Chapter 8 - Chapter 8

Tess

Replying to Damon goodnight in my mind, I was already in the clouds. The way he kissed my hand, the way he caressed it... The electricity with every touch... For a moment I wanted him to do that to my whole body. For him to caress and kiss me like that and... I hid my face in my hands, trying to control my raging emotions. 

"Calm down, woman. It doesn't mean anything at all" I scolded myself. "He just follows his orders... And he does it in such a sexy way... Haaa" I lay there for a long time, staring at the ceiling, until I decided to take a quick bath and go to sleep. Fortunately, the night passed peacefully. 

Day by day, the conversation with Damon became more and more pleasant. It's true that we didn't have much time for ourselves because something was happening on their border and Damon had to leave me alone, but when he was available, he always tried to exchange a few comforting words with me. There was no trace of his bite, but my dreams were much calmer. Maybe it was because my head was full of a certain handsome guard. 

Another day was starting and from the moment I opened my eyes I felt that something was wrong. I tried calling Damon's name in my mind, but there was no answer. That night he was supposed to patrol the borders. Maybe he hasn't come back yet... I waited patiently until noon before my stomach started growling seriously, calling for food. Having no choice, I went to the main house. As I was walking along the path, I noticed that the people were nowhere to be seen and I started to get nervous. Something must have happened. I quickened my pace and noticed that everyone was gathered near the main house. Gathering my courage, I went inside and pushed through the people, looking for Damon. Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted Luna Becky explaining something to several women. I walked up to her and patted her lightly on the shoulder.

"Oh Tess, hello. We're a little confused because someone was trying to get across the border at night. But there's nothing to worry about. The attack has been stopped." She explained and my heart started beating faster.

"What about Damon?" I asked quietly, thinking the worst.

"Damon... He's at the infirmary with the wounded warriors" She said after a while. But I didn't listen to what she wanted to tell me after that.

I ran out of the building as if I had been burned, not knowing why I was panicking so much. Is that why he didn't respond to me before? Because he was injured? Unconscious? Was his life in danger? My heart ached just thinking about Damon being injured. His previous wounds made me sad every time I saw them. I didn't want him to suffer again. I ran into the clinic out of breath and started looking around the rooms until I finally saw him. He was standing by one of the beds with Nelly, talking to each other.

'Damon' Without knowing why, I spoke to him in my mind. His head immediately turned towards me, as if he knew I was there. He walked up to me quickly, grabbed my arms and started looking at me.

"Tess! Did something happen to you? Why did you come here?" Seeing his concern, I couldn't help myself. I hugged him, trying to calm my nervousness. He was safe and sound. He was fine. I felt his arms embrace me as well. I felt so good, so safe in his arms.

"I was worried about you" I finally muttered under my breath, rubbing his back. "Beckie said you were in the hospital...because there was an attack...and then...I thought the worst...that you..."

"Shhh..." he stroked my back soothingly. "I'm fine. Some of our guys were injured so I came here with them. It's not that easy to hurt me." He reassured, not letting go of me.

"Yeah, those scars on you say otherwise" I grumbled. He laughed. He grabbed my cheeks and looked at my scowling face with his laughing eyes. I looked away, knowing I would quickly soften by looking at them. 

"Tess... These scars are from fights with someone much stronger than me. And yet I survived." He stroked my cheek. And that's where our conversation ended, because my poor hungry stomach made itself known once again.

"Don't even tell me you haven't eaten yet." He frowned, squeezing my cheeks.

"I was going to but I heard the news about you and ran here" I barely replied with my cheeks pressed together. He let me out and headed to the main house. Of course I followed him. I finally needed something to eat. Once there, everyone slowly returned to their homes. To his surprise, I went into the kitchen with him, took two portions for me and him, and sat next to him without worrying about anything. I was too hungry to think about where I should eat. With a full stomach, we left the kitchen and unfortunately had to part ways again. Damon had to talk to Alpha about the attack and I had to go home alone again.

