower and made my way to the dresser. Magnum, my loyal companion, still lay peacefully asleep, looking young and innocent. Knowing he needed rest, I teleported to another room, leaving him undisturbed. As I stood before my dresser, choosing my clothes, I heard Wulfe's voice from the doorway.

"I see you have ceased your passionate release," he remarked.

I turned around, a smirk on my face, and replied, "You mean fucking? Yeah, Magnum could keep up with me for a week."

Wulfe chuckled and entered the room, taking charge of selecting my clothes.

I couldn't help but tease, "Why does everyone seem to want to dress me up? Am I some sort of doll?"

Wulfe's smirk grew wider as he responded, "Go ahead and dress up. I can even style your hair."

I was surprised once again, but Wulfe reassured me, "I served as a personal slave or manservant to several vampire women in my time. Grooming was just part of the job. But now, I can use my skills for good, by my own choice."

I muttered under my breath, "Are there any vampire men who haven't been tortured by these women?"

Wulfe replied, "Not many. Most of them were killed. The females held power for a long time, until Damon changed the game. He started eliminating them, taking over their territories, and placing his own men in positions of power. He even made Klaus his minister of sorts at one point, involved in politics. But Mikaelson managed to break free from that role. Damon initiated this revolution, so he is hailed as a hero in vampire circles."

I fell silent, realizing yet another side to Damon that Mariella was likely unaware of.

As I pulled out my robe, not giving it much thought, Wulfe's husky voice interrupted, "You are a masterpiece. Your body is perfect, sheer perfection. Look at you, radiating power and wildness, yet still alluring, even to me."

I modestly replied, "I'm not that perfect, but I apologize for my tendency to strip anywhere."

Wulfe shook his head, stepped closer, and lightly touched my breast, his hand lingering on my skin. His touch worshipped my body. He traced his fingers along my arms, feeling the strength of my muscles.

With his enigmatic gaze fixed on me, he whispered, "One can never predict what will happen, but for now, let's dress up and go eat."

He was so close now, wrapping his arm around my naked body, burying his face in my neck, and sinking his fangs into my pheromone gland. As he fed, waves of pleasure washed over me, shaking me with the intensity of perpetual orgasm. He held me tighter, pressing his leg between mine, and, unable to resist, I began to rub myself against his leg.

My pussy was bare and wet pretty soon, so I could feel my juices soaking in his jeans. He wrapped arms better around me, pressing himself against me. I could feel actually his hard problem in his jeans. It was not small. He continued to feed, his actions becoming increasingly naughty and deliberate, driving me to the brink of ecstasy. He pushed his thigh more into my pussy, making the friction even better.

I was utterly exhausted, my body drenched and eager when he finally ceased his actions.He unwrapped himself off of me. 

With a smug smirk, he spoke, "You are such a delectable treat, and now I carry your scent, too. I might not even bother changing my clothes."

Gasping for breath, I managed to regain control of my legs and responded, "You're such a naughty one, but alright. Now you smell of strawberries and champagne. Were you envious of Magnum, needing me to mark you as well? When will you want me to leave my mating mark on you?"

Wulfe glanced at me, remaining silent as he handed me my clothes. I focused on dressing myself, unsure of what was happening. Wulfe's bold move was a mystery to me, a little plan and a lesson for Damon, perhaps. Both Wulfe and Magnum had been protective of me, with Magnum sharing snippets of my mental state throughout the week, which had led Wulfe to prepare his lesson. Gloves were off, and he was ready to make a powerful impact on Damon.

Once I was presentable, Magnum, seemingly tired, entered the room without showering. He approached me, pressed me against the wall, and kissed me passionately. I reciprocated his kiss, realizing he wanted more.

He whispered, "Let's see what our plans are, hummingbird, but first, let's eat. I'm famished."

He guided me under his arm as we made our way to the kitchen. To my surprise, Damon stood there, his expression neutral but with a subtle shift in his aura, revealing his discontent with what he had just witnessed.

Magnum said to me, "What a week it has been, my love."

He kissed me once more before releasing me. I walked over to the table, where Wulfe was busy preparing breakfast.

He said to me, "Come and eat, my love. You need the sustenance after such a passionate week."

He smelled like strawberries and champagne too, and talked to me in a husky voice so Damon might see this more than it had been.

Damon scowled, his face contorted with anger as he barked at Magnum, "What the fuck did you want me here for? I have better places to be."

Wulfe interjected, "Yeah, we saw those, but here is the threat report for the month. No need to program anyone, you can leave that to me. Mimi will have her copies as well. Magnum and I will handle it. Now, I'll make sure Unicorn has something to eat, and then we can gather in the living room and see what needs to be done. You have resources too, no need for us to do all the work. Let's do this as the pack, together."

Damon nodded, shooting an angry glance at me. I could see he detected my scent of arousal mingled with Wulfe's, realizing that this was a little setup. But it wasn't my place to explain what had happened. As Wulfe placed all the food in front of me, he sauntered lazily into the living room, carrying the threat reports. I didn't have time to delve into them yet, but I wondered what would be left after their little powwow.

I wasn't sure what all this was about, but I knew it would be revealed in due time. Things always expose themselves in their own time, whether it's good or not. However, I let the pleasure of the excellent meal consume me, not bothering to listen to the men as they went over the reports. I was still eating when Wulfe returned with more food for me.

He said, "It seems you'll have some time on your own. There's work for me too, but you're not in that mood, right?"

I nodded and replied, "You go on and do what you need to do. I'm a big girl and can handle myself just fine."

Wulfe nodded, saying, "It's only a week or so, and then we'll see what comes next."

