Chapter 16
Damien’s POV
65%
The storm raged outside, wind and rain hammering against the palace walls, I sat in the dimly lit living room with my brothers.
Damon leaned against the wall, arms crossed, watching the flames in the fireplace dance. Daniel sat stiffly on the couch, his jaw tight. Declan stood near the window, his fingers twitching like he was resisting the urge to act.
No one spoke for a while.
The weight of what we had to talk about hung between us.
We all knew what was coming and we all knew what we had to do.
exhaled slowly, staring into the fire. “The eclipse is approaching.”
Daniel scoffed. “You think we don’t know that?”
Damon shot him a look. “Let him speak.”
I clenched my fists. “We can’t afford to let history repeat itself. If we lose control again… if we bring another massacre upon our people, we will lose everything. We won’t have any other choice but to hand the pack over to Orion, just as our father intended.”
Silence.
Then Daniel barked a laugh. It wasn’t an amused one. It was sharp and bitter. “What?” He leaned forward, his golden eyes burning. “Give the pack to Orion? Are you insane? That’s exactly what he’s always wanted!”
“Yes,” I said simply. “But have you ever wondered why he hasn’t acted on it? Why, in all these years, he hasn’t made a single move against us?”
Daniel’s eyes darkened.
“Because he has a right to rule,” I continued. “That was the contract. If we fail–if we prove that we cannot control ourselves–Orion takes over.”
Declan stepped forward. “What if he has been acting against us? Maybe Daniel should penetrate his memories, see what he’s hiding-”
“No.” My voice was sharp. “You won’t do such a thing. We don’t use our powers unless we’re at war.”
Declan’s hands clenched at his sides.
“And besides,” I muttered, more to myself than them, “Don’t you think leaving the pack in Orion’s hands would be better than us ruling?”
Damon’s head snapped up.
“We are a danger to our people,” I said, voice tight. “You saw what happened last night. If Bethany hadn’t helped me to shift, I would have destroyed half the pack. I would have taken lives-”
“But you didn’t,” Daniel cut in. His voice was softer now. His anger had turned into something else. Understanding. Guilt. He exhaled sharply. “You
didn’t.”
He knew how much last night had shaken me.
Through our bond, he mind–linked, You don’t have to feel like a beast. This isn’t your fault. If you want to blame someone, blame whoever brought this
curse into our lives.
I didn’t answer.
1/4
35%8
Chapter 16
Because he didn’t understand.
It wasn’t just about what had happened last night. It was about what would happen next time.
Because there would be a next time.
And I wasn’t sure if I could stop it.
Damon stepped forward. “So what are you saying? That we should give up before we even try?”
Ishook my head. “No.”
“Then what?”
Nooked at each of them.
Slowly. I swallowed hard before speaking. “We need to prepare ourselves.”
Daniel frowned. “For what?”
I turned back to the fire. “For the end.”
A tense silence filled the room. I let the words sink in.
“What do you mean the end?” Damon frowned.
“I want Cassius to use the dark–energy woman- Bethany,” My voice was steady. Unwavering. “She is our doom. And if we are meant to meet our end, I want it to be through her. On the night of the eclipse.”
Damon sucked in a sharp breath. Daniel looked like he wanted to punch something. Declan just stared.
“I have thought about it,” I admitted. “The eclipse is coming fast. And I think… I think meeting our doom through her is better than getting killed any other way.”
The fire crackled.
Rain pounded against the windows.
And in the silence, I knew–none of them had anything to say. Because they knew I was right.
“Do you realize what you’re saying?” Daniel whispered. “You’re going to make her kill us,”
“To protect her. To protect everyone. Daniel, we have to do this!” I argued, fighting the deep ache in my chest. Goddess, we barely knew her. This was
crazy.
Damon shook his head. “That’s too cruel.” His voice was tight. “She’s our mate, Damien. If she kills us… it will haunt her for the rest of her life.”
I clenched my jaw. “Do we have another choice?”
Daniel suddenly sat up straighter. “Yes. You’re forgetting what the seer told us.”
I narrowed my eyes. “Enlighten me.”
Daniel exhaled sharply. “She said our mate would bring us blessings too. Even though she is our doom, she is also our salvation.”
I scoffed. “And you conveniently forget the rest of the prophecy? The seer also said that her dark energy is stronger than the light she carries.” I leaned forward, my voice dropping. “The eclipse night will bring out the full force of her darkness, Daniel. She might not even have enough light to fight it off like she did last night.”
2/4
15:23 Sat, 5301 X G
Chaphy 16
Daniel looked away
Damon sighed heavily “Speaking of our mate…He rubbed a band down his face. “Don’t you feel her?
ixtiffened.
“I can feel her fear,” Damon murmured. “She’s heezing to death out there.”
Of course, he would be the first to sense it. His curse made him highly attuned to emotions, His words made my stomach clench. I had been ignoring the nagging pull in my chest for the past hour, refusing to acknowledge it. I didn’t want to give my brothers the satisfaction of seeing that I cared.
But 1 did.
Goddess, I did.
Damon stood up. “I think we should bring her inside. Now.”
I didn’t respond.
Because if I did, they’d hear the truth in my voice. I wanted her.
Declan tilted his head. “What was that, Damien?” His tone was amused. Too amused.
I scowled. “What?”
Declan smirked. “You want her.”
My entire body went rigid.
The bastard.
One of our many curses was the ability to hear each other’s thoughts. And apparently, my moment of weakness had slipped through the cracks.
Damon’s smirk matched Declan’s.
I growled lowly. “Go get her.”
Declan’s smirk widened. “As you command.”
I shot him a warning glare, but he was already out the door.
Damon and Daniel exchanged looks, both entertained.
“Don’t look at me,” I muttered.
The wind howled outside, and the rain continued to lash against the palace walls. I tried to suppress the unease curling in my stomach.
Was she still standing? Was she still conscious? What the hell was I thinking telling her to stand out there?!
The front doors burst open and Declan rushed inside, carrying Bethany in his arms.
“She collapsed,” he said grimly.
“Shit!” I was on my feet before I even realized thad moved. She was drenched, her hair matted to her pale skin. Her lips were blue. Her breathing was shallow.
Too shallow.
I took her from Declan’s arms, lifting her effortlessly. She was too cold. Too weak. I hadn’t thought she was this weak, dammit.
3/4
Charts: If
Danish so Danis eters. Their silly seems t
*te, Nana 1ordered Tall Cade to retus in my chambers
Daniel mind listed the head mald immediately while Izsnied Bethany up the stairs, my grip tightening around her small frame
i laid her on my bed as the four of us stood around her.
Damon sighed. “She’s our mate.”
Daniel ran a hand through his hair, looking troubled. “And there’s nothing we can do about it.”
Declan’s expression was unreadable, but I knew he was thinking the same thing we all were.
Why did the Moon Goddess give us a mate we should be running from? Why was the same woman meant to destroy us also the one we couldn’t let go of
4/4
