Chapter 44: Pack's Future
The next morning, sunlight streamed through the curtains. Meredith stirred from her sleep, her body still tingling from the intensity of the night before. As she stretched, she realized that Magnus and Xavier were gone. The space next to her was empty, but the sheets still held their warmth.
She was about to get up when the door creaked open. Damien stood in the doorway, his expression tight, as if something were weighing on his mind.
"Good morning," he said smoothly, leaning against the doorframe.
Meredith smiled softly. "Morning." She roamed her eyes around. "Where are Magnus and Xavier?"
"They're handling some business," Damien replied, crossing the room and sitting down on the edge of the bed. "I... wanted to talk to you about something important."
Her heart quickened at the serious tone in his voice. She sat up, wrapping the blanket around her. "What is it?"
Damien hesitated for a moment before meeting her eyes. "I've been looking for your sister. I know how much she means to you, and I didn't want to tell you until I had something concrete… but I'm still searching. So far, no leads, but I'm not giving up."
Meredith's breath caught in her throat. Her sister. The one piece of family she had left, the one she'd been desperately trying to find for years.
The thought of finally having some hope sent a rush of emotions through her. She hadn't expected Damien to take it upon himself to search.
"You've… been looking for her?" she whispered. "All this time?"
Damien nodded. "But I want you to know I'm doing everything I can."
Tears welled up in her eyes, but she quickly blinked them away. "Thank you, Damien. That means more to me than you know."
Without thinking, she reached out, her hand brushing against his. The touch lingered, and in the quiet of the moment, something shifted between them.
Damien's gaze darkened with desire as he moved closer, his hand sliding up her arm, sending shivers down her spine. "Meredith…" he murmured.
Her pulse quickened as his fingers traced the outline of her jaw, tilting her face toward him. The air between them hissed, and before she could say anything, his lips were on hers—firm, sweet, and full of promises.
Meredith melted into him, her hands sliding up his broad chest as he gently pushed her back onto the bed. His fingers were teasing her fair skin, setting her nerves on fire. She responded eagerly, her body arching into him, craving more of his heat, his touch, his lips.
Just as Damien's hand slid lower, gripping her waist, the sound of footsteps echoed through the hallway. The door burst open without warning, and they both froze.
Standing in the doorway were two older figures, elegantly dressed. They had sharp eyes and an air of authority that couldn't be mistaken.
Meredith's heart leaped into her throat as she scrambled to cover herself with the blanket.
Damien's face hardened, his body still half-hovering over her. He stared at his parents with annoyance.
"Mother, Father," Damien said. "This is not a good time."
His mother's mesmerizing eyes flicked from him to Meredith, her lips pursed in disapproval. "Clearly," she replied coldly. "But we've come to discuss something important, and I didn't expect to find you in… this state."
His father, a tall, stern-looking man, crossed his arms over his chest. "We need to talk, Damien. Now."
Meredith swallowed hard, her face burning with embarrassment as Damien slowly pulled away from her. She could feel the tension in the room. His parents were furious.
"I'll be out in a moment," Damien said through gritted teeth, his eyes narrowing at his parents. "Give us some privacy."
His mother raised an eyebrow but didn't argue. With one last disapproving glance at Meredith, she turned and left the room, followed by his father. The door clicked shut, and silence filled the room once more.
Damien sighed heavily, running a hand through his hair before turning to Meredith. "I'm sorry," he muttered. "They have a knack for showing up at the worst possible time."
Meredith sat up, still clutching the blanket to her chest. "It's okay," she said quietly, though her heart was still racing.
Damien's jaw clenched as he stood, pulling on a shirt. "Stay here. I'll deal with them." He leaned down, pressing a quick, apologetic kiss to her lips. "This won't take long."
With that, he left the room, leaving Meredith sitting alone. But she couldn't just sit there and do nothing. She had a sinking feeling that whatever Damien and his parents were discussing wasn't just about the moment they had interrupted.
She quickly threw on some clothes, smoothed her hair, and made her way down the hall. As she reached the top of the stairs, she could already hear raised voices coming from the living room. Curiosity tugged at her, but she hesitated for a moment, unsure if she should intrude.
Finally, she crept closer, peeking around the corner.
There stood Damien, his body tense and posture rigid as he faced off against his parents. His father, Conrad, had the same tall, commanding presence as Damien, though his face was lined with age.
His mother, Andra, was equally imposing. Her sharp eyes flashed with fury, her arms crossed tightly over her chest.
"You're making a fool of yourself!" Andra snapped. "Do you even hear yourself, Damien? How can you call yourself an Alpha when you don't even follow tradition?"
Damien's jaw clenched, and Meredith could see the storm brewing in his eyes. "I know what I'm doing, Mother," he replied calmly. "Things are different now. This pack doesn't need to cling to outdated rules and customs."
"Outdated?" Conrad scoffed, taking a step forward. "Being an Alpha is not a game, Damien! You think you can just change the way things have been for centuries because you feel like it? A Luna has always been a wolf. A human has never led a pack. It's disgraceful!"
Meredith's heart skipped a beat. She pressed herself closer to the wall, her chest tightening at the sound of her name being brought into the argument.
"I love her," Damien's voice was now a dangerous rumble. "And she's our Luna. I don't care what anyone thinks anymore."
"You're not just the Alpha for yourself!" Andra shot back, her eyes narrowing. "This is about the pack, Damien. You're putting your own desires above the safety of the Moonlit Pack. Have you even thought about the consequences? Do you know what the other Alphas will say? What they'll do when they see that you're treating your position like some—some personal playground?"
Damien's fists clenched at his sides, but he didn't back down. "The other Alphas can think whatever the fuck they want. This is my pack. And we need to evolve, not stay trapped in some ancient past. Meredith will make a great Luna, wolf or not."
Conrad's face twisted. "You're blind if you think this pack is safe under your care. Do you even understand the threats we're facing? The other packs are watching, Damien. There's unrest growing, and you… you're weakening us!"
"I know about the threats," Damien snapped. "I've heard them. I'm not ignoring what's happening."
"Then act like it!" Conrad barked. "Do you think our enemies are going to respect a pack led by an Alpha who can't even follow tradition? By a human Luna who knows nothing of our ways? This isn't just about you and her, Damien. This is about the pack's future."
Andra stepped forward. "Damien, think. The Moonlit Pack has thrived for centuries because we've followed the old ways. If you break that… if you challenge the very structure that holds us together, the pack will fall apart. We've already heard whispers. And now, with the looming threats? The pack is... vulnerable."
Damien's eyes flared with anger. "I won't let anyone harm this pack. Not from within, and not from the outside. I am now the Alpha. And if they have a problem with that, they can answer to me."
"Damien," Conrad said, his tone softer now. "You're not just fighting against the outside threats. You're fighting against your own people. They won't follow a weak Alpha, and right now, that's what you're showing them. A man divided between loyalty to his pack and to a human who has no place in this world!"