Damien

It was weird at first, being happy after what I'd done.


The guilt would come out from nowhere when I was having a good time and it felt like I was dragged under a mighty current.

After a while due to Leila's little smiles of encouragement, jokes that Alpha Xander made with Liam that included me and dreams where my sister adviced me to be happy, I finally felt like the heavy sack of guilt was removed from my shoulders.

The fear won't leave though.


I was going round the boundary of the pack doing my nightly patrol. A habit I'd picked up when I was plagued by nightmares. The feeling that soon all this would be taken away by my mate and her father terrified me.

It made me paranoid. I looked for the source of every noise and tried to place where every scent came from every night.


My nose was almost as good as my wolf's by now.

My fear wasn't of Amelia and Antonio but of the fact that if they take this pack or ruin it, I won't be able to find this sense of belonging again.

If Amelia finds this pack first, the death of anyone here will start a new load of guilt because my scent led her here.

Reaching my starting point, I began the patrol again, too worked up to sleep at the moment.

My thoughts wandered about but I remained vigilant.

This village was really something. Alpha Xander had already made the village his pack so easily and the members were happy about it. He just needed to make it legal.

He was different here compared to Black Pool Pack. Here, Alpha Xander was not just a leader but a member while in our former pack, he was just a formidable leader.

Was it because of the general character of the pack?

In Black Pool, people weren't necessarily kind. Their view of people was easily swayed and even when someone decided to be kind or do good, that kindness disappeared if the majority wasn't kind.

That's why it was easy for Antonio to find willing informants and Leila's kidnap was so smooth.

As long as they or their family wasn't in danger, they turned a blind eye to everything around them.

'Hey" Grey greeted, coming to a halt beside me. He had come out when I was halfway through with my first patrol and had jogged round the perimeter.

This was not the first time he'd joined me in patrol. Alpha Xander has not yet assigned anyone to patrol duty so it was an open opportunity for anyone interested.

'Do you think this is a good idea? The waiting?" asked Grey as we walked.

'We can't charge into what we aren't sure of and besides, the Alpha's decision is final. There are plenty of things we don't know."

'True but I thought you were a general in the enemies pack?"

There was no hate in his voice and I was tired of feeling guilty when someone mentioned it. My time with Antonio was an unchangeable part of my past.

Did I wish it didn't happen? Yes. Could I change it? No.

'There is no way his tactics is the same. Given that three people plus his daughter ran off from under his nose, I'd like to think that he's a little bit paranoid. Also, he has gotten a new pack."

Grey nodded in understanding.

'But based on how he fought when you were with him and how we are, do you think we have a chance?"

I smirked, 'we have more than just a chance."

Grey smiled and hung his hand on my shoulders. I shook my head amused.

The first time we met, he had come to sign up for training with so much confidence, it was amazing and also amusing.

I didn't trust his carefree nature or his easy smile at first. I thought he had something to hide and was just pretending. Observation and constant interaction with him made me realize I was wrong. He was a generally good guy with everyone and it turned out I was just a really cynical person."

'Are you going to stay? When everything is over."

'Yes. I wanted to leave initially but I've come to forgive myself and accept the fact that this is my family."

'Aww, we love you too."

I surprisingly blushed, 'shut up."

'You're too easy to tease…are you blushing?"

'No?"

'No?..." Grey repeated laughing.

'I'm not. It's the reflection of the light."

I groaned inwardly as I said that. Grey started laughing hard.

'Shut up!! You'll wake everyone up." I pushed him away from my body.

'You're a surprisingly fun person Damien." said Grey after he got himself under control.

'What does that mean?"

'The first impression someone gets, no, the first impressions I got when I met you were a grumpy, stuck up bastard."

I raised a brow, amused. I've never been called stuck up before.

'I didn't expect you to be open minded and fun. Definitely didn't see you as the blushing sort" he finished with a grin.

'You're not going to let it go, are you?"

'Never." There was a ridiculous grin on his face.

'You know I'm older than you right? You're supposed to do as I say and I say forget about it." I teased.

'Nah…how old are you anyways?"

'I'm twenty two."

Grey started laughing again.

'What?"

'We're the same age man."

I laughed. This guy was on something.

I inhaled, trying to stop laughing with him. There was a displaced scent.

I sniffed, 'do you smell that?"

Grey became serious and inhaled.

'What is it?"

The scent was familiar but it bugged me that I couldn't place it. My mind trying very hard.

'Should I shift or call someone?"

'Let's wa…"

My wolf growled in anger. There was only one person that could make him react like that.

Fucking slut of a mate!!!

'Amelia is here. She has crossed the border."