Chapter 12 – His Claim, Her Secret

I barely slept.

Not because of nightmares.

But because of him.

Damien Blackwood had officially crossed a line yesterday.

He had claimed me—publicly.

And now, I had to survive breakfast with my family, who were very much not over it.

I trudged into the kitchen, already bracing myself.

The second I sat down, all eyes were on me.

Mom stirred her coffee slowly. “So… how was school?”

Dad folded his arms. “Did he bother you again?”

Noah smirked. “I dunno, Dad. Looked like she was enjoying herself.”

I kicked him under the table. Hard.

“Ow! Mom! She’s violent!”

Mom sighed. “Aurora, we’re worried. This boy—Damien—he seems… intense.”

Dad grunted. “More like a damn problem.”

I clenched my fists. “Can we not do this every morning?”

Mom hesitated. “You’re not… dating him, are you?”

I nearly choked on my orange juice.

“WHAT? No!”

Dad narrowed his eyes. “Good. Keep it that way.”

I groaned, grabbing my bag. "I'm going to school."

"Aurora." Mom’s voice was softer. "Just be careful, okay?"

I didn’t answer.

Because deep down, I knew—careful was the last thing I was being.

I barely made it through the school gates before I felt the stares.

The whispers.

The rumors had only gotten worse overnight.

"So it's official? They're together?"

"She’s not even his type."

"She's just a phase. He'll get bored."

I clenched my jaw.

I wasn’t stupid.

I knew how people saw Damien.

The school’s untouchable bad boy. A player. Someone who didn’t commit.

So why the hell was he acting like this?

I turned the corner, heading for my locker—

And ran straight into a wall.

A very tall, warm, familiar wall.

Damien.

His hands caught my waist, steadying me.

“Running into me again, little one?” His voice was teasing, deep, way too smooth for this early in the morning.

I stepped back—but not too far.

I could feel the entire hallway watching.

Damien Blackwood wasn’t supposed to be here.

Not like this.

Not waiting for me.

Not touching me.

And yet, he was.

“You’re waiting for me again?” I muttered.

He smirked. “Of course. You’re mine.”

A gasp rippled through the hallway.

I felt my face burn.

"Damien!" I hissed, horrified.

He leaned down, voice dropping. "Let them talk, little one. It doesn’t change anything."

And just like that, he grabbed my hand.

And started walking.

Through the hallway.

In front of everyone.

Like it was normal.

Like he had always done this.

And nobody knew how to react.

Neither did I.

By the time lunch rolled around, I was so done.

The gossip. The stares. The way Damien acted like we were already a thing.

I needed air.

Unfortunately, Damien had other plans.

Because the moment I sat down, he slid into the seat beside me like he belonged there.

The cafeteria fell silent.

I felt the weight of every single stare.

I turned to him slowly. "Are you serious?"

He smirked. "Always."

I gritted my teeth. "You're making this worse."

He leaned in, voice low. "Or maybe I'm making it better."

My stomach flipped.

Before I could answer, Jessica Carter—the school's resident jealous queen—stormed over.

"Alright, what the hell is going on?"

I sighed. "Jessica, not now."

She ignored me, glaring at Damien. "Since when do you do relationships?"

Damien raised an eyebrow. "Since now."

Another gasp from the crowd.

Jessica scoffed. "Right. So this isn't just some game?"

I held my breath.

Waiting.

Because if Damien denied it—if he made a joke out of this—

Then I’d know.

I’d know he was just messing with me.

But he didn’t.

Instead, he looked me straight in the eyes.

"No games, little one. I meant what I said."

The cafeteria exploded.

I stared at him, heart pounding.

Because for the first time, I believed him.

And that was terrifying.

I stormed into the empty hallway, fuming.

Damien was right behind me.

"Aurora—"

I whirled around. "Are you insane?!"

He stopped.

But he didn’t look angry.

Or amused.

Or anything I expected.

He looked... soft.

Real.

"Why are you fighting this?" he murmured.

I swallowed hard. "Because I don’t understand what this is!"

He was too close now.

"It’s whatever you want it to be."

"Damien—"

"I won’t rush you, little one." His fingers brushed my wrist, featherlight. "But I also won’t lie. I want you. Only you."

My breath hitched.

His fingers trailed up my arm, slow, teasing.

Heat curled through my stomach.

I should have pushed him away.

But I didn’t.

Because for the first time, I wanted him closer.

I let out a shaky breath. “Fine.”

His golden eyes flashed. "Fine?"

"Fine, we can… try this. But my family can't know."

His smirk returned. “A secret, huh?”

I rolled my eyes. "I'm serious, Damien."

His expression softened. "I understand, little one."

And then—he did something unexpected.

He lifted my hand to his lips.

And kissed it.

Soft. Slow.

Mine.

My stomach flipped.

Damien smirked. “I’ll wait. But don’t expect me to hide how I feel about you.”

I flushed.

Because I believed him.

And that scared me more than anything else.

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