Confusion and Confrontation

<p>Ava forcefully pushed the man away, but it took several shoves before he finally let go of her and stumbled back. He avoided her gaze, focusing instead on the floor, running his hand through his hair in a display of utter confusion. Damien had no clue what the hell was happening to him, and he despised this lack of understanding. He detested not comprehending the changes occurring within his body and the reason behind his sudden aggression.<br/><br/>Ava glanced around, realizing that more and more people were gathering and staring at the commotion. Michelle stood off to the side, arms crossed over her skimpy bunny outfit, a smirk dancing on her lips. "Fuck," Ava whispered under her breath.<br/><br/>Startled by her soft voice, Damien's head jerked up, and he saw the panic in her eyes. Something within him shifted when he witnessed her anxious glances darting around, and all he could hear in his mind was her voice—so soft. He turned to look over his shoulder and frowned at the onlookers fixated on them.<br/><br/>"I have to go," Ava muttered, more to herself than to anyone else. She pushed past Damien and sprinted toward the front door, forcefully making her way through the crowd until she finally reached the refreshing embrace of the open air.<br/><br/>Damien gazed at her retreating figure for a moment before refocusing on the crowd of women surrounding him, eager to experience what Ava had triggered in him. Still disoriented from everything that had transpired, the moment he caught sight of his pack glaring at him, he knew he had messed up. They made their way toward him, pushing through the crowd and pulling Damien out of the door. Gasps escaped from the girls as they beheld the seven of them, their serious expressions only serving to enhance their handsomeness.<br/><br/>Aiden dug his fingers into Damien's arm and forcefully propelled him away from the house. "What the hell was that?" Kael snapped as they moved farther from the chaotic scene.<br/><br/>Damien remained silent, continuing to walk. "Hey! We're talking to you. What the fuck was that? Since when do you pull shit like that?" Aiden snapped, his eyes flashing with anger, a vibrant shade of green.<br/><br/>"Is she your mate?" Ethan asked quietly, disappointment tinging his voice.<br/><br/>"No, of course not," Damien barked in annoyance. The wind began to pick up, whipping angrily at the trees as Damien's emotions flared.<br/><br/>Ethan scoffed, capturing the elder's attention. He had never disrespected the older wolves before.<br/><br/>"So you just made out with some random human because you were bored?" Damien halted his steps and turned to face the pup, his gaze intense. The leaves swirled in the air as the wind picked up, creating small tornadoes around them.<br/><br/>"Watch your tone," he warned, his voice tinged with a hint of danger.<br/><br/>"Why? Am I supposed to respect you? Am I supposed to respect a wolf who is betraying his mate?" Ethan's voice trembled with hurt and anger.<br/><br/>"I don't have to be faithful to anyone. I don't have a mate," Damien growled, his eyes locked with Ethan's. The once starry night sky turned ominously dark as clouds covered the moon.<br/><br/>"So, are you planning to tell your future mate that you made out with some random girl at a party?"<br/><br/>"Don't talk to me like that," Damien hissed, his body tense with agitation.<br/><br/>"You were basically having sex with her," Kael interjected, stepping between the two wolves. "Stop this now. Not here. Damien, you're the prince; you should start behaving like one. You're the future of our wolf clan, and the elders won't be pleased if you're wasting time kissing other girls instead of finding your mate. I know you're disregarding the deadline, but don't cross the line. You can't dishonor the spirit wolves."<br/><br/>"It was just one kiss," Damien snapped.<br/><br/>"One kiss too many. The prince should not act like a cheap wolf. You can't engage in such behavior when your mate is waiting for you somewhere. You need to uphold the honor of your ancestors, and that starts and ends with your mate. No one else," Logan scolded.<br/><br/>"I don't want a mate," Damien retorted, his voice dark and brooding.<br/><br/>"YOU DON'T HAVE A CHOICE!" Aiden boomed, his voice filled with authority. "It's unfortunate that you don't want one, man. But you don't have a choice. You were born a wolf. You can fight it all you want, but it will only cause you more pain—physically and emotionally. Look at the older wolves who haven't found their mates yet. They can barely function each day. Just accept that your soulmate is out there, waiting for you. And think before you do something foolish like tearing into a human just because it's a full moon. It's one thing to reject the concept, but don't act like an immature mutt."<br/><br/><br/>Damien glanced away, refraining from retorting to his best friend. The wind died down, but the clouds still loomed overhead, and the air grew colder since they had first ventured out.<br/><br/>"Tonight was a mistake. I shouldn't have insisted on going," Aiden muttered, barely audible.<br/><br/>Zev interjected, sensing the tension between the two boys. "Who was she?"<br/><br/>Damien closed his eyes, frustrated, and ran his hand over his face. "I don't know. Just some random girl. Blame it on the erratic full moon."<br/><br/>"Damien, you were raised better than that," Kael chastised, disapprovingly. "Just because you're affected by the full moon doesn't give you the right to take advantage of some human. We're not those kind of wolves, and you've never behaved like that before."<br/><br/>Sighing, Damien responded, "Honestly, I don't even remember who she is or what she looks like. It's all a blur. It was a mistake, and I'm sorry."<br/><br/>Everyone continued to glare at him, their expressions filled with disappointment, until Lucian broke the silence with a teasing remark. "So, was she a good kisser?"<br/><br/>A collective groan escaped the group, except for Ethan, who simply scoffed and walked away. Damien shook his head, still tasting the stranger's lingering sweetness on his lips. He shivered, trying to shake off the sensation.<br/><br/>Despite everything, the taste remained in his mouth, tempting his senses. He attempted to clear his mind, but all he could recall was the flush on her face and the pang in his chest as he watched her retreat from him.<br/><br/>Once they had distanced themselves from the house, Damien released his frustration and shifted into his wolf form. The other boys followed suit, silently racing past a dark, abandoned house and into the woods, drawing closer to their cabin.<br/><br/>Ava stood frozen by her door, observing the seven boys vanish and transform into seven wolves before her eyes. She shook her head and finally entered her house, muttering to herself, "I'm never drinking again. I must be hallucinating."<br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/></p>