CHAPTER 22: Elena’s Apology
912 Words
*CLAIMED BY THE ALPHA*
*CHAPTER 22: Elena’s Apology*
_∼
*Day 59*
It started with a letter.
No text.
No call.
Hand-delivered.
To the gate.
_‘To Abigail and Damon’_
In Elena’s handwriting.
Damon saw it first.
Held it for 10 minutes.
Didn’t open it.
“Do you want to read it?” I asked.
“I don’t care what she has to say.”
“Then why are you still holding it?”
He handed it to me.
Inside:
_‘I was wrong. I was scared. I was grieving my son and I took it out on you. I’m sorry. Can we talk? - Elena’_
Damon’s jaw clenched.
“She doesn’t get to apologize after 59 days.”
“Maybe she does,” I said quietly.
“Abi—”
“I know what she did. But Damon... what if she means it?”
He looked at me.
Tired.
“Why do you always want to forgive people?”
“Because someone forgave me once.”
He sighed.
“Fine. But I’m there. The whole time.”
---
*The Meeting. 3pm. Neutral Ground.*
Pack cafe.
Empty.
Except us 3.
Elena looked smaller.
No designer suit.
No makeup.
Just a woman.
Who lost her son.
Twice.
She stood when we came in.
“Thank you for coming.”
Damon didn’t answer.
Sat.
Pulled my chair out.
Hand on my back the whole time.
Elena started crying immediately.
“I’m so sorry,” she whispered.
Damon said nothing.
“I watched that interview,” she said. “The way you looked at her. The way she looked at you. I realized... I don’t have that. And I never will again. Because of me.”
She looked at me.
“I called you a child. I called him a predator. I lied because I was hurt. And I’m so sorry, Abigail.”
I didn’t say anything.
Because what do you say to that?
Damon finally spoke.
“Why now?”
“Because I saw the kids’ cards,” she said. “The ones from the school. She sent me a photo. 15 kids who love you both. And I realized... you built something. Something I tried to tear down.”
She pulled out another letter.
“Resignation. From the board. From the family company. I’m leaving. Going to therapy. Going to try to be better.”
She slid it across.
Damon didn’t touch it.
“Abi,” Elena said. “I don’t expect forgiveness. I don’t deserve it. I just needed you to know... I see you now. Not as a scandal. As his mate. As the person who saved him.”
She stood.
“Thank you. For both of you.”
And left.
---
*After she left.*
Silence.
For a long time.
Damon was staring at the door.
I took his hand.
“You okay?”
“No.”
“Do you want to talk about it?”
“I want to go home.”
So we did.
---
*Home. 5pm.*
He didn’t talk for an hour.
Just sat on the floor.
Back to the wall.
Me next to him.
Finally:
“She’s right,” he said.
“About what?”
“You saved me. I was dead before you, Abi. Just... walking around.”
He looked at me.
Eyes red.
“I spent so long hating her for what she did to me. For what she did to my first mate. And then I spent 59 days hating her for what she did to you.”
“And now?”
“Now I’m just tired of hating.”
He pulled me into his lap.
“I don’t forgive her. Not yet. Maybe never. But I don’t want her to ruin us anymore.”
I nodded.
“Me neither.”
---
*Dinner.*
We made it together.
Burnt pasta again.
We laughed.
For the first time in days.
Damon told me stories.
About Elena when he was little.
Good ones.
Before grief broke her.
“She used to make me cookies,” he said.
“Really?”
“Yeah. Chocolate chip. Burnt every time.”
“Like your cooking?”
“Hey.”
“Sorry.”
“Don’t be. I miss that version of her.”
---
*Night. 10pm.*
We were in bed.
Not sleeping.
Just talking.
“Damon?”
“What?”
“Do you think she’ll be okay?”
“I don’t know. And that’s not my job anymore.”
“Good.”
“What?”
“Good that you said that. Boundaries, right?”
He laughed.
“You’ve been teaching me too.”
“Someone has to.”
He rolled over.
On top of me.
Careful.
Always careful now.
“Thank you,” he whispered.
“For what?”
“For going. For listening. For being better than me.”
I touched his face.
“I’m not better. I’m just yours.”
He kissed me.
Slow.
Healing.
Like he was washing the day off both of us.
“I love you,” he said.
“I love you too.”
---
*11:59pm. Text.*
*Unknown: She won’t bother us again.*
*Me: How do you know?*
*Unknown: Because I told her if she does, she’ll answer to me.*
*Me: Damon—*
*Unknown: And to 15 kindergarteners who would riot.*
*Me: LMAO fair.*
*Unknown: Come here. Closer.*
*Me: Already there.*
*Unknown: Good. Stay.*
Bound by his name.
For 50+ chapters.
And tonight,
finally free of her shadow.
---
_END OF CHAPTER 22_
- Writer
