Chapter 4: The Bond Between Us( Continued)
The fire in the hearth crackled softly, filling the silence between them. For a long moment, Damien didn't speak, his thoughts clearly torn in a thousand directions. Elena watched him, her heart aching at the war she could see raging within him.
Finally, he stood and began to pace, his movements restless and full of unspent energy. "If you're staying, there are things you need to know—things you can't unlearn," he said. "This isn't just about me and what I am. It's about the world you've stepped into, whether you meant to or not."
"I'm listening," Elena said, her voice calm but resolute.
Damien stopped pacing and turned to face her. "There's a hierarchy, a code," he began. "In the pack world, loyalty is everything. You don't question the alpha. You don't break the rules. And you definitely don't bring a human into their business."
"Why not?"
"Because humans are seen as weak," Damien replied bluntly. "Vulnerable. Liabilities. They don't understand what it means to live with the beast inside. To fight it."
Elena tilted her head, her gaze steady. "And what do you think?"
Damien hesitated, his throat tightening. "I think they're wrong. About you, at least."
Her lips curved into a small smile, but it quickly faded as he continued.
"But that doesn't mean they'll see it that way. If they find out about you, they'll see you as a threat—someone who could expose them. And that's not a risk they'll take lightly."
"So, what do we do?" Elena asked, standing now, her shoulders squared.
"We keep you hidden," Damien said firmly. "For now, no one can know you're involved. Not until I figure out where I stand with them."
"You mean you're going back to the pack?"
He nodded grimly. "I don't have a choice. If I disappear for too long, they'll come looking. And if they find you here with me…"
He didn't need to finish the sentence. The weight of his words settled heavily between them.
"Then I'll stay out of sight," Elena said. "But I'm not leaving, Damien. Not unless you ask me to."
His jaw tightened, his instincts battling with his heart. But he knew there was no convincing her. She was as stubborn as she was brave.
"Fine," he said at last. "But you have to promise me—if anything happens, you run. Don't look back. Don't wait for me. Just go."
Elena didn't respond right away, her gaze locked with his. "I'll promise if you promise me something too."
"What?"
"That you'll fight to come back. No matter what happens."
Damien's chest tightened, the vulnerability in her voice cutting deeper than any threat he'd ever faced. "I promise," he said softly.
Their eyes met, and in that moment, it was as if the world outside didn't exist. The bond between them was fragile but unbreakable, forged in fire and trust.
But the sound of a distant howl shattered the moment, pulling them back to reality.
"They're close," Damien said, his body tensing. "Stay inside. Don't open the door for anyone. Not even me, unless I call for you first."
"Be careful," Elena said, her voice trembling despite her resolve.
He nodded, his expression hardening as he turned toward the door. "I'll be back."
And then he was gone, disappearing into the night like a shadow.
Elena stood frozen for a moment, her mind racing. She had promised to stay out of sight, but the thought of Damien out there alone, facing whatever dangers awaited him, filled her with dread.
The bond between them might have been strong, but the storm outside was closing in fast. And she wasn't sure either of them was ready for what was coming.
End of Chapter 4