Meanwhile, Damian, along with Grey and Caroline, sped through the winding roads with such intensity that they reached the city in just under an hour. The car roared down the path, its speed barely allowing the passengers to breathe between the bends and turns. Damian's focus was razor-sharp, his grip firm on the steering wheel, and the silence inside the car was heavy, broken only by the hum of the engine. His urgency was palpable as if he was racing against time itself.
Within another hour, they managed to find a hotel—The Obsidian Haven. It stood tall and elegant, a modern masterpiece amidst the bustling city streets. The contrast between the city and the village hit them like a wave. The streets were alive with activity, illuminated by the warm glow of streetlamps that stretched as far as the eye could see. Restaurants lined the roads, spilling light and life onto the sidewalks, and modern houses stood proudly, their windows reflecting the city's vibrancy.
Anglos Sign City truly lived up to its name. It was a beacon of progress and life, a stark difference from the quiet, simple charm of the village. Grey glanced around, taking in the scene, while Caroline leaned against the car, her hand resting on her pregnant belly.
When the car finally came to a halt in front of the hotel, Caroline stepped out first, her hand instinctively resting on her belly, followed by Grey. The two of them stood there for a moment, taking in their surroundings. Caroline's gaze shifted to the restaurant across the street, its bold sign reading "Chef's Kitchen" glowing under the streetlights. Her lips parted in awe as she took in the sight.
"Wow," she breathed. "Now I understand why this city is so famous around the world."
Grey nodded, equally mesmerized. His eyes roamed over the bustling streets, the sleek modern buildings, and the twinkling lights that gave the city an almost magical feel. "Yeah, it's incredible," he said, his voice tinged with admiration. "Just look at this place."
While Grey and Caroline stood there, gushing over the city's vibrant charm, Damian remained silent. He leaned against the car, his eyes distant and unfocused. The lively surroundings didn't seem to register with him. His mind was elsewhere, consumed by the image of his mate. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't shake the memory of her. the way she moved was enough to make him burn for her. she was his mate, Of course, he was going to feel this way towards her. The realization had hit him like a storm, leaving him reeling and unsure of his next steps.
His wolf stirred restlessly inside him, its frustration bleeding into his thoughts. "Why are we waiting?" it growled. "We should be with her. She's ours. She needs us."
Damian clenched his jaw, his fingers twitching as he fought to calm his wolf. "We can't just go to her like that," he argued silently. "She doesn't know us, and if we rush this, we'll scare her."
His wolf snarled, pacing in the back of his mind. "She's afraid because she doesn't know we'll protect her. If we don't go now, someone else could hurt her. We should be there!"
Damian exhaled sharply, forcing his wolf into submission. "I said no. Not now. If we go to her like this, we'll make things worse. She's already wary of strangers, and if we approach her at the wrong time, she'll see us as a threat. We need to take this slow, carefully, she is safe in the village. we will go see her tonight."
But his wolf wasn't having it. Its agitation grew with every step Damian took away from her, a primal instinct urging him to turn around, to run to her, to hold her. Damian could feel it, the pull of the bond tightening around him like a noose. The thought of her being so close and yet out of reach made his chest ache.
To distract himself, Damian ordered Grey to book the hotel rooms for all of them and ensure all the arrangements were in place. Once the task was delegated, he left the hotel, needing some space and time to himself. The vibrant energy of Anglos Sign City pulled him in as he wandered through its bustling streets, though it did little to calm his wolf's growing irritation.
The city was alive, a stark contrast to the quiet simplicity of the village he'd just left behind. Damian found himself weaving through narrow alleys and wide avenues, observing the world around him with a mix of curiosity and detachment. The street lamps bathed the roads in a warm glow, illuminating the steady stream of people moving in every direction. Couples strolled arm in arm, laughter spilling from cafés, and vendors called out to passersby, advertising everything from fresh pastries to handmade trinkets.
His gaze lingered on the buildings, a mixture of old-world charm and modern innovation. Tall, glass-covered structures stood next to smaller, ivy-covered brick houses, creating a cityscape that felt both timeless and progressive. Children ran past him, their laughter echoing as they chased each other into a park filled with benches and blooming flowers. A street artist nearby was sketching a young woman's portrait, his hand moving deftly across the canvas.
