Chapter 3: The Bond Between Us
Elena sat across from Damien, her hands cradling a cup of tea she hadn't touched. The air between them felt heavier than the night sky outside. He hadn't said a word since the transformation subsided, his gaze fixed on the floor, his jaw tight with tension.
"You're quiet," she said softly, breaking the silence.
"I shouldn't have let you see that," Damien replied, his voice low, almost a growl. "You should have run."
"Run from you?" Elena shook her head. "You didn't hurt me, Damien. You fought it back."
"You don't understand," he said, his hands balling into fists on his knees. "The beast doesn't care who you are or what you mean to me. It just… takes over. One slip, and you could've been—"
"But I wasn't," she interrupted, leaning forward. Her eyes searched his, trying to reach the man she knew was still hiding beneath all the guilt and fear. "You didn't lose control. You stopped it. Doesn't that mean something?"
Damien exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. "It means I got lucky this time. Next time, you might not be."
"Then we figure it out together," Elena said firmly. "Damien, I'm not afraid of what's inside you. I've seen it, and I'm still here."
Her words hung in the air, wrapping around him like a lifeline. No one had ever stayed. Not after seeing what he was.
"I don't deserve this," he muttered, his voice raw.
"You don't get to decide what I choose," Elena replied, her voice soft but steady. "And I choose you. All of you."
Damien looked up at her, and for the first time, he saw not pity or fear in her eyes, but something else. Something stronger.
"You're too good for this," he said, shaking his head.
"Maybe I am," she teased lightly, a small smile breaking through the tension. "But it's too late now. You're stuck with me."
He couldn't help the soft chuckle that escaped him. It was a rare sound, one he hadn't made in what felt like years.
But the moment was fleeting. The weight of his curse pressed down on him again, reminding him of the dangers that came with her choice.
"If you stay," he said, his tone turning serious, "you need to understand what this means. It's not just about me being a werewolf. There are others out there—others like me. Some who won't care about keeping control. And if they find out about you…"
He didn't finish the thought, but the warning was clear.
"Then we'll face them together," Elena said simply.
Damien shook his head in disbelief. "You make it sound so easy."
"It's not easy," she admitted. "But it's worth it."
The sincerity in her voice broke something inside him. For the first time, he allowed himself to believe that maybe, just maybe, he didn't have to face this alone.
But deep down, he knew this was only the beginning.
End of Chapter 3