Chapter 299 299
Damien POV
I don’t deserve her.
I don’t deserve the twins don’t deserve this new life growing quietly between us either. And yet they forgave me. They chose to move forward, to offer me a love I hadn’t even realised I was starving for.
A love I would protect with my life.
Alpha, Beta has returned along with the Darkvale Beta, one of my guards announces through the mind-link from the Darkvale gate.
My men were still rotating shifts alongside Darkvale’s pack members, working side by side across the territory. Watching them integrate so easily laughing, strategising, moving as one felt less like an alliance and more like an extended family.
Carefully, I eased myself out of bed, gently unwrapping Aurélie’s arms from around me. I replaced myself with my pillow, positioning it where she instinctively reached. I pressed a kiss to the back of her neck as she stirred, her hands curling around the pillow instead, my lingering scent soothing her back into sleep.
Downstairs, I slipped into her office and powered up the computer. Bloodnight pack matters demanded attention, and I still needed to decide which stretch of land would become our future home the place we would finally build something lasting.
Fabrice entered quietly, his gaze sweeping the room, no doubt searching for her.
“She’s asleep,” I said, standing from the desk.
“That explains why her block is up,” he replied with a yawn as he took a seat at the round table, rubbing the back of his neck. He and Lucas had been awake all night handling matters at Black Mist. The weight of what they’d done for me, for us settled heavy in my chest.
“I appreciate you both staying,” I said sincerely.
“It’s handled,” Lucas added, joining us. “Clémence didn’t return, so one of the neighbouring Alphas sent his Beta to oversee things. He’s agreed to give daily reports.”
At least that was something.
All the surrounding packs were part of my alliance, which spared me the urgency of appointing a replacement. Still, Clémence’s absence gnawed at me. Either she’d heard what happened or she was waiting for the fallout to pass before resurfacing.
“Did you burn the body?” I asked.
“All taken care of,” Lucas confirmed, his eyes flicking briefly toward Fabrice.
Fabrice frowned. “You couldn’t give him a funeral.”
“I couldn’t,” I said evenly. “I’ll deal with the council’s backlash when I return.”
“As long as that backlash doesn’t touch Aurélie”
“Of course it won’t,” I interrupted, rubbing at my eyes. “I know how to protect my mate.”
The exhaustion pressed in harder then. I probably should have slept.
“Well, if you’re good to debrief later, I’ll check in with Florence and try to get some rest,” Fabrice said, standing. He shot Lucas a pointed look before leaving.
The moment the door closed, unease rippled through the pack link sharp enough to catch my attention.
“Everything okay?” I asked.
Lucas hesitated, studying me as though weighing how much to say.
“It’s never good when you pause like that,” I muttered, forcing a light chuckle.
“I think I just need sleep,” he admitted, rubbing his eyes. “It’s been a long night.”
“The kids are out,” I said. “This will be the quietest the house has been in days. I’ll wake you if the men report anything.”
He paused. “Have you slept at all?”
“I’m fine,” I lied easily. “I’d rather let Aurélie rest undisturbed.”
I watched him leave the office, then turned back to the screen, forcing my focus onto emails and reports. I pushed the unease aside, even as it continued to coil slowly in my chest.
I was overtired. That was all.
If I could just make it through today, tonight would bring rest and tomorrow, clarity.
Or so I told myself.