I sighed. "I’ll only mate with my mate." My words were like a bomb.
The room fell into a deep silence, and the Elders wore stunned expressions.
Elder Dominic cleared his throat. "Alpha Damon, the last ti we checked your mate is dead. We all saw her fall off the cliff." He paused, his jaw twitching. "Or are you trying to say that you won’t mate?"
The room grew tense, the tension was so palpable that a knife could slice through it.
"Enough! The eting is adjourned. We’ll discuss how to handle Alpha Lucas and the Witches in the next eting."
My cold glare pierced through them, daring them to question .
With a reluctant grunt, they stepped out of the room one after the other. Alaric and Theo remained seated.
"I’m happy to see that you both are fine." My eyes flickered to them.
Theo aggressively pushed his glasses back, his hands balled into a fist.
"I’m happy that you are safe too..." Alaric began. "The image of you dying is a torturous one." He teased holding his chest.
His words made my chest clench, rembering how I chose Aeris over my pack. My gaze flattered a bit as the feeling of guilt spread across my chest... but I do not regret my decision, I’ll do it again if I were given another chance.
"I didn’t an for you to experience that," I muttered under my breath.
"I know," he replied a little too quickly.
The room fell silent, I turned to Theo, he had remained quiet all this while.
"Theo I’m so proud of you... You have awakened your Lycan blood." I said.
He turned to face , his hazel eyes sparkled beneath his glasses. "I was able to awaken it, all thanks to you." His voice sounded hurt.
I knew the sight of dying must have been the hardest for him. I wanted to explain to him... but I was never the one to express his emotions.
I pressed my lips into a thin line.
After a mont of deafening silence, Theo parted his lips. "Why did you choose her over our pack..." He turned to face , his eyes clouded with raw emotions. "Why did you choose her over ? You promised you would always be there for ." His voice was a bare whisper, but it was sharper than an edged sword, piercing through my chest.
’What do I say?’
"You don’t need to sugarcoat your words, Damon, be honest with him." Beowulf’s voice rang in my head.
My gaze softened as they t his. He was the last family mber I had. I never wanted to put him through what I had gone through.
"Because I love her... and I couldn’t bear to watch her die." My heart clenched tightly as the mories of the Bone Witches’ fingers digging into Aeris’ skin, while the chain wrapped around her tightly.
My heart was already broken at that mont, I knew it would be dead if she died... I refused to live in the circle of watching the people I hold dear die, while I was stuck in the loop of grief and pain.
"I see..." Theo drawled, his voice solemn and low. "So the promise ant nothing even in that situation."
I lowered my gaze, my face was expressionless, yet my eyes flickered with emotions I couldn’t voice out.
"I was selfish, I know. I disappointed you and the whole pack. I didn’t live up to the expectations that I had created for myself..." My voice turned colder. "I have watched my mate die twice, I couldn’t watch her die for the third ti. If I can protect the woman I love... how can I protect the pack?"
Theo lowered his head, and he exhaled shakily. "I understand your reasons... It’s just that I can’t bring myself to accept it." The chair scraped against the floor as he stood up.
"I need fresh air." He muttered before striding to the door.
"Theo..." I wanted to stop him, however, it might be best for him to be alone and sort out his emotions.
I remained seated, the weight of disappointnt pressing against my shoulders.
Alaric cleared his throat again. "He’ll co around."
"You must be disappointed in ," I leaned back into my chair. "After all I bargained the lives of the pack for her."
"It sounds selfish when you weigh the weight of your decision, but if I were in your shoes I would definitely make the sa choice as you did." A smile tugged his lips, however, his eyes were dull.
"Hearing that from you... It’s a little comforting." My eyes narrowed at him. "Tell , what is bothering the carefree Beta?"
His green eyes flickered to , but they imdiately looked away the mont they t mine. "Nothing."
I clicked my tongue. "We have known each other for more than a century, yet you can’t even confide in ."
"Damon, it’s not that I wanted to keep it from you, it’s just that I don’t know how to tell you, especially when you have been busy with Aeris lately."
"What does that an? Are you trying to say that I have been focusing on Aeris, and I missed what happened to you?"
"Yes."
"What did I miss?" My brows arched perfectly at him.
Alaric inhaled sharply, running his finger through his hair. "I found my mate..."
My eyes widened slightly, a genuine smile ford on my lips, but before I could congratulate him, he dropped the other half of his sentence.
"... and she happens to be a witch, and not just any witch, she is the sa witch who demanded your heart." He added with a hurt expression.
My mouth snapped shut, and I was stunned in my chair. My hand clenched tightly, ’Why does she have to be a witch out of all the creatures in the world?... Is the moon goddess playing a prank on us?’
"How are you coping?" I asked with concern.
He nodded his head. "I’m good... although it is difficult sotis." I sniffled.
I drumd my finger on my thigh, the only sound in the silence.
I glanced at him. "Do you want a drink?"
"I could use one or two." He said, flashing a smile. But I knew it was all a facade.
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