Chapter five - The Promise He Made

I woke up to sunlight spilling through the curtains.

For a few seconds, I lay still, staring at the unfamiliar ceiling above me.

Then I smiled. I was still here at Crimson Snow pack with Damon.

No wedding preparations. No council meetings. No guards watching my every move. No father waiting at the other end of the dining table to remind me of the responsibility attached to my name.

Just freedom.

I turned my head and found Damon still asleep beside me.

His dark hair was slightly messy, his face relaxed in a way I rarely saw when he was awake. I watched him for a moment, and that familiar warmth settled in my chest.

I had chosen him and despite everything I had left behind, I didn’t regret it.

Atleast not yet.

I carefully slipped out of bed, trying not to wake him, and walked toward the window.

Outside, Crimson Snow was already awake.

Wolves moved through the grounds, some heading toward the training fields while others went about their morning duties. The pack was quieter than Ironcrest, less organized, less rigid.

But perhaps that was what I liked about it.

Nobody was rushing me. Nobody was telling me what I had to become.

I was simply Aria.

Not the Alpha’s daughter, not the heir, but just a woman living her life with the man she loved.

“Why are you staring out the window?”

I turned to find Damon sitting up in bed, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.

A smile tugged at my lips. “You’re awake.”

“Unfortunately.”

I laughed softly.

He stretched before getting out of bed and walking toward me.

“What are you thinking about?”

“Nothing.” I gave a straight face.

He gave me a knowing look. “That usually means you’re thinking about something.”

I shook my head. “I was just looking outside.”

He glanced through the window. “It’s nothing special.”

“I know.” I looked back outside. “It just feels different.”

“Different good or different bad?” His brows furrowed.

I thought about it.

“Good.” I replied.

His lips curved into a smile. “Then that’s all that matters.”

He wrapped his arms around me from behind, resting his chin lightly against my shoulder.

I leaned into him. For a moment, everything felt perfect.

Maybe this was what I had been searching for all along.

A life without expectations, a life where nobody told me who I had to marry or what role I had to play, and a life where I could wake up beside the person I loved and decide what happened next.

I smiled. “I think I’m getting used to this place.”

“I told you that you would.” He grinned.

“You did.” He kissed the side of my head. “And you’re not missing Ironcrest?”

The question caught me off guard.

I hesitated. “Sometimes.”

He went quiet. I quickly turned around.

“But not enough to go back.”

Something softened in his expression.

“Good.” His hand moved to my cheek.“Because I don’t want you thinking about going back.”

I frowned slightly. “I wasn’t.”

“I know.” He smiled. “I just want you to understand that you don’t have to.”

I stared at him.

He was right, I didn’t have to. I had already made my choice and I wanted to believe it was the right one.

*********

Later that morning, Damon took me around more of Crimson Snow.

We walked through the main grounds, passing warriors who greeted us.

I noticed the difference immediately.

They weren’t as disciplined as the warriors in Ironcrest.

There were no perfectly arranged formations or instructors shouting commands across the field. Some trained casually while others stood around talking.

I couldn’t help staring.

Damon noticed. “You’re doing it again.”

“Doing what?” I frowned.

“Comparing them to Ironcrest.”

“I wasn’t.” I gasped.

“You were.”

I sighed. “Fine. Maybe I was.”

He laughed. “You’ll get used to it.”

“I suppose.”

He squeezed my hand. “You don’t have to worry about how they train. You don’t have to worry about how they run the pack either and you definitely don’t have to worry about being an Alpha’s daughter here.”

I stopped walking.

He looked at me. “What?”

“Nothing.” I whispered.

But something about those words had made me pause.

Being an Alpha’s daughter had never felt like something I could simply turn off.

It was part of me, even though I was now here, after I left.

But perhaps Damon was right. Maybe I needed to let it go. Maybe I needed to learn how to simply live.

So I smiled. “Let’s keep walking.”

He smiled back. “That’s my girl.”

I rolled my eyes. “Your girl?”

“You know what I mean.” He chuckled.

I knew what he meant, or at least, I thought I did.

*********

That evening, we sat together outside the house.

The sun had begun to disappear beyond the trees, painting the sky with fading shades of orange and gold.

I rested my head against Damon’s shoulder.

For a while, neither of us spoke. It was peaceful.

Then a thought crossed my mind.

“Damon?”

“Hmm?” He replied.

“Do you ever think about the future?”

He looked down at me. “What kind of future?”

“Our future.” I replied.

He smiled. “Of course I do.”

“What do you see?” I peered at him.

He was quiet for a moment.

“Us.”

I smiled. “That’s not very specific.”

“What else do you want?”

“I don’t know.” I sat up slightly. “Maybe a home. A family.”

His expression changed for just a moment before he smiled again.

“We’ll have all of that.”

“When?” I asked worriedly.

He chuckled. “You’re impatient.”

“Maybe.” I looked down at my hands.“There is something I’ve been thinking about.”

“What?” He frowned.

I hesitated. Then I looked at him.“When are we going to become mates?”

His smile faded slightly but not completely. Just enough for me to notice.

“Aria…” he mumbled tiredly.

“You said we would. Then when?”

He sighed. “There is no rush.”

I frowned. “No rush?”

“We’re together already.” He forced a smile.

“But that’s not the same thing.” I shook my head.

He stared at me but I continued quietly.

“I left everything behind for you, Damon.”

His expression softened. “I know.”

“My father. My home. My future.” I forced back the tears threatening to fall. “I even left without taking anything with me.”

He reached for my hand. “And I will never forget that.”

“Then I need to know that you mean what you said.”

He looked into my eyes. “What did I say?”

“That you wanted a future with me.”

His fingers tightened around mine. “I do.”

“Then make me your mate.” I pulled my hand away.

Silence settled between us. For the first time, I wasn’t sure what he was thinking.

I searched his face, looking for hesitation.

There was something there. Something I couldn’t quite understand.

Then he leaned closer and gently touched my cheek.

“Aria, look at me. I love you.”

My heart softened. “I love you too.”

“You know that, right?” He asked.

“Yes.” I nodded.

“Then trust me.” He kissed my cheek.

I swallowed. “I do.”

“Good.” He smiled. “I just need a little more time.”

I wanted to ask why. I wanted to push, but something in his expression stopped me.

So I nodded. “How much time?”

He smiled. “Soon.”

I sighed. “You keep saying that.”

“Because it’s true.” He let go of my hand.

“When?” I asked.

He chuckled softly. “You really want an exact date?”

“Yes.”

He shook his head, amused. “You’re impossible.”

“And you’re avoiding the question.” I frowned.

He pulled me closer. “Fine.”

I looked at him expectantly.

“I promise you.” His voice became serious. “I will make you my mate soon.”

My heart skipped. “Really?”

“Really.” He kissed my forehead.“Soon, Aria.”

I smiled. The uncertainty that had been sitting inside me for weeks slowly faded.

Maybe I had been worrying for nothing.

Maybe Damon simply needed time.

After all, we had left everything behind. We were building a new life.

There was no need to rush.

I rested my head against his chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart.

“I believe you,” I whispered.

His arms tightened around me. “Good.”

I closed my eyes. For the first time in days, I felt completely at peace.

I had chosen Damon, I had chosen this life and now, with his promise ringing in my mind, I believed everything would work out exactly as I had imagined.

I didn’t know then that some promises were easier to make than to keep.