Why Damon?

I'm fine. Amara lied. As she tried wiping the tear off her cheek, Darius stepped closer to her, his concerned eyes settling on her.

If there was one thing he hated most in the world, it was seeing Amara in tears. There was this quaint, uncomfortable feeling that blossomed in his chest whenever he saw her crying.

“You are lying. Amara, tell me what happened,” he pleaded. Amara swallowed back her pain and shook her head.

There was no way she was telling Darius the truth, because if she did, Damon would hate her forever. He wouldn’t want anyone to know they were mates.

“I’m fine. Darius, you should be at the ceremony. Why are you here?” she asked, trying to stop her voice from breaking.

Darius frowned at her words, wishing he could let her know how important she was to him, but he held back because it was of no use. He knew Amara only cared about one person’s feelings.

His brother.

“Amara, you didn’t get your wolf?” Darius asked, guessing that might be the reason for her tears.

“No, I got my wolf,” Amara replied.

Amara paused and thought for a moment. She knew Darius, and knew that he would not stop until he got a convincing answer from her.

“Actually, I miss my parents. I wish they were here,” she burst into tears.

And just the mere sight of a broken Amara tore Darius apart. Without a second thought, he pulled her into his embrace, hugging her tightly.

Amara, who was already too broken, stayed in his arms. As she cried loudly, she hugged him tightly, wishing he was Damon. Wishing she loved Darius and not Damon.

Ever since they were kids, Darius had treated her so well, and yet she couldn’t explain why she never saw him as more than a brother.

Damon is our mate. You were drawn to him, Amara’s wolf spoke weakly, tearing her heart apart even more.

Why did it have to be Damon? Why not Darius?

Bracing herself, she pulled away from Darius’s embrace and wiped her face with the back of her hand before lifting her gaze to meet Darius’s worried and concerned face.

“Amara, you should know that you are not alone in this world. You have me. Don’t forget that, okay?” he said to her, hoping she would understand how much she meant to him.

“Thank you,” she responded plainly, clearly not moved by his words.

Darius’s heart ached, but he refused to let it show. He had always been the one to comfort her, to pick up the pieces when everything fell apart. Yet, regardless of what he did, he was never the one she truly wanted.

He looked down at her, his hand still lingering on her arm, not wanting to let go.

“Amara, you don’t have to go through this alone,” he said softly, his thumb brushing against her skin in a comforting gesture. “I am here for you, always. Even if you think no one else is.”

Amara forced a small smile, though it didn’t reach her eyes. “I know, Darius. You’ve always been there for me, and I appreciate that. I really do.”

She took a deep breath, willing herself to stay strong. “But some things… some things I just have to deal with on my own.”

Darius’s jaw clenched slightly. He could sense the distance she was trying to put between them, and it tore at him. But he wouldn’t push her, not when she was already so fragile.

“All right,” he said after a moment, his voice laced with quiet resignation. “But remember, Amara, if you ever need to talk, if you ever need anything, you can come to me no matter what.”

Amara nodded, her gaze dropping to the ground. “I’ll be fine, Darius,” she repeated more firmly this time, as if trying to convince herself as much as him. “I just need some time.”

Darius reluctantly let his hand fall to his side, his eyes lingering on her for a moment longer before he nodded.

“All right, I’ll give you your space. But don’t shut me out completely. Amara, promise me that.”

Amara hesitated before giving a slight nod. “I promise.”

He forced a smile, though it felt hollow. “Good. Now I should get back to the ceremony. Are you sure you’ll be okay?”

“I’ll be fine,” Amara assured him, her voice steadier. “Now go, Darius. I don’t want you to miss it because of me.”

Darius wished he could stay with her. He preferred her company to that of the girls at the ceremony, but he decided to respect Amara’s decision and let her be. Stealing one last glance at her, he flashed her an assuring smile before turning around and walking away.

Once she got to her room, the tears she had been holding back spilled over, and she buried her face in her hands, sobbing quietly.

Be hopeful, Amara. Damon hasn’t rejected us yet, her wolf tried comforting her, but Amara shook her head. She knew Damon. She grew up with him and could tell the meaning of every single action of his.

Just the act he displayed in the garden told her he wouldn’t accept her, and she was so sure about it.

Maybe he’s just overwhelmed, Amara’s wolf tried comforting her again, but Amara shook her head while more tears streamed down her cheeks.

She knew that if he had accepted her as his mate, he would have claimed her before everyone.

She sat on the edge of her bed, wiping her tear-streaked face, trying to regain some control of her emotions.

But the truth was inescapable. She was in love with Damon, and it was tearing her apart. How could she face him, knowing he might reject her—might not want her as his mate?

The pain of that possibility was too much to bear.

As she sat there, lost in her pain, the door to her room creaked open. Amara looked up, startled, her heart skipping a beat.

She expected to see a worried Darius, who may have come back, unable to leave her alone in her misery.

But it wasn’t Darius. It was Damon.