Damon stood at the edge of the clearing, his crimson eyes fixed on Leah. The chaos of the battle had faded, leaving only the quiet hum of the forest and the sound of her voice—soft, trembling, yet so achingly familiar.
Her scent lingered in the air, a delicate mix of lavender and something uniquely hers, something Damon could never forget. It was a scent that had haunted him for centuries, appearing in his dreams and tormenting him in the lonely hours of the night.
And now, she was here.
So close, yet impossibly far.
Leah's gaze shifted to Kai, her soft brown eyes filled with confusion and a spark of trust that made Damon's chest tighten. She didn't look at him like that—not yet. She didn't remember him.
How could she?
She was human now, her memories of their past life erased, her soul reincarnated into this fragile, mortal form. But Damon remembered. Every moment. Every touch. Every promise they'd made to each other before fate tore them apart.
He had loved her in a thousand lifetimes.
And he had lost her in all of them.
---
Damon's Memories
The memories came rushing back, unbidden. He closed his eyes, his chest aching with the weight of them.
He could see her as she was before—a warrior and a queen, fierce and graceful. Her laugh had been like music, and her touch had been a balm to his tormented soul. She had chosen him once, defying the laws of their world to be with him.
But fate was cruel.
The bond that should have united them had been a curse instead, forcing her to love not just him but Kai as well. Damon had raged against the gods, against destiny, but it hadn't changed anything. He had shared her love with Kai, and though it had nearly destroyed him, he had done it for her.
Because he couldn't deny her anything.
And then she had been taken.
He still remembered the night she died—the scent of blood and smoke, the look of terror in her eyes as she was ripped away. He had fought to save her, but he had been too late.
And now, centuries later, here she was again.
Damon opened his eyes, forcing himself to look at her. She was different now—softer, more human—but the essence of her was the same. It called to him, wrapping around his soul like a chain he could never break.
But there was something else.
Kai.
Damon's jaw tightened as he watched the wolf step closer to Leah, his golden eyes filled with a protectiveness that made Damon's blood boil. Kai had no right to her—not after what had happened.
But the bond didn't care about rights or fairness.
She belonged to both of them.
Damon's heart twisted as Leah turned to Kai, her expression uncertain but open. She didn't look at him like that—not yet.
"Leah," Damon said softly, his voice carrying across the clearing.
She turned to him, her brow furrowing. "Why do you keep calling me that? Why do you look at me like you know me?"
Damon's lips parted, but the words caught in his throat. How could he explain centuries of pain and longing? How could he tell her that she was the reason he had endured lifetimes of loneliness, that every decision he'd made had been for her?
He stepped closer, his movements slow and deliberate, as if approaching a frightened animal.
"You may not remember me," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "But I know you. I've always known you."
Leah took a step back, her eyes darting to Kai. Damon's heart sank at the instinctive way she sought the wolf's protection.
Kai stepped in front of her, his golden eyes blazing. "Back off, Damon. You've done enough damage for one night."
Damon's gaze snapped to Kai, his temper flaring. "You think I want this?" he snarled. "You think I enjoy watching her look at you like you're the only one who matters?"
Kai's jaw tightened, but he said nothing.
Damon turned back to Leah, his expression softening. "I don't expect you to believe me," he said, his voice breaking. "But I loved you long before you even knew his name. And I would give anything—anything—to protect you."
Leah's eyes filled with tears, her confusion and pain evident. "I don't understand. This doesn't make any sense."
"I know," Damon said, his voice barely above a whisper. "And I'm sorry. I'm sorry for everything—for the pain, for the confusion. But you deserve to know the truth."
Leah turned away, seeking comfort in Kai's presence, Damon felt a sharp pang of jealousy and despair.
It was always like this.
No matter how much he loved her, no matter how much he sacrificed, Kai would always have a piece of her heart. And that piece would always feel like a knife in Damon's chest.
He wanted to hate Kai for it. But he couldn't.
Because Kai loved her too.
And that was the cruelest part of all.
They both loved her. They both wanted to protect her. But only one of them could claim her as his mate.
Or maybe neither of them could.
Damon clenched his fists, his claws biting into his palms. The bond was a blessing and a curse, binding them together in a web of love, pain, and destiny.
And yet, despite the agony, he couldn't walk away.
Because she was worth it.
She was always worth it.
---
As the night deepened, Damon lingered at the edge of the clearing, watching as Kai guided Leah and Claire toward safety. He didn't follow, though every instinct in his body screamed at him to stay close.
Instead, he stayed in the shadows, his crimson eyes burning with sorrow.
"I'll protect you," he whispered, his voice carrying on the wind. "Even if it means letting you go. Even if it kills me."
And as Leah disappeared into the forest, Damon closed his eyes, the weight of his love and loss pressing down on him like a shroud.