The Fake Luna: Marked By The Alpha King

Chapter 251: Chapter 251 From that very first moment, I wanted you

The words hung in the air between us.

Damian’s eyes widened in genuine shock. It was like I’d dropped a stone into a calm ocean—the surface remained still, but beneath it, currents were churning.

"Why would you think that?" he asked after a long pause.

His voice had gone tight, and I could see a muscle working in his jaw.

"Is this about those tabloid rumors? Aria, I thought we’d—"

"No." I shook my head, pulling my gaze away from his. "It’s not that. Last night, you... you talked in your sleep."

"What did I say?"

His entire body went rigid. I glanced down and saw that his hands were clenched into fists so tight that his knuckles had gone white. He was digging his nails into his own palm.

"You said Vanessa’s name."

The moment I spoke, I noticed something on the side of his hand—small, reddish marks where his nails had broken the skin. Thin lines of dried blood.

"Your hand!" I grabbed it immediately, examining the damage. "What happened?"

"It’s nothing."

He tried to pull away, but I held on tight. The wounds weren’t deep, but they looked painful—three distinct scratches running along the side of his palm.

When had he done this to himself?

Then it hit me—his hands were curled into fists so tight his knuckles had gone white, nails biting into his palms hard enough to draw blood.

He wasn’t holding back because he wasn’t furious. He was holding back so I could handle this myself.

The thought made my heart twist.

I looked up at him, but he wouldn’t meet my eyes. His expression was shuttered, carefully blank—like he was trying very hard to hide something.

My chest tightened with guilt.

Damian had done everything right. He’d cut ties with Vanessa completely. He’d publicly declared our bond. He’d protected me, supported me, stood by my side through everything.

And Vanessa was his past. I knew that.

Someone as loyal and honorable as Damian—of course there might be lingering traces of old feelings. That was only human. Or... well, wolf. Whatever.

I understood that intellectually.

But emotionally? That was harder to accept.