“Damian?”
“I’ll tell you some other time.”
“...Why?”
“It’s... It’s not a happy memory. For neither of us. I just don’t want to reminisce now, Nora. Some other time, I’ll tell you, I promise.”
Not a happy memory? But I want to know! Why can’t I simply remember it... I thought my “unhappy” memories started when I was seven, when we lost our parents... I wonder what Damian would say if he knew about that tragedy. My worst memory so far... with Marcus’ episode. I shiver.
“What is it?”
“Nothing, I just thought about the man that tried to...”
“Don’t worry, I swear we’ll get him. Liam sent the hunters to get him, wherever he is hiding. Alive or not, we will find him.”
I had forgotten I finally gave Marcus’ name to Damian. I am aware that by doing so, I basically condemned the guy to death, but I have no pity for that rapist. And I will feel safer once he’s caught. I wish we could at least know for sure if he’s dead or alive... The memories from before I fainted come back to me, and I move my hands to find Damian’s. I weave my fingers with his, looking for some strength.
“Damian, I... I think I stabbed him.”
“...What do you remember?” He asks softly.
“I tried to defend myself. He grabbed me and tore my dress. I remember scratching his face, and him slapping me. We fought, my wolf was going nuts, and I almost lost control. I think... I think he grabbed me by the hair at some point; hewanted to take me away from the entrance because... because I screamed. I... I think he took me to a kitchen, and I took a... a knife and I...”
I stop, unable to say one more word. I felt Damian’s anger on the rise as I was reminiscing, but I didn’t stop. I feel like if I didn’t tell him now, I would never be able to talk about it again, to anyone. He holds me tight, breathing in with his face buried in my hair. His closeness is the most comforting thing I have ever experienced, but that doesn’t wash away the guilt.
Moon Goddess, I really stabbed someone. I’m a criminal. I could be charged for assault, or punished by the packs... Feeling my distress, his thumb gently caresses my skin.
“Nora, it’s okay. It’s okay. I swear, I won’t let anything like this happen ever again to you, Nora. I swear to you.”
I feel Damian’s lips on my shoulder, but I can’t help but cry bitterly. I don’t want to be a murderer; I didn’t mean to hurt him. I just didn’t want him to touch me. I keep crying silently, soothed by Damian’s voice, whispering to me until I go back to sleep again.
I drowsily wake up, but it doesn’t feel like that much time has passed since I talked with Damian. What time is it? I turn my head to my bedroom window, and it’s dusk. I slept the whole afternoon, how embarrassing... And now there’s no way I’ll go back to sleep tonight. I realize that Damian’s gone, but Bobo is there, sleeping on the floor.
“Bobo?”
He raises his head immediately and walks up to me. He puts his big head on my mattress.
“I really hope you brushed your teeth since you chomped that arm, Bobo,” I sigh with a frown.
Gosh, that was disgusting to even remember.
Where is our mate?
I sit up, shocked to hear my wolf. I can feel her so clearly now! She is sniffing around for Damian’s smell, and I find myself doing the same thing unknowingly. What a sensation... I can read in her as clearly as I can think now. I think she’s grey... Or no, maybe even white. She doesn’t mind Bobo’s presence, she likes him, but she wishes it was Damian. And I can smell Tonia’s not far, too. How strange.
Bobo lets out a short, low-pitched sound, and I know he asks if I’m okay. I wouldn’t call it a sentence, more like a... feeling. It doesn’t come as precisely as if we were mind-linked, but my wolf still understands what he means to say for me.
“I’m okay, Bobo. I... I can feel my wolf!”
He tilts his head to the side, his tail wagging a bit like a curious dog. I just want to enjoy this new range of sensations. It feels different, yet the same. As if I had just awakened a sixth sense, or a second me, no matter how weird that sounds. I breathe in deeply. She is checking out our environment, and I feel it through her. The smell of fresh sheets, and some lavender coming from the wardrobes. Bobo mostly smells like food and dead leaves. No smell of blood, thankfully. She picks up something good ... cold chicken and onion soup? I look around me and notice a closed Tupperware on the nightstand.
Now that I think about it, I’m starving. We both are. But as I reach out to grab the cold soup, something weird holds me back from my ankle. ...Did I just hear a metallic sound?
I frown and push away the sheets to look at my legs. ...What the hell...?
“Damian!” I yell, too shocked to say anything else.
Instead of him, Tonia rushes into the room, alerted by my screaming. She has changed into dark jeans and a sports bra, and her hair is all over the place. She walks to my bed to try and check me with a worried look, but I push her away.
