Chapter 33

Chapter 33
Damian

The crack of a snapping twig split the stillness. I reacted on pure instinct, dropping into a crouch behind the dense bramble, one hand falling to the dagger at my belt. Stormwind obeyed the silent signal to freeze, nostrils flaring.

Another rustle, closer now. I peered through the thorns, pulse racing. Had Natalia blundered into some wild beast's path? Or worse - were human bounty hunters on her trail? If she came to harm when so near to safety, I would never forgive myself. 

But the small figure that limped slowly into view made me sag in profound relief. Wrapped in a tattered cloak several sizes too large, Natalia looked utterly spent. Her feet were bare and bloodied, hands scratched from clawing her way through the underbrush. But by some miracle, she was alive.

I stepped from concealment just as she slumped weakly against a nearby oak. Natalia gasped in alarm, recoiling until she glimpsed my face. Confusion creased her brow. 

"Alpha Damian?" she rasped weakly. "How...why are you here?"

"Looking for a runaway slave foolish enough to flee into danger alone," I replied gruffly. Only with tremendous effort did I restrain the urge to rush forward and crush her safely against me. But I could not reveal how her absence had devastated me, for both our sakes.

Sharp dismay pierced her exhausted features. "No! Leave me be, please. I wish only solitude..." She tried to stumble away but her legs gave out, sending her to hands and knees.

In two strides I was lifting her to lean heavily against me, ignoring her feeble sounds of protest. How painfully light she had become out here. Natalia was skin and bones in my arms, all her former graceful vitality drained away. My chest ached at the loss. I had cut this precious flower off from life by my own blindness.

"Hush now. You are safe." The tender words slipped out before I could restrain them. Natalia peered up, startled, but was too spent to resist as I lifted her atop Stormwind. 

"Foolish girl," I chided without any true heat as I swung up behind, arm encircling her slender waist. "What future did you dream of out here alone, without pack or shelter?"

Her dark eyes flashed defiantly. "One without endless cruelties on my back. I would rather take my chances with the elements." She tried fruitlessly to shake off my supporting grip. "I refuse to be your captive again. Better to perish wild and free!"

Her fierce words tore at my heart. Natalia would genuinely choose death over returning with her persecutor. Fresh shame flooded me at that irrefutable proof of my failures. I had wronged her beyond imagining.

"Calm down." My tone gentled as if soothing a spooked horse. "You have my word, the ones who tormented you will never do so again." I squeezed her shoulder, willing Natalia to understand I had changed. "I would remove you under her care. And I have already taken care of things."

She only frowned warily, leaning as far from me as my secure hold allowed. I could not blame her mistrust after facing such consistent blackmail from the Cook and fellow slave. But it cut deeply nonetheless.

We spoke little more as I turned Stormwind back toward the palace, keeping one arm anchored around Natalia's slender frame. She wilted against me in wordless resignation, too spent to keep fighting the inevitable.

I wished desperately to offer genuine comfort, express how her absence had opened my eyes to injustice. But such open sentiment was dangerous folly. As Alpha, showing Natalia undeserved favor would only bring her more trouble from petty minds. I had learned that lesson well.

So I remained stoically silent about emotions that felt traitorously strong after days fearing her lost. Let her think this merely stern obligation, rather than the profound relief coursing through me. Safer for us both that way, even as it reopened the rift between us. Some walls were needed for now.

As the forest thinned into rolling meadows, the sprawling palace once more emerged ahead. Stormwind cantered eagerly for home, whickering in delight. But Natalia sagged smaller behind me, trembling faintly. My heart ached, wishing things could be different for her. But I swore silently she would never again suffer degradation under my roof.

Servants hurried forward as we passed under the soaring gates. I beckoned over my Beta, Kyle. "Take her to Kate, and make sure she is take care of." I ordered. But looking at her shivering self. "For today take her to my chambers prepared and a hot meal sent up," I instructed briskly, sliding down before lifting Natalia carefully into my arms. She stared determinedly away, jaw clenched.

Kyle shot a discreet assessing look toward where she huddled silently against my chest. "It shall be done, Alpha. And the staff have been briefed on needed...changes."

I nodded approval. "Excellent. Come, Natalia, let us get you warm and fed." She flinched almost imperceptibly at my intimate address but allowed herself to be borne along pliantly. Her defeated compliance haunted me. The sooner things were set right, the better, before Natalia lost herself fully.

I could barely restrain my pace to a graceful stride as I carried her through the polished corridors toward my personal quarters. How often had I imagined her here, safe and content at my side? Even if the reality was somber, having Natalia close soaked the bleak numbness from my bones. I could breathe fully again.

The lamp lit rooms were a welcome refuge from prying eyes where Natalia could recover in privacy. I settled her carefully onto the plush divan before the ornate marble hearth.

"There now. Rest here a moment." Unable to resist, I stroked back a wayward tendril of her dark hair. Natalia eyed me warily but held still beneath the gentle touch. It felt like progress.

A timid knock heralded the maid delivering a welcome tray heaped with roasted meat, fresh bread, and stewed apples with cream. I dismissed the servant swiftly before turning back to Natalia where she sat wrapped in a quilt, eyeing the food longingly.

Lifting the platter, I brought it to her and sat close. "You must regain your strength," I urged gently, lifting a slice of tender meat to her lips. 

After a brief hesitation she accepted it, chewing slowly. I continued patiently hand feeding her best pieces until some color returned to those hollow cheeks.

When she seemed satisfied, I set the tray aside and rose to stoke up the hearth against the creeping chill. Natalia's voice made me turn back.

"Why show me such care?" Her gaze was piercing. "What is it you want from me now?" Her blunt suspicion cut deep even as it stoked admiration. Even here, Natalia spoke truth boldly to power. My fierce she-wolf had lost none of her spirit in exile.

I returned and took her delicate hands in mine, willing her to understand. "I want only your forgiveness, and the chance to regain your trust as a member of my pack and a slave under my wing, nothing more." 

The raw words seemed dragged from my own heart. Surely it was a liberty, but she deserved the truth. "I feel guilty for believing in the lies spur upon you. 

Now I intend to make things right as I ought. Starting with ensuring none can ever harm you again since you are under my quarters now.."

Natalia searched my face intently. "Words are wind, Alpha," she finally whispered. But she did not pull free of my light grasp. "I pray your deeds match them in time."

It was a fair challenge, and the only one I could ever deserve from her. I pressed her palm briefly to my heart, hoping she sensed the sincerity within. "I always obey the rules and I'm a man of my word."

She offered a silent solemn nod in return, eyes never leaving mine. It was not trust, but a fragile truce acknowledging honor still might exist between us. For now it was enough - a foundation on which to slowly rebuild what had been sundered.

There were trials yet ahead for us both, shadows that even now gathered outside my doors. 

But with Natalia once more here beside me, I could face them undaunted. Her bold light had already begun scattering the dark.

Let her rest, even if it's just for today.