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demanding justice for the life stolen from me.
Just as I was about to lose control, I felt strong arms wrap around me, pulling me back from the edge. Damon. He held me close, his embrace grounding, his presence solid and unyielding. He was an anchor in the storm raging inside me.
“Malinda,” he murmured, his voice a low, calming hum. “Look at me, Breathe.”
I closed my eyes, forcing myself to focus on his steady heartbeat, a rhythm I could cling to. His fingers traced gentle circles on my back, soothing the fury and grief that tore through me. His presence felt like a balm, a salve to the raw, bleeding wound in my heart. “They’re not worth it,” he whispered, his words filled with a quiet, unwavering
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The aftermath of the battle clung to me like a storm I couldn’t shake. Standing alone at my father’s grave, I felt the weight of his
absence press down on my chest, as if trying to crush me from within. The ground beneath my fingers was cold and unyielding, much like the harsh reality I was forced to accept. He’s gone. The words echoed in my mind, each syllable more painful than the last. I closed my eyes, breathing in the scent of the earth as if it could somehow bring me closer to him.
“Goodbye, Father,” I whispered, my voice so soft it barely escaped my lips. I didn’t even recognize the sound of my own words- they were shattered, fragile. How am I
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supposed to go on without you?
A warm hand settled on my shoulder, grounding me in the moment. Damon. He knelt beside me, his gaze focused, steady, a silent strength that anchored me when I felt as though I might drift away into the emptiness of my grief. His presence was my only solace, a reminder that I wasn’t completely alone in this dark void. The weight of my sorrow was still suffocating, but Damon’s touch reminded me that I didn’t
have to bear it alone.
“We‘ ll avenge him,” he murmured, his voice like a steady promise that cut through the pain. “I swear it on my life. Those rogues will pay.”
I looked at him, searching his face, needing to see the truth in his eyes. And there it was-
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man I’ve ever known.”
Damon’s eyes darkened with something close to anger, a cold fury that mirrored my own. “And he’ll have the justice he
deserves.”
We fell into silence after that, and as Damon took charge, his commands ringing out with clarity and purpose, I realized that his strength was exactly what this broken place needed. His warriors moved seamlessly, helping the Shadow Pack rebuild, their movements a tribute to my father‘ s memory. They didn’t stop, honoring the ground that had witnessed so much bloodshed. It was as if they knew my father deserved more than words.
Hours passed, the sorrow hanging in the air
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like a mist that refused to lift. But there was work to be done. Eventually, Damon’s call prepare for departure sliced through the quiet, reminding me that I had a new life to return to, even if my heart was still trapped among the ruins of my old one.
Just as we readied ourselves, Alpha Nathan appeared, his presence as somber as the graveyard that surrounded us. He approached Damon, his face etched with gratitude and loss, and extended his hand with a deep bow.
“Thank you, Your Majesty, Alpha King Damon,” he said, his voice formal, respectful, reverent. “You’ve done us a great service today.”
My breath caught, my gaze snapping to Alpha Nathan and then to Damon. Your Majesty? I’d known Damon was powerful, that much
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him exchanging looks with Francis, their expressions a blend of shock and something close to reverence. Even Sharon had lost her usual calm, her eyes wide, mouth slightly open as she gazed at Damon with disbelief. But Damon? He was unwavering, his gaze meeting mine for the briefest moment before he turned back to Alpha Nathan. “The Shadow Pack has suffered a great loss, but you’ll rebuild. My mate and I will ensure the rogues responsible pay for their crimes.” My heart skipped at his words. My mate. The way he said it held a promise, a silent vow that felt like an unbreakable bond between
- us.
Alpha Nathan nodded, his voice heavy with emotion. “Thank you. The Shadow Pack owes you a great debt. Alpha King. And to
