Mariella awoke to a wave of pleasure, a tsunami that washed over her body. She sighed, moaned, and hoped the sensation would last, though a lingering sense of undeservedness remained. Gradually, she became more aware, drifting in and out of sleep.
She began to open her eyes, seeing Salvatore or Charles, whose touch sent explosive orgasms through her. Damon held her close, his touch less repulsive, even desired. Time was hazy, but as Number Four's stern voice commanded her to spread her legs and be a good girl for Daddy, she obeyed, meeting his lustful gaze.
For the first time in a long time, her own lust rose, flooding her veins and making her pussy drool as he prepared to rail into her. His pleasure, he emphasized, was paramount. She had fragmented memories of the rack and the bed, of being nursed, fucked, and caressed—no longer hateful or terrifying.
She craved the touch, like a lifeline it once had been, yet a part of her questioned her worthiness, her right to enjoy it. A voice reassured her that she didn't have to pay. Though still groggy, a sense of safety, previously unimaginable, enveloped her like a lifeline. She grasped it, allowing it to wash over her, and sleep overtook her. A true rest, not forced by drugs, but born of trust, love, and care.
This newfound trust gave Damon and the other Salvatores hope, allowing them to further purge the nasty programming from her mind. They hoped this breakthrough would extend to the wolves, Elena, and Katherine, freeing them to focus on Mimi once her programming was similarly diluted.
The sun shone in Mariella's eyes, and she finally opened them to find herself in a bedroom. She didn't recognize the house or how long she'd been there. Her mind felt exhausted, as if she'd completed a monumental mental task. She groaned softly as she sat up. The room was large—the bed alone could sleep five or ten people. The silk sheets felt simultaneously cool and warm, and the satin blanket was luxurious.
She wondered if she deserved such comfort when a sharp pain lanced through her head.
"Fuck, a migraine, really?" she cursed, but it quickly subsided.
The door opened, and Damon entered, his white shirt gleaming against his muscular frame, making Mariella smile. His loose yoga pants, surprisingly stylish on his long, strong legs, made her feel more herself than she had in a long time. She was openly admiring her husband, who was as dashing as always.
She was healing, but did she deserve this happiness? Another pain stabbed between her eyes, causing her to squint. Damon, however, showed no concern. With an almost clinical gaze, he brought a large breakfast tray and placed it on her lap.
"Now, darlin', eat, and let me explain a few things," he said.
Mariella nodded; obeying Damon's orders felt natural, almost instinctual. He sat beside her, wrapping a strong arm around her shoulders, a gesture that filled her heart with safety and love.
"It's been a while," he began, "but let me tell you what's been happening. You, Mimosa, Shadow, Elena Katherine, and Mimi have all been programmed. We've undone so much of the programming that you can begin to fight it. The stabbing pain in your mind? That's from me—a small indication of that programming."
Mariella began to tremble. The thought of being programmed hit her with the force of a violation, leaving her feeling weak and vulnerable.
Damon pulled her closer, soothing her. "Now, now, darling," he murmured, "we've got you. Don't worry too much. I'll help. As soon as you recognize the programming, I can pluck it out. You'll be just fine."
Mariella cried, "But how? Why? Just take it all out!"
Her voice was a near shout as trauma overwhelmed her. Damon responded calmly, "Honey, listen. It's not that simple. We'll get it all out, but it will take time, and we have to do this together. It's like tangled yarn, woven throughout your mind. I can't just yank it out; it's stuck, and that could hurt, even damage, your mind and energy if I'm too rough. I need to find where to start and remove it piece by piece. Once you get the hang of it, you'll start to feel better, and it will become easier to remove larger portions at once."
Mariella ate quietly, still in shock and feeling weak. The absence of physical pain confirmed it was all in her mind. Focusing on the present, she was too afraid to ask about the others or how long this had been happening.
Part of her felt this was a dream that would soon end, leaving her worthless. Then, pain struck. She searched for its source, determined to find the programming. It didn't take long to remember her divine birthright—the white power of God within her. Someone had dared to program her.
Unleashing a furious rage, she unleashed her white power into the hive before Damon could intervene. Divine power flooded everyone, purging them with love and acceptance. Unfortunately, Mimi was unconscious, and her mind proved resistant, but the other females and males received a powerful surge.
It was unlike anything they'd ever experienced—the love of God. There are no words to describe the wave of euphoria that washed over them, leaving them high and bathed in blissful love. Time ceased to matter as their souls were purified and filled with an unparalleled sense of love.
Five days passed before the euphoria subsided, allowing Damon and Mariella time to savor their reunion. Damon held her close, feeling a wholeness he hadn't experienced in a long time. Their love was perfect, consuming them entirely, and the need to address Mimi's condition was temporarily forgotten.
This intense connection, however, inadvertently brought the five Salvatores who had separated themselves back to Mariella, their passion reigniting like wildfire. They desired her completely—her love, her presence, the harmony of their souls singing together. Mariella was the center of their world, and this was no fleeting infatuation; something profound had changed within them.
Elated, Mariella reveled in being the focus of her ten Salvatores, confident that Mimi wouldn't take them away this time. Past trauma had fueled Mariella's jealousy, selfishness, and victim mentality, leading her to crave male attention. While she could spare some to assist other women, others were now assigned to aid the wolves, including Elena and Katherine.