Damian stopped at a bridge overlooking a canal that ran through the city, the water reflecting the lights of the surrounding restaurants and bars. The scent of freshly baked bread wafted from a bakery, making him pause and glance inside. He debated stepping in but kept walking instead, his thoughts too restless for indulgence.
Despite the liveliness of the city, he couldn't shake the pull of his mate from his mind. The vibrancy around him only made her memory feel more vivid, her serene presence standing in stark contrast to the city's chaos. His wolf growled again, louder this time. "Go to her."
Damian sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Not yet"
The hours passed as Damian roamed the city, his feet moving without direction, his wolf's growls turning into low, constant murmurs in the back of his mind. He felt the bond pulling him, urging him to go to her, to claim her as his own.
But Damian knew better than to act on instinct alone. His mate was not someone to be approached recklessly. The connection between them might be undeniable, but it was fragile and delicate. One wrong move, and he could lose her before he even had the chance to know her.
It was maddening and exhilarating all at once, as though she were pulling his strings from afar, and he was powerless to resist—powerless but smiling. For the first time, Damian felt utterly unmoored, adrift in emotions he neither understood nor controlled.
He groaned inwardly, stopping by a street corner as the glow of a streetlamp cast his shadow long across the pavement. How could he focus on the things demanding his attention when his mind was caught in this endless loop of her? It was infuriating and thrilling, a paradox he had no choice but to endure.
For a man like Damian, who thrived on control and precision, this newfound vulnerability felt like both a blessing and a curse. And yet, despite his frustration, there was a part of him—a growing, undeniable part—that enjoyed this suffering.
His wolf growled again, louder this time, refusing to be ignored. "We should go to her. She's ours, and she'll understand the bond if she sees us. The mate bond is undeniable—it's instinct. Even if she doesn't know what it is, she'll feel it. She's meant to be with us."
Damian sighed, rubbing his temples as he leaned against the cold railing of the bridge. "She's human," he snapped back at his wolf, his tone sharp but quiet. "She doesn't know what a mate bond is, and she doesn't feel it the way we do. To her, I'm just a stranger. A man barging into her life and claiming that she belongs to me isn't going to make her trust me. It's going to terrify her."
His wolf snarled impatiently, pacing in the back of his mind. "She's ours. She'll understand eventually. If you don't go to her, someone else might. What if she accepts them instead? What if she lets some other man near her?"
The thought made Damian's jaw tighten, but he refused to let his wolf rile him up. "You saw how she reacted with Grey," he retorted. "She's wary of strangers—especially men from the city. The villagers don't trust us, and they definitely won't trust me around her. She'll think I'm just another man trying to take advantage of her."
His wolf growled louder, snapping back, "What will happen she already has another man in her life, we have to eliminate the competition!!!!!!"
Damian's grip on the railing tightened, his knuckles turning white. The image of some other man approaching her, claiming her, made his chest ache with a sharp, possessive pain. But he shook his head, forcing himself to stay rational. "If some man did that, I will kill him with my own hands. You saw her— she is not claimed by another. The moon goddess will not pair us with someone who is already claimed by another".
His wolf wasn't satisfied, though. "Then why are we waiting? She's ours. She belongs with us. We can protect her, care for her. She'll feel the bond if we let her."
Damian exhaled sharply, trying to calm the storm raging inside him. His wolf was relentless, but he couldn't let instinct dictate his actions. His mate wasn't just anyone—she wasn't like the women of his kind, who would immediately recognize the bond and accept it. She was human, fragile, and unfamiliar with the ways of their world. Approaching her the wrong way could destroy everything before it even began.
"We'll go to her," Damian said finally, his voice low and firm. "But we'll do it my way. Carefully. Step by step. She's not ready for this yet, and I won't ruin her life by acting like a reckless fool."
His wolf growled one last time but quieted, retreating reluctantly to the back of Damian's mind. The pull of the mate bond remained a constant ache that refused to be ignored. But Damian knew he couldn't rush this. His mate deserved more than that—she deserved to feel safe, to trust him. And for now, that meant staying away, no matter how much it hurt.