Alpha Damon

Chapter 15

The council erupted, they dare send a messager? , someone snarled .

Damon raised his hands , and silence returned.

" Bring him in," Alpha Damon ordered .

The door opened, a lone wolf stepped inside, dressed in dark leather his eyes sharp with distaste and arrogance.

He did not bow.

He Didn't show respect

Several worriors growled,

The messager smiled.

"I came with words", he said . " From Alpha kealen of the Renegedes."

Damon defended his steps slowly, standing before him.

Speak . Alpha Damon ordered.

The messages smile widened, my Alpha said this was only the beginning, for there is more to come.

A slow snarl rippled through the room.

" He said the land you rule once belongs to us, and blood will decide who keeps it.

Damon's eyes burned with anger.

"And he says," the messager pushed enjoying the moment." "That a divided Alpha is easy prey."

Damon snapped.

"Leave, " Damon said dangerously

The messager bowed mockingly and turned to leave.

At the door he stopped.

Oh , he added lightly. Your Luna walks alone at night .

The door slammed shut behind him.

For the first time fury cracked Damon's control.

Double the guards, Damon snapped now.

As the council scrambled into action, Damon remained still his mind racing.

Renegedes knew too much.

About the boarders.

About the pack.

About his marriage.

As the fire flickered low, Damon realised the truth with chilling clarity. This war was not just for land.

it was personal.

And someone inside his walls was talking.

***

Damon dismissed his Commanders, and poured a drink, his thought drafted back to the days he rejected Iris .

The tears that burned down her face , when she ran deep into the woods.

The hurt in her voice, the betrayal and exile.

That hurt him more than tears could ever.

"You choose this , "he murmured. Then live with it.

But his cloack was cracking.

Another knock sounded lighter this time.

"Alpha," a guard said through the door . It's your Luna , she request a private audience.

"Let her in".

The door opened, and Ophelia walked in.

She walked in wearing a red Silk, her silver hair braided in gold thread.

Damon, she said smoothly, You look tired.

"The council meeting has taken more from me than expected," he said, "turning to the other side of his chambers."

I hear rumors Damon, you're ......

Ophelia.

'No", Damon you won't shut me up It's been days....no weeks , we barely talk.

" You shouldn't be here."

" That's funny," Ophelia replied. Apparently I shouldn't be anywhere lately.

You drift from me like I'm some kind of disease.

It's unfair how you treat me.

We shouldn't be doing this Ophelia, it's not easy as you think.

There is a lot going on right now, and all you care about is yourself and what you want wouldn't you for once speak for our people.

Oh.... please Damon! You alway say it's Alpha business.

I've tried involving myself but you push me aside ignoring me as always.

This isn't the right time for this Ophelia." Roshan said stepping out."

So you're really going to pretend right?

Roshan didn't answer, he only stepped further towards his chember door.

"I'm talking to you !" Alpha Damon.

I heard you , " he said flatly still not looking at her.

"Then look at me ".

"What do you want".

You don’t get to ask me that, Not after ignoring .

I haven’t been ignoring you.

“Yes, you have." Her voice shook despite her effort to keep it calm. "You walk past me like I’m air. You stop talking the moment I enter a room. You don’t reply when I speak. If that’s not ignoring someone, then what is it?”

He stood up abruptly, . I don’t have time for this.

That’s the problem, she shot back. You never do anymore.

He turned away, rubbing a hand over his face. “I’m dealing with a lot right now.”

“And so am I, But I didn’t shut you out.”

He finally faced her again, irritation flashing in his eyes. “You don’t understand what’s at stake.”

“Then explain it to me,” she said. Instead of punishing me with silence.”

He turned his back. “This isn’t punishment.”

"It feels like it, It feels like I did something wrong and you won’t even tell me what.

That stopped him for a moment

For a moment, neither of them spoke. The room felt too small, Ophelia crossed her arms, not to appear strong, but because she needed something to hold herself together.

"I kept waiting," she said, softer now. “I told myself you just needed space. That you’d come to me when you were ready. But every day you didn’t… it hurt.”

'I started wondering if I imagined us,. "If whatever we had only mattered to me.”

We never truly share a true bound Ophelia and you know this.

"Then why does it feel so real? “Why does it feel like you decided I was optional?”

He clenched his fists. “I’m trying to keep things from getting complicated.”

By pushing me away?”

“Yes.”

The honesty stunned her more than a lie would have.

She swallowed. “You don’t get to make that decision alone.”

“I do when it’s necessary.”

“For who?” she asked. “You or me?"

He didn’t answer, and that silence said everything.

Ophelia shook her head slowly. “You think ignoring me will make this easier. It won’t. It just makes me feel stupid for caring.”

“That’s not fair.”

“No,” she snapped, tears burning behind her eyes. “What’s not fair is loving someone who treats you like an inconvenience.”

He stepped toward her instinctively, then stopped himself, like he was afraid of crossing a line he’d drawn. That hesitation hurt more than anything else.

“I never meant to hurt you,” he said quietly.

“But you did,” she replied “And you’re still doing it.”

Her voice broke then, and she hated that it did. “I need to know where I stand with you, Roshan. I can’t keep guessing.”

He looked at her for a long moment, conflict written all over his face. But he said nothing.

That was her answer.

Ophelia nodded slowly, forcing herself to breathe. “Okay,” she whispered. “Then I’ll stop asking.”

She turned toward the door, her steps unsteady but determined. Just before she left, she paused.

“I can survive distance,” she said without looking back. “But I won’t survive being ignored.”