Unbeknownst to me, I failed to notice Damon's expression—a smug yet dangerous smile. I was too focused on my food. If I had noticed it, perhaps I would have had some inkling of what was to come. 

I had just finished eating when the men left, including Damon. As I glanced around the room, I noticed my report sitting on the table, waiting for me to tackle the problems it contained. However, to my surprise, there didn't seem to be many issues to solve. At least not for me. 

Deciding to clear my mind, I headed to the gym to blow off some steam. As I entered, a lingering scent hung in the air, but it didn't bother me. I welcomed the opportunity to release my pent-up anger in this dedicated space. 

A day later, I began to feel an unsettling sensation slowly creeping into my consciousness. It started as a subtle nagging, like a sense of danger or a warning that made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. But soon enough, I recognized the feeling of being pursued, and hunted. It seemed someone was quite angry with me. 

Fine, I thought to myself, I can handle it. I've been through this before. At least this specimen was paying attention to me. It pissed me off, but a part of me also felt a strange satisfaction. He was jealous enough to go to such lengths, to chase after me. I kept my thoughts tightly concealed, not wanting to scare him away. I had to play the role of a good victim for them. 

And so, the signs of his anger and obsession began to manifest. First, the gym had been meticulously cleaned, erasing any trace of my and Magnum's presence. I noticed it when I went there to keep my temper in check. Then, all of my clothes vanished, leaving only a few items that this specimen had purchased for me. Even Magnum and Wulfe's clothes were gone, replaced by Damon's garments in my dressers. He was staking his claim on me, asserting his dominance or protecting his territory. I wasn't sure which. 

I was in the midst of enjoying my late-night snack, just about to finish it. Earlier, Damon had put immense pressure on my mind, driving me to the gym to release my frustrations on the punching bags and machines. Afterward, I felt a bit calmer and knew I needed to eat. However, he remained silent, withholding his usual taunts. Yet, the constant feeling of being hunted lingered in my mind. Suddenly, my vision grew blurry, my thoughts became muddled. Panic set in as I realized something was wrong. No, it couldn't be... I had a damn implant in me. Perhaps he had activated it. Maybe it was both. I tried to stand, but the world spun uncontrollably. I collapsed to the floor, unable to do anything before passing out.

When I regained consciousness, I found myself tightly bound to a frame. A ball gag silenced my screams, a blindfold covered my eyes, and earplugs blocked out any external sound. It dawned on me. This was one of his master lairs. I could smell our previous sessions in the air. Seriously? I was completely naked, but my attempts to protest were muffled by the gag as he struck me relentlessly with a metal rod against my spine. He continued to beat me without uttering a word. Each blow sent waves of excruciating pain through my body, causing me to lose consciousness three times.

He had stripped me of my senses, leaving me defenseless against his sadistic assault. His silence only added to the terror, as he relentlessly battered and slashed at me. Gone was his usual ritual, the moments of calm where I could listen to his heartbeat, the scent of passionfruit in the air. All that remained was the overwhelming stench of my own agony, confusion, and pain. I had no idea what he would do next, whether it would be a machete through my gut, a thin, flexible platinum rod striking my back, or a cattle prod brutally assaulting my pussy. The burning smell of my own flesh was sickening. Perhaps a dagger through my heart, but he remained silent, withholding any words about breaking my heart.

However, this time, it felt different. It was as if he had lost the spark, the passion that drove him to do this to me. I was just a random victim in his eyes. Every inch of me was violated and brutalized. I was consumed by unimaginable pain and utter confusion. Yet, amidst it all, there was a clinical detachment in his actions. Even as he struck me with all his might, there was no passion in his actions, no feelings. I could smell his pheromones clearly enough. He resembled a true pack leader punishing a mere pack member, devoid of the jealous emotions of an ex-husband wanting to display his feelings. The brutality remained unforgiving.

Then, his voice hissed in my mind, "Now, Mimi, show me the week of debauchery with Magnum, day by day. Do not resist me, or you will regret it. Show me what you and Magnum did."

His voice was cold and chilling, lacking any personal connection. I was in so much pain that I couldn't bear any more psychological pressure in my mind. I reluctantly surrendered and displayed the details of my encounters with Magnum, fearing the consequences if I resisted.

I could feel his mind grasping at the memories in my mind, blocking my access to them. He continued to inflict pain, stabbing, slashing, and beating me until I lost consciousness.

When I woke up, I felt exhausted and in agony. It took a while for my heavy eyelids to open, revealing a chilling sight - I was strapped to a cold, unyielding steel table. I was paralyzed, unable to move as he meticulously sewed my wounds shut. With surgical precision, he dissected my internal organs, all in silence, using only stitches and surgical instruments. Despite feeling every excruciating moment, I was completely immobilized, unable to even blink. Finally, he sewed my skin back together, applied dressings, and locked eyes with me.

His voice was icy and detached as he spoke. "You will leave them alone. You will not drink my blood or attempt to heal. You may go about your life, but you must not touch them. Tonight, I have left a drugged drink for you in the fridge. You will consume it, and it will work. Then, you will go to bed. No matter where you hide, I will find you. Do I make myself clear? If you refuse to drink it, I will activate your sedative organ until you are unconscious. You will not tell anyone, not even Wulfe, what has transpired. You will not alarm him in any way. You will not send him any messages. I will monitor your thoughts, and you will not divulge anything to Magnum or anyone else."

His expression remained cold, clinical, and distant. He had used some unknown drug or substance to erase Magnum's marks, not bothering to remove them with his teeth. He then injected a syringe into my heart, causing a searing pain to course through my body. The agony spread rapidly until I once again succumbed to unconsciousness, relieved only that the pain had momentarily ceased.