'Let me know when you come back' I heard in my mind and immediately felt warmer. A few minutes later I stood in front of my house and sat down on the steps. I closed my eyes and imagined Damon standing in front of me.

'I'm home now. Take care of yourself' I said, smiling to myself.

'I'll bring you dinner and we can spend some time together before bed' He purred in my thoughts.

"He's going to make me go crazy" I said to myself, hiding my face in my hands. We both obviously felt something for each other, but we were also obviously struggling with it... I don't know why Damon did it, but I... I didn't want to be another disappointment for someone. If I were single and unmarried, I don't think even my fear of people would stop me from being with Damon. I went inside and ran a tub of hot water.

Actually, I felt the same way with Adam at the beginning. We loved each other and he didn't mind us spending time together at home. But then... When the children grew up... The way I was started to become a problem... I closed my eyes, remembering, against my will, all the unpleasant situations. 

"Why can't I be normal like everyone else?" I muttered under my breath. I felt sorry. I was sad but also angry with myself. In a bad mood, I got out of the bathtub and, putting on comfortable clothes, threw myself on the bed. 

'I'll be there soon with dinner' I heard a wonderful voice that brought me out of my long despair. I quickly got out of bed, tidied up my hair and sat in the living room, waiting for Damon. 

"I'm sorry you had to wait so long, but I had to finish some things" He said as he walked inside.

"It's nothing. The most important thing is that you are here." I looked with relief at the man thanks to whom I could forget about the painful past. Damon put the food on the table and started looking at me. 

"Did something happen?" He asked, seeing me picking at my plate, not wanting to eat. 

"Bad memories came back" I muttered, glad he was interested in me. No one ever wanted to hear about my problems. Understand me at least a little. Or comfort me. I felt in my heart that Damon was different. That he will listen to me and understand me. 

"Come on" He stood up from his chair, took my hand, and sat down next to me on my bed. "Tell me what's bothering you" He looked at me with his piercing green eyes, not letting go of my hand. 

"I'm angry with myself for not being able to be like others. Seeing the disappointment in others' eyes when I can't spend time with them. Hearing complaints that I'm weird and should behave like a mature person. When I can't fight it" Tear flowed down my cheek. "No one can understand me. No one knows how difficult and scary it is at the same time." I fell apart for good. "Of course they preferred someone like Julie. How easy it was for them to replace me with someone better" I cried.

"Come here" Damon sat me on his lap and hugged me to him, purring softly. He tenderly stroked my back and waited patiently for me to calm down. And that's exactly what I needed. Cry, say what hurts and be comforted. I slowly started to calm down as I heard his pleasant purr.

"Thank you" I whispered. "You're the only one who wanted to listen to me." I leaned my head against his chest, allowing myself to caress him for a moment. I felt so good in his arms. We stayed like that for some time before it got completely dark outside.

"How are you feeling? Do you want me to stay with you?" He asked me in his low gravelly voice. I slowly got up from his lap and looked at him with gratitude in my eyes.

"No need. I feel better now. You can go back to your place." I quickly looked down, knowing how much I had been crying and how I looked now. Damon brushed my hair out of my face and looked carefully at me to see if I was telling the truth. He was so lovely. He reluctantly left me alone. Tired of all the crying, I fell asleep pretty quickly. 

In the morning I heard someone's footsteps in my house but I was too sleepy to see who it was. Besides, I had a strange feeling that it was none other than Damon. He came to my bed and stroked my head gently.

"Tess, I have to go with Zack to a meeting across the border. Luna Beckie wanted to meet you after breakfast. Can you make it?" He asked as his hand gently caressed my cheek.

How good...

"I'll try" I mumbled, rubbing my cheek against his hand. Good thing I didn't see it, because I probably would have felt bad forcing myself on him. What didn't I see? His facial expression. He frowned seriously, closing his eyes. He twisted his face ugly and, looking at me one last time, he left furious.