My voice breaks, and I feel tears coming. I don’t know what to believe anymore... I love him, I really do. Nothing to do with that stupid mate thing. I just love Damian. His silver eyes and the way he looks at me. His voice, so deep. How he treats me like I’m so precious, his hands, and gentle touch. I don’t want to lose him.
Bobo puts his large hand on mine. “He loves you, Nora, a lot more than you think. He really does. If you had seen him after you left yesterday...”
“But what about this engagement, then?”
Why would he get engaged to another woman! He knew I existed, that he had a mate, for years! If he was searching for me, what was the point if he planned to marry someone else anyway? I start crying silently, and I hate it. I hate feeling so lost and powerless. I have no idea what to do, what to say to them. Am I supposed to make decisions now? My mind is in such a mess! I don’t want to.
Elena starts patting my back. “Hey, Nora, it’s okay. Why don’t you take a couple of days to cool off, hm? I think youmight need a little break to think things over. Stay here with us for the weekend.”
I look at Daniel and Elena. Is that okay? I do feel like I really need a break right now. “What about Daniel? You are not going to keep sleeping on the couch...”
“Daniel can sleep at my place,” says Bobo immediately.
“You...your place?” Stutters Daniel, blushing again.
“Great idea!” Says Elena with a big smile.
“What great idea! I haven’t agreed to it. ...Yet. Maybe I... I like the couch,” mumbles Daniel.
“Oh, please. I’m done with you complaining about Bobo staying with Nora all the time, so now you enjoy your man all you want, and I’ll spend time with my cousin. Come on, baby, you know you want it,” says Elena, pushing him gently with her feet.
“Elena!”
We both laugh at his offended look. Daniel is so red and embarrassed, it’s way too cute. Bobo starts whispering something into his ear, and Elena winks at me. A few seconds later, Daniel is red like a tomato again and pushing Bobo away.
“Okay, okay, okay! I’m coming, but please, stop that! Where did you learn to say such... stuff!”
He steps away from his boyfriend and comes to grab a croissant before sitting between Elena and me, who tease him again. I know this whole scene is also to help me cheer up a bit. Bobo comes to joins us, sitting on the floor next to me again.
While Elena is arguing with Daniel about some sweatshirt that she apparently took from him, Bobo comes closer to me. “He canceled the party yesterday.”
I stare at him, surprised. “...Really?”
He nods. “Right after you left. He sent everyone home, and he didn’t want to see anyone, either. It took a while to calm him down.”
I remember Damian’s eyes from yesterday. Usually, they shine with assurance, but all I saw last night was confusion, and even fear. He was genuinely panicked. I play with my pendant between my fingers for a while, remembering the night he gave it to me. I finally raise my head to look Bobo in the eye. “...So, he really doesn’t love her... Alessandra?”
He shakes his head and gently tightens his hand around mine. “No. Trust me, Nora. I may not be the closest one to the Boss, but one thing I’ve seen is the way he looks at you. The way he is with you, he isn’t like that with anyone else. Before he found you, he was like a machine. The only ones who could approach him without any fear were his brothers. You are immune to his aura, so you don’t know, but for anyone else, Damian Black is the most terrifying man-wolf in this city.”
It’s strange to hear it all from Bobo’s mouth. It’s like I was blinded for a while. I know how much Damian tried to protect me, but along the way, I also forgot what kind of man he was, and the responsibilities that come with it. And how lucky I’ve been so far...
Without Damian, I would be dead, killed by my own brother’s hands. He gave me everything I needed and more. For two months, I have been living without any worries about where to sleep or what to eat. Compared to the last ten years of my existence, it’s... It doesn’t change what I saw yesterday, but I can’t just blame Damian and forget everything he’s done for me either. That would be too unfair of me.
“I need time, Bobo. Thank you for talking to me, but this is still too fresh for me. No matter Damian’s reasons... He kept it hidden from me for weeks. He should have told me.I’ve had too many secrets in my life already. I want to be able to trust my mate. For real.”
He nods. “I understand. I just wanted to tell you. Also, um... Liam wants to talk to you, too.”
“Liam?”
He suddenly takes something out of his pocket. My phone! Right, I left it at the party last night... I open it. Six missed calls from Damian, and two from Tonia. He also left a message on the voicemail... I hesitate and decide I’ll listen to it later. Not now, not in front of these three. Whatever he said in that message, I am not ready to listen to it now.
Liam left me a text, though, so I open it. He apologizes for last night, saying he feels I deserved the truth. He wants to talk to me face to face. “No surprises this time.”
I reply, a quick text to say we can meet tonight. I finally feel a bit better now. I take a sip of Daniel’s delicious hot chocolate, warming myself up from the outside a little. Elena is right. All I might need right now is a bit of time.
Since the downpour should continue all day, we decide not to go out. Daniel must prepare some exam coming up and surrounds himself with lots of enormous books. Apparently, he wants to specialize in psychology. Elena is a business student, but she doesn’t feel like studying today. She goes to shower first, changing into some jeans and an oversized top, then lends me some of her clothes to change into.
Once I come out of the shower, it turns out that she fell asleep on the couch while waiting, despite the radio station playing in the kitchen.