Mimi remained sedated in her cage, and Mariella was unsure when she could spare Damon to tend to her. Mariella wanted Damon primarily for herself, at least initially. Once Mimi recovered, Mariella planned a lengthy retreat to the Azores with all ten Salvatores, intending to indulge in unrestrained passion.
As the "lust queen," sex was her language, and she was ready to be selfish; she felt weak, vulnerable, and in need of male protection, love, and care—to be treated like a precious princess. This was simply her nature. This level of trauma was new to Mariella, leaving her with few coping mechanisms; she reverted to old habits of seeking multiple male partners, becoming selfish and needy.
This was her hardwiring, and it would take time and further trauma to overcome her need for constant emotional support. Currently, she felt like a fragile crystal figurine, desperately requiring shelter, love, and cherishment. Despite the potential for future repercussions, she acted on instinct—she needed, she wanted, and she took.
The warm, dimly lit, and opulent bedroom, decorated in a rich cream color scheme, was soothing, exactly as Mariella liked. She preferred earthy tones to Mimi's bubbly pinks and lilacs, favoring muted, calm colors like cream, peach, soft yellow, soft violet, and off-white.
While she tolerated the darker, "vampire" colors important to Damon, this room reflected her preferences perfectly. She insisted on cotton or satin bed sheets—silk felt too slippery for most activities. Mounds of soft pillows provided ample support for her and Damon.
Leaning into him, she felt the presence of the other Salvatores, their care and love enveloping her. In this loving environment, she delved into her mind, confronting the frightening aspects of her programming. Each discovery brought a wave of pain, making her shudder, but Damon or another Salvatore gently yet efficiently removed it. They kept her safe, helped her, loved her, and reaffirmed her body's perfection, its utter belonging to them and them to her.
Mimi was no longer the focus; while they knew they would eventually restore her, for now, Mariella's needs were paramount. She was selfish and immature, but Damon couldn't bring himself to demand better behavior.
Damon couldn't help himself; his soul was singing loudly. Despite understanding that they had taken something precious from Mimi, it didn't matter. All that mattered was Mariella—her needs, her wants, her recovery. Damon wasn't thinking of long-term consequences; he was a weak, emotional man who'd gotten the love of his life back.
While he loved many, Mariella monopolized his mind and love, leaving him too weak to be strong. He followed his heart, not his reason, and a price would be paid. A part of him accepted this; nothing was too much when it came to Mariella's well-being, at least in that moment.
The future would be fucking different; time would teach him hell of a bitter lesson about actions and reactions. He would be responsible for his behavior, because that's how the world works: own your mistakes and learn from them. His actions were shortsighted, and even Damon only considered the present moment, as did the other Salvatores.
The curse of telepathy meant feeling too much, and while this had been hard for the entire pack, none considered the worst possible outcome—that Mariella was, once again, all that mattered. Time would come for amends, growth, and owning their mistake. It wouldn't be easy or fast, and its success was uncertain.
The biggest victim, however, was Mimi's love; when trust shatters, the consequences last a long time, and she never forgets—a curse or blessing, depending on perspective. No one considered this as they reacted, lust and sex paramount. Mariella, a lust queen, knew how to bind every Salvatore to herself.
Mariella taking Salvatore didn't mean she'd claim every man in the pack; the pack consisted of thirty people—six women and twenty-four men—and only ten were hers. Mimosa, Shadow, Elena, and Katherine were less possessive, willing to share, leaving Mimi with plenty of men. This fact, when revealed, sparked jealousy, even from Damon, but his choice was made; he'd simply have to adapt.
In time, Mimi would also have her men, and Mariella's actions served as a lesson for both her and Damon—a lesson that would arrive too late, forcing them to confront their foolishness.
Mariella leaned against Damon, listening to his heartbeat. While not as attuned to it as Mimi, she found it soothing, a reminder of his love and commitment. However, Damon's infidelity with other women at the faux party lingered in Mariella's mind.
She strategically allowed glimpses of her pain to reach Salvatore, prompting amends. This manipulation, far exceeding Mimi's, satisfied Mariella's need for control, leaving her feeling whole. She believed this was her rightful place—to possess them all.
Weeks later, some of Salvatores assisted Mimosa, Shadow, Elena, and Katherine. Mariella knew the time would come when she'd let Damon handle Mimi, aiming to properly enrage her. Despite Damon's initial plan to turn her rage into lust, Mariella convinced him to let Mimi's anger play out, prompting a fight but postponing sex, as Mimi wasn't driven by lust.
This decision would have significant consequences for Mariella, a harsh and long-lasting lesson. Whether she'd learn from it remained uncertain. The future of this lust-filled, chaotic pack, with its blend of strong emotions and powers, was unpredictable, leaving the pack to face the aftermath.
As usual for our pack, no one planned ahead. My story, however, took a sharp turn. This had a one hell of a lasting impact on me, particularly my relationships with Adam and Charles. Damon, Mariella, and Salvatores conveniently forgot our strong bond—or perhaps Wulfe tampered with their memories, diminishing its importance.
To this day, Wulfe prioritizes my happiness above all else, though his interpretation sometimes differs from mine or others'. As the strongest in our pack, always considering my well-being and future, he's unstoppable once he sets his mind on something. He's not manipulative, but opportunistic.
This time, he saw countless opportunities to bring me happiness, love, and family, for which I'm eternally grateful. Of course, he also benefited; I needed a lot and very passionate male companionship, and he was more than willing to provide it. Mariella and Damon were powerless to stop him.