Chapter 9 - Damian #2
We’d both been young boys seated around campfires when our grandfather and father took turns telling us tales about the other creatures that existed in the world.
Werewolves were not the only formidable beings known to man.
Grandfather used to tell us stories about the great war between the supernatural races nearly a century ago, when shifters fought to protect humanity against the likes of vampires and witches; the other beings were defeated, and werewolves went into hiding to protect their identity amongst humans.
So did the remaining supernatural beings who didn’t involve themselves in the war.
Witches and vampires have not emerged since then, and the nomadic witch coven that helped Flynn is probably one of the groups that didn’t want to be involved in fights.
It doesn’t mean I can trust them.
Dorian and I both heard how the covens deceived the packs and led the vampires to the werewolves.
Dorian must be desperate to protect his family, because he’s staring at me with sadness in his eyes. He remembers the stories.
But he’ll do anything for his family.
“Let’s put it to a vote,” he says, glancing around the room. “The alphas will decide if we go ahead with consulting this nomadic coven.”
Silence stretches as the alphas voting in favor raise their hands. Only Simon and I keep our hands down, not agreeing to this. But the vote is four against two, and it’s decided.
“I will reach out to the coven as soon as I am back home,” Flynn says. “Speaking of which, I need to return. Lila and Finch are waiting for me. I will be in touch when I’ve made contact.”
The meeting closes, and I stay behind to talk to Dorian about his decision. But as soon as the meeting chamber empties, and it’s only me, him, and Connor left behind, he already knows what’s coming and turns to me with a sigh.
“I’m sorry, Damian. I know you don’t like this, but there is no other way. If they can help…if they can lead us to the ones using witchcraft on our borders, my family will be safe. So will the rest of the pack.”
Connor nods beside him as he stands. “I am behind every decision you make for this pack, Alpha Dorian. I also have a family to protect.”
Dorian nods, patting his beta on the shoulder. “You should return to Ingrid and Cindy,” he tells Connor. “I should also update my luna about this whole situation.”
Connor takes a deep breath, his eyes filled with raw dread, and he doesn’t waste time heading out.
That’s when it hits me.
I’d been insane to ever feel jealousy when I saw the beta speaking to Poppy. Driven by my inner wolf’s incessant need to claim her, I’d been angry at the wrong people.
Like any wolf, they care about their people. Maybe even more so than other ordinary packs. Nightclaw has never cared about hierarchies or status. They’ve always been different.
And that’s probably why they accepted Poppy so freely into their pack, even though she’d spent nine years Goddess-knows where.
Watching Dorian cast aside everything we’d been taught for the people he loves makes something inside me shift. He’s willing to abandon generations of prejudice to protect his family.
And I…I destroyed mine because I couldn’t make a simple decision.
I bite my tongue, watching my brother begin to pace the floor of the meeting chamber, his face pale and eyes miles away.
Perhaps I was wrong to be angry with him, too. It’s not like he knew Poppy and I had history. And seeing him now, as the alpha of Nightclaw, doing whatever he can to protect his people, I know I was wrong to let that old wound open again.
If anything, I aspire to be the kind of leader he is, putting my pride aside and enlisting help from the most unexpected place.
If anyone was to blame for Poppy leaving Valley Walker, it was me. I was so determined to fill Dorian’s shoes that I had pushed my relationship with her to the side as if it wasn’t important.
It was my fault.
The realization crashes into me at alarming speed, and I lift my head.
“You’re right,” I say, pushing myself off the chair. “This is for the safety of the pack.”
Dorian stops his pacing and turns to me with a frown. “I haven’t forgotten everything we’ve been taught, Damian.”
“I didn’t think you did,” I reply with a light chuckle. “It’s just…seeing you swallow your pride because this is probably the only solution; it’s admirable. I still don’t like it, because they’re witches, but you’re doing the right thing.”
Dorian’s frown deepens. “You think it’s admirable?”
“Yeah. Of course, I do. Why?”
Dorian sighs as he drops his head and clutches the backrest of his chair.
“I know we spoke a few months ago, but I feel like things between us haven’t been resolved.
You still look at me like I’m about to make another mistake.
And honestly? I don’t even think I made a mistake by leaving Valley Walker.
” He lifts a hand toward me. “You’ve been doing a great job being the alpha of the pack.
Probably a better job than I ever could. ”
I gulp hard at Dorian’s admission, hanging my head bashfully. I’d been so angry with him, tying his departure from Valley Walker to Poppy’s, and blinded to my own wrongdoings.
Another realization hits me, and that’s when I lift my head and tell Dorian, “I’m staying the night again.
My family is just as important to me as yours is to you…
” I let the last statement hang in the air before spinning on my heel and heading out of the meeting chamber.
No matter how many mistakes I’ve made in my quest to claim my fated mate, I know that it’s about time I do something to right those wrongs.
Though the declaration hangs on the tip of my tongue, I push beyond it, not wanting to hurt Poppy more by revealing to my brother that she is my mate and luna of the Valley Walker Pack now. I will do things by her rules now, and I need to find her to let her know that I am surrendering.
It’s ten years too late, but maybe I still have time.
I burst through her cabin door only to find her crouched on the floor, packing things from the empty shelf into a bag on the couch.
Coming to an abrupt stop in her doorway, she lifts her head, and our eyes meet, and I realize how wrong I’ve been. Kidnapping her. Forcing her into a mate bond. It’s like the beast inside me steps aside so the human part can see how much damage I have done.
“Poppy…” I glance around the room at the other bag on the floor. “You’re packing…”
“I told you I needed to get some things from here. And that’s exactly what I’m doing,” she says nonchalantly as she rises to her feet and tugs on the zipper.
So, she wasn’t lying about needing her things, and I’ve just been trying to rule things with an iron fist.
Fuck!
Nodding slowly as I step inside and carefully close the door behind me, I decide that I’ve been going about this the wrong way.
Poppy has every right to be angry with me.
“You can take the couch,” she throws calmly over her shoulder as she lifts the bag from it. “We—I only have one bedroom here.”
“That’s okay. You’ll also be pleased to know that I’ve kept our mate bond a secret.”
Poppy turns and scoffs, her hazel eyes wider than usual. “What do you want? A prize?” she snickers. “I told you before, I’m not doing you any favors.”
I frown when she disappears into the room with both her bags, leaving me in the living room with nothing but her coldness surrounding me.
I’ve tried to loosen the reins, tried to be more understanding, but it’s killing me inside knowing that she’s right here, so close, yet so far.