“The first time I shape-shifted, I was ten. I was in a rage after my father and just jumped into my wolf form without even realizing it. He beat me up good that day. Even in his human form, I couldn’t even stand up to him. I never did, for years. Honestly, it was... hard. Being an Alpha that never wins. Every time, I had some hope I could finally fight off my father, chase him out, but no, it ended only when he decided it or when I was out. I knew he was the strongest Alpha of the city, but I woke up in my own blood so many times, beating him became an obsession, as much as protecting my brothers. As the years passed, every time made me angrier. I don’t think someone else can hate like I hated my father at that time. He knew it, and that made him more and more violent every time. Until one day.”
I hold my breath and grab his shirt. I know I’m not going to like what comes next...
“That night, I had come home late, and Nate and Liam were in our bedroom. My father suddenly barged in, so drunk he was yelling like a mad man. He hit me before I could even say a word. I tried to fight back, but he didn’t leave me a chance. I barely remember what happened, honestly, except that it was the most violent fight we ever had. We both let our wolves take over, but…”
Damian shakes his head.
“When he was sure I couldn’t fight back anymore, he took me outside. I was half-conscious, but I felt his grip on my hair. He dragged me down like a bag of dirt through the streets. I think he really wanted me dead. He took me to the slums and beat me again until I passed out.”
What a monster. Damian was already unable to fight back or defend himself, and he really tried to kill his own son...
“It was December, and freaking cold, too. When I came to my senses, it was still the middle of the night. That’s when you appeared.”
Me? I don’t remember this...
“I remember every detail. You were thin and dressed in rags, but you were the prettiest little girl I had ever seen. You ran up to me from across the street. All the snow around me was red, but you didn’t seem to care. You were almost crying, and you asked me if I was in pain or cold. I could barely talk. You kept asking if I was hurt, but you were just a kid. Moreover, you had your scar, and it was obvious it was fresh. You didn’t want to talk about it, you just kept asking and asking about my injuries.”
“Sounds like I was annoyingly stubborn...”
He laughs. “Right... You refused to leave me alone, no matter who many times I told you to. You just stayed withme. You even cried for me, you said you were sorry you couldn’t heal me. You kept repeating that while crying. I lost consciousness again at some point. When I woke up, you were gone, but your scarf was around my neck, and a pile of blankets was on me. I probably survived a few more hours, thanks to that. My healing had begun, but my injuries were... serious. I honestly thought I was dying. I had never been in such pain or lost so much blood. But you came back a few minutes after I had woken up. You were crying again, and had that bruise on your face...”
Probably Alec... He started hitting me after our parent’s death, and he was the only one I lived with, in the slums.
“You were crying because you thought I was dead. You said you had gone to seek help, but your brother rejected you. So, you stayed with me. You said you had a brother, and that the next day would be your birthday... But you refused to give me your name.”
“Why?”
“You said I might kidnap you.”
I laugh. Oh, Moon Goddess, what a stubborn girl I was! Talking for hours with a stranger but not giving my name so he can’t kidnap me? What a unique idea! And Damian was too injured to move, anyway!
Damian laughs, too, and kisses my forehead briefly. “You were so adorable. Stubborn but caring and sweet. You said if I fell asleep again, you would give me a kiss, like the princess from your book.”
“I said that?”
“You did. You laid next to me in the snow, and you said you would watch me so I couldn’t sleep again. You were... Moon Goddess, I remember it so well. You were laying just like this, facing me and smiling at me. At some point, I closed my eyes a few seconds, and you suddenly kissed me.”
Oh, Moon Goddess, how could I be such a shameless seven-year-old brat! I blush, even though I can’t remember it, but Damian is smiling from ear to ear.
“It was like a fire suddenly took me. My wolf went crazy. I felt... better than I had ever been in a very long time. Even my injuries suddenly stopped hurting. I knew you were my fated mate right away, but I couldn’t believe it. We were just kids! It was so unbelievable... Even now, it feels like it was a dream. Laying in the snow, somewhere lost in the slums, with you. I... I had never known or even imagined something like that before. That was the very moment you became so, so painfully and beautifully precious to me. Because you were just you, caring for a total stranger and worried he might be cold or in pain, even though you were injured yourself.”
Damian hugs me tightly in his arms, and I hide my face against his shoulder. I wish I remembered any of this...
“I knew we were fated mates, but I had never imagined we would be separated so quickly... I lost consciousness again, and you gave me a little kiss. Every time, I would wake up instantly, and I realized my injuries were healing incredibly fast, so I understood. That you were, somehow, healing me with those. What I hadn’t realized was that you were getting weaker each time you did. At some point, you totally lost consciousness. I freaked out, but you wouldn’t wake up. You stayed like this for a whole three hours, but I couldn’t do anything. I had never, ever felt so powerless in my life. When you came to your senses, I told you never to do it again. Of course, you didn’t listen. You kept going. Until I woke up, and you were gone. I was completely healed, but there was no trace of you. I looked for you. In the slums, and after that, I kept looking after I went back to my brothers. You saved my life and had vanished... but we were still linked.”
“So, you knew I was alive.”
“Alive and suffering. I could tell anytime you were in pain, and that made me feel worse about not finding you. So, I kept looking. Month after month, years... Nate told me so many times to reject you, to cut our bond, but I never wanted to. I loved you too much already, I couldn’t give up. Until we found you.”
I smile. I know what happened after that... Thank Moon Goddess, he did. I sigh. I can’t imagine how different our lives would have been if I was still in the Jade Moon basement, abused by Alec.
“I think I know why the Moon Goddess paired me with you,” I whisper.
“Why, Love?”
“Because you’re strong, and never afraid to fight. I am... Or I was, the opposite. I don’t care about suffering, but I avoided fights at all cost, while you never backed away from one, even if you knew you would lose. You taught me that.”
I hear him sigh, and he kisses me softly.
