Theo's P.O.V
I think enough time has passed that attempting a conversation will be better received now - I say to Damon a few days later, receiving only a small hum as a form of an acknowledgment as a response.
He'd crawled slowly from his hiding place, slowly coming further out to see what he'd left behind in his need to lick his wounds. Now he was humming, which was more than I could ask for and I made sure to try to engage him in as much conversation as I possibly could. It worked because now I could feel him practically looking over my shoulder as I cooked dinner.
Well tried, I was never much of a cook, to begin with.
Perhaps, if you're not ready to face her, a letter would do - I suggest but quickly get the hum that I'd come to recognize as a no. Well, I don't see you making many suggestions about how to fix this.
Silence.
It's okay Damon, she'll come around, you just have to be patient with her and yourself - I encourage after a moment, eyebrows pulling as I try to salvage my eggs that were somehow bubbling and burnt at the same time.
You can only carry so much, only try to please so many and fix so much. You're barely an adult and you've already taken so much on, don't blame yourself so much when things don't go to plan, mistakes and mishaps are natural. It's how you deal with them that really matters.
Damon hums once more after a moment, his spirit growing stronger and glowing brighter with my words of encouragement. I smile happily at his reaction, but it quickly fades with the complete cluster fuck that was supposed to be my breakfast.
Wolves weren't meant to cook, I was set up to fail before I even began.
After I scuff down my disgusting breakfast, the rest of the day flows without much for noticing. The rage that had once plagued us, easing its way into the background as I kept a tight fist around it, letting Damon regain his footing with its overbearing presence slowly retreating.
I read through the many messages that seemed to grow in number after Damon's call home to Julian, all asking to receive a similar outstretched hand.
I didn't reply, knowing I'd cave to all my brothers and sisters if I heard from them. I missed Xena greatly and knew the minute we see each other again, she'd try to rip my hair from my scalp. My worry for Joseph didn't ease even with Mekhi's promise to look out for Peter to Damon, without being able to check up on him myself.
(A.N - Xena is Josey's wolf and Joseph is Peter's)
Damon, I'm going to make a call - I say slowly, testing the waters while being careful with my words. I'd like it if you gave us some privacy.
Damon faded without protesting making my chest soar with pride, no matter what anyone said about Damon, he was truly loyal. I think I loved him so much because he resembled more a wolf than a human-like he should. He was the human component and I was the wolf, yet sometimes I wondered if Goddess made a mistake and if things were supposed to be the other way around.
It didn't matter, either way, Damon was still the best lifetime friend I could ask for.
I open up the text box, fingers halting for a single moment as I try to find the best way to write the following message. My heart soars within my chest, straining against my muscles as anxiety and longing begin to cripple me, tearing at my lungs with every attempted breath.
Me - This is Theo, Damon is doing well but he's given me control. I'd like to talk to Max if that's okay with you.
I didn't need to tell Aiden exactly why I had control, he didn't need to know Damon's state right now, not with the immense guilt and sadness he was probably feeling without Damon.
I jump a little when the phone screen lights up only moments later with a call from The Original Shitbag, I immediately answer it, holding the phone in my trembling grasp before raising it to my ear, chest-thumping rapidly as I wait.
"Theo," Dad says hesitantly, his voice not as playful as it usually was. It sounded tired, rung out and haunted in its gentle rasp.
"Hey, dad." I breathe out, the sound of his voice, though different, still bringing comfort to the deepest parts of me.
"Theo, Goddess Theo I've been so worried about you." He replies quickly, words stumbling over themselves. "We looked everywhere for you, do you have any idea how terrified I was not knowing where you were, not hearing from you."
"I'm sorry, but Damon needed to leave... and so did I," I mumble honestly, voice quieting with that last part. He doesn't reply, leaving a noticeable silence for me to continue. "You didn't tell me that you weren't making us alpha, you didn't tell me."
Dad takes a breath, breathes hitching on the other side as he swallows audibly. I wait patiently, gripping the phone in my hands as I wait for an explanation, needing something tangible to not reproach everything I believed him to be before this.
"I'm sorry," He whispers through a croak, his voice weighing down like I imagined his regret to be pulling him down. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you, I shouldn't have let Aiden keep it from you two for this long. I should've pushed for him to tell you sooner."
"You left us for months, an entire year, believing that we'd be alpha." I press, voice growing louder with my irritation. "You knew exactly how much this meant to us, you both did, you and father know how much this meant to me, to Damon. And you lied to us."
"I know Theo and fuck, I'm so sorry."