Chapter 151 Seven days of waiting
Milo's POV
Seven Days of Waiting
Seven days.
That's how long Damon had been asleep.
Seven days of me sitting by his side, watching his massive chest rise and fall. Seven days of wondering if he would ever wake up. Seven days of everyone treating me like I might break if they spoke too loud.
"Milo, you need fresh air," Daphne had said for the hundredth time since Damon went into a coma. "And sunlight, and real food."
"I am fine here," I told her, not moving from my spot next to Damon's beast form.
I wasn't scared of him. Even like this, he was still my Damon. Still the one who saved me. Still the one who fought an entire army just to keep me safe.
"The herbs I have aren't working," Daphne said, checking Damon's temperature. "His wounds are healed, but he won't wake up. It's like his mind is... stuck somewhere."
"Then we wait." I said simply, not tearing my gaze away from him.
"Milo… he needs moonflower herbs, but it's a rare species of herb. It can only be found near the range mountains, in the old temples.."
"What herbs do you need? I'll help find them."
Daphne sighed. "It's dangerous milo, the queen's men might be…"
"I'm going," I stood up, even though my legs shook a little. "If it might help Damon, I am going with you."
That's how I ended up outside for the first time in a week, with Daphne beside me and three Shadow Warriors that was waiting for us in front of the cave, Shadowfang stood in their midst
The sun hurt my eyes at first. Everything was suddenly so bright after being in that dark cave for days.
"The pack is asking about you," one of the Shadowfangs said, bumping my shoulders in a friendly way. Her name was Kira, "And about the Alpha."
"Tell them we are fine," I said, even though I wasn't sure if that was true.
I looked around at the somewhat lively surroundings, filled with pack members. Many were still suffering from the aftermath of the war that had shaken even powerful packs. The wars between righteous and the unrighteous pack.
They all looked up, hope filled their faces as they left the pack. Amidst the entourage of the shadows.
We weren't winners. We were survivors. Barely managing to survive.
Our pack... what was left of it... lived in tents made from old cloth and broken wood. Not even half of us had decided to follow James in his rally to follow their alpha, only the loyal few came, but seeing their faces that continued to look up at the cave entrance like it was where their salvation lies, I could help but weep silently.
"Don't let them know that their aloha is yet to wake up.” James had whispered in the inner meeting of the shadows.
Only them knows the truth,
But how could we hide this? How could we hide that their Alpha might never wake up, to save them like they hoped for.
The walk was hard. My body was still weak from losing so much blood. But every time I wanted to stop, I thought about Damon. Alone in that cave. Stuck as a beast.
"The Council really retreated?" I asked. Shadow Fang who and Falken into step with me.
"Yes," he answered. "When they saw what the Alpha did... They ran. We have never seen anything like it. One wolf against a thousand soldiers."
I shuddered uncontrollably, the mere thought of what happened that day always brought bad memories with it.
We found the temple ruins after four hours of walking. It was old, older than anything I had ever seen. But luckily, we had not encountered any hostility or the council warriors.
"There," Daphne pointed. "The blue flowers by the broken altar."
Moon's Tears. They really did look like tears, glowing faintly blue even in daylight.
I helped Daphne pick them carefully. We needed their roots too, she said. The whole plant was medicine.
"These might help wake him," Daphne said. "Or at least ease his mind. Sometimes trauma keeps us locked inside ourselves."
“Trauma?”
She picked some leaves, moving slowly. I noticed her hands shaking.
"Damon's mother died when he was young," she continued. "His father blamed him. Said if he'd been stronger, she would have lived."
"That's awful," I said.
"His father made him train every day. Fight. Hunt. Never play. Never rest. And then Luna, his mate, died..."
"That's when the curse got stronger," Daphne said. "Trauma makes it grow stronger, Pain feeds it. Every time something bad happens, the beast gets bigger and out of control… like now."
I noticed Daphne had to sit down on a rock to catch her breath. Her breathing was hard and labored.
"Are you okay?" I asked.
"Just tired," she said, but I could see it was more than that. I sensed that something was wrong with her. Her life energy felt... weak. Like a flickering candle about to go out.
As we walked back from the old ruins. Something strange happened. I felt... warm. Not from the sun or the walking. It was inside me. Like something pulling me forward.
The mate bond.
It suddenly became stronger. Pulsing like a heartbeat.
"He's awake," I whispered suddenly, startling everybody.
"What?" Daphne asked.
But I was already running. My weak legs found strength I didn't know I had. The Shadow Warriors called after me, but I didn't stop.
The bond pulled me faster and faster. Back to the cave. Back to his life signature that was brimming with life..
He was awake. I could feel it, could feel him through the new bond.
But then I stumbled, clutching my chest as his emotions hit me like waves. Fear, Shame. Anger. All mixed together.
Why was he feeling these things?
I reached the cave entrance and saw a warrior standing at the entrance.
"Milo, wait…" he started,
But I was already past him, zooming into the cave.
And there he was.
Awake, Alive
James was surrounded by the shadow warriors. They were surprised to see me, at first but my attention was not on them, it was on the monstrous figure in the room. He was still in his beast form, but his red eyes were open after days of being in coma.
He was looking right at me.
"You're awake," I said softly. My voice came out shaky with relief.
He tried to back away. This giant, powerful beast took a step back, I could feel his chaotic emotions, through the mating bond.
"Don't," I said, taking a step closer. "Don't hide from me."
But he did more than hide.
He growled, not at me, but at himself, at the situation, and then...
He ran.
This massive beast somehow maneuvered through all of us, before we could react, faster than the wind. He squeezed through the back opening of the cave and ran.
"Damon!" I called after him, but he was already gone.
I tried to follow, but my legs gave out, my adrenaline failing me at the critical. All that running to get here had used up my strength.
James caught me before I hit the ground.
"Let him go," James said, catching me before I could hit the ground.
“No,” I said, “he needs me”
"He needs time."
"Time for what?" I asked, refusing his help. "I'm not scared of him!. I need to reach him."
"Milo, you need rest…"
"I know what exactly I need," I said again, stronger this time. "To be with him.
"Let him, James," Daphne came to my rescue. "But be careful."
I didn't wait for her to finish her words, I ran out the same way he had followed, hot in pursuit of the scared giant beast, that was Damon.
I followed his tracks. Giant paw prints in the mud, he wasn't trying to hide.
Maybe he wanted me to follow.
Maybe he needed me to.