Chapter 153 Homecoming
Chapter 153: home coming
Damon pov
We walked slowly back to the cave. Side by side, my massive form walking next to Milo's smaller features must have looked ridiculous.
But Milo continued to put on a shy smile throughout our walk back to the cave. Despite my advances , he refused to look me in the eyes. And I let him be, choosing not to bring up what he said earlier at the river.
The Moon hung lazily in the sky. Illuminating the forest path, when we got to the cave, it was past midnight already and the people had retired to their tents.
As quietly as possible, we made our way to the cave entrance, making sure not to make any noise or wake anybody, but before we could sneak into the cave,
James appeared like a ghost, looking all serious.
"We have a problem," he said,
Of course we did.
In one of the bigger rooms on the cave or maybe the biggest of them all, we gathered together in an emergency meeting.
Milo leaning beside me, with Daphne, and James, my only two closest people apart from Milo.
"The pack," James, who was standing in the middle, continued. "They're demanding to see their Alpha. Some are saying you are dead. Others are saying you abandoned them."
I swallowed a growl, How could they think I abandoned them?
"They are scared," James said simply. "They need their leader."
But how could I lead them like this? I tried to say, but it came out as yet another frustrated growl, but they all understood the big question, then realised what was at stake…
“I have an idea," Milo said, suddenly leaping out of my hold before I could stop him.
I already know what he was about to say.
"What if we show them? Let them see Damon as he is?"
Everyone looked at him like he was crazy.
Yes, exactly my reaction when he said it before.
"They will run," James finally said "Or worse, they will try to kill him. You don't understand how people react to the beast curse."
"They won't," Milo said firmly. "Not if we do it right."
He stood up, and even weak as he was, he looked determined.
"Tomorrow," he said. "We gather everyone. And we tell them the truth, All of it, no more hiding.”
"Milo…" Daphne started.
"He saved them," Milo interrupted. "He became this to save them. They should know that. They should be proud of their Alpha, not afraid."
“You do realise that he attacked them” James' words went home, but that was the truth, at a moment of rage I had attacked my own people.
“That was the curse, not him. If we come clean about the curse, then they will know what really happened that day.” Milo argued fiercely.
The whole cave went into silence after his words, neither James or Daphne said anything.
They can't seriously be considered…
I made a sound of protest. This was a terrible idea.
"You don't get a vote," Milo glared at me. "You ran away once already. Now it's my turn to make decisions."
The little brat was getting bold.
"Tomorrow," he said again. "At Dawn. Everyone will know who their Alpha really is, there will be no more hiding it.”
James and Daphne exchanged looks but didn't argue.
They nodded slowly,
“Good, then that leaves our wolf boy…” all the attention turned on me, I felt like punching something.
Betraying me for the second time, again, no way was I doing this.
I growled low, trying to convey my decision but paused,
My eyes met Milo's purple hopeful eyes, and all my complaints and disagreements evaporated into thin air like white smoke.
I saw what I have been trying to avoid for a long time,
The truth.
Because even though I try to mask it and pretend that I was not affected, deep inside it terrified me, part of me was tired of hiding. Tired of being ashamed.
Maybe Milo was right.
Maybe it was time to stop running.
That night, Milo slept curled against my side. His breathing was steady, peaceful.
"I know you're awake," he murmured sleepily.
I made a soft sound.
"Stop worrying," he said. "Tomorrow will be fine."
How could he be so sure?
"Because," he said, like he heard my question, "love is stronger than fear. And I love you. The pack loves you. That has to count for something."
Love.
Such a simple word for such a complicated feeling.
"Go to sleep, wolf boy," Milo said. "Big day tomorrow."
That word again…
I growled in warning, but Milo had already nestled deeper into my fur. Chuckling at my pitiful reaction.
Not long after his breath evened, he had gone back to sleep,
But I couldn't sleep.
Tomorrow, everyone will see the monster.
Tomorrow, everything will change.
Tomorrow...
Tomorrow, I will stop hiding.
For Milo, for the pack, for myself.
Even if it destroyed everything.