Chapter 6
900words
"Just family stuff," I lie. "The anniversary of my parents' death is coming up."
It's not entirely untrue. The anniversary is next month, and it always weighs on me.
Damon reaches across the table, taking my hand in his. His touch is warm, comforting, but it doesn't send electricity racing through my veins the way—
No. I won't compare them.
"I'm sorry," he says, "Loss like that never really goes away, does it?"
"No," I agree softly. "It doesn't."
Our food arrives, and Damon steers the conversation to lighter topics—a funny training incident with young wolves, a movie he thinks I'd enjoy, plans for the upcoming summer solstice celebration.
I let his voice wash over me, anchoring me to this moment, to this choice. With each minute that passes, my wolf's whining fades a little more to the background.
After dinner, Damon drives me home, his truck rumbling up my driveway just as the moon rises over the trees. He walks me to my door, respectful as always.
"Thank you," I say, turning to face him. "Tonight was exactly what I needed."
"Anytime," he says, his eyes crinkling at the corners when he smiles. "That's what I'm here for."
Before I can overthink it, I step forward and kiss him. His surprise lasts only a moment before he responds, one hand coming up to cup my face gently.
It's a good kiss—warm, skilled, pleasant. Our lips stay locked together for what feels like forever, until I finally pull back, breathless.
I press myself against his chest, feeling his heartbeat against my cheek, trying to quiet my racing thoughts. His arms wrap around me, strong and secure, and I close my eyes, wishing we could stay just like this.
He strokes my hair gently, whispering to me, "I’m right here." I nod against his chest, still nestled in his embrace.
After he leaves, I sit on my porch steps, staring up at the moon. My wolf is unusually quiet, as if sulking.
"This is better," I tell her firmly. "Safer. We can have a normal life with Damon."
She doesn't respond, but I feel her disagreement like a weight in my chest.
---
Over the next two weeks, I throw myself into my relationship with Damon. We see each other almost every night—dinner, movies, walks in neutral territory. He's attentive, funny, and never pushes for more than I'm ready to give.
I tell myself I'm happy. That this growing connection is what I want.
I ignore the dreams of silver eyes and thunderstorm scents. Ignore how my wolf perks up whenever we cross into Blackwater territory, as if hoping for a glimpse of him.
"You and Damon seem serious," Mila comments when we meet for coffee one morning. "Ethan says he's never seen him like this with anyone."
"It's going well," I say carefully.
"I'm happy for you," she says, stirring her coffee. "You deserve someone good."
"He is good," I agree, and it's true. Damon is everything I should want—kind, stable, unconnected to my curse.
"So what's next?" Mila asks. "Meeting the family? Moving in together?"
I laugh, shaking my head. "We've only been dating a few weeks, Mila."
"When it's right, it's right," she says with a shrug. "Ethan and I just know."
Because they're mates, I think but don't say. Instead, I change the subject, asking about her wedding plans.
That night, Damon takes me to dinner at a nicer restaurant than usual. He seems nervous, fidgeting with his silverware in a way I've never seen before.
"Everything okay?" I ask after our food arrives.
He takes a deep breath. "I need to tell you something, and I'm not sure how you'll react."
My stomach drops. Has he found out? Does he know about the silver-eyed man's claim?
"What is it?" I manage to ask.
"I've been offered a position," he says. "A good one. Leading security for a major pack alliance on the West Coast."
Relief floods me, followed quickly by confusion. "That's... wonderful. Isn't it?"
"It would mean leaving Blackwater," he says. "Leaving here. For at least a year, maybe longer."
"Oh." The implications sink in slowly. "When would you go?"
"That depends." He reaches across the table, taking my hand. "On you."
"Me?"
His eyes, warm amber in the candlelight, hold mine steadily. "I know we haven't been together long, but this feels right, Luci. I want you to come with me."
The world seems to tilt beneath me. Leave Moonhaven? Leave everything I know?
Leave the possibility of ever seeing silver eyes again?
"I—I don't know what to say," I stammer.
"Say you'll think about it," Damon squeezes my hand. "It's a big decision. But Luci, we could start fresh somewhere new. Just us, no pack politics, no complications."
No curse, my mind whispers. If I leave, if I put enough distance between myself and the silver-eyed man, maybe I can outrun fate itself.
"I'll think about it," I promise, my mind racing with possibilities.
Escape. Freedom. Safety.
But as Damon smiles, relieved and hopeful, my wolf howls in protest, the sound echoing through my mind with such force that I nearly flinch.
She knows what I'm considering.
And she's not going to make it easy.
