Dark Moon Rising

Chapter 10 - Damien's POV

Watching Megan discover her wolf was like watching the sun rise after the longest night of my life. The joy and wonder on her face when Midnight finally spoke to her was breathtaking, and Dorian was practically vibrating with excitement in my head.

She's perfect, he said for the dozenth time. Strong, intelligent, and she knows about healing plants. Do you know how rare that knowledge is?

I'm getting the feeling there's a lot about our mate that's rare, I replied, watching her savor each bite of pancake like it was the finest delicacy.

The fact that someone had deliberately blocked her connection to her wolf filled me with a rage so pure it was hard to contain. Who would do such a thing? And why? What purpose could there be in cutting a werewolf off from half of their soul?

We need to find out, Dorian growled. And when we do, we're going to tear them apart.

Agreed. But first, we make sure she's safe and healthy.

Megan finished her third pancake and sat back with a satisfied sigh. "Thank you. I can't remember the last time I had a real meal."

"You don't have to thank me for taking care of you," I said softly. "It's what mates do."

She tensed slightly at the word 'mates,' and I mentally kicked myself. Too much, too fast.

"Sorry," I said quickly. "I know this is all overwhelming. We can take things as slow as you need."

What is she saying? I asked when I saw her eyes go slightly unfocused—a sure sign she was talking to her wolf.

After a moment, she refocused on me. "Midnight says to tell you that Dorian is very patient for an Alpha wolf, and that she appreciates you not pushing the bond too fast."

I felt my eyebrows rise. "She's very articulate for a wolf who's been suppressed for years."

"She says she's had a lot of time to think." Megan paused, listening to something else. "And that she's been watching and learning, even when I couldn't hear her."

Smart wolf, Dorian observed. I like her already.

"What does she think about whoever blocked your connection?" I asked.

Megan's expression darkened. "She has some theories, but she wants to talk to your pack healer first. Elena, you said?"

"Elena Rivera. She's... complicated. Part wolf, part witch, and completely brilliant when it comes to magical interference and healing." I stood and began clearing our plates. "She lives in a cottage about a mile into the woods. Very private, very powerful."

"When can I meet her?"

"Tomorrow, if you're up for it. But first, you need rest. Real rest, in a real bed, where you don't have to worry about someone finding you."

I led her upstairs to the guest room I'd had Marcus prepare. It was one of the nicer rooms in the house—comfortable without being overwhelming, with its own bathroom and a view of the garden she'd been so interested in.

"This is beautiful," she said, running her hand over the handmade quilt on the bed.

"My grandmother made that," I told her. "She always said every guest should feel like family."

"Your grandmother sounds like a wise woman."

"She was. She would have loved you." The words slipped out before I could stop them, and I saw Megan's cheeks flush pink.

Smooth, Dorian said dryly.

"I'll be right down the hall if you need anything," I continued, trying to ignore my wolf's commentary. "Don't hesitate to wake me if you have nightmares or if Midnight needs to tell me something important."

She nodded, suddenly looking very young and very tired. "Damien?"

"Yeah?"

"Thank you. For everything. I know you didn't have to—"

"Yes, I did," I interrupted gently. "You're my mate, Megan. Protecting you, caring for you—it's not a choice. It's as natural as breathing."

She stared at me for a long moment, and I could see the war between hope and fear playing out in her expressive eyes.

"Goodnight, Damien," she said finally.

"Goodnight, sweetheart."

I closed the door softly behind me and leaned against it, trying to process everything that had happened in the past few hours. I'd found my mate, discovered she'd been magically cut off from her wolf, learned she had extensive knowledge of herbal medicine, and brought her home to a pack that was now potentially facing war because of Samuel's threats.

It's going to be okay, Dorian said confidently. She's strong. Stronger than she knows. And now that she has her wolf back, she'll be even stronger.

I just want to keep her safe.

You will. We will. That's what Alphas do.

I was about to head to my own room when I heard it—a soft whimper from behind Megan's door, followed by what sounded like muffled crying.

Every instinct I had screamed at me to go to her, to comfort her, to chase away whatever demons were haunting her dreams. But I also knew that pushing too hard, too fast, would only drive her away.

She's scared, Dorian whined. Our mate is scared and hurting and we're just standing here.

She needs space. She needs time.

She needs us.

Another soft sob from behind the door made the decision for me. I knocked gently.

"Megan? Are you okay?"

Silence for a moment, then: "I'm fine."

"You don't sound fine. Can I come in?"

More silence. Then the soft sound of footsteps, and the door opened to reveal Megan with tears streaming down her face.

"I'm sorry," she said quickly. "I didn't mean to wake you. I just... I keep thinking about my mother. About what might have happened to her."

Without thinking, I pulled her into my arms, and after a moment of tension, she melted against me.

"We'll find her," I promised, stroking her hair. "I'll put my best trackers on it first thing in the morning."

"What if she's dead? What if Samuel killed her?"

"Then we'll make him pay. But Megan, you can't think like that. You have to have hope."

She pulled back to look at me, her eyes swimming with tears. "How can you be so sure? You don't even know me."

"I know enough," I said firmly. "I know you're brave enough to survive on your own for months. I know you're smart enough to learn herbal medicine from books and trial and error. I know you're strong enough to escape from Samuel's men and trust a stranger to help you. And I know the Moon Goddess chose you to be my mate, which means you're exactly who you're supposed to be."

Tell her about the prophecy, Dorian urged.

Not yet. She's not ready.

She needs to know what she is.

She needs to be safe first.

Megan was staring at me with an expression I couldn't quite read. "You really believe all that?"

"Every word."

She was quiet for a long moment, and I could practically hear the wheels turning in her head.

"Midnight wants to know if there are any old prophecies or legends about wolves who lose their connection to their other half," she said finally.

My blood ran cold. Dorian had been right—she needed to know. But not tonight. Tonight, she just needed to feel safe.

"We can ask Elena about that tomorrow," I said carefully. "For now, try to get some rest. Your wolf is back, you're safe, and everything else can wait until morning."

She nodded slowly, then surprised me by rising up on her toes to press a gentle kiss to my cheek.

"Thank you," she whispered. "For everything."

As she closed the door behind her, I touched the spot where her lips had been and felt something settle in my chest. She was beginning to trust me. Beginning to believe that maybe, just maybe, she deserved to be loved and protected.

Tomorrow, we'd start unraveling the mysteries surrounding her past. We'd figure out who had blocked her wolf and why. We'd begin training her to use the power I suspected she possessed but didn't yet understand.

But tonight, my mate was safe under my roof, with her wolf finally restored to her.

It was a start.