The Wife He Never Meant to Love (Lila and Damon) novel Chapter 91

14:39 Mon, May 4

Chapter 91

Chapter 91

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Inside the bathroom, the air was thick with steam and the faint scent of rain that had followed them from the hospital room. Lila’s hands trembled slightly as she moved closer to Damon, brushing a stray strand of wet

hair from his face.

“You really are impossible,” she murmured, her voice low, half-scolding, half-breathless.

Damon chuckled, a deep, warm sound that made her chest tighten. “And you love it,” he replied, leaning closer. His hand rested lightly on her waist, grounding her even as her thoughts raced with a mix of guilt and desire.

Outside, the shadowed figure lingered just beyond the hallway, his eyes scanning every corner of the floor, listening for any hint of movement. He knew they were in there, but he could not find them. Patience, he thought. They won’t hide forever.

Back inside, Lila swallowed hard, the heat in her cheeks spreading. “Damon… we should—”

“Shh,” Damon whispered, pressing a finger to her lips, silencing her playful protest. His other hand held her closer, drawing her into him. “Not now. Just… stay with me.”

Lila’s breath caught, her shyness melting into the quiet intensity of the moment. She could feel the steady strength of him beneath her, his heartbeat mingling with hers. Outside, the wind rattled the windowpane, but inside. it was just the two of them, locked in a fragile bubble of warmth and safety.

And somewhere in the shadows, the man who had been hunting Damon clenched his fists, frustration gnawing at him. Soon, he muttered. Soon, I’ll have him.

But for now, Damon and Lila remained unseen, their world shrinking to the small, intimate space of the bathroom-stolen moments of closeness before the storm outside returned.

The quiet between them was broken only by the soft sound of water dripping from the faucet. Lila’s hands rested lightly on Damon’s chest, feeling the rise and fall of his breathing, trying to ground herself.

Suddenly, a faint noise outside made her stiffen. The door handle rattled slightly, and her heart leapt into her

throat.

“Stay calm.” Damon whispered, pressing a finger to her lips again. He stood slowly, holding her close against him, his body shielding hers. “I’ve got you.”

Outside, the shadowed figure paused, listening. He could sense them nearby. His smirk returned, though darker this time. There you are… hiding won’t save you.

Damon moved to the small bathroom window and peeked through the frosted glass. Nothing. The man was clever, patient-but Damon had a plan. He slid Lila closer, keeping her pressed against him, and whispered, “We’re not done yet, but I need you safe.”

Lila’s pulse raced. She could feel the heat of him, the tension in his arms, and the certainty in his voice. “I trust you,” she breathed, almost trembling

A sudden knock on the door made them both freeze. Damon’s jaw tightened.

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Chapter 91

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“I told you,” he muttered, his voice low and dangerous. “He’s persistent.”

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Lila’s hand found his, gripping tightly. “Then let’s give him a little… surprise,” she said, her tone trembling with both fear and adrenaline.

Damon’s lips curved into a dangerous smile. “I like the sound of that.”

And with that, they slipped into the shadows of the bathroom, ready to face whatever-or whoever-was waiting for them outside.

Damon pressed Lila close against the wall, keeping her body hidden in the shadows. He could hear the faint shuffle of footsteps outside the bathroom door, deliberate and searching.

“Stay quiet,” he whispered, brushing a strand of damp hair from her face. Lila’s pulse was racing, but she nodded, pressing herself into him.

The door handle rattled again. The hunter’s patience was thinning; he muttered under his breath, frustration sharp in his voice. Where are they hiding this time?

Damon’s mind raced. He needed a way out-but he didn’t want to leave Lila behind for even a second.

He spotted the small window above the sink. “Hold on,” he murmured. With a quick glance at her, he lifted her effortlessly into his arms. Her hands instinctively clutched his shoulders.

“Damon… careful,” she whispered, but he only grinned.

He slid the window open just enough, the cold night air brushing against their faces. Outside, the street was quiet, empty except for the distant rumble of the storm.

“Ready?” Damon asked.

Lila nodded, heart hammering, as he lifted her higher and swung her through the window. They landed softly in the wet grass below.

From inside, the hunter cursed, banging on the door. Damon pulled Lila behind a large bush, keeping her low, their bodies pressed together. Her chest was against his, and she could feel the steady thrum of his heartbeat under her hands.

“Are you okay?” he whispered, brushing rain from her face.

“I… I’m fine,” Lila said, though the tremor in her voice betrayed her.

Damon smiled, leaning close enough that his lips brushed her ear. “Good.”

The hunter’s figure appeared at the edge of the property, scanning the yard. He paused, eyes narrowing. Damon and Lila were invisible to him in the shadows-but they wouldn’t stay hidden forever.

Damon gripped Lila’s hand. “Follow me,” he whispered. “We move fast, or he catches us.

Together, they slipped through the rain-soaked night, shadows among shadows, hearts pounding-alive, together, and ready for whatever came next.

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Chapter 91

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Damon gritted his teeth as he moved through the rain-soaked yard, every step sending a sharp sting through the wound on his side. Brujses throbbed along his ribs, but he ignored them, focusing on keeping Lila safe.

“Damon… your side!” Lila hissed, panic in her voice as she tried to adjust her pace to his.

“I’m fine,” he growled, though his hand pressed instinctively over the wound. “Just… stay close to me.”

She nodded, her own fear mingling with adrenaline. Her hands found his, gripping tightly, trying to steady him as much as herself.

From the shadows, the hunter appeared, scanning the yard. He caught a glimmer of movement and cursed under his breath. “There!”

Damon’s jaw tightened. “Run!” he whispered, lifting Lila slightly to help her over a slick patch of mud. Every step sent pain shooting through his side, but he gritted his teeth and kept moving.

They ducked behind a fallen tree, Lila pressed against him. Her fingers traced the bruises on his arm as she whispered, “You’re hurt… we have to be careful.”

“I’m tougher than I look,” Damon murmured, pressing his forehead to hers for a brief moment. The intimacy was fleeting, but it grounded them both. “Trust me.”

The hunter sprinted past, missing their hiding spot by mere inches. Damon exhaled sharply, the pain in his side flaring, but he used the moment to pull Lila forward.

Through the rain, through the mud, through the ache in his body, Damon guided them to a narrow alley. Lila stayed close, leaning into him, feeling the bruises and the slow, controlled breathing of the man who had just woken from near-death.

They crouched in the shadows, rain running down their faces. Lila pressed herself against him, whispering, “I don’t know how you’re doing this… you’re so hurt.”

Damon held her tighter, wincing as he shifted his weight, yet keeping her pressed to him. “Because I can’t let anything happen to you,” he said softly. “Not ever.”

She looked up at him, the fear in her eyes mixed with something else-trust, relief, and something deeper. “You’re insane,” she whispered.

“And you love it,” Damon replied, his lips brushing the side of her temple, the pain in his body forgotten for the moment.

Outside, the hunter paused, scanning the shadows. Damon’s heart thumped-not just from the adrenaline, but because he couldn’t let this man take her.

But inside the alley, for just a few stolen moments, the rain, the pain, and the danger all melted away. It was just them-alive, soaked, and clinging to each other in the storm.

Damon gritted his teeth, each step stabbing through the wound on his side. His bruised ribs screamed with every movement, but he refused to slow down. Lila stayed close, her hands pressed against him, supporting him more than she realized.

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Chapter 91

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“Damon… you’re bleeding.” she whispered, worry thick in her voice as she brushed rain-soaked hair from his forehead.

“I said I’m fine.” he growled, though his grip on her hand tightened instinctively. “Just… trust me.”

The hunter appeared at the edge of the alley, his shadow long and menacing in the rain. He scanned left and right, his gaze sharp. “There!” he spat, rushing forward.

Damon pulled Lila behind a stack of crates, leaning against the wall for support. The hunter barreled past them, missing by mere seconds. Damon exhaled through the pain, trying to calm his racing heart.

“Can you… run?” Lila asked quietly, fear in her voice.

Damon gave a wry smile, though the pain nearly stole his breath. “With you? Always.” He lifted her slightly, pressing her against his chest. Her warmth grounded him, gave him the strength to move.

They darted from shadow to shadow, Damon leaning heavily but refusing to fall. Every step made the wound flare, but Lila’s eyes, shining with trust and adrenaline, kept him moving.

Finally, they reached a narrow gap between two buildings. Damon paused, clutching his side. Lila put her hands on his shoulders, steadying him..

“You’re going to hurt yourself,” she murmured, voice soft.

“I don’t care,” he said, leaning close, their foreheads touching. “Not as long as you’re safe.”

She looked up at him, fear and admiration in her gaze. “You’re reckless,” she whispered, a shiver running down her spine.

“And you love this, you love this filthy dog,” he murmured back, pressing his lips briefly to hers. The kiss was fleeting, but enough to remind them both what they were fighting for-and what they couldn’t lose.

Behind them, the hunter paused, realizing they were gone. He cursed under his breath, knowing they had slipped through his grasp again.

But Damon and Lila didn’t stop. Through the rain, the mud, and the ache in his body, they moved forward- together, alive, and more determined than ever.

They didn’t get far before Damon suddenly stopped.

His grip on Lila’s hand tightened, and his body swayed slightly.

“Damon…” Lila’s voice dropped in alarm.

He pressed his hand harder against the wound on his side. The rain had washed away the blood on his skin, but it hadn’t stopped the bleeding.

“I’m okay,” he muttered, though his breathing had grown heavier.

“You’re not okay,” Lila said firmly. “You just woke up from a hospital bed and now you’re running through the

rain.”

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Chapter 91

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Damon gave a weak chuckle. “You make it sound dramatic.”

“It is dramatic,” she snapped quietly.

Another sharp wave of pain hit him. Damon leaned against the wall, his jaw clenched.

Lila quickly stepped closer, slipping her arm around his waist to support him.

“Lean on me,” she whispered.

Damon looked down at her, surprised.

“You’ll slow down,” he said.

“Good,” Lila replied. “Because if you collapse, we both lose.”

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For a moment, Damon just stared at her. Rain ran down her face, her hair sticking to her cheeks, but her eyes were steady.

Determined.

He finally nodded.

They moved slowly now, Lila helping him walk through the narrow alley.

Behind them, distant footsteps echoed again.

The hunter had found their trail.

“Damn it,” Damon muttered.

Lila tightened her grip on him. “Can you keep going?”

“I can crawl if I have to,” he replied.

They reached the end of the alley where a dim streetlight flickered above an empty road.

Damon glanced around quickly, calculating.

Then suddenly his knees buckled.

“Damon!” Lila gasped, catching him before he hit the ground.

He fell against her shoulder, breathing hard.

“Guess… my body disagrees,” he murmured weakly.

Lila’s heart pounded. The footsteps behind them were getting closer.

She wrapped his arm over her shoulders and forced him upright.

14:39 Mon, May 4 –

Chapter 91

“Then you don’t get to fall,” she whispered fiercely.

Damon looked at her, a faint smile appearing despite the pain.

“Bossy,” he muttered.

“Shut up and walk.”

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Together they stumbled forward into the darkness of the street, just as the hunter stepped into the mouth of the alley behind them.

His eyes scanned the road.

Empty.

The rain continued to fall, washing away the last traces of their escape.

The man smiled slowly.

“Run while you can,” he murmured.

“Next time… I won’t miss you.”