Chapter 127 Nobody moves
Chapter 127: Nobody moves
Damon pov
"ALPHA!"
Somebody shouted, but I couldn't place who it was. I was disoriented for a second. I had taken the full brunt blow of the fire wolf paws, that felt like a speeding trailer jammed me.
His claws missed my vital organs by maybe an inch.
“Alpha, are you okay?” Suddenly, my shadow guards and pack warriors surrounded me, and the fire wolf that was still growling and bearing its teeth at their drawn weapons.
"Stand down!" one of them yelled at Milo. "Drop the Silent Dancer, now, or face the full wrath of the sword unit."
But then, instead of the calming effect, it made everything worse, as a deep warning rumble came from the fire wolf chest.
Its aura flared.
"NO!" I roared, shoving past them. "Get back! All of you, GET BACK!"
"But Alpha, he attacked you…" James's voice, worried and scared.
"I DON'T CARE. IT'S AN ORDER!" My voice came out as a growl, deep and commanding… my Alpha voice that makes wolves obey whether they want to or not. "If anyone interferes with this, if anyone hurts him or even touches a single hair from him, I will personally have your heads on a spike! Do you understand?!"
The guards froze, eyes wide. Some of them looked at each other, unsure of what to do.
"I said, do you UNDERSTAND?!" I shouted louder.
"Yes, Alpha," they mumbled, backing away slowly. But they didn't go far. They formed a wider circle, watching nervously.
I turned back to Milo, my heart breaking into pieces.
He had dropped Selene, at least the blood lust was no longer saturated around him. She lay in a crumpled heap on the ground, not moving. I didn't know if she was alive or dead, but I had to trust the medics would help her. Right now,
Milo needed me more.
The fire wolf was backing away from me, his head low, making a sound that was half-growl, and half-whimper. He looked confused, scared and angry all at once.
Taking a deep breath to stabilize my injuries, I started to mind-link again.
"See? They all want to hurt you," the evil voice continued to spill bad thoughts. "Even him. Especially him."
"Milo," I said gently, holding up both hands to show I was not holding any weapons. "I know you're scared. I know there's something dark inside you, telling you lies. But you are stronger than it. You have always been stronger than you knew."
I hesitantly took one cautious step forward. A low purr greeted me.
That was a good start,
I started walking toward him again, this time, slow and careful. One step at a time.
"That voice in your head?" I continued. "It wants you to think you're a monster. It wants you to believe you're alone. But you're not a monster, Milo. You are just scared. And it's perfectly normal to feel scared. But just know that you are not alone. I will guide you all the way."
The fire wolf ears twitched. At least he was listening. The fire that had burned me before was now mild, almost nonexistent.
Very, very slowly, I reached out my hand toward his massive furry head.
"DON'T YOU DARE!" the evil voice shrieked. "HE'LL HURT YOU! THEY ALL HURT YOU!"
But I kept reaching. Coming closer and closer.
"I am not going to hurt you," I whispered. "I promise. I am just going to touch you, okay? And then we are going to breathe together. Nice and slow. And you are going to come back to me."
My hand finally touched his fur.
It was hot…really hot…but not burning. It felt like touching warm velvet that had been sitting in the sun. Under my palm, I could feel Milo's internal turmoil clearer than ever.
"There we go," I said softly. "I have got you. You are safe."
The purple in his eyes flickered, going dimmer and brighter like a calm flame in the wind.
“Milo” I concentrated harder to reach him amidst the chaotic voice that was causing havoc in his head. “Listen to my voice. Only my voice. That other voice is a liar. It doesn't care about you. It just wants to use you.”
“But I care about you,” I continued. Running my hands across his nozzle, scratching behind his ears like you might pet a real dog. “I care so much it scares me. I ran through that forest like my life depended on it because the thought of you being hurt made my chest feel like it was being ripped apart. It's a scary feeling I don't ever want to experience.
The fire wolf made a soft sound… almost like a purr.
"NO,NO,NO!" the evil voice was getting quieter, farther away. "DONT LISTEN!, HE IS TRICKLING YOU!"
“Damon…” Milo's real voice suddenly whispered through the mind link, weak and shaky “I am scared.”
Relief flooded through my veins so strong I almost laughed out despite the tense situation around me.
"I know you are scared, little wolf. But you are going to be okay. I promise. Now, I need you to shift back, alright? Back to your human form. Can you do that for me?"
“I... I don't know how…”
"Yes, you do," I said firmly, hope brimming inside me. "Your body knows. Your wolf knows. Just think about your human shape. Think about your hands, your face, your…"
The fire wolf suddenly threw his head back and howled…
It was the saddest sound I had ever heard. It echoed across the arena, across the whole pack grounds, maybe even passed the entire pack. It sounded like a lonely lover that was mourning for her bereaved.
Then his body started changing again.
The red fur began to fade, turning back into skin. The huge wolf body got smaller and smaller. Popping sound echoed throughout the arena. The sound of bones shifting back to human bones.
It has never been so pleasant to the ears.
I kept my hand on him the whole time, while talking sweet nonsense i didn't ever think i could say. "That's it, little wolf. You are doing great. Almost there. I have got you."
Finally, after what felt like forever but was probably only a minute, Milo was human again.
A shivering naked Milo…
my Milo.
I caught him before he hit the ground, while using my cloak to wrap around him, covering his nakedness.
shifting always destroys our clothes.
He was still covered in blood, His eyes were closed, his breathing shallow. He was shaking so hard his teeth chattered. I held him close against my chest.
"I've got you," I whispered into his hair, sniffing like a dog. "You're okay. You did so good. I'm so proud of you."
Milo's eyes fluttered open… back to their normal light purple, now. They were unfocused and tired.
"D-Damon?" he mumbled. "You... you came..."
"Of course I came, you idiot," I said, my lips tugged into a smile. That would be the first time I was smiling in years.
"I will always come for you, little wolf.”
He gave a sweet soft smile that melted something deep inside my entire cold heart.
his eyes closed and he went limp in my arms. Asleep or unconscious… I wasn't sure which.
"Someone get a medic!" I shouted. "NOW!"
But before anyone could move, general Elijah stood up from his special seat high above us.
He was the strongest of all my commanders…big and muscular with gray hair and cold eyes that never smiled.
"STOP!" His voice boomed across the arena like thunder. "Nobody moves